Ride 3
Words by Eric
Crew;
A Route – El Pres, PTD, Stunt, 3 Sheds, Mr Incredible, Butty, Gee, Coley, Big Dan, Eric
B Route – Dunc
In the pub – El Pud
Lame excuses; Slim, holidaying with the Missus.
Route; Main road to the Tea Rooms, long grassy descent, zig zags, past the ruins, climb back out via Pym’s Chair, Erwin Lane, Blaze Hill, Oakenbank, The Vale
Conditions; The predicted heavy showers didn’t materialise but the wind came out on the climb towards the Cat, turning the warm conditions rather nippy.
Stats; Minimal for the size of the peloton
Offs – Stunt
Big nearlies – Gee
Nearlies – Just about everyone on the descents
Notes;
Some route debate at BL but eventually the decision was up.
The group was soon strung out up the climb to the Tea Room which was the wrong strategy as the wind got up. Huddled as a bunch might have been more sensible than the everyman for himself time trial approach.
The long grassy plunge is always a white knuckle ride but with the occasional deep muddy bit to grab the front wheel everyone arrived at the gate with a grin on the face and a stain on the chamois.
The rock on the zig zags at least gave a little bit of grip on the way to the river.
Everyone was cautioned about Gee’s ditch and with all safely across Stunt “fell off” whilst walking.
The climb out to Pym’s Chair had most people complaining about the ever upwards route, Christmas legs, man flu recovery, wind, or some other excuse.
The final plunge took in Oakenbank which also had hidden muddy bits to catch the unwary or those with their “pub heads” on. Gee reported a slow motion adrenaline induced “nearly” as he picked up a forked stick in the front wheel , fortunately without the expected high speed over the bars dismount.
We were welcomed to the Vale by the new bar staff following a transfer from The Black Boy, although she worryingly said that one of the reasons for the move was that the Vale is closing earlier.
Either we drank the place nearly dry or the range of Bollington Brewery products was thin on the ground as pump after pump ran out. Dan turns down a Moravka for being 5% and then orders a whisky whilst Stunt goes for cappuccino and brandy!
It is the time of year when young men’s thoughts turn to plans of summer trips and Stunt proposed a spin around three of the highest pubs in the UK – Hmmm