drunkcyclist2

Crew: Troll, El Pres, Slim, 3 Sheds, Bern, Lee, Dunc, Butty, Stunt

Biddle HQ: Ruth

Route: A meander down the lanes to the back of the Cloud, under the trees ascent to the top, rocky then bermy descents back to the road. Staffordshire way, lanes round behind Biddulph Grange country park, visit to Cabbage cottage, back to Hot Lane for BBQ.

Conditions: Cloudy and breezy with a decent rainshower post the Cloud.

Notes:

The Troll has invited us to his for a ride and BBQ as his birthday event! a good sized crew turn out for the legendary hospitality and a change of riding scenery.

A decent effort all round to be riding away past the clutter of Leonards Farm at 6:15, with a target to be back for 9. Troll warns us that rain is expected but should be done by 8 ish.

Fine views from Lask Edge Road (trig point in the field is at 336m) with a panorama of the Roaches, Shutlingsloe and Shining Tor to the East, and Mow Cop, the Mid Cheshire Ridge, and the Welsh borders to the West.

Fine flowers in the meadows, and fresh growth in the hedgerows curling out to snag those who get too close.

The ascent to the Cloud is a meandering shared trail that is rooty, muddy but totally rideable and a very nice climb – if a touch soft in places..and watch out for the low branches in places!

When we break cover to the heathland, the sandy/rocky narrow trail is far less forgiving, so some pushing here and there until the last bit to the Trig.

More great views – and a big talking point is the wall of grey about to engulf Macclesfield! The wind direction where we are stood suggests it will miss us, but then Butty points out that the clouds are moving in a different vector..

Some local riders on bigger rigs come up, and after a brief chat they head down the rocky route.

We follow soon after – and find it’s not a flowy as we remember – a distinct need to use the sides more or commit to drops then rocks.

Far more fun is the purpose built trail in the woods – swoopy berms, flowy drops and lots of fun! Even with the odd semi submerged section, and some slippy roots in places it’s still fantastic.

Whist we regrouped partway down, Lee had consulted his weather app and told us confidently that we were safe from rain.

By the time we were at the bottom of the next section, we could hear the gentle patter of raindrops on the leaf canopy, and as we headed down some lanes to get onto the Staffordshire way, we needed to put on waterproofs. Looking to right some very dark clouds were overtaking us!

We’ll be fine under the trees say’s Phil – and it does give a decent amount of cover, we pass a guy practicing his Rapping skills, and a slightly glum couple out walking in gym gear realizing that they are going to get damp!

This triggers 3 Sheds to reminice on what features he looks for in the landscape when on a walk, and he’s not the only one. Opportunity would be a fine thing.

Time and weather dampen any enthusiasm to extend the loop, so we swing East, get some tour guide patter on the history of the Biddle halls, and make a stop at Cabbage Cottage to see progress.

A fine construction it is, we admire the stonework, the pallets of Stafforshireshire Blue tiles ready to begin affixing to the roof as soon as the inset solar panels are fitted next week.

A slightly flexy ladder leads up the scaff to the roofline, affords good views over the trees, and a closeup of the Green Man gable stone.

Inspection complete, and skies clearing, time for the last climb back up to Hot Lane and refreshments!

Ruth has already lit the firepit, and the BBQ, so with a fine cloudy citrusy ale in hand we can admire the stunning sunset unfolding in the West.

Nibbles include “baked beans on a stick” – not the heinz variety but huge creamy butterbeans in tasty sauce. There is also some warm bread and spicy dip.

We get to sample some Keeved cider – really nice.

The main event is sliced BBQ’s kebab in pitta’s with superb salad, fantastic falafels, and a wonderful chicken ,rice , aubergine and tomato fried concoction that would make a lebanese style kitchen proud!

To a great playlist we sit round the firepit and enjoy the big sky views, spot stars, planes (id’d with Flight tracker app), and satellites. Talk of a chinook going over Poynton and Cheadle yesterday. Lees next bike trip options…it all depends on the weather, and his DuoLingo skills! Also a new unit of firewood – 1 bin lid’s worth (good use of bin lid Bern!)

