Words by Alex, photos & video by Simon, Steve & Pete
Crew (aka the bakers dirty dozen): El Pres, Slim, Butty, TJ, Dr S, PTD, 3 Sheds, Smiffy, Lee, Bern, Dunc, G, Stunt
Route: Bottom of the Zag, Back Eddisbury lane, Cliff lane, Calrofold Lane, Lidgetts lane, back of Kerridge, Waulkmill wood, Ingersley Vale, poachers snicket, Oakebank, Kiskhill lane, Jumper Lane, Blaze Hill, Kettleshulme road past the collapse, Bakestonedale road, Gritstone, 1975 stone, Sponds Trig, gritstone route to Dale top, choose your descent back to Bakstonedale road, Pott Shrigley, Bolly, Middlewood, 5 clouds.
Conditions: Warm and sunny, cooling off later.
Notes:
With another fine evening, Lee masterminds a plan to eat alfresco at 5 clouds and cater with mexican takeaway. Route plans are amended as Stakeside had caught fire the day before burning a huge area, and needing helicopter water bombing!
We opt for heading for Sponds via the back of Kerridge, tis a good plan, and it brings out a huge crew – including a welcome visit from 3 Sheds, and a “G actually makes the ride” shocker!
PTD arrives on a shiny new mint green disgustingly light e machine (turning many of us the same colour in envious appreciation).
It’s a multiple meet point kind of route, so we only become a dozen at the start of Kerridge, and a dirty dozen with Dunc by the end. Weirdly fast rolling on the baked mud and dry grass – but definitely a good thing!
A lot of climbing involved in tonight’s route, but plenty of folk to catch up with and chat to along the way.
Fine views, flower filled meadows, and lines of empty bulk powder trailers amongst the sights to feast the eyes on.
Stunt has promised Mohitos at the 1975 stone, and delivers with fresh mint, ice, a fine 7 year old rum and fizzy water (thanks to Bern and Lee for being water haulers). There is a bit of a breeze up here, so some windproofs needed.
Good views from Sponds trig – including the farmers daughter on the quadbike (with obligatory collie) who is making her way slowly through the flock of ewes and lambs. She comes over to us and asks which route we are thinking of taking down, so we ask her which way she would prefer us to go, and get politely directed away from the sheep back along the gristone and to the main track by the wall. We oblige – and for once it too is fast and dry.
A few black cows grazing on the edges here, a lone walker, and a lady fell runner who pops up out of a dip to give her and Butty a nasty moment. Collision avoided, but probably not a good advert for MTBikers.
At Dale top we bump into a very relaxed and chatty Ratboy on a gold coloured bike (and his very friendly dog – complete with rapper style neckchain)
Some dubious looking clouds are coming, so time for the decent of your choice and for Lee to get the food order in.
All routes down are excellent – although the phone signal is less so. Lee and Bern only manage to the get the app working down in Pott Shrigley.
We head to five clouds in several mini groups to find plenty of outside tables (and an understated british eagle steel tourer with plenty of quality features)
Plenty of cloudy ales (aka Troll juice) on offer, as well as some good Lager. Lee and Bern arrive with a selection of Burritos and Quesidillas which go down nicely.
It does start to get quite chilly, so we head inside when there is enough seating available, and also slide into the 6.5% stout zone!
Vintage car porn of the Porche and Bentley varieties is shared, stories are swapped, and tales are told.
All too soon it’s time to go, and although Butty’s ride back from the Kingfisher last week at 40 seconds will never be beaten as shortest ride home, it was still a good answer for the Macc/Tythy boys.
Will the fine weather last?….well the heat will go at the weekend, but what then?? Feels like we have had a summer already and it’s only just May!?