Crew: El Pres, PTD, Slim, 3 Sheds, Bern, Troll, TJ, Lee, Smithy, Stunt
Tythy towers: Butty, Woody
Route: Riverside Car Park, Bollin Valley, Prestbury, Chelford road, Findlow Hill Lane, Bradford Lane, Hocker Lane, Slade Lane, Findlow Hill Lane, Trails through the woods, Artists Lane, the Edge, Mottram Road, Oak Lane, Prestbury, Bollin Valley, Tythy.
Conditions: Warm and Dry
Notes:
WIth a beer and pizza night at Stunt’s on offer a double digit number of riders assemble by the bridge, Bern is not to be seen, but is patiently waiting at the car park – early and at the exact location specified!
At least two riders on hardtails being recommissioned for the upcoming Traws Eyri (note to self mine needs a new BB)
Route is inspired by the AZ/Barclays commutes, and it’s a fine evening to relive the favourite lanes and woods.
Dry and firm all along the bollin valley – a rarity, the section from the last field to Prestbury is overgrown to head height – and a lot of Himalayan Balsam, which has spread all along the railway embankments and thence out. Team protocol initiated for all the gates to get the bikes round on the back wheel. A couple of runners about.
Plenty of gates of big houses to peek over to see how the other half live on the climb up Chelford road.
First decent is Bradford lane – the driest and fastest it’s ever been.. just watch out for the two huge boulders placed just round the first corner!! plenty of room for a mountain bike to get through, but there to deter motorised off roaders?
A nice meander round the Alderley Park woods on our way up Hocker lane, as we complete the first loop.
Next the woods – and again the usual mud fest is mostly absent, but the summer vegetation is tall and spiky. Lots of old school singletrack, roots and chutes, then the strange sandy area, before the double track down to the Owl.
Perfect conditions for the energetic (or E) to do the right hand side of Artists lane under the Beech trees on the way back up to what was the Wizard pub.
There is time for the traditional visit to the Edge, which despite the light evening is almost deserted. Fine views Eastwards, although the unusual angle we are viewing from causes a lot of discussion and pointing before we get our bearings. White nancy and the Cage being the defining features to align the rest from.
Some classic comedy pics taken in the theme of Near and Far away 😉
Stunt leads us down ensures that the tricky to spot right hand turn off part way down is located, and that no one stays left by mistake.
A pleasant pootle back along the lanes back to Prestbury, then back along the Bollin, this time with an early cut up to go under the railway line by the golf course, along the side of Tythy woods and a last mini climb before we hit Tythy towers.
Beers are in the cooler and the fridge, crisps are on the table, pizzas get cooked in batches (the BBQ as a second oven had mixed results) and some mild jeapordy under the table when Woody gets hold of a cardboard pizza base and will fight anyone to keep it!
We settle in comfortably, beers keep coming, the Troll finds an 8.5% double milk mango crush can, ,coffee stout is a good pudding beer, and El Pres (aided by double specs) gets an impromptu playlist going via the soundbar – lots of classic vocals being discussed by the muso’s.
Bern and PTD play the temperance cards and depart, leaving the rest of us to slide into the Axis of Evil.
Armangac is produced in honour of the upcoming Paris Olympics, Lee wants Rum – no problem 12 year old Cuban. Stunt has also brought out the last of the Woodford Bourbon, and the Oban 14.
Troll not suprisingly takes up the offer of a bed, and the remaining riders wobble home, with 3 rings protocol timestamps recording home times into the wee hours.
A slow start for many the next day…