drunkcyclist2

Crew: EL Pres, Lee, TJ, Butty, 3 Sheds, Troll, Slim, Croxy, Stunt

Pub: Adrian and Biscuit

Route: Bottom of the Zag, Charity, Extension, Tea Rooms, Cat, Danebower Hollow, Cumberland clough & brook, Wildboarclough, Standing stone, Nessit, Ressies, Sutton Hall.

Conditions: Sunny,dusty dry, windy

Notes:

This week Stunt set the route for a classic three hills ride as the fine dry weather continues.

A return to full strength plus a bonus Croxy back from hiking the Camino Nord no less.

TJ in matching orange orange, and orange top needs some support from the chasing ButtyE to reindex troublesome gears and they drop back and take the main road.

Despite the sunshine the wind is strong and cold, so no hanging about tonight, over a very rocky and loose chazza and extension, before a hard slog up from Bottom’o’oven to the tea rooms into wind.

Butty is lounging at the top taking pics of the struggling acoustic riders as they come up to meet the main road – at which point the wind starts to turn in our favour (phew!)

At the tea rooms a curlew calls, then circles and settles on a fence post near the track, and we see skylarks who must also have a nest nearby.

The fine weather has brought out the motorbikes and roadies with a selection of both briefly stopping opposite the Cat for the views before carrying on.

We head across Danebower, find the midpoint gate flat on it’s back (rotted base of the main post the culprit) then it’s fast and furious down to the A54.

At the start of Chumby Butty promises a special bottle of something to have lower down, he leads the descent and just short of the first gate (also on it’s back) he is properly taken out by a ninja sheep!

He’s fortunate to escape with gravel rash on one forearm, trashed trousers, and (worst of all) a scratch on a new phone!

With some re-adjustment of saddle and brake levers back to their normal positions, we carry on down to the waterfall (trickle), and the brook – now a line of damp stones, to the ford.

Lee carries out some wound washing whilst the Troll is delegated the dishing up of “Little Lin” a bottle of clear liquor of oriental origin that Butty bought at an asian supermaket whilst buying a Machete (he’s probably on a watch list somewhere now!!)

It’s got a hint of pear drops, a raw taste, and – there’s no other way to put it – a cow poo finish! 😉

Funnily enough there are no takers for seconds (might have been better used to sterilise the gravel rash)

Countryside points to Lee for riding back up to shut the gate before we meander along the Wildboarclough road. A couple of red deer up in one of the fields to the right, rhodedenrons in purple flower, and Alapaca’s and “hairy coos” at Dingers hollow farm (under new ownership?).

A very welcome wind assist up to Standing stone, with 30 minutes to table booking we get a Presidential decree to take the route via Nessit. Low sun shining orange in the haze is very atmospheric, care still needed on loose bits all the way down.

Despite the winds some clouds of flies/midgies lurked across the road into Langley.

Sutton Hall arrival 9:00 exactly!

Worrying times as the first two ales requested immediately ran out (also consolation free halves from the aussie barman). Pete is relieved to find that the Dawn Chorus 6% (but tasting like 4) is a bargain at only 40p more than the Lord Lucan (and therefore better value per unit alcohol!).

Lee is persuaded to stay for one pint (and then orders food) 🙂

Adrian and Biscuit make a welcome appearance late on.

Steak burger/baguette roulette as we get a 3/2 split the wrong way (but hey that’s the way it goes sometimes), and a late garlic bread finally finds it’s way to Phils fish stew. The big ride has meant bigger appetites, sadly there is no chance of seconds of chips with the friers switched off, but table cheesboards do the trick.

Much love for Northern spain, and a floating of a TNR trip there next year?

We miss last orders for Whisky Grr.

There is still the last of the light in the western sky as we head homewards, spot a hedgehog crossing the road at the end of the Sutton Hall drive, and a Badger reported by Pete.

Crew: Troll, El Pres, Slim, Butty, Dunc, Coley, G, 3Sheds, Lee, Dr S, PTD, Stunt

Pub: Ruth

Route: Muller Corner, Zig, Teggs, Langley, Smithy, reverse ressie to White Rabbit climb, Dan’s bench, Ferriser, fire road, usual trails down and round past Bob’s bench, Smithy.

Conditions: Overcast but humid, dusty dry trails

Notes:

A big upcoming birthday to celebrate for our resident musical long haired builder bloke. A fine evening for a semi slack ride to a vantage point in prospect.

