Words by Alex, Photos by Pete & Butty
Crew: El Pres, Slim, Butty, Bern, Coley, Mr Inc, Dr S, Croxy, Stunt
Pub: Nick & Dunc
Route:
Rainbow Bridge, Endon House Climb, Lidgetts Lane, Back of Kerridge, Rainow, Oakenbank Lane, Pott Shrigley, Bakestondale Road to Layby, Dale Top, Quarry Descent, Birchencliffe, Shrigley Road, Sugar Lane, Vale Inn.
Conditions: Warm & Dry, cool later
Notes:
The summery weather bring out some seasonal members, plus the alpine season is drawing to a close so almost double figures on the ride!
With likely dry trails a northern moors with bolly finish is organised by Gap yaar Pete with pre order at the Vale for 8:45.
Route needs to work on a two hour loop with a RB start, so its straight over the canal to work our way across to Kerridge. Much coughing and spluttering from the Troll who is in the final throes of a snotfest.
Lights needed by the time we get to the shonky gate, and lo the trails are dry…well apart from the muddy bit on the slippery slope of doom down to the stream and across the the Rainow road. That causes the odd dab!
Last of the sunset giving just enough light to see the bats whizzing back and forth, and that particular smell of burnt hair from a shed at the start of Oakenbank suggest a farrier may be at work on hooves?
Very fast downhill, a quick stop to regroup and straight through to Pott Shrigley and up past the brickworks.
Close cropped grass, and mainly dry means we can actually see the trail up to the stile – and avoid getting lost in the boggy bit on the way for once!
Clear skies mean rapidly falling temps, so some extra layers donned, and a final effort to climb up the grassy slopes to Dale Top.
Superb views, and some time to admire them too.
Up and down along the ridge – setting off a badger in the process, then down the quarry descent which was excellent.
Lack of maintenance Klaxon!!! Butty has not properly repaired his tyre since last week, and the emergency plastic shield has moved during the ride..inner tube gets pinched and he has another flat. His defence is that he’s not been about to sort it…
Team splits into A & B, a surprisingly wet splash on the lane to Birchencliffe, before a road ride down Sugar lane to the Vale.
TNR first – bikes locked to skip!
All the bolly ales are good, with Eastern nights winning on flavour, and White Nancy on sessionability. Pies sadly a bit dry (smug mode from burger boys).
Pub is almost full, also with some other bikers some of whom we know.
The ribaldry twins arrive to lower the tone, much chat and catching up with those who’ve not been with us much over the winter (good to have you back chaps!)
More layers needed for the ride home!