words by Alex, pics by Pete
Crew: PTD, El Pres, 3 Sheds, Mr I, Stunt, Slim
Pub: Butty, TJ, Dunc, Nic, Adrian and the dog!
Rout(e): BL, Zig, Teggs, Leathers, Lower Ressie, White Rabbit ascent, down between the downhill, back to Ressie, Road past the rangers station, bit of right then left, up the steps to forest chapel, up lower charity lane, Narnia, Hardingland, Langley Ressies, Sutton Hall.
Conditions: Cold & clear, very wet & muddy trails
Stats: 2 Offs (Pete & Phil M), One post pub faff (TJ)
Notes:
Typical changeable weather since last weeks post Doris ride, double figures, close to zero, rain, snow & sun!
Tonight skies were clearing, temperatures were dropping, wind was picking up and plenty of water was flowing from saturated ground.
Weather geeks may have discovered that the Met office mountain area forecast now includes specific places within the peak. Shining Tor was forecast for 2C , 28mph winds and feeling like -6!
This (and the fact that going anywhere not rocky would be a mudbath sogfest) meant only one thing – the Forest!
PTD had a cunning plan to do things a little differently (well pretty much a reverse of last week) which seemed to fit the bill.
Double shockers at the start – 3 sheds (aka Cold Hand Luke) arrives despite the lack of warmth, and Slim at BL by 18:40!! Joshing and banter began early :-)…and some things never seem to change..Mr I’s new lights have not arrived in time..rear lightage borrowed once more.
Prompt start then, and up to the zig – and puddles even bigger than last week.
Teggs extremely slippery (catching out slim higher up) with plenty of muddy drifting especially lower down.
Moon and stars are shining down on us, and at the gate for the start of the white rabbit ascent it gets too much for Slim and the Camera comes out for long exposure shots once the rest of us have headed on with our polluting lights chatting about Barry’s Franken E bike bodgery and attempting (failing) to do mental maths on battery life from volts and Amphours and the suchlike.
He’s soon on his own as its too chilly to hang about that long – following a couple of other riders we head down the ususal bits back to the road, then unusally turn right back up the road. Reverse track up and down on what is now our Right hand side is fun – especially watching slow motion off from Mr I, then PTD & 3 sheds following anyway!
Quiz time – which uttered the following? a) Grunt b) I think I may regret this c) Sh*t!!
Having avoided collision with trees, metal cages or dunking in cold streams, time to cross over and do the other side, and up to the steps. Deer across the path lazily wander off as we approach. Steps trickier than usual – wood extra slippy, PTD manages a lot (many of us push from the first rear wheel spin out on the first step!)
A touch of road to Forest Chapel, and the wisdom of the route is validated by a blast of cold air (luckliy at our backs). Legs are also feeling it, and we are grateful that the climing is now mainly done. What’s app now tells us we have missed Butty who was trying to catch up on a gravel bike.
Picking our way past a bearded fat biker, and then his mates, up the stream that is charity to Narnia.
More bikers coming down (busy night!)
No mishaps do Witches cottage, fast down Hardingland, and a Badger vs Troll encounter almost causes disaster! Badger decides to turn around as Troll brakes hard, who then has to pedal hard again to prevent being rear ended by a skidding PTD!
El Pres is seeing visions of Mankini’s on Stunt as mucky rear obscures the reflective disco trouser “whiteness” in all the right places….(but it is a very disturbing comment all round)
Full speed down the remaining trail (big splashes lower down) and to the pub where Pete and Butty have just arrived. The Jan/Feb blues seem to have gone, as its pretty full and we have to pull tables together to get seated (well we start and the good lady of the house shows us hidden table flaps and table leg wedges and how its done!)
Kodiak gold has returned (and as good as last year!!) TJ soon joins us, and with Dunky and Nic not long after its a good crew and heartily rowdy. Adrian and the Dog also arrive for further colour 🙂
So much banter…including reminicences of “Northen Lads in London” where Electric curtains almost better than sex!….we almost miss the whisky finish, but PTD negotiates some rather smooth Dalwhinnie in the nic of time!
TJ breaks his chain by Tesco’s, and is saved by Butty’s expertise in shortening chains ..having learn’t that quick links are specific to the chain (10 speed will not fit 9 doh!).
3 weeks until the clocks change!!
