words by Alex, photos by Pete – title coincidence by fate
Crew: Butty, TJ, El Pres, Slim, Stunt, ePTD
Route: Middlewood way bridge 3 (Clarke lane), middlewood way to Bollington, then onto Canal at Hawthorne Road, Off at canal bridge 23 onto path to Sugar Lane, up Stypersons Pool, Shrigley road to the Methodist chapel before West Park Gate, up the “Chapel Descent” to Moorside lane, grassy ascent to Dale top, along the ridge, down Beavers Creek, Bakestonedale Road, Poachers
Conditions: Heavy rain & lighting to 6:30 then sunny, cold later.
Stats: History is made! 1st ebike faff (PTD)
Notes:
The narrow rain belt due to have gone through before the ride was a bit behind schedule, and mainly centred on Butty as he rode in from Poynton.
Ride start point re-arranged to the Clarke lane/Middlewood way bridge where the bedraggled lad was cowering 🙂
By the time the rest of the crew arrived, the sun was shining, joggers were jogging, and commuters were whizzing along.
Where to from here? Butty had earned the honour of routemeister, and he fancies going up Stypersons pool up and finishing at the poachers.
We set off, although the wet has clearly got into “BUTNAV” and he sends some of us the wrong way a couple of times before he gets his bearings!
Plenty of puddles on the towpath, but lovely light and its a very scenic route, more BUTNAV alternative routing works out well with a nice snicket at bridge 23 that leads straight to Stypersons.
Its good training Butty says – and on a drier night maybe so, on freshly wet roots and mud less so!
The Cheshire plain looks lovely in slightly misty glory, as does Shrigley road which has been properly fully resurfaced from just past the Coffee Pot! (a nice change from the normal minimalist bodged worst of the holes approach normally seen in East Cheshire!!)
We head up past wayside chapel, doors open and golden light bathing the inside, wet grass on the ascent manageable, scenery still stunning!
Comms with PTD (who has set out later on the eMTB) have got us a Rendevous on moorside lane, which works out perfectly, with time to spot hovering kestrels on the ridge while he comes up the last of the lane to meet us.
That “e” has certainly got him here fast, and there is plenty of green eyes as he powers up the last climb to Dale top as the rest of us puff and push, He adds insult to injury by then descending and climbing back again by the time the last of us is up!
New gate at the top!!..build it and they will come? 3 mountain bikers appear from Sponds and come through, then runners (and one labrador) from Didsbury Running club arrive from our direction for a selfie at the top! Some of our number are thinking about joining 😉
Sunset and a cool breeze = layering up, and its lights on for the Beaver’s creek descent.
PTD has to go the long way round to find a gate (eMTB’s are very heavy), but that’s not a problem as he powers back to the top to come down and join us at the mining model.
A little moment of TNR history though as he informs us that his display has gone out, and a first ebike faff ensues…in which the e stops working completely! what no multimeter on the multitool 🙂 Nothing for it but a descent to the pub.
Our usual spots are taken in the bike park, so we are forced to take the Nancies spot, and are in fact ahead of them ..we outnumber them in the end anyway!
The somerset ale is the winner in the taste stakes, all the food is devoured, and we all (except TJ) feel the need to have to hot puddings! Strangely this leaves less room for beer!?
Long rides on heavy bikes, or early starts mean no axis of evil tonight, bivvy talk may have been in vain (forecast getting worse)..(ed update – bivvy happened on the Sat night)
Tricky manouvering past the empty beer barrels on the way out!
Spooky moon and cold air on the way home…definitely a “summers over” feel
