drunkcyclist2

words by Alex, photos by Pete

Crew: Funky, El Pres, Slim, Troll, G, Butty, Stunt, Lee

Route: Back Eddisbury, Calrofold Lane, Rainow, Smith Lane, Bank Lane (Cheshire Corkscrew), Jenkin Chapel, Pym Chair, Shrine descent, Errwood Hall, Shooters Clough, Stakeside, Tea Rooms, Stanley Arms, Standing Stone, RHS & LHS tracks, ressies, Leathers Smithy.

Conditions: Warm, Windy, muddy

Notes:

Funky Dunc set’s out a big ride, and on a windy night we are still going high!

Starting on road we have to contend with the back end of commuter traffic through Rainow, with as usual the noisiest motor behind us turning out to be an old corsa with a dodgy exhaust! 😉

Once onto smith lane it’s a grind to get the legs warmed up for what is to come.

Regrouping on Bank lane the dark cloudy skies almost appear to be held up by the red lights of Winter Hill and Holme Moss in the distance. Some camera knobbery ensues.

The corkscrew has a shallow layer of slippery mud and pine needles over the wet rocks – top half is trecharous! One day we need to do it on a warm dry night..

Down to the bridge the cobbles are dry and sure, then the long long slog up to Pym chair. The good news is that there is wind assist, welcome even for eButty who is worried he used too much turbo to get to the start on time, and is using the minimum he can bear. No such concerns for eG who whooshes past everyone as he catches up (and gets some gasped comments for his trouble).

All that effort is soon to be rewarded with the LHS of the street down to the gate, and then the track past the Shrine all the way down to the stream. Its mostly dry, the ruts wide enough for pedals, and it’s a great run down 🙂

At the bottom there is some grumbling as some of us have not paid attention to the published route, and Funky is taking us out offroad and into wind!

There is some pushing up shooters clough with only the ebikes and the rigid fortitude making it up properly.

The old coach road however is much better – plenty of grip, not too steep, and if it wasn’t for the headwind it might have been fun!?

On any other November night it would have been biting, but warm air means a windproof is only needed right at the top (if you can get it on without losing it!)

Road descent to the Stanley Arms requires aero and plenty of concentration to avoid being blown off line.

Still time to explore the RHS tracks (post logging apocalypse), enjoying fast stuff down to the road, LHS options before a final blast on tired legs past Bob’s bench and to the cosiness of the Smithy.

Packed with bikers it is – and a much younger crowd too, this is good to see 🙂

Duchars, Neckoil and hot food are hungrily consumed. Dunc and G admit to some little off’s along tonight’s route.

El Pres books us in for the xmas TNR ride dinner, and Ruth arrives to get the whisky in!

Still very breezy on the way home, over 13C still, and Butty’s battery get’s him home on it’s last gasp.

Dunc confirms that total climb for the evening broke the 3000ft barrier – an official Munro night!

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

Pub: TJ

Route: RB, Endon House Climb, back of Kerridge, Rainow, Oakenbank, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale Road, Sponds, Dale Top, quarries descent, Birchencliffe, Long Lane, Poachers

Conditions: Still, clear, mild & dry.

Notes: A fine autumn day leads to a fine evening weatherwise, so a route to go high with a view to a Bolly finish is floated by Stunt.

We actually manage to assemble and set off within tolerance, Butty meeting us at the Canal with instructions to pass the oncoming horse slowly. We do our duty and are thanked by the rider :-). Despite being officially after sunset, there is still plenty of light above, albeit pretty dark under the trees past Endon House on the washed out old road. At the start of Kerridge the hills to the East are still gently lit, houses and cars lights stand out as brighter spots, and the first star (planet?) is out low in the sky.

A couple of dog walkers flag that there are some young cattle on the track to Rainow, and once down the steep snicket there are four of them blocking the path, and wandering up to the gate ahead of us. They are a bit skittish, so lights off, and gently past , they then skidaddle back the way we came.

After all this excitement we realise we are two riders down, El Pres and Bern. No answer on the phone, and we glimpse rear lights further along Kerridge – they must have gone straight on…and Pete then says they will have issues at Waulkmill wood with a big tree down (they did). We trust in live location, and an obvious RV at the end of Oakenbank.

