Crew: Two echelons from – El Pres, Slim, TJ, Dunc, Troll, Stunt, Bern
Route: RB, Clarke Lane, Redway & under Nancy, Ingersley Vale, Poachers Snicket, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale Road, Gritstone Trail, Sponds, Dale Top, quarry descent, chapel decent, Bolly, Lord Clyde.
Conditions: Light rain then clearing, breezy, soaking trails
Notes:
Weather not as bad as feared, and a few degrees warmer than last week (even with the wind). El Pres determines that we do a proper ride and aims us towards Sponds.
A suitably distanced peleton finds that big gaps can lead to confusion, so the rear group do Waulkmill wood thinking that the front group have gone that way (they hadn’t – just a long wait in Ingersley Vale)
Proper mechanical as Pete investigates the nasty noise from his back wheel, the good news is that it’s not his brand new mech! The wisdom of the crowd is proved right with a pesky brake pad spring bent over the pad. In the meantime Funky confessed to not sorting his brakes from last week..
Finally we get going again and up and up to the Gritstone trail. Shonky gates of Cheshire have a new contender in the second gate from the road – which promptly drops off its hinges when opened. We re-hang it, but the farmer needs to do some sorting with a big spanner!
We get a big wind assist up to Sponds, with great – but fuzzy views of the city & plains (and even the odd plane!). Bern checks with the rest of us that it is the weather making it blurry and not his eyes!! (there was a sub group chat on the aiments of ageing at some point too!)
Very wet and slithery over the grassy ups and downs, before more wind assist to Dale Top (well almost – the last 20 yards was serious headwind!)
The gate at the top (well gatepost to be more precise) was in fine tune alternating between a couple of notes as the wind speed fluctuated.
Quarry descent was a keep off the brakes kind of affair, with some riders aiming a the wet rock as it gave more grip than the mud/grass!!
Chapel seriously soggy on the top half and sketchy on the lower half too.
Time to head for pub/home (delete as appropriate) and there were at least four routes taken to two destinations!
The Lord Clyde group were impressed with the blankets and hot water bottles provided!