words by Alex, photos by Pete
Crew: Funky, El Pres, Slim, Troll, G, Butty, Stunt, Lee
Route: Back Eddisbury, Calrofold Lane, Rainow, Smith Lane, Bank Lane (Cheshire Corkscrew), Jenkin Chapel, Pym Chair, Shrine descent, Errwood Hall, Shooters Clough, Stakeside, Tea Rooms, Stanley Arms, Standing Stone, RHS & LHS tracks, ressies, Leathers Smithy.
Conditions: Warm, Windy, muddy
Notes:
Funky Dunc set’s out a big ride, and on a windy night we are still going high!
Starting on road we have to contend with the back end of commuter traffic through Rainow, with as usual the noisiest motor behind us turning out to be an old corsa with a dodgy exhaust! 😉
Once onto smith lane it’s a grind to get the legs warmed up for what is to come.
Regrouping on Bank lane the dark cloudy skies almost appear to be held up by the red lights of Winter Hill and Holme Moss in the distance. Some camera knobbery ensues.
The corkscrew has a shallow layer of slippery mud and pine needles over the wet rocks – top half is trecharous! One day we need to do it on a warm dry night..
Down to the bridge the cobbles are dry and sure, then the long long slog up to Pym chair. The good news is that there is wind assist, welcome even for eButty who is worried he used too much turbo to get to the start on time, and is using the minimum he can bear. No such concerns for eG who whooshes past everyone as he catches up (and gets some gasped comments for his trouble).
All that effort is soon to be rewarded with the LHS of the street down to the gate, and then the track past the Shrine all the way down to the stream. Its mostly dry, the ruts wide enough for pedals, and it’s a great run down 🙂
At the bottom there is some grumbling as some of us have not paid attention to the published route, and Funky is taking us out offroad and into wind!
There is some pushing up shooters clough with only the ebikes and the rigid fortitude making it up properly.
The old coach road however is much better – plenty of grip, not too steep, and if it wasn’t for the headwind it might have been fun!?
On any other November night it would have been biting, but warm air means a windproof is only needed right at the top (if you can get it on without losing it!)
Road descent to the Stanley Arms requires aero and plenty of concentration to avoid being blown off line.
Still time to explore the RHS tracks (post logging apocalypse), enjoying fast stuff down to the road, LHS options before a final blast on tired legs past Bob’s bench and to the cosiness of the Smithy.
Packed with bikers it is – and a much younger crowd too, this is good to see 🙂
Duchars, Neckoil and hot food are hungrily consumed. Dunc and G admit to some little off’s along tonight’s route.
El Pres books us in for the xmas TNR ride dinner, and Ruth arrives to get the whisky in!
Still very breezy on the way home, over 13C still, and Butty’s battery get’s him home on it’s last gasp.
Dunc confirms that total climb for the evening broke the 3000ft barrier – an official Munro night!