Words & pics by Slim
Route : BL- Zig Zags – Old Buxton Rd Track – Saddlers Way – Hardingland Ascent – Chazza & Ext – Standing Stone – Reverse Piggford Moor – Rt Hand Side Descent – Rezzies – SH
Conditions : mild and dry. Cooler on the tops. Trails drying well.
Crew : Croxy, Coley, El Pres, Butty , TJ, Mr I, Dunc & Slim
Mid Commute : Langley Joe
Notes : When I arrived a wee bit late (as normal), Langley Joe was chatting with the crew At BL , resplendent on his CDF. It’s still the dogs do dars. But clip-in pedals of any form are a no no. the Gospel according to Langley Joe.
It’s always a sign of good weather when Croxy makes an appearance. With Coley in attendance as well a classic route was obligatory.
A hint of a leadership vacuum , and a mini debate about possible Roaches or Gradbach route …but El Pres delivered a decisive “to the forest” .
The descent via Saddlers way has not been done for a bit. Courteous walkers giving us space to keep the flow over the knarly bit at the top.
I found Croxy with a snapped chain just after the farmhouse at the foot of Hardingland. He seemed to have it all in order , so I left him with (Funky) Dunc and resolved to tackle the rocky ascent .
We regrouped at the start of Chazza. After a short wait Croxy turned up minus Dunc who had been “recalled to base”.
Strangely Dunc re-appeared at Standing stone . A change of instructions from head office ?
A plan was hatched for the Shutlingsloe slabs path and Piggford Moor loop to be the apex of tonight’s ride .
All went well until Butty was nearly swallowed by the bog …it being his turn this week:-)
God is in his heaven when the end of your ride is the singletrack across the wall after Piggford Moor. Then the right hand side descent from Standing stone . Chuck in the rezzies path and your are smiling as you head for the Sutton Hall.