Crew: PTD, El Pres, Butty, Slim, Dunc, Stunt
Pub: Lee
Route: Bottom of the Zag, reverse Teggs Trails, Saddlers way, up Hardingland, Witches cottage, lesser ridden fire roads across to the lane, Forest Chapel, Standing Stone, Nessit Hill, between the DH course, ressies, Leathers.
Conditions: Cool & Blustery
Notes:
After last weeks wet & muddy ride PTD takes charge early doors with a cunning route based on gravel.
Dunc shows some cheeky sublte clickbait when posting the menu, and a new whatsapp polling feature!
We assemble at the bottom of the Zag in the light, but exposed to a stiff cold breeze. 50m back along back eddisbury lane a small lorry is at an alarming angle having pulled off the lane onto the verge, and the driver is tinkering under the bonnet (feels like a tractor will be needed one way or the other!)
As cold rain hits we descent back to the main road and up to the turn to climb up to Teggs, by the time we are at the gate we can see white clouds and blue skies in the last of the light – proper spring weather!
Up round the old quarry and back to the visitors centre, light on now, and down Saddlers way – which is suprisingly dry (be that wind it will). At the bottom we see the farmer and his wife with two sheepdogs keeping an eve on the ewes nearby.
On the little climb to the farm to start Hardingland we take care to avoid toads emerging from winter hibernation.
The trail past the stream is also dry, but the loose surface means that only team “e” clean it. The track to Witches cottage (or should that be Whiston memorial cottage?) is more “up” than you think, we follow PTD down and then left for a quieter route across the forest.
The little pines have grown to overhang the edges of the fire road, and some deciduous little trees are in bud (birch or ash?) lead riders disturb a big owl. A steady up, then a fun down, before a very steep final up to where it all opens out.
So far so good in avoiding the mud…just this little bit across to the lane…which is singletrack with puddles and slippery as heck! Butty manages to turn his back tyre into a Hariy Mud Slick, we push the last bit until the exit down to the lane.
All that effort has been worth it as we don’t have far to go on road to Forest chapel, with a promise of an extra special tipple from PTD, its full pelt to Nessit.
Despite the wind it’s eerily calm at Dan’s bench sheltered by the trees behind, and we are treated to the luminous liquid that at 60% abv is instanly christened Rocketfuel! Absinth, Whisky and Southern Comfort. It tastes like liqourice allsorts, warms all the way down, and it slightly sweet. Half a listerine cup is plenty!
One last segment down the traditional nessit to leathers tracks – to discover that this is where all the mud has been! Well enought to get some good splatter anyhow 😉
Great ale selection in the smithy, neckoil, razorback and landlord the favourites, fire is on for drying andy damp gloves, and the food is hearty and welcome.
Lee arrives with epic tales of terrible winds over the pampas plains, empty landscapes between amazing places and advice to only bike some parts unless you are doing the full Americas South to North ride.
John gives us a low bants score due to ecommerce models being discussed at length.
Butty has brought his van to ensure a dry journey home (rain forecast from 11pm) Pete gets a lift, and the rest of us pedal furiously down through langley as droplets start falling! Luckily its just a short shower and the rest of the route home is dry.
Next week the first BST ride, light past 7:30!