Words by Stunt, Pics by Pete
Crew: El Pres, Butty, G, Troll, Slim, Stunt
Route: Stoneyfold lane, Zig, Zag, Charity, Extension, Tea Rooms, Shining Tor, Yorkshire Northshore, Pyms Chair, Wingather Rocks, Taxal Edge, Kettleshulme dip, offroad climb past the “moorside”, Bowstones, towards Dale top, but then cut down to the Bakestonedale road layby, Poachers.
Conditions: Clear skies, mild, dry trails, windy higher up
Notes:
A fine evening for a “bring your butties for a big ride” presidential decree.
Also for riding your chestnut gelding as a smartly turned out lady trotted past.
Caption competition for the view of the crew as Butty approached.
Route modified to include charity..be rude not to, and also we have time..
A covid compliant group of 6 ( we thought we might have a seventh, but 3 Sheds eventually told us he’d set off early and done the route solo)
Lovely light, if a little hazy for fine views all evening, the puddles of doom on the Zig almost dried out after the lack of rain, and the warm winds of late.
Breeze picking up noticeably up to charity, where we begin a series of leap frogs with a lady biker who looked a little new to the route, but was gamely but cautiously getting on with it!
El Pres has a minor off, but nothing but bruised pride fortunately.
Coming into forest chapel, Pete mutters that there is a dummy or lifesize doll in the field by the old barn..however closer inspection reveals a well wrapped up lady on a folding chair watching for bats! Tricky light at dusk!!
More leapfrog with said biker on the skiddy extension, before a slog up into a stiff cross to headwind to the tea rooms.
Lights on the top track show we are not the only ones out tonight, and the flashing yellow lights on the main road turn out not to be an unseasonably early gritter..but that skinny lad on the fat bike with the anti-death high vis turned up to 11!
Extra layers required as the wind bites, and the gates all along the top track from the tea rooms have been smashed during lockdown madness!
A fast and fun swoop down and up to shining tor, for yet more layers (and the odd clothing donning fail!)
G and El Pres do the ritual warning of doom, and to take it easy to avoid punctures!!
They need not have worried, a trouble free ride, with very welcome wind assist means we make good time to Pyms chair.
As we regroup there is time to watch the dark skies for satellites, debate the Northern light mast again (continued from last week), and look forward to the next section…
..everyones favourite flowy fun across the moor and along by the wall all the way to Wingather..it does not dissapoint!
Getting properly dark now, as we drop down across the field with the yellow eyes of the flock upon us, past the “bombhole” – which looks even bigger than ever, and down through the wood and up to the start of Taxal.
G scares the wildlife with his gritty groans as he bests the ascent in perfect conditions!
Another bust gate, then more great riding on the Taxal edge trail.
Time is ticking, but there is no wimping out, take 5 for a quick butty break, then onwards!
It’s nice to be out of the wind for a while, even if there is a nasty climb on the road before we head off past the very smart barn, round the corner past the slowly rotting nissan truck, and up the grassy track to the moorside.
One question in our minds, will there be any wind assist to bowstones…
Turning up mudhurst lane if has the feel of a headwind, but luckily there is little wind on the long straight, then it picks up to tail wind at the corner!
Proper blowing it is on the track at the top, which has helped Stunt and Butty who have brought cans of (now chilled) beer (although still a bit frothy)
Only just time to neck it down before El Pres arrives with his beer legs, doesn’t stop and announces a final push to get to the Poachers for last orders!
Wind at our backs helps propel us over the uppy bits, and a fast descent to the layby and even faster down the road..target achieved!
Fantastic night, great riding…good training!
And the hospitality of the Poachers (and the Presidential Residence) was excellent …….
