This is part two of our new weekly New Zealand blog feature by Jimmy Carling, “MidWeek Enzed”. As we in the UK are enduring rain, floods, collapsed bridges and more rain, NZ is enjoying sunshine, sunshine and sunshine. Check it out.
Words:Jimmy Carling.
Photos:Luke Sergent (I think)
“So… Midweek Enzed number 2… And not a massive amount has happened since last week! The first of the summer events starts next week and everyone is simply relishing in the joys of hitting the trails again. It’s been farkin windy of late not to mention somewhat of a wet weekend. And speaking of the weekend… On Friday night a few of us were invited to go camping in Fiordland, which is arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth. Just huge, steep, towering peaks that plummet straight down to the water.
Some light woodwork amusement courtesy of 7 Mile.
We camped in nearby Te Anau on the Friday, with the intention of moving on to Milford Sound the following morning. However a severe raping by unwelcome mosquitos and sand-fly’s meant no sleep and an arse-full of bites. It was so uncomfortable that we just ended up bailing; the thought of a warm bed and riding bikes luring us back to Queenstown by 7:30am on Saturday… “If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. Insect repellant next time methinks…
Matt Wragg
Lately we’ve been hitting up the Remarkables DH Track which, in contrast to the vertical nature of the main face of the mountain, is actually not very steep at all. The run is situated on what would be considered the “run off” of the hillside, but despite it’s lack of major gradient, it is still and extremely intense two and half minutes downhilling, with the numerous rock gardens providing no room for error and no forgiveness to those who falter. It’s bloody brilliant. It’s really the only track there, so there isn’t much scope to session other trails in the vicinity, but once you’ve done a run you tend to find yourself anxious to get back up to the top asap. It is somewhat addictive!
Dan Thwaite. Remarks DH. Session on!
Another venue to feature highly on our shred list at the moment is 7 mile which is all open again after some early season maintenance work by the Queenstown MTB Club. 7 mile is a little trail hub just out of town which is an ideal social riding ground and awesome for a post-work-stress-relieving-thrash.
Blender. Sex wee just out of shot.
Earlier in the year I bought a Charge Blender (courtesy of a nice tax refund from the Australian Government; who said the tax man was bad?!) and she goes like the wind around there. Believe the hype people, I have never had a bike put a smile on my face as much as my Blender. Particularly on “Kachoong” which tends to be a favourite trail among most. I heard a guy the other week say it was like a “tiny tiny A-line”, which I’ll have to take his word for as I’ve yet to frequent Whistler. Point the Charge in it’s direction and I’ll find myself grinning the whole way down, and occasionally having to clear some sex wee off the top tube. There’s so many little hidden lines and alternative lines around 7 mile that it’s impossible not to have a laugh, and the runs out to the car park definitley finish the ride off sweetly. Just mind the sandflies by the lake…”
To quote my favourite band Reuben “Summer bleeds into my skin, and paints me the colour golden”. Luke Sergent. Bikes and sun. Bliss.