A triple set of eMTB’s with G arriving on time on his big green one. At the other end of the spectrum Coley’s niche geekiness for folding bikes is finally outed with pictures of the red space framed Moulton.

El Pres leads us off and up to Teggs – with flowers in the grass and yellow in the gorse making a fine vista.

G runs his eMonster up to the top gate in order to do the descent, but can’t quite make the top 180 turn and has a dab, he tries again with the same result, and on the return to the group finds his chain has come off – cue much faffing and a full e support team involvement! chain guide is finally unbolted and rebolted as the only solution.

Heading downhill some brown trouser moments as it’s as dry and loose as spanish trail – and some of us don’t have the right technique to hand when we need it!

All arrive safely at the car park, with the two Langley reservoirs still as the proverbial mill pond, the only ripples caused by a couple of ducks and a diving Grebe!

Time to pop in to order food and debate the route to Dan’s bench, which is the white rabbit ascent.

Plenty of folk walking dogs, or enjoying the evening air, the e-Ers go up the singletrack whilst the acoustic majority slog up the main trail.

Cresting Nessit all benches are full! but the ladies with dogs on Dan’s bench are about to leave so by the time we are all arrived we can claim it for ourselves.

Phil has lived up to his own high standards with homemade sausage roll with apple and dates (think sausage strudel!) and a chilled chilli pepper vodka. Properly imbibed with a “down in one” you get a cool burn then a warm burn. There is enough for thirds!

To comments about seeing you next Tuesday, he is presented with a card – and our gift of a day’s recording studio time (in a glamourous former office basement in Hanley!). All he needs to do now is decide what to record!

With time on our side PTD suggests contouring over to Ferriser and heading down the trails under the trees. They are in fine condition (although some deep ruts to watch out for).

At the bottom fire road Butty attempts to climb back up the steep side – and promptly does a “G” with an indentical chain loss…

Faff resolved and with the sun finally out we ride into the light down and round to the Smithy.

Somehow the radiators are on inside!!! and there are dire warnings from John about the low levels of real ales in the kegs…although neckoil and lagers are safe. Is it a cunning plan to upsell to the pricier pints? irrespective plenty follow his advice, with a few taking the risk with the BoonDoggle.

Pete’s gammon (with double egg) arrives quite a while before all the rest (has he a special arrangement!?)

We soon polish off our own plates, the beers keep flowing, Jungle tales from G, lots of suggestions for album and track names, and with another 80’s soundtrack playing plenty of name the band in between.

Best laugh of the night…my Cat is named after Bradley Wiggins….oh! what’s his name (Wiggo?) – Bradley!

..maybe you had to be there 😉

Much reminicing and a proper axis of evil with John granting Whisky requests, and a late finish.

Suprisingly chilly on the way down, so plenty of hard peddling to get warm on the way home.

Crew: El Pres, Slim, Dunc, Stunt

Pub: El Pud

Route: RB, Endon house climb, Lidgetts lane, back of Kerridge, Waulkmill wood, Poachers Snicket, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale road to layby, climb to Dale top, quarries descent, Moorside lane, Pott Shrigley, Poachers.

Conditions: Cool, damp & windy

Notes:

The fairweather riders had taken a look at the forecast and sent in their apologies (or photos from warmer climes) leaving a select band to fly the flag.

Assembling on the Middlewood matching hi vis waterproofs with blue or black leggings were the order of the day (although Dunc was overdoing the blue). But were we overdressed? as the precipitation had stopped and latest predictions were for it to stay that way.

A semi-recovery ride for half the team, so a modest route planned.

Despite the earlier rain ground conditions were firm and not very muddy (in fact there were dry patches under the trees in places).

Lots of dwadling dogs and slighly glum owners well wrapped up in the unseasonably cool evening were pottering along the snicket, and at the poachers an old chap being helped to a car by a younger relative took interest in the bikes – what’s that on the back? 11? it were 2 up front and 5 at the back in my day (we hope he enjoyed the memories)

Windy tonight, and any thoughts of a road climb to the Gritstone are quickly abandoned as beyond the layby was properly into wind and exposed. Even the off road route was getting head to cross, the marsh grass still low enough to see the line properly, but damp grass underwheel made for heavy going.

At the stile, the double gates just far enough apart to make it tricky to clear the pedals on the way down, Dunc left his hanging whilst he went up and over to get it from the other side.

