Words by Alex, Photos by Pete & Smiffy
Crew: El Pres, Slim, Butty, Troll, Croxy, Dunc, Smiffy, Stunt
Route: Bottom of the Zag, Back Eddisbury, Cliff lane, fire road through the woods to the Gritstone proper, over the fields to Windyways, Walker Barn, Charity, Extension, Standing Stone, Back of the Moon, Shutlingsloe steps decent, singletrack to S bends, Nessit, White rabbit decent, Hanging gate, Meg Lane/Ridge Hill, Sutton, Byrons Lane, Gunco Lane, Heapy Street, Waterside, under the Silk road, over the cobbles by Storm Brewery, Park green and The Society Rooms (aka Wetherspoons)
Conditions: Sunny, dusty trails, cooling NE breeze
Notes:
A night for a longer ride, the the organising committee somehow managed to turn a “bring your own butties” idea into a finish at Macc ‘spoons!
A double start point, with bottom of the Zag or top of Cliff lane, and the late runners were pretty much on time, with a welcome appearance by Croxy.
Some winding through the plantation to meet up with the Gritstone trail, the picnic benches looking a little shonky now (or in one case an overgrown pile of rotting timbers). Dry conditions mean good grip, no animals in the fields we passed through – although a couple of hairy coo’s spotted one field over. Fine views on a beautiful evening, and all is well with the world (or not in the case of a couple of grumpy walkers!)
Charity is mediterranean – slippery dusty lines or big broken rocks, and plenty of evidence of off roaders having remodelled a number of sections by their passing! Smiffy has some contact with the side of the lane – and some nasty grazes as a result!
Extension also uber skitterish!!
From Standing Stone we push up to Back of the Moon then follow the trail to have a mini picnic – Croxy has brought Jura, cheese and charcuterie for an early 60th, Chris has negroni deferred from last week, and Smiffy has a selection of little whisky’s to raise a glass to dad Bill (Northwich darts legend!)
In the glow of mid ride refreshment, there is a re-assessment of the route plan, original is to head across pigford moor all the way down to Greenway bridge, then up to the Hanging gate to get a cheeky pint in before it’s 9pm closing time. However a majority favour descending the Shutlingsloe steps, and the forest to the road for the much easier climb up to the Hanging gate.
It’s a good plan – the moor from back of the moon is properly dry (once in a decade event!) the descent is proper fun, and there is mirth at the bottom when Smiffy “taps” his back wheel to get it through the gate – and sets off his crash alert!
The singletrack is not too overgrown (no nipple whip reported this time), and we approach the Nessit benches into a low golden sun.
Choice of descents – fast loose gravel on the white rabbit main drag, or the rooty downshills that come out in the same place.
Poor research in evidence as the Hanging Gate now only opens Fri/Sat/Sun, so we opt for route one to ‘spoons, where Pete has deposited a big chain for locking up.
Bikes on the terrace and a table inside looking over them, food and a pint for £11, a round of Jaipur’s from Croxy, and the glory and diversity of the spoons crowd to admire.
Axis of Evil is encouraged by double whisky for a fiver…and there are two rounds!
An unusual route and novel finish has worked well…will spoons be a regular stop???