Words and Pics by Slim & Butty
Ruby: Daddy where you going?
Dunc: out on my bike
Ruby: Who with?
Dunc: My friends
Ruby: Where are they?
Dunc: I’m meeting them at the bridge
Ruby: Will there be a troll?
Dunc: Well now you mention it….
Crew : Duncan, 3 Sheds (Phil 1) , Mr Incredible aka “The Troll” (Phil 2) , Kersh, Butty, El Pres & Slim
Stats : Two dips in a bog (Slim), several weary middle-aged MTBers , one 3 year old with the ability to predict the future
Route : Rainbow Bridge – Middlewood Way – Bollingtonia – Pott Shriggers – Bakestonedale Rd – Kettleshulme – Pym’s Chair – Windgather – Taxal – Moorside – Bowstones – Poachers
Conditions : Cool in the dips, pockets of warmer air on the tops, trails drying, bogs very smelly and wet
Notes :
This ride was a 3 hr mini epic , part Butty Style post work training ride , part grin inducing single track .
The climb as far as Pym’s chair was definitely taxing to those of us who have not been following Butty’s daily training regime . By the time we started the proper off road stuff we were properly warmed up.
I was still recovering from the climb whilst the peloton sped off along the single track towards Windgather rocks. So my double dip into the smelly bogs was not witnessed first hand 🙂
After wind gather we had a little woody dip to traverse …bit of pushing up hill here . But once we topped out we knew it was going to be fun.
The wall hugging fantastic last section to Taxal seems to go forever with plenty of technical bits . Just right for an Orange Five with a dropper post 🙂
A TJ supplied Cree LED head torch is a fantastic thing to help you through this section. God Bless BrightBikeLights.com
We returned towards Bowstones via the lanes and tracks which bring you out by the (former) Moorside hotel. Not been this way for ages !!
Descending into pockets of cold air then climbing into relative warmth.
Took the gritstone trail bumpy path back to the apex of Bakestondale.
Swoopy but chilling descent on the road to Pott Shrigley and on to the warmth of the poachers.
Butty had phoned the food order in at Bowstones. He is our stand-in Operations manager extraordinaire whilst PTD repairs
The Nancies were in the pub before us !!
Hearty nosh and fine ale from the Poachers
A late arrival home for some 🙂