Crew: El Pres, Dunc, Smiffy, Stunt
Route: Zag, Charity Lane, Extension, Tea Rooms, Cat, Danebower Hollow, Cumberland clough, Standing Stone, LHS track, Kings Head.
Conditions: Cold, Clear, some icy puddles.
Notes:
This weeks riding poll triggered a flurry of pics from those enjoying snow, sunshine or daytime riding elsewhere! Well with it being the fifth TNR of the year and STILL JANUARY!! who can blame them.
Having said that – it was not dark when heading out to get on the bike!! the light is beginning to return..
Stunt has proposed a classic TNR route with a 6pm prompt start required to get round in time for food.
A couple of the “Third group” of poachers regular riders are also meeting up at the bottom of the zag, so we exchange route plans, and mull on the changes at the poachers…they are not impressed so far, but a glimmer of home might be a mooted return to food until 10pm…
Dunc has gone into the red zone to get to the start on time, and with Smiffy faffing with tyres but e assisted, and a possible Butty, we let Dunc catch his breath and get going.
Another night of clear skies above, although there is cloud out to the far west, which makes identifying the very bright slowly pulsing orange light in the middle distance quite tricky as we pause at the start of Charity. Its more on the left of our view but we are bereft of our usual landmarks, working assumption that its’ some kind of flaring at Stanlow.
No sign of ebikes behind, although one hoodied but not helmeted rider comes up hacked way lane to pass us.
The first crunching of ice crystals under tyre as we climb Charity proper, but nothing properly frozen yet.
Descent is very wet and muddy, with big rutted gouges in places where 4×4’s have recently been – quite challenging when hitting them unexpectedly at speed!
The extension is more familiar, and with Smiffy now closing in on us we start the upward slog from Bottom o’ Oven to the tearooms.
Smiffy has caught us on the ascent, no sign of Butty, and we are almost on schedule.
A huge CRACK as first rider goes through the first puddle – it’s clearly below freezing at ground level up here, no ice other than frozen puddles thankfully, and a good run across the top. The gate in the middle is lying on it’s side with the RHS fencepost, so no stop needed!
We now know that Butty won’t be with us tonight, so straight on to Cumberland clough, with big molehills either side of the track, and a few hardy ewe’s lurking to our right.
Smiffy has gone ahead to get the gate (only to find it open), the high sided options are slithery mud, and the deep rut bottoms wet and rocky so no good lines unless you are brave!
Deep watersplash before regrouping at the start of Cumberland brook, and a quick retightening of the front light mount needed for Stunt who ended the first section with a randomly zig zagging illumination! Thank goodness for helmet lights!
The brook has changed character quite a bit since we last rode it – top section felt a bit easier, then boom – huge rectangular slab across 80% of the path, and lots of fresh rock in new places! Even the ford at the bottom has a big bit of tree in it just upstream of the crossing point.
Feeling properly Gnarred, and quite wet and muddy, time for the tired legs to generate some much needed heat on a cold night, and crawl up the final climb to Standing Stone.
El Pres has not booked anywhere for food, so we opt for the LHS track then straight down the road to seek a hot meal. John is lurking in the windows of an empty Leathers probably about to close early, the Dunny is busy but not able to oblige, so we are delighted with the welcome at the Kings head!
Izzy takes our orders to the chef, Smiffy almost manages to lock us up with a reset combination code, and we strip outer layers.
Kodiac, Inception and IsoBarlow the ales of choice, Lasagne comes with garlic bread and salad…but no chips shocker!! Steve and El Pres swiftly seek side orders of chips, the chef is a no, but the landlady heroically takes charge of the frier to save the day.
Tonights quiz questions include how many of the TNR crew are actually original locals (not that many), what type of school did you attend, and landlords of the Kings head over the years…and what was the name of the lad that did a runner when it went wrong, having been well received and driving around in an old Rolls Royce?? (PTD gives us the answer overnight – Marcus Lonyon).
We have supped the beer a little slowly tonight so are three pints good, decide against any AoE whisky behaviour, and what with the big ride it’s almost like we are on a health kick!!
Extra layers needed for braving the ride home – buff over the nose territory.
Next week we will finally be clear of the January blues!!
Congrats to Gramps Butty (and Natasha) for Rory Thomas – who seems to have a penchant for beanies already!