Words by Alex, Pics by Pete
Crew: PTD, El Pres, Slim, Butty, TJ, 3 Sheds, Mr I, Stunt
Pub: Dunc
Route: BL, Zig Zags, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Lower Ressies Loop, Smithy
Conditions: Cold and Clear, wet & muddy trails
Stats: 1 chain break (3 sheds)
Notes:
More start time shenanigans with online voting!! Democracy gone mad.
Slim was “on time” at 6:45 with the required drinks on board
Sadly most others were not..anticipating further lateness (words were had!)
Cold for those who had been waiting around…3 Sheds heads up hill early to get warm.
Crew is strung out over a fair distance by the first Zig, with counting slightly complicated by another couple of riders doing the same route.
With a tactical use of the road (by some) we are almost back together at Windyways, but the slog up to Charity stretches us again.
As we close in on the elusive 3 Sheds a string of lights appears from Hacked Way lane – It’s Rush hour in the forest..as 20+ riders from multiple groups have all managed to converge at the start of Charity in simultaneously…Eric would certainly not have approved!
Some banter is exchanged on “how lovely the weather is to bring out all these riders” 🙂
Under an amazing waning orange supermoon its time to descend!
At Narnia gate we extract ourselves from the stream of riders and head for the bench.
A triple refreshment stop 🙂 in addition to Slim’s Rusty Nails (excellent as ever), Butty has discovered some Turkish Ouzo like stuff in his freezer….strong licquorice with notes of burnt inner tube it actually tastes better than it smells!, and TJ has Glenfiddich (aaaahh).
The rest of Narnia is navigated without incident, and we merge with more riders at on Hardingland (what is going on!!). 3 sheds 9 speed chain reaches a failure point, but is quickly repaired with a quick link (those gold 9 speed ones are so easy!).
There is just time to order food at the Smithy before a quick blast up on the road, then round to Bob’s bench to finish the dregs of the Nails & Whisky (no takers for the Turkish!).
3 Stags in the field beyond the final reservoir turn loom in our lights briefly.
Smithy quite busy so we’re on the back table for food, before retiring to the table window by the fire for more drinks.
Hi brow topics dominate for a surprisingly long time, Dunc arrives and much debate ensues about the tone of the conversation dropping at this point 😉 Ribald humour much in evidence very soon.
Vans with bikes on park up outside and some of the visiting MTBers come in for a pint and crisps. One is a scott e bike for a chap who’s legs have clearly come off worse from an encounter with something (help for heros garb being worn) Respect!
Soon we are the last customers left, we almost manage to forget the now obligatory final short, and Stunt discovers that the doors are on one way locks!
Tis a cold ride home once again, but so far no ice yet this season.