drunkcyclist2

Crew: PTD, 2 Sheds, Butty, Stunt

Pub: Pete

Route: MC, zig zags, tea rooms (via charity for e bikers), Shining tor, RH turn across the moors to Hoolihey lane, Lamaload car park, down to the treatment works, steep grassy RH to the track that comes out above Rainow, Oakenbank, Poachers

Conditions: Clear, Dry, Cool

Another small group outing, and with fine weather and 50% ebikers, it’s time to venture further once more with a quick route discussion opting for Shining Tor and a Poachers finish.

The acoustic half of the team set off straight away whilst team e sort the pub logistics.

There is a superb low full moon in the sky as darkness descends, and with surprisingly light traffic on the main road, there is time to chat all the way to the tea rooms.

Team e chose to do charity on the way, and had a spooky experience at the top when they heard a voice calling “Hello” but could see no one about…slighly spooked they soon had a laugh at their own expense when Mark realised he’s accidentally played a clip of El Pres on the ski trip!

This explained how they were behind the hardworking acoutic duo who were just about to keep going when the e bikes were spotted.

Cold wind on the tops, with the half inch of rain from yesterday having softened the ground, but mostly good going.

Some discussion on how wet the trail to Lamaload would be, but there were no better options to be had, and once over the marshy start it was almost all rideable.

Temperatures falling rapidly under the clearish skies, and thick dew on the grass for the descent to Hoolihey lane made it a low grip situation!

The trees on the RH side of Lamaload have all been logged, and the track has more hardcore on it than before, and to the dismay of team e – bigger gates and all locked (including the field at the top). PTD glad of his lighter e!

More slippy grass to the treatment works, and a push up the first bit for those without assist. One last steep section on the track at the top then all downhill into Rainow, over Oakenbank and into the Poachers for a shade after 8:30.

Guinness for those respecting St Patrick, a dark porter to wash down the dortmund pilsner for others.

A lot of nostalgia for cars of the 90’s (Mr Ball wins with his Lancia Montecarlo), a run down of the covid infested ski trip, and a late appearance from our own Bolly bandit himself (who was tempted by the Devil to open the fridge of doom after a Leffe).

A chilly ride home, only one more TNR before the clocks change!

Crew: Slim, Dunc, Stunt

Pub: Butty, G, Adrian

Route: MC, Zig Zags, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Sutton Hall

Conditions: Steady rain, intermittent cloud, very wet trails

British understatement award to Stunt for declaring that the ride might be a bit drizzly..as departure time approached so did the bail outs, with only a 50% turnout at Muller corner. Butty did actually set off, but turned back after a few miles and arrived home soaked to the skin.

Making the most of the evening, route plan was initated, Funky astride the rigid fortitude (due to mechanical issues with the Tarn). With no wind, it was rather peaceful when stopped with the rain not being super heavy, but rather softly pattering steadily, and trickling noises from the rivulets on the ground.

All this water and mildness tempted the first of the frogs out, with a big one at the start of Chazza.

Too sloppy to risk the grassy RHS, the main lane very rocky and wet – although Dunc make it look easy with only limbs and some steely flex to cushion the ride! Not disastrously muddy in Narnia, and Hardingland top section was in a patch of cloud with low vis.

At the top of the steps to the ford, exited chatter from a pack of cubs being hurridly marshalled at the sight of lights approaching, we walked the steps to avoid panic, and to cries of “Do It Do It” we ride the ford as a crowd pleaser.

Pete warns us of a mud patch of doom further on, which is neatly avoided, and it’s heads down to the pub with the sound of metal on metal as Dunc’s rear brake gives up the ghost with an over extended caliper.

Another amphibian waits for us at the threshold of the back gate to the beer garden, and we lock up and shed wet gear for an early arrival to Sutton Hall.

Butty is waiting for us having driven over, and is rewarded with the special being an unpronouncable germaic grapefruit shandy (barman gamely gets it right when we ask what it is). Deerstalker (a nice sweet stout) is the popular choice, as is the burger. G also drives out, and Adrian makes a late appearance too.

Skiing conditions, examples of meeting people you know in the strangest of places, and general banter make for a cosy evening.

No sign of any let up in the weather, so by the time we are home it is a very wet three rings!

Words by Alex, Photos by Pete

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

Route: Riverside park, Beech Hall around the back of Tyth estate and under the railway line by the golf course, Bollin valley, Prestbury, Chelford Road, Finlow Hill Lane, Bradford Lane, Hocker Lane with Alderley Park excursion, Slade Lane, Finlow Hill Lane, track across to Windmill wood, Artists Lane Owl, Wizard, the Edge, descent to Mottram Road, Mottram , Oak Road, Prestbury, Butley Ash

Conditions: Mild, Less muddy than expected, bit breezy later

Notes:

A windyish forecast is enough to prompt an annual pilgrimage to the champagne triangle, and the Tythy riverside RV.

