Crew: Bern, PTD, Slim, Stunt, Troll
Pub: Croxy
Route: Bolly Maze, Grimshaw Lane, Redway lane, Under Nancy, North Farm, Waulkmill wood, Ingersley Vale, Poachers snicket, Oakenbank, Jumper lane, Blaze Hill, broken road, Bakestonedale road, 1975 stone, Sponds Trig, Dale Top, quarry descent, moorside lane, Pott Shrigley, Church House bolly.
Conditions: Clear, very cold, snow up high.
A Northerly airflow brings a touch of the baltic after the warmth of the southerlies. With the mercury already close to zero and due to fall further, the route is an attempt to avoid icy armageddon.
Five brave souls brave the cold – and no one complains when we take a gritted road uphill straight away.
When we crest the concrete and cattle grid on Nancyside lane (and enjoy the inner warmth from the climb) the field below is a lively sparkle of torches, excited kids voices and lots of hi vis….a cubs night walk? We head down to North farm and get the first crackle of frost under tyre on the grass, and there is more frozen crust on the leaflitter in Walkmill wood – although there is so much water going over the dam you can hardly hear it lower down.
No ice in Ingersley vale, but a few stretches of frozen rivulets on Oakenbank ascent, and a couple of patches on the descent, but nothing too tricky (although Bern does admit to a dab).
The orange flashing lights of a gritter appear to be coming from the top road, and impressively the tarmac is salted from the end of Oakenbank! Speaking of lights PTD has to admit to forgetting to charge his main light, so despite it being the impressively long lasting Exposure 6 pack, he is going to have to ration his high beam to ensure he has enough to get home post pub.
Twinkly lights of Manchester in the distance at the top of Kiskhill lane where it becomes Jumper lane, fingers and toes still fairly warm, but Trolls coughing has not abated, and he decides it would be prudent to head down Blaze hill to a warm pub when we head further up.
Heading along the broken road, which is now being actively mended, we are appreciating the gritters endeavour to go all the way to the construction site – just as well – with some serious field runoff a full width ice sheet – now slushy from the salt.
The pedestrian/cycle diversion now goes further right of the road, with a scaff bridge over a stream, again all with fresh grit to ensure ice free passage.
More recent activity on the right hand side of the road further up as Bolshaws powders seem to have created new hardstanding for all their wagons, with only a couple of trailers left parked on the road.
To cap it all – the gateposts on the gritstone trail have been replaced and all now works without bits of farmers twine!
We have entered a new climate zone, with snow clinging to northfacing drystone walls, and a bitter breeze (luckily not that strong). Ascending the gritstone to the 1975 stone a thin layer of snow is still on the ground, and we crunch through frozen puddles on the double track.
This weeks in ride tipple is a Bolivian Singani Liqueur – Eau de vie infused with raisins, figs, goldenberry and various andean herbs, but also with Padilla spearhead chilli!
It smells good, is sweet and complex, and definitely has some chilli warmth – but not too much. It is voted a success and a second little shot helps us finish it off.
Bikes have to be lifted over the gate by the trig – it’s locked (no keep out signs though). Every available layer now donned for the descending, wonderful frozen ground with crunchy snow…well until we hit what must have been the sunny slope and get soggy meltwater!
Still crisp on Dale top, and it is suprisingly grippy on the rocky/grassy descent down to moorside lane. Some numb faces, and cold fingers and toes means it’s route one to the pub.
Only two nancies in the shed, so we stack all of ours in, in the nick of time, we leave the arriving vanguard of Nancies to do bike Jenga (which they impressively manage!)
Even better we have secured the table nearer the fire, and welcome a cheery croxy too.
Food is excellent, although Troll is in need of table chips as the beef and dumplings special portion is maybe not enough for fuelling internal warmth on such a cold evening. When they arrive it is the biggest plate of table chips in TNR history, we heroically help him finish the lot!
Our landlord is the chef, and we have a good natter with him late on, he’d done a stint cheffing for the superrich in the alps, so ski talk ensued…which led the AoE to follow up the Jura with Baby Guinness.
Well it was sub zero out there for the ride home!!
What will the weather bring next week??