Words by Alex, Photos by Pete
Crew: EL PUD!! El Pres, PTD, Slim, Mr Inc, Butty, TJ, Coley, Dunc, Stunt
Route: BL, Zig Zags, Charity, Singletrack into Narnia, “New Narnia Trails”, Witches cottage, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Extremely Mild, Clear, Still a bit soft
Notes:
This February must be menopausal as after freezing chills the last couple of weeks tonight is a meterological hot flush! The mercury reading 14C at 5pm, and overnight temps to stay very mild.
Is it this unseasonable warmth or simply good availability…but the assembling crew hits record numbers for the year, and with the unexpected, but extremely welcome arrival of El Pud we hit double figures!
Such is the length of time since we have seen him on a bike on a TNR that it actually takes PTD almost a minute to recognise him! (although maybe he struggles with biker recognition generally..)
We should note that Dunc and Coley are also out for “proper”!
Butty has a plan..to investigate “new trails” around Narnia..sounds excellent!
We set off up the road at a decent pace, those showing some bare flesh ensuring they stay warm…or those not normally out on a TNR are showing fresh legs…or “knob jousting” for front of pack honours!?
El Pud causes further amusement by having an early off on the Zig due to a combination of slippy rut and sticky pedal!
Possible badger sighting as an animal runs across the road to the Zag bridleway and jumps into the field.
Orion shines down on us from clear skies on the drag up to Charity as we stop to cool off!
The under tree conditions are still somewhat muddy, and the berms are very deeply rutted, so we moderate our expectations of the new trails, but keep to the plan.
Sadly Butty’s ability to find them appears to be degraded..”you just can’t see them in the dark” causes us to overshoot, and push back up.
As we pass the bench a mutinous majority stop for the promised tipple from Dunc..and we agree with him that it’s not as smooth as Jura normally is (but still quite acceptable). The hooting owls seem to agree.
Butty steels himself with a spare shot down in one, and then proceeds to finally find the entrance…a slightly steep drop in then rooty, rutty, muddy turns and jumps…many of us choose the much grippier off piste options (having been a mass breakout of lowering tyre pressures)
The trail stops at a steep bluff next to a fire road, which only Butty and PTD have the bravery (and skill) to tackle 🙂
A second section flows a bit better.
Its still only just past 8pm, so time to haul back up to Witches cottage then onto Charity again. Paul is wondering about going straight down Hardingland..but manages to choose the wrong group of riders to suggest it to..to amusement all round 😉
Our reward for the uphilling is an amazing blood moon hanging low over the Cat, Choice of back under the trees or the RHS of Charity to Narnia, then blasting down the classic Narnia, Hardingland descents.
Some have blasted a bit hard, as Butty leaves a large amount of fluid on the ground at the end of Hardingland from a tyre burp, and PTD also needs to top his tyre up before continuing.
Lower teggs towards Langley we go through patches of what can only be described as Hot Air! lovely 🙂
Sutton Hall suprisingly quiet, we drink them out of Cascade pale ale, Dunc goes for the Dark stuff, much ribaldry and mirth, pineapple myths debunked, smash robots jokes as you have never heard them before! and we do the right thing with an undersized bill.
El pud invokes an axis of evil with the offer of more at his house, those with responsibilities escape (but not before hearing El Pud have a second off into Gunco lane…darn manhole covers!)
The poynton posse give 3 rings c2am, and Mr Inc stays over and a Flour, Salt, Water Breakfast is had friday am.
Truly a proper TNR…and our prodigal is welcome back anytime (once his bruises heal)