Crew: Dunc, Lee, Stunt
Route: RB, Clarke Lane, Endon House climb, Lidgetts Lane, lower back of Kerridge, Rainow, Smith Lane, Bank Lane corkscrew, Jenkin Chapel, Pym Chair, Wingather, Taxal Edge, Kettleshulme, Bakestonedale road, Pott Shrigley, Poachers.
Conditions: Mild, Dry, Breezy
Notes:
With the bulk of the posse playing in the snow covered alps, Dunc lets his inner big ride beast off the leash with an Taxal edge and back in 2.5 hours.
Stunt and Lee sign up, and meet at 6ish with spring in the air, buds bursting, and not yet dark. Funky once again on the rigid fortitude (with fixed rear brake). Lee apologies for missing lots of TNR’s but he’s been busy doing 40+ mile gravel rides and going to the gym!
Straight off at a brisk pace, nice to have Lidgett’s back in action, and the recent dry windy weather has dried the worst of the slop on the trails around Kerridge. “Climb on road” to quote El Pud and there is plenty of this! with Smith lane reminding us that it’s no pushover, the Cheshire corkscrew is caked in deep soft mud on the top section, and badly washed out on the lower – Dunc once again shows his riding skills by being first to the bottom on old skool steel. Stunt blamed the extra tyre pressure put in for the big climbs!
Up, up and more up, with a hit of wind assistance to Pyms chair, and a break at the start of moor to refuel, and add layers. Sticker than usual up there, but still a great track, not a soul to be seen at Windgather, and downed pine trees overhanding the track into the woods on the down and up to Taxal edge.
Suprisingly its all new territory for Lee, and the uppy downy, twisty turny, mind the low branches at the end, trail gets his thumbs up.
8 bells and all is good, apart from the small matter of getting to the Poachers. Heads down, and close formation on the main road and a sigh of relief when Bakestonedale road is crested, optional Sponds is pooh poohed as we can virtually smell the beer…rapid descent and locking bikes up c8:30pm
A sweet stout replenishes burned calories, chat ranges across geeky garmin talk, possible song lyrics…we offered botox bunnies and the mucky rims!, mental approaches to big events, and of course Lee knew someone in the pub on the next table (and nearly pulled!).
Halo’s polished as we stay short of “4 pints bad” and home for a well earned shower.