Lots of new lambs about, so plenty of bleating going on across the moor.

Fierce headwind on the final climb to Dale top, yet the “view” mainly was low murk – Manchester not visible!

Sheltering behind a high wall some Laphroig is administered, we get positive reviews of the colloidal dressings used on Dunc’s roadrash, and in depth discussions on seat post construction.

The Nancy’s pass us by check we are ok, then smile at the whisky’ing.

Almost too cosy out of the wind, but we rouse for the descent before the light goes, it’s fast with the wind now behind us – anyone else like it better when the rocks are obscured by the vegetation?

Lights on for the final run in to the pub.

Tactical baguettes at £10 mean more money for beer! Pete succombs to the tap of doom, the Pirate ale is excellent, the stout good to finish on. Tonights conversations revolve around repurposing old water tank supports for a mobile workbench, solar and battery geekery, and wallpaper that you paste the wall not the paper (good luck with that Dunc!).

El Pud graces us with his presence having come hot foot from Marple where he’s been running an MDOC event. Tales of new technology unsettling the old guard but bringing in lots of fresh blood!

A Leffe axis of evil 😉

Crew: El Pres, Troll, Lee, Stunt

Route: MC, Zig Zags, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Leathers, Witches Cottage, Hacked way lane, Charity, Extension, Standing Stone, RHS explore back to road, Smithy.

Notes:

This week there were more (legit) excuses than riders, but a core of four arrived on time at Muller corner in bright sunshine. WIth a stiff cold breeze and temperatures due to drop we looked rather out of place in waterproofs and long trousers – contrasting with the young chap in t shirt and shorts walking a dog!

Plenty of puddles and running water on the trails as we warm up uphill, clothing choices justified as no “boil in the bag” reported ;-).

Lots to enjoy with spring in full swing, lambs (full report later), a hare lolloping across a field, lots of bird activity and fresh green across the hills.

The old silver 4×4 was dropping two lads off at the start of charity – we saw them regularly last year I recall. Two fell runners also are heading up our way, one of whom is a mate of Trolls!

Regrouping and looking westwards we see a cloud of doom blocking out the light, dropping grey precipitation, and looking like it is coming our way. We think it will go slightly south of us…Lee jests that he will only give a 2 star review if the advertised “dry” ride turns out to be wet 😉

Chazza is wet with plenty of big loose stuff in random places. Turning into Narnia we have nice low sun coming through the trees, but as we crest for the first good view, there is darkness to our left, and under the trees by the bench hail starts to penetrate the canopy. Futher outer layers donned we continue, Hardingland slick wet with rain, but then after the stream we are out of it and back into sunnier skies!

Lower Teggs ford requires full committment, and the ressies are full, both slipways going full tilt.

We drop into the Leathers to order food, and a couple of bearded lads emerge pint in hand and ask us where we’ve been. They turn out to be on a ride from Stockport…to Turkey! (the main protagonist is then going to ride to Portugal, and then Peru) Lee swaps stories of Patagonia, we murmur approval when he reveals he’s on a Dawes Galaxy, and have to be dragged away to get the food order in.

Inspired by their endeavour El Pres decrees we ride back up to Chazza, which to blue skies and puffy clouds we do (outer layers shed at Witches cottage).

Deja Vu at the top of Hacked Way lane, another (albeit smaller) cloud of doom is on it’s way on identical track to the last one!

No hanging about and straight down Chazza and the extension. Lower extension deep in loose rockiness – akin to scree skiing! At Standing stone we are tight on time, but can’t resist seeing if the old under the trees RHS track is still there (with the trees gone). El Pre leads off, and it’s pretty much all there until the last 30m where there are too many felled tree remnants blocking the way (cordless chainsaw for an hour or so might do the trick here?). We divert to the road a touch early, then route one to the pub just as the mini shower hits.

Fresh cheese pies hit the spot for Lee & El Pres, with the other half on Scampi. A nice Adnams pale ale or Landlord the main ales of choice.

Conversation bounces around from Lime plaster to cloud photo frames with a dash of Patagonia and other musings.

No whisky shocker!! Dave is dead on his feet and closes the bar early, saving heads and wallets on our side.

Lamb report:

Field up to start of Charity – yet to lamb

Bottom of Hardingland – Clough House farm – recent lambs

Fields on LHS to standing stone, yet to lamb (or possibly yearlings).

Cold ride home!