drunkcyclist2

Words by Alex, Photos by Pete

Crew: El Pres, Slim, Troll, Butty, Dunc, Stunt

Pub: 3 Sheds, Adrian & Biscuit, Ruth

Route: Top of Bull Hill, Charity, Extension, Tea Rooms, Shining Tor, Left Hand trail down and up over Andrew’s edge to Hooleyhey lane, Ewrin lane, Smith lane, Rainow, Oakenbank, Poachers.

Conditions: Sunny & dry, cool breeze initially.

Notes:

After a dreary day the clouds parted late afternoon to give us a fine evening for a ride.

A long overdue visit to the grassy trail off shining tor is the aim of tonights route.

Troll gets a Ruthie blue van assist to the rv (and we all get Ruthie hugs!)

With Dunc running late and meeting us at the tea rooms it’s time to get going – and pop a cheeky charity into the mix.

A lot of raptor action tonight – three buzzards were having a flap about territory as we looked Maccwards from our rendevous point, and two kestrels were patrolling the fields on the right hand side of tarmac charity (and Pete spotted another one later on).

Charity had a “damped down” quality with the rocks settling back into a bit of moist sandy soil, it rode very well and not too wet lower down.

In forest chapel the first of many waits for our photographer (super light again this week), and we are kept amused by a hiccuping sheep, the sight of Butty coming to get a video seemed to cure it immediately!

Extension getting gnarly, but we spit out at the bottom without incident (if you don’t count a couple of arm grazes from overhanging brambles)

The long winch up to the Buxton road gives plenty of time to admire the scenery, and wonder about the lack of progress at the part built barnage at the horsey place on the LHS.

Dunc is waiting patiently for us at the tea rooms, and a few dog walkers on the trail across the top. A chilly breeze has sprung up – so layers on at Shining Tor.

We are now riding directly into the sun, sunglasses though are now a mixed blessing as the sun sinks lower. Over the wall and onto the main event – it’s in better condition than we hoped – only a few bogs of doom to catch out unsuspecting front wheels – a dab or two here and there!

At another regroup for cameraman, we spot a crossing path that heads back to the main road – Dunc’s online mappage seems to show it stopping after a short distance – but OS does show it going all the way to the road meeting the entrance to Longclough farm.

Lots of stops to simply look in awe at the panoramas beautifully lit, and clear air giving rise to a rare glimpse of Snowdonia beyond the Clwyds.

Lamaload is reflecting a red sun, and we descend the final slopes with the last of the light.

Rural crime team vehicles parked up on Pike road, but we are taking the Smith lane route down to Rainow to get Oakenbank in. Lights on as white nancy is sillouhetted against a darkening sky, a grumpy farmer partway down with a car in the field muttering about his right of way, and then the welcome of the Poachers – with 3 Sheds in residence.

Pumps of doom are popular, although the beardown citrus IPA, and the stout do decent business.

Nut roast for a second week running for El Pres (but he does polish it off eventually!)

Pics of evil tups – and much mirth ensuing, plenty of banter – and with Troll being collected he’s making sure he doesn’t miss out on the drinks, he leads the AoE into a second whisky! Pete may be barred from choosing next time – the first had banana notes..ie too young, then he overcorrects with Smokehead which is all nose and no body…but we are having too much fun to care, and also enjoying Adrian (and being careful with our feet with Biscuit under the table).

Cool on the ride home as the clear skies have let all the heat out!

Crew: El Pres, Slim, 3 Sheds, Butty, Croxy, Lee, Stunt, G

Sutton Ressie: Doog

Route: Bottom of the zag, Charity, Narnia, cut back to do the cheeky swoopy trails, road to Smithy, across the bottom of the ressie, little climb up to the road, Hanging Gate, Croker Hill, RH side decent to Croker Lane, Chez Doog, Sutton Reservoir.

Conditions: Hot, dry and lots of flying bugs in the forest.

Notes:

Finally a fine evening in prospect – and it would be rude not to go al fresco! Discussions started early the day before, but reports of flymaggedon in the forest suggested more creativity needed. Enter Doog with a generous offer of doing the logistics for a Sutton Reservoir beach pizza, beer and campfire event!

With a meet at 8:30 chez Doog to collect supplies as our target, El pres sets out a route across the forest and over Croker. It’s fair to say that on a warm night there were some slacker voices suggesting it might be a little ambitious, but it did sound a good plan!

Plenty of other riders out, as 3 other middle aged bikers were also meeting at our RV, and headed off just ahead of us, followed rapidly by two younger guys on e hybrids looking a bit out of place in college chic attire and no helmets!

A good night for sheep spotting, as the freshly shorn flocks contentedly grazed lush grass in the evening sunshine (well apart from the dead one in a field between windy ways and walker barn). A lot of Tups out, easily identified by a burly appearance and huge boy bags down past their back knees!

The wisdom of avoiding a forest eating location is vindicated at charity as they crawl all over Butty’s forearms, and carpet the track in places, DEET liberally applied at Narnia gate.