With the 5l cask empty, we get some random tins from the frige of doom, and enjoy sampling those before the pudding stout comes out.

The day trippers soon depart, and the overnighters get started on the Tamavulin.

Tis well past the witching hour before we head to bed.

The next morning a hearty breakfast of Oatcakes with cheese, bacon, black pudding, sausage, egg and tomatos is being rustled up by our hosts, with tea and coffee being dispensed liberally.

Sunny and clear – more features on the horizon are being discussed – a big white towerlike structure Wrexham way, something akin to a big sail near Liverpool, and closer to the house – the wonky trailer in the field (Quirky Calendar opportunity – the trailer in all seasons?)

A fine do, a happy Troll, extra special thanks to Ruth for having us and being chief house elf.

Words by Alex, Photos by Pete

Crew: El Pres, Dunc, Slim, Stunt

Route: Rainbow bridge, Redway, “under Nancy”, Waulkmill wood, back of Kerridge, Rainow, Robin Hood, Oakenbank, Poachers.

Conditions: Warm, humid and moist.

Notes:

The big lump of wet stuff on the radar moving across the country for most of the day had deterred many, but with a deferred start to co-incide with the back edge clearing us, the four riders assembled in good order on a damp middlewood way. Stunt giving the semi-fat rigid Marin an outing instead of the KTM.

Stunt suggests a slackish route with a cheeky Robin Hood stop, no one is arguing, even Dunc – who is saving himself for a big Gravel weekend in mid Wales.

TNR first as El Pres releases some blue beetles into the undergrowth, having removed them from his tree hugging nursery where they were causing issues.

Pete has set an alarm on his phone to remind him to give El Pres a tool he has borrowed to sort his rear shock, very organised…although El Pres claims his tool is now redundant (phnarr phnaar) as the design of the fox shock has changed.

New fencing around the gate at the Canal to the double track, but nothing new in the huff and puff to get up Nancyside lane to the top, especially on such a humid evening.

Variation on the descent by going all the way down and then up Waulkmill wood – which is short but not without challenge – no one cleans it in one go, but tubby tyres show their worth. Photo above !

Kerridge is wet grass, wet slabs, and slightly muddy, with the field crossings hard work on the climbs to gates, Dunc has to stop and de-layer due to overheating!

The slope of doom is not too bad, but the stream crossing muddy patch is much deeper than expected – you needed momentum to get through without a dab.

The most dangerous part of the ride is parking the bikes on the decking at the Robin Hood, so slippy that the bikes almost don’t stand up!

Our arrival has co-incided with Rainow Ukele setting up, so we hasten to the back room to sip our pint of Boltmaker and reflect on last weeks bad behavoir which Chris missed, and the impressive exploits of Harry running all the Snowdonian peaks over 100 miles non stop!

Back out for a final climb up Oakenbank, a quick stop to take in murky views of gently steaming woods, then a rapid descent – new hazard at the end with a vehicle parked with it’s back end partly across the track. With the sun getting low and temperature dropping a hint – a hint of mist in the hollows!

Plenty of bikes parked up in the Poachers garden, and a warm welcome as always. Lightweight 3.7% Faithless the ale of choice, and in the spirit of healthy options no red meat is being consumed!! Three Hallouimi’s and a Scampi.

Wide ranging debates on reliability of vehicles – Mk4 golfs and 2010 Audi A3’s getting high scores, lightbulb replacement (too often needed on a Mk6 golf) and newfangled LED headlights will need whole unit replacement it seems. The benefits of dog ownership, the “joys” of offspring learning to drive/being able to drive.

Duns shows us the MRI scans of his knee – that white bit on the left hand side should be on the right – but its now out of the way so i may be able to get running again soon…fingers crossed.

On a temperate evening there was no Whisky (we tried to calculate how much we had imbibed last week…and it made for shocking numbers), a gentle Leffe finish instead before settling up and wending our way home…and to ponder why was Pete’s bag so heavy??

