Words by Alex, Pics By Slim & TJ
Crew: Mr I, El Pres, Butty, TJ, Stunt, Artist formerly known as Slim
Pub: Dunc, Eric
Route: BL, New Road, Chazza & extension, Wilboarclough valley to A54, Chumby, Standing stone, Nessit, old skool descent, high rezzies track, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Mild, Windy, wet trails
Stats: 1 off (butty)
Notes:
A big front having only just passed through meant high routes would still be silly windy,whilst waiting for faffmeister slim (BAU!?) plan hatched to keep out of the wind whilst still doing a Chazza Chumby classic route.
…which of course meant that Butty had brought the wrong bike and tyres..What no Blood bro?!
New Road well sheltered from the SE gusts, and Stunt does a Kersh heading up the road like an over eager puppy (must be happy to be back!)
Plenty of low light setting power saving from Mr I and El Pres who have a D- on lighting preparation with one partly charged light each.
Whereas Stunt is sporting flashing anklewear of Nocturnal Morris Dancer Chic 😉
For no good reason a contagious “touretting” competition sets in amongst some of our party, which lasts all night (and gets quite impressive)
Chazza rocks are bedding in nicely into the winter mud, fairly wet but mucho fun. Top of the extension comedy super greasy but no spills!
Quick blast along the valley floor into wind and up to the A54, then more wind assist up to the start of Chumby.
Landrover track muddy slipperyness before the rock strewn descent with added suprised sheep :-0
Track from the gate has a very big hole at the beginning ,a major landslip partway down and washed out rocks in all sorts of new places!! Brilliant 🙂
Regrouping at the bottom it’s still shorts and no coat weather, and there are bugs flying about, nature notes also marking off that some nettles have fresh growth!! Anyone else secretly looking forward to proper winter cold?
Time for the sneaky singletrack from the shutlingsloe steps to the S bends – soft and slidy, a stop at Nessit to attempt to work out where the blue and red emergency vehicle lights were – Standing stone car park/forest chapel/ chazza…or on the cut through road to bottom of the oven further back??
Full on old skool white rabbit gravelly descent from Nessit – Mr I drifts on the first corner and almost loses it into the trees, then Butty feeling confident in his hardtail and typres now the rocky stuff is past comes through and they are off! Its fast, its fun and at the front its furious…but not a good time to have brake fade!!!! and Butty doesn’t make the last corner..the ditch at speed does not negotiate and a full aerial 360 and a thankfully safe landing ensues. Saddle not so lucky.
Calmer final track back to the Smithy and on to Sutton Hall as a brief shower makes a pathetic attempt to catch us out.
Q “Where the duck it Andy T?”
A Calmly eating fish and chips in the pub!…and asking us for a second pint from the bar whilst we are there!! *#’$!!!
White Witch & Leffe O’clock, Proper TNR banter starts with the menu choices, but thankfully we get waitress service and manage to order in time. While Butty clamps his crack…….ed seat bars for a safer ride home.
Steaks! Feta salad! (which was Goats cheese tonight)!! and of course table garlic bread.
Dunc & Eric arrive (so not them with the flashly light brigade)
New season flashy lights with USB charging from TJ (who completes a light sale to an arctic bound adventurer!). Much debate on the waterproofiness of the rubber flange/flap USB covering (phnaarr phnaar)
Whiskies in the leather chairs before a wind assisted ride home.
Movember points
Barry the Beard (Butty) – Full marks!
Bit of Rough (El Pres) – Decision time – go big or go home!
Shadow of former glories (Slim & Troll) – Clearly you Gents have opted out. We would have expected more Tut.
Smooth as a baby’s bum (TJ, Stunt & Dunc) – Well done, by keeping it squeaky clean you allow the others to stand out 🙂
