Crew: El Pres, Troll, Dunc, Stunt, 3 Sheds, ePTD, eButty
Route: MC, Zig Zags, Charity, Extension, Cat, Danebower Hollow, Chumby (e-detour to 3 shires), Standing Stone, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Dry, clear, still, cold later!
High pressure has provided great weather this week, and the last ride before the clocks change brings out more riders.
The E-ccentric duo of PTD and Butty are throwing out big routes, but team acoustic rebel with a compromise to enable them to add in extra bits and catch us up.
No lights required to see the trail until the top of charity, the RHS in excellent form – apart from a couple of deep mud dips – one of which almost stops Stunt dead – and Butty nearly rear ends!
Charity proper very loose and chunky, so when 3 Sheds pulls over and pops his bike upside down on the lower section we assume a puncture. It turns out to be quite a wait, and a likely TNR first, as his top jockey wheel has detached! Amazingly it is found by the attendant “helpers” and our resident engineering maestro carefully inspect the situation and positions the cage and wheel – then kicks it back in!! Tis not to be a long lasting solution, and a DNF is duly declared.
Meanwhile at forest chapel team e spend almost as long discussing where to extend their ride than it would take to do it – they are finally encouraged to get on with it and decide on the way!
The remaining posse regroup and head down a very sketchy extension, grind up to the tea rooms, don extra layers as the warmth of the day is rapidly departing, and continue to the Cat.
Dunc leads the way at pace, the pedestrian part of the gate on Danebower has departed its hinges, a high speed thrash to the main road, and debate on lights coming up from 3 shires – farmer or our e “Buddies”?
Funky does the tyre pressure fiddle ahead of Chumby, which is a good plan as it’s loose and full of big rocks! The brook section however does for our other Phil, as he takes a pinch puncture almost within sight of the lower gate.
The resulting faff enables our powered duo to catch us up – twas indeed them doing 3 shires. Time now of the essence, into a very cold wildboarclough, tired legs up to standing stone, and route 1 (mainly) to the pub.
This correspondent had to head off, put it appears that after some beers they were all snooker loopy!?
Next week light till nearly 8pm ….and forecast is for sleet!!