Words by Alex, Library Stock Photos by Pete
All photos were taken in the vicinty of the ride route, but not on actual evening !
Crew: PTD, El Pres, Slim, 3 Sheds, Bern, Stunt
Pub: Dunc
Route: BL, New Road, Tea Rooms, Stakeside, Road to Pyms Chair, Blaze Hill, Church House Bolly.
Conditions: Cold, Clear, still, very wet & muddy trails
Notes:
Smallish crew this week for the first proper cold winter ride.
Lack of wind provided the excuse to go high.
Stunt has a pre ride brake rub faff, and shows off bling lightage.
Time to head out for the slog uphill. Chatting is a good distraction from any perceived grind (although Bern shoots off up the road as if it’s easy!).
Tonight we have a 4:2 26:27.5 ratio for those obsessed with stats…
Lack of wind means we are all overdressed, so a series of stops to de-layer!
Slippery and soft from the off at the tea rooms ascent, big puddles and filth along the tops.
Layers back on! and straight down stakeside for slippy slidy fun…the original bumpy and rockier track tonight maybe better than the parallel softer one?
Stunt’s brakes sounding distinctly shonky at the gate. We decide against going left and go down the grassy descent. Still challenging as it’s getting more and more rutted and gouged out with extra slippy grass in between! Frost here and there lower down too!
Stunts brakes are now sounding shocking!
Fun over, time to enjoy the clear night sky, and man up for the climb out…which seems to be steeper and less forgiving than usual for the first half, then easier than normal on the final section..weird!
Pub declared as El Pres has a hankering for the Church House…and sets off in advance to secure food.
Cold descending at speed, we arrive just after 9 to El Pres (pint in hand) wandering about. Food is secured (but with limited menu), monster sized plates duly arrive with Pie or Chilli, and portions are devoured to replace the calories lost to the cold.
Black Hole is the dark beer of choice…and it certainly slips down easily!!
Not the warmest of rooms (although some very cool bespoke photographic wallpaper), and we decamp to the main lounge by the fire post food.
The early risers depart at sensible o’clock, Dunc arrives well after 10 having run rather than ridden!
Head torch geekery ensues. We realise we have failed to observe the sub 5 degree rule, and fail again by leaving without having had a whisky!!
King cold post pub, frost on saddles, skull caps under helmets, chatter on teeth!
Next time more warmth from the water of life, and heating in the pub!
