Words by Alex , Pics by Pete
Crew: El Pres, Slim, Stunt
Route: BL, New Road, Tea Rooms, Bottom of the Oven, Standing Stone, Halfpipe fire road, Ressies, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Light Snow, very wet through to deep snow depending on height
Stats: One post pub off (El Pres)
Notes:
It had been sub five and wet all day…with many a TNR’r off Alpward early saturday…so only a brave few ventured out.
Weather geeks had been glued to the buxton webcams to assess the chance of rideable snow, conclusion definitely at the Cat, possibly lower.
The only way to find out is to head uphill and see!
Stunt on fresh bikeage of the 27.5+ full suss variety on the alledged sweet spot of 2.6″ rubber…
All in full waterproofs and anti death jackets.
A slightly delayed start due to new bike setup tweaks in Pete’s garage from the Tythy duo.
The grey sign was flashing red on Buxton road, and the road was also coned off…excellent less traffic to worry about.
Slush on the road soon after..not that deep and we were riding in wagon tyre tracks on an inch or so without any issue.
The odd 4×4, a few brave 2 wheel drive’s and the snow started to come down thicker.
By Charity snow was settling on the fields, but we carried straight on to find the “good stuff”
Progress a little slower than normal..you can feel the extra effort of not riding on tarmac.
Ho lights in the distance…Cheshire Police highway patrol are coming down towards us, they slow for some words of advice, and we are advised that it’s nasty higher up and to head back.
We are left to discuss this intel, whilst pedalling carefully. We come across a car on it’s side that has driven straight on at a corner into a field earlier in the day. It must have been a white out?
Snow is thicker on the fields, and it’s quite hard to work out where we are as the landscape just looks different all white.
Before we know it we are at the tearooms 🙂
Time to test the snow…and it’s already too deep…plus the snow is now horizontally in our faces…the good officers were spot on..it’s nasty.
Advice taken we head down to the bottom of the oven (wishing we had brought ski goggles).
There is more snow on the road here than the main road, making it fun/interesting depending on your level of grip!
Bottom of the oven, out of the wind, and less snow, feels a lot better. It is also a lot wetter under the snow, and there is still a huge puddle by standing stone car park.
We ring Sutton hall to order food, then at the gate to “Half-Pipe alley” Pete brings out the sub five hip flasks for a welcome tot of Brandy 🙂
Snow on the trees, just the right amount of snow, fewer flakes in your face…its beautiful under our lights, a twisted shed track from a big machine throws shadows like a long dead whale skeleton (but Pete is too cold to get the camera out).
This is ace! minutes later after the usual blast down and around the ressies…there is just a lot of cold wet water!
Sutton Hall to thaw out, bizzarely all the ales on are light hoppy ones (where’s the plum porter winter beer!!)
Post food we retire to the comfy chairs by the fire…tactical coke replaced by tactical coffee, and El Pres is the one almost stacking Zeds!
All available layers on for the ride home..and watch out for the potholes on Gunco lane!!
Proper winter ride 🙂
