Words by Alex, Photos by Pete, Dr S & Butty
Crew: Chef Troll, El Pres, PTD, Dr S, Slim, Stunt, Butty, Coley
BBQ: Croxy, Dunc
Route: BL, Old Road to Walker Barn, Charity, RHS singletrack to Narnia, lower Charity, extension, Standing stone, Shulingsloe slabs, Pigford moor, Back of the Moon, Ferriser BBQ Spot.
Conditions: Blue skies, dusty dry trails, warm with a cool breeze, cold later
Notes:
It may have been a bit last minute, but our resident gastonomic bon viveur takes charge, and rustles up a forest BBQ in an impressive couple of hours before the ride.
Breathless from swiping through a gazillion whatsapps to work out what is happening, and what to bring, the crew assembles at BL (while Chef Troll does logistics).
Coley shows matching sock/bike combo, Pete a crisp lower leg bandage (and tales of rocky offs in Andalucia) and there is a spate of slightly underinflated tyres.
Joe provides his traditional ceremonial motivational chat before the off.
We do eventually get going once PTD has fettled his tyre, with a neat route choice to deliver us where we need to be.
No time for zig zags, but a fine evening for a long climb to the start of charity.
Early arrivers meet a couple of other bikers, one in full Hope kit, and Butty wishes them a good ride and “hope’s” they don’t get a puncture.
Views are hazy but lovely. Some live location updating shows a Troll de vouz is most likely near Narnia, a phone call soon after finds he is assisting some other riders with a tubeless “puncture”, we depatch Butty to help.
Singletrack is ace, dusty dry and fast!
Reassembling at Narnia gate, we see riders just up a bit on charity…it appears our earlier friend is a bit “Hope-less” and doesn’t even know how to take his back wheel out! we even donate him an inner tube.
Lower charity seems to have had the rocky steps on the outside of the lower bend broken out, makes it fast & loose…a bit like the extension!
Passing standing stone we collect provisions, admire the impressive log stacks and machinery, then stash stuff at Ferriser, before heading up for the last loop.
Some pushing over gratuitous branches & forestry detritus totally covering the trail is required to get to the Shutlingsloe gate, Butty going up a hike a bike steep path instead.
Perfect conditions to clean the slabs climb with dry grippy short grass 🙂
Fast across the moor, where we pick up Butty again (draw on time, but one way we got to ride!)
Amazing light means stopping just to admire our surroundings, more smiles downhills.
The BBQ spot has become more atmospheric with the addition of uprooted trees, plus lots of dry firewood too.
Croxy is already on site, has rebuilt the fire circle, and mostly laid the fire, three sheets of kitchen roll and a match are all that is needed to get us underway..which is just as well, as out of the wind the midgies are out in full force!
El Pres saves the day with spray, and Chef Troll goes into full overcatering mode, where to put the olives , charcuterie and dips he wonders! Of course there is the mandatory items he has left back in the car, and we charitably wait for him to return before we attack the nibbles.
Early beer bottle crisis solved by the downtube bottle opener on Butty’s Liteville (he’s been waiting years for this opportunity 🙂 )
Once we have decent embers, racks are placed supported by stones, Sous Chef Stunt (with the all important full finger gloves) assists where unprotected hands cannot, and then together with Chef Troll provide a cheese burger (choice of blue or smoky) and kebab service (with salad and garlic sauce). There are also hot dogs and some steak from Butty and Croxy so no one is going hungry!
Dunc arrives with birthday Highland Park, and the banter and beers run into the wee hours.
Croxy has a puncture on the way home….Troll bivvies again.
Top evening