Which is where we now head, stopping at the crest to admire a beautifully sillouhetted White Nancy against a red sky. Rapid descent and regroup at the start of Blaze hill, and lo El Pres and Bern appear climbing up from the Poachers.

Across to Pott Shrigley through some cold air pockets, before the long road climb up to the Gristone trail beyond Brink farm. Still mild at the gate, and some yorkshire spelling emerging on the roadsign beyond “Oncoming Traffic in middl o roa ” 😉

Dry and grippy all the way past the 1975 stone, and an amazing orange 3/4 moon rises to our right.

The “Iceberg” of paper waste has all gone, but we finally get a chilly breeze at the trig point on Sponds. Admire the views across the plain to Winter Hill, and across the peaks to Holme Moss.

Across the down and ups to Dale Top, with a few sheep deciding to move out of our way, we realise again that we are two down (careless!). This time it’s Pete and Bern (Camera’s are touted as the reason), and we see two lights descending and coming in our direction.

The quarry descent is rocky and fast, with potentially hazardous fast moving mutton missiles on the final stretch to moorside lane (luckily none come too close in the end).

A full e motorbike follows some of us down sparking some eC***ery grumblings.

Birchencliffe properly wet again for the first time since last winter – which is a bit of a shock (especially for those without mudguards!)

Just time for the final leg to Long Lane and the short climb up green lane for the even shorter descent on Beeston Brow and into Bolly.

Poachers quite busy, special Pie the right choice (for those lucky enough to get the last 2 slices), pub margin on the Inception must be good (£7 a pint!!), with the Wincle Bengal Buttress a bargin at £4.

TJ arrived with tales of employment and plans for overwintering in the Alps, and a cunning plan for a Poynton based ride in a couple of weeks.

Air temp on the way home not too bad – summer gloves still acceptable!

Crew: Slim, El Pres, PTD, Butty, TJ, 3 Sheds, Dr S, Stunt

Route: Riverside Park, Bollin track to Prestbury, Chelford Road, Finlow Hill lane, Bradford lane, Hocker Lane (with Alderley Park mini loop), Slade Lane, Finlow Hill again, Spooky woods both sides of Artists lane and out at the Owl, Wizard, Beacon, back through Prestbury, Prestbury lane after crossing the railway, Flash lane, Cock & Pheasant.

Conditions: Cool, damp, a bit muddy

Notes:

Birthday boy Pete gets to choose the route so off to the back lanes around the Edge we go!.

After an unexpected heavy shower as folk are preparing, we follow the rainbow to the start of the ride. The sun is low, and the pink tinged clouds reflect in the water of the Bollin as we dodge the last of the daylight dog walkers (and the odd cloud of bugs).

Gents barbershop still doing haircuts for the afterwork crowd as we emerge from Bridge Green, lights definitely needed for the climb up Chelford road (which warms those who were claiming it was a chilly start).

At the start of Finlow Hill lane a whole pile of wooden fruit boxes have been fly tipped – which is suprising as you would have thought nice wood like that would be being flogged as firewood!

Sliver of moon above the treetops, bats fluttering, the odd owl calling, and the descent of Bradford is proper muddy and slippy with a green tinged set of cobbles to finish with.

The AP diversion is always worth doing, before carrying on back up Hocker, then onto Slade with good views across the plain early on.

A second traverse of Finlow Hill lane, but this time follow Right back to the main road, then a sharp Left into the trees, and the muddy singletrack across to Artists lane, a couple of patches of spooky mist adding to the atmosphere.

The former commuters lead us through Windmill wood, and near the bottom Butty leads us Left to the sandy field – avoiding the swampy bit. We discover that the bottom right corner is the correct way out (having crossed a big ditch to exit on the top right). A final spin up to the Wizard (soon to be a house??) and then out to the Beacon for celebratory pie & whisky.

With a hard stop for our table booking, it’s route one to the pub with the road to Prestbury giving us the cool then warm layers of air up and down the dips! A friendly reception at the Cock and Pheasant where we are well looked after. Atlantic ale, wainwrights and some cider!!

Plenty of catching up and bant’s with a cheeky final dram for the mini AoE.