Words by Alex, Pics by slim
Crew: Coley, PTD, Croxy,Doog, Mr I, El Pres, Butty, Slim, Stunt
Pub: 3 Sheds, El Pud, G
Route: BL, Full zig zags, Walker barn, Charity lane, extension, Standing stone, up Shutlingsloe slabs, back of the moon, Half pipe fire road, lower path, resevoirs, Sutton Hall.
Conditions: Dry & mild, big puddles in places & boggy over the moor.
Notes:
Dual celebration night tempts out some irregulars despite the odd drop of rain at the start š
Tyre controvesy as PTD claims 2.5″ front tyre that looks nothing more than 2.25!
Slim on time shocker!! Butty still waiting for his Liteville…single speedingĀ until then.
Route designed around celebration stops – decent pace set. Opting for a first stop at the top of Charity for a change (better views, less midges!?) its generous portions of Gin with tonic & lemon. We almost offer some to the lad on his first ride with his mates – who have kindly not bothered to supply him with a helmet, or gloves, or commented on his heavy bike with V brakes! (reminicent of an early phil ball in footy shorts and trainers too)
Lemon drizzle cake to match (natch) Happy 50th Coley!!
Communication with Lee who is trying to catch us up – passing rider tells us he is just a couple of minutes behind, but then we may have confused him with our route jargon!? And route change is initiated by PTD also.
Lights on & extra relaxed down chazza & extension – but happily no incidents (or evidence of mangled novice riders!)
Up to the back of the moon the long way round (confusing Stunt who went the short way!)
PTD magic is carefully pouredĀ in layers to deliver 9 glasses of squashed frog – but mini trifles might be a more apt description. Louging on soft bilberry beds we are like a group of silverbacks enjoying the fruits of the forest (well Mr I is..adding bilberries to his). Plenty of hilarity at how un “northern” this all is, as we look out at the dying red glow of the day across the dark plains and twinkling lights.
Double frogs on top of gin is starting to make bike control on wet grass between trees quite exciting!
A lone rider is collected – which turns out to be 3 Sheds.
Machinery and big piles of gravel at the entrance to half pipe, and we all notice another ruined building that we have never seen before (too much frog juice – surely something must have been cut down to reveal it!!?)
Slightly weird to roll a fast gravel road rather than the ususal snow fields on this run, Butty finds traitorous vegetation hides a big hole for the unwary on the ride aroundĀ by the gate.
Plenty of chase your mate on the tracks down to the smithy, where we find G en Porche and reroute him to Sutton Hall.
We never did find Lee (sorry mate)
Worrying fishy smell in the pub (luckily not us!) but fine Boltmaker & Kerala, fine service, and plenty of hilarity.
El Pud pops in shocker
Lack of flexibility on last orders not so- especially as we were going to try the Macclesfield Forest Gin!Ā (but maybe a good thing for our livers….and Slims instructions to pace himself!!)
Hint of autumal coolness in the air riding home.