The ongoing route discussion about getting across the forest in time is settled as Butty takes us to the the reverse of the swoopy singletracks that PTD showed us uphill back in June. It’s a smart move (although watch out for the steep exit onto the fireroad part way – El Pres ends up in a small conifer to break his fall)

Having emerged low down on the main track , its straight down the road past the Leathers (busy with many a walker and jiggly jogger) past the ressie and up to the road.

Plenty of time to chat on the climb past the Hanging gate (also busy) and along the ridge before the A54 decent and final climbs to Croker – where G finally catches us up.

A route committee comes to a conclusion that we don’t have time to do the classic down and exit near the Ryles as this would mean a long ride round to Doogs, so we should take the direct route – which no one has done in a long time. Digital mappage is consulted, and we identify the track to take. In the event it’s a proper roadway with footpath permissions, no gates and a smooth rapid ride where we met no-one (or even got barked at by any farm dogs). Popping out onto Leek old road we are a little early, and welcomed by Isla and Eunice and a very happy pooch. We get to meet the pet snails, wear out the pooch playing tug, and chat happily to Eunice. Doog soon arrives with the beer, and the Pizza is delivered soon after that! saying our goodbyes we head down the lane and along the side of the ressie to the “beach” at the end. 9 Pizzas in an IKEA blue bag on one handebar would make a good addition to the cycling world championship events! They all arrived safely 🙂

Excellent they were – and condiment chris excelled himself by having several dips that others donated him!

The ducks -mostly mallards but with one white puddle duck (Lee’s favourite) were happily dabbling nearby – but then came zooming over once the prospect of pizza crust crumbs were on offer.

Magnumesque salted caramel ice cream lollies to follow, and a palate cleansing Mojito to toast Butty’s birthday from Stunt.

Then the important business of making a campfire, sticks are foraged, and Croxy and Stunt use the cardboard as kindling (schoolboy error on wind direction meant a second match was needed!) and soon we have plenty of flame – not that it’s cold.

As the number of empty beer cans goes up, the sun goes down, and in come squadrons of geese returning to roost on the water.

The usual diverse mix of serious discussion and banal banter is as it should be.

Butty brings out a hip flask of scotch, and a very dubious little bottle of “green snot” (fortunately only enough for he and Pete to taste). Doog also breaks out some proper speyside smoothness.

The cloud cover that had been with us for a while breaks up and we get to see some stars before dousing the fire and taking what little litter remained.

A warm ride home (if a little wobbly).

and no bugs !!

Top effort team Doog – our thanks as ever

Crew: Troll, Slim, 3 Sheds, PTD, Dunc, Butty, Stunt

Route: Lask Edge, The Cloud, Biddulph bridleway, Biddulph Grange, Hurst Road, Eliases Lane, Chez Troll.

Conditions: Warm and sunny

Notes:

As planned last week we venture to sunny Staffordshire to do a figure of eight loop of the Cloud and Mow Cop.

Vehicle assist to the start point at Phil & Ruths for most, but Ebike direct for PTD!

A second outing of the year for Stunts steel rigid semi fat bike as there has not been any maintenance time for full suss with the naughy moving bearings from last weeks DNF.

Roads and lanes North (and back into Cheshire) to the Cloud, with uphill rooty singltrack under trees is all climbable, then onto the rocky sandy moor (where there is some pushing).

Views at the trig are excellent – with a fair few other bikers, walkers and dogs also enjoying a fine evening.

Chunky rocky drops on the way down which need a bit of speed to get the flow (not all of us succeeded).

Then a fantastic swoopy downhill track through the woods – screechiest brakes of the year award to Stunt!

Perfect conditions – big smiles 🙂

A mix of lanes and bridleways take us to Biddulph and the start of the “killer mile” up to Mow Cop.

Whilst debating if we have enough time, a young lad on his bike is out practicing wheelies, and admiring our bikes – encouragement and some fatherly advice on helmets is dispensed in the nicest possible way.

It seems we don’t have time, so we head back past Biddulph Grange gardens and up to the building site to inspect Troll’s big project. Much admiration for the dressed stone and engineering that has gone into getting the lower of three stories built into the side of a hill with streams on both sides. There is a lot of land too – and we get to see a bit of it by hacking some paths through the bracken.

A last climb back up to Hot lane, and a joint of slow cooked lamb crisping the coating on a spit.

Lack of lager shocker for 3 Sheds – and he goes totally off piste with a 6.8% stout

Beer, fire pit lit, and then an asian style cucumber chilli cold soup, and amazing asian rice salad (TNR first – the boys went back for more), then melt in your mouth lamb in homemade pitta’s.

It starts to cool, and we get an impromptu Ali G competition between PTD & Butty.

Extra special celebration for PTD with news of Harry (Shaun and Laura’s baby) born in the early hours. We We toast the proud parents and grandparents with Wireworks whisky – which has a superb mouthfeel and flavour!

As the light finally fades, the growlers of ale empty, and the firepit flames flicker, the day trippers depart.

The overnighters slip into the whisky zone to a mellow soundtrack into the wee hours.

Restorative tea and brekkies the next day after a sound sleep.

Thanks to our amazing hosts – and yes Phil we will do Mow Cop next time (but we need to start earlier) 😉