Words by Alex, Photos by Pete

Crew: El Pres, Slim, Troll, G, Stunt

Pub: Dunc, Ruth

Route: Bottom of Zag, Zag, Teggs, Leathers, Witches cottage, Hacked way lane, Chazza, Forest Chapel, Leathers.

Conditions: Cold, damp, miserable.

Even the most stiff upper lipped chap might now be getting mildy annoyed at the persistent rain, cold and general grimness of what is allegedly “Spring” with winter like conditions for yet another Thursday night.

Despite this a core of riders assembled at Backeddisbury lane for a forestish loop where the trails are generally well drained, and with even Teggs covered by low cloud – the route options are quite limited.

G arrives on time shocker! and what is this, the e machine is different, shiny Whyte and new. Lighter and more MTB like than the previous “Moto” style iteration, it is indeed a nice looking bike (and not that much heavier than some of our acoustic sussers – so very liftable over stiles!).

It’s the inaugural ride for the new steed, at the other end of the spectrum Pete is discussing replacement rear shock bolt(bush?) after a decade of service on the JPS special orange five, and Stunt shows the tie wrap around his main pivot bolt – which is badly worn but does not seem to be available as a replacement part (much threadlock used to hold it in).

Bike geekery over, it’s time to ride (too cold & wet to faff about), and we opt to to the Zag and head into Teggs on the main path given that there are not likely to be many dog walkers about in this weather.

On that score we only saw two hardy ladies who gave us a friendly welcome as fellow nutters out in the grim weather.

The Teggs descent was best tackled taking lines on the rocky bits – as anything remotely green was soft and slimy!

The Shrubberies is coming along nicely it seems – Doors and windows in evidence! 🙂

We drop into the Leathers and order food for later, then back out to do our Forest loop.

Some tree felling on the RHS of the track up to Witches cottage, not wholesale clearance, more some thinning (so far).

Some lung busting effort needed on Hacked Way lane (or some e assist!) before tackling Charity.

Regrouping at the top of Chazza, G asks how many are tubeless with Troll admitting that even with his new rear tyre he still has a tube, El Pres glances at his own rear tyre and curses loudly – he was thinking what is that big slug doing on my wheel…when it dawns on him that it is a black inner tube hernia of impressive proportions!

The tyre has come away from the bead (yet again) – No BANG this time, but a third identical failure from three new tyres is suggesting a root cause. However we need to get him to the pub, a short discussion opts for the simplest and quickest solution (it’s not a night to be faffing in the cold and wet). A plastic patch on the outside of the tyre held in place by two tie wraps.

With off road both ways, we opt for the main chazza descent (El Pres to walk the chunky bits) then road back from Forest chapel.

It survives charity, but the plastic is moving a bit, so a third tie wrap and some tyre pressure adjustment is made.

He makes the pub in gentle freewheel mode!! A classic tie wrap win (and it turns out these are holding in the hernia without the need for the plastic (which came out anyway).

Warm fires, complementary hot arancini (deep fried risotto balls), and some dry layers and all is good.

Chortling as “cashlow” Kershaw has a cold and dead phone – which = no apple pay, the tech changes but the moniker sticks!

It’s an Adnams IPL (we never work out what the L stands for) ale, artisan style food, and plenty of banter and gentlemens Philsophical discussions. Suspicions that Troll reads up on wikipedia on wednesdays in order to quote niche facts!

Northumbrian bagpipes are heard from the far side, and a vast improvement on the Rainow ukeleies! A win for Langley 😉

Dunc arrives to join the table, and Ruth not long after.

G manages to coax the i device back into life long enough to pay his main bill, but is tempted into a further pint not long after, and we will delight in having to cover his bill for him 😉

Definitely a night for a stiff whisky before venturing back out into the wet for a cold ride home (with extra glass in the tesco underpass for the Tythy boys).

El Pres has a spare tyre (courtesy of Ruth) which he opts to carry and venture home on the three tie wrap fix. Three rings later he confirms he got home on them!

Time for some strongly worded comms with Shwalbe marketing dept methinks!