Mutiny at the off as 3 Sheds takes us the “high road” up to Beech hall and around the back of the estate, – more gates, and more climb, but some nicer trails and the Tythy woods next to the steps slither!

The rangers have been busy fencing off just after the “under the railway by the golf course” and a new gate is installed (although the fencing is not yet complete) we will see if the now redundant one by the railway line is removed!

Reminicences of fomer commutes through Prezza and up Chelford road, then on the quiet lanes to the Bradford lane “Gnar”. An owl spot by lead rider at the start of the descent. Up the start of Hocker then into Alderley Park (now totally legal!) and some extra off road – finishing with some very muddy singletrack back to Hocker proper.

Our second mini loop is back round towards the Wizard then into the woods and across the top of Artists lane into Windmill wood. Less muddy than expected – but still very muddy in places, and the lower waterlogged bit was badly churned by hooves making progress without stopping a proper challenge!!

Climb on road from the Owl, then across the main road and into the other woods, amazingly we arrive at the Edge proper without having taken a wrong turn!

Butty again has provisions on board (just because!) and treats us to proper snowballs, which Pete then follows up with some Chivas Regal.

Suitable fortified we also manage to find the right route down all the way to Mottram road!

A regroup finds that Croxy has lost both a bottle and a rear light! Spare lightage donated in the interests of safety, no time for Swiss Hill tonight, and a long spin back into Prezza and out the other side to the Butley Ash.

Very quiet in there (and very warm!) and we are well looked after by the team. A choice of only one cask ale, but Golden Hen is rather fine. A return to proper bants, geeky vehicle stories, a prime view of the Fuzz pulling over an old Beamer into the pub carpark (a regular occurrance we are told), and an AoE moderated to half a Pernoni and a Cotswold Whisky.

Most back home before the rain came in!

Words by Alex, Photos by Pete & Butty

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

Pub: Adrian & Biscuit

Route: Backeddisbury Lane at the start of the offroad zag, windyways, walkerbarn, tea rooms, cat, danebower hollow, cumberland clough and brook, standing stone, RHS singletrack, trails down to the visitor centre, ressies, sutton hall.

Conditions: Clear, sub zero, not much wind

Bern’s suggestion of a big train assisted ride is saved for warmer and lighter evenings, so instead we go big in the classic way!

A new RV is friendly for the Northern contingent, and allows some fine stargazing in a stunning clear moonless sky. Orion our winter friend is looking down on us, with plenty of other constellations visible, plus planes, satellites and a small shooting star (on cue for Pete!)

Not a night to hang about for very long though, and Bern arrives with on board warming supplies for later.

Tis a long ride to the Cat, especially for those who have been off the bike for a while, but an almost windless evening helps, and we are ghosted by a big barn own on the long drag before the wiggles to the tea room.

Ground is frozen and although there are iced over puddles it makes for good riding, the top of Danebower at the gate is not the place to stop though as there is always a wind up high, and its seriously parky!

No pause at the end either, and straight onto Chumby, with the cold having given Chris and Alex saggy seatpost syndrome – the cable operated seatposts succumb to some kind of issue in the cold where the hydraulics go up and down, but won’t lock!

Chumby is chunky as ever, and at the gate by the waterfall Bern warms us with some rather fine mulled wine.

A bit of nervousness about what icy fate we will face on the brook section, but in the end the stream is flowing and the sides are merely frosty (phew)

Butty is out of glove combos by the time we get to wildboarclough, and it’s one of those rare evenings where the climb to standing stone is a chance to warm up after the chill of the valley floor.

Stunt toasts what has been a fine route with some Laphroaig, Bern snaps the rising moon, and we opt for the RHS singletrack.

Under the trees it is just above zero, but the conditions are suprising excellent! Time to follow the tracks right and left down to the ressies and head for the warmth of Sutton Hall.

Quite busy it is – a thirst for a return to normality is in the air is seems.

After tales of overcustarding last week, the second course brigade chance tactics and opt for starters, deep fried whitebait and haloumi fries accompany the ales – including the weirdly named pint of Pint!

By the time the ribaldry kicks in, we are the only table left, and it is surely a night for a snifter before venturing outside again. More iodine scented lovliness from the Isaly distillery is imbibed, then all available layers donned!

Adrian leaves without his rucksack and glasses (hopefully not his driving ones!) but we spot it and he returns to be reunited within minutes.

Cracking winter classic night!