Well, my pretty things, how have you been?
I have been immersed in a variety of things, everything from piscine pursuit to cycling feverishly. I have mastered the art of making custard squares, thus proving my earlier prediction to be ill-founded. The only drawback to making them at home, is that the need to be eaten in short order, and since they are ever present for me, I seem to fall into a consumption trap.
My riding, it has had a few wonderful moments. Last Sunday a few of us sallied forth, out west, in the sunshine, to allow me to introduce a few new souls to the delights of Kiwitahi Road. We rolled up to Helensville, via Old North Road, stopped for a damn good coffee and slice there, then rolled back down towards Woodhill.
Before Woodhill, off SH16, exists Kiwitahi Road. The first time I tackled this, many years ago it was summer, dusty and loose, the road was unsealed from the turn at SH16 until it emerged on the top at Old North Road. I suffered mortally that day, and even had a small moment off the bike in the cutting towards the top where it hits 16%. My 39 x 21 gear, just being too large.
Now it is sealed for almost the whole of the first part of the climb, up until the road pitches up in the cutting, then there are a couple of kilometres of metal. The climb itself is 1.5 kilometres at an average of just shy of 10%, the views are excellent and it is traffic free. It is a most rewarding climb, with a rolling top, where one can see miles up the mighty Kaipara Harbour, and right back to downtown Auckland.
Given recent weather the metal was close to perfect, smooth and easy to ride. All of my travelling companions gave it the big thumbs up.
Even Mikeal the Thundercat.
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