Words by Alex, pics by Pete
Crew: PTD, El Pres, Slim, Butty, TJ, Coley, Bern, Flapjacker Andy, Stunt, 3
Route: BL, Zig, Walker Barn, Tea rooms, Axe Edge, 3 Shires, Cumberland Clough, Standing Stone, Nessit, Resevoirs, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Clear skies, mainly dry trails, cold higher up
Notes:
A beautiful evening on the autumn equinox, late summer has been a good one this year.
PTD persuades us that Axe edge will be dry so we go big, and high!
Climbing is a pleasure with the low reddish light bathing dried seed heads of the summer growth, casting shadows from every fold and lump in the landscape, colouring vapour trails pink and generally everywhere you looked it was lovely!
Rapidly approaching dusk = no motorbikes, so from Walker Barn it was back on the new road for fastest way up. Regroup at the tea rooms for extra layers as the autumnal nip well and truly in the air (we are all underdressed!)
Lights on by the time we are ready to go offroad from Axe edge, and true to his word, the doubletrack is mainly dry, long and fast and fun 🙂
The gnarly section just before 3 shires is either a hoot or a walk depending on your bike/skills…Stunt discovers the limits of a rigid + bike!
We chat to two riders passing through (and Flapjack Andy admires an identical bike)
Top gear challenge to the start of chumby – the downhill brothers prefer the muddy field slog to the rocky longness of Cuthorne, whilst others relish the uphill tecciness 🙂
The Cuthorners are in place before the mudders (who then claimed that they hadn’t tried very hard). Pause for four laggards before invoking Kershaw protocol.
Chumby extra chunky with washed out rocks.
All together again on the climb to standing stone as a TJ faff meant they did the road down.
We have done well on time, so we head towards Nessit for a final bit of off road. Another split as some are tempted by dark trails on the way.
Bobs bench not quite the quiet spot one couple were hoping for!
Warmth of Sutton hall very welcome, Oracle pale ale ace, the pick me up coffee porter not to everyone’s taste, and the 15yr old Dalwhinnie a total bargain!!
Autumn riding season now officially open 🙂