Words & Pics by Pete
Crew : Butty, Simon, TJ , Chris , Pete
Pub : Lee , Smiffy & Dunc
Route: Zag Bottom – Charity – Narnia cheeky tracks – return to Charity – Dentist descent – Standing Stone – Dans Bench – Rezzas – Sutton Hall
Weather : Humid but dry
Notes :
After two weeks of very different TNR routes we returned to a BAU format in the Forest. With the bonus of Butty being our route-Meister for the technical stuff.
As I winched my way from Bollingtonia across to the rendezvous I was suddenly passed (on Calrofold Lane) by TJ on a rapid silver E-steed. A few seconds later Butty did the same . The Electric Poynton Posse. My thoughts quickly turned to the question “have we reached the tipping point?” . The point at which E-equipped crew exceed those on acoustic machines. As I got closer to or muster spot on back Eddisbury I felt it quite likely Simon would be on his new E-machine . That would have made it 3 E-bikes to 2 conventional MTBs (Chris & me).
But no. Not yet. Simon had brought his acoustic full bounce ( well, technically I think it’s his lads, James) . So the tipping point is still out there in our TNR future.
At the muster point there was much interest in the new shiny E-steed. With both Simon and El pres having a little go. And both bring stunned at how rapidly it climbed the zag !
Butty has many good qualities. But this week the one I really noticed was his ability to encourage those of us who are less bold on the techy downhills to push the envelope. To try that little bit harder.
Firstly we did some messing about in the woods between the apex of Charity Lane and Narnia. It was a tad muddier than I expected. But it flowed beautifully, and it felt (at least for me) that following Butty’s line let me do more than I might usually do.
As we finally dropped down to the Narnia track itself Butty did a rear wheel skid which he nearly lost control of …much to the alarm of two random bikers heading along the track towards him.
At the bottom of charity it felt weird to turn right instead of left . But it was a good weird because we quickly hopped the fence. Butty was taking us to our second episode of techy stuff for tonight’s ride : The Dentist’s Descent .
TBH , its so long ago that I last did this track that the only bit which was familiar to me was the first 100 metres or so after you have hopped over the fence. Most of the trees have no been cleared (a few years ago ) and it feels totally different . For me this felt about 75% rideable (and I think TJ and Chris felt the same) . But it was fun , and the bits I tackled walking were because I knew I just couldn’t do them without a nasty off.
Back on the tarmac us acoustic boys had a bit of a steep winch back up to Standing Stone . There may have been a little pushing by yours truly. The Poynton Posse hit the loud button and climbed on the right hand side track .
From Standing Stone to Dan’s bench it was fire road for me .
And the flying ants were a nightmare – it was hard to travel at pace and not get them in your eyes or swallow some.
As we re-grouped at Dan’s bench Butty was helpfully brushing the little winged beggars off the late arrivals .
Our third tech episode tonight was my favourite – probably because I could ride the whole thing , feel a little challenged in the first section , but end up grinning all the way down to the Rezzies.
Alas United Utilities have barricaded up the track around the Ridgegate reservoir so that the exit at the Leathers Smithy end becomes a bit of a nightmare . So it was tarmac all the way down to the Suton Hall.
And we arrived just a little earlier than our booking . The service was good, the food quite passable and the beer ok …but the prices of the beer ! Thank goodness for £36 worth of vouchers from Butty & El Pres to take just a little bit of the edge off of the bill.
Smiffy & Lee turned up just after we arrived …..and Dunc a bit later.
A fine evening !
And no A of E