Words by Alex , Photos by Pete
Crew: El Pres, Slim, Butty, Bern, Smiffy, Dunc, Troll, Dr S, Stunt
Route: Riverside park, Bollin valley, Prestbury, Chelford Road, Finlow Hill Lane, Bradford Lane, Hocker Lane, Alderley Park woods, Slade Lane, Finlow Hill Lane, Windmill woods, Artists Lane, Prestbury, Heybridge Lane, Dumbah Lane, Springwood Park.
Conditions: Cool and clear.
Notes:
Pete has suggested a visit to the Alderley back lanes and a Springwood Park finish. It must be a good recipe as nine riders assemble near Riverside park. Despite the welcome sunshine of the day, the air has switched to Northerly and the mercury is falling rapidly, already in single figures. So when Dr S arrives in shorts there is some questioning his clothing choice for the evening! Mind you Butty has also come baring hairy knees – although he does have impressive long socks.
There is not a breath of wind, so as the sun fades into the West lighting up the clouds with a swathe of crimson, we head along the Bollin dodging many a dog walker trying to get the walk in before dark.
The bullocks are gathered at the pinch point between the middle and last field, but there is room to squeeze by, although this puts us straight into the swampy bits.
Properly dark by the time we have climbed out of Prestbury and crossed the back road onto Finlow hill lane. An exact half moon is rising, and provides a great shot of sillouhetted trees on the ridge line at the first corner.
Bradford lane is mostly deep mud or thin mud on top of the rocky bits, and we still haven’t got used to where the big boulders are part way down (cunningly hidden round the bend), luckily the gap is on the line most riders would be taking.
The cobbled lanes are dry, but the first part of the Alderley woods singletrack is well hemmed in by tall vegetation. Stunt is leading the way, with some trails now well graded, but the finish still rooty muddy and twisty.
Another warming climb before a second traverse of Finlow hill lane – where a blazing fire is going near the ridge line trees – that was quick work since our last pass!
This time we are doing full horseshoe back to the main road, then the cut through under the trees to Artists lane – notoriously muddy, it was not too bad. However right at the end a stump in the path caught out Dr S – he did an impressive front wheelie – but got some pedal rash on his shin. With a “Doctor heal thyself” expectation – he whips out his trail running first aid kit and performs a clean and dress manouever.
On through the woods with a layer of orange rustling leaves now settling over most of the track. Plenty of deep muddy bits churned up by horse hooves, but also plenty of lines to avoid. Just the one unrideable section to avoid, although Stunt manages to somehow catch a pedal on brambles and go over the front in glorious slow motion (no harm done).
At the sandy patch we are treated to amazing skies, turning our lights off we see regularly spaced satellites coming across (starlink presumably).
A final section to the owl, up Artists lane (ebikers have fun on the raised RHS option), and tis time for route one to the pub.
We do get table service (although the beer choice is limited, and the staff are very focussed on closing time for the kitchen). Food is ok, the beer ok, but the company of course first class!
We get comms that the northern lights are visible – you would have thought we would have seen them from the edge – but no! AS once we have finished – bar closed at 10pm and what that really meant was – we are locking the doors and you are going to the on the outside! we tog up for a very cold ride sub five home, and seek out good viewing points along the way.
A vertical red stripe visible to the naked eye (if you could mask local light pollution), with cameras providing a richer picture.
We won’t be rushing back to the Springwood any time soon, but it did prompt a debate to try out hostelries further afield for more variety.