drunkcyclist2

Words by Alex, Photos by Pete

Multiple groups from: El Pres, Slim, Butty, 3 Sheds, Troll, Stunt, Dr S, Croxy, Doog, Lee, G, Dunc, TJ

Early riders route: RB, Endon House, Steps up to Kerridge ridge, Trig point, corner of Lidgetts lane, Bull Hill, Walker Barn, Charity, Extension, Standing Stone, Nessit Hill, Bobs bench, Kings Head.

Conditions: Not that warm, but not that cold, overcast, mostly dry.

An earlier 5:30 start at rainbow bridge naturally split us into several groups.

El Pres on post ride logistics at the Kings Head “2 sided tents” with firepits special.

The route there to include an RV with the Doog for a belated birthday dram.

Butty arrived on the E, and much speculation about whether it would get up the Kerridge steps ( 3 Sheds on non E did better!)

Good to do Kerridge “the wrong way”, and the descent to the former shonky gate of Cheshire worth it (although it almost did for El Pres’s watch!)

Long slog up to the new road, and a very fancy old OS spot height marker has been hiding in plain sight on the Corner of Bull Hill lane at the top. More upwardsness to Charity, a failed RV with Lee, and time to appreciate the delicate bilberry flowers as we regroup.

Too much chatting by the downhill specialists leads to some close pass overtaking at speed down Chazza, but no incidents! Extension loose and rocky, and Stunt has a dab after hitting a large one!

The joys of the light mean you can see the trail far ahead, which is good for getting up speed for the S Bends 🙂

A quick pat of Dans bench, before route of your choice to Bobs bench.

The Doog handing out very generous glasses of Bowmore, and wonderful stuff it was too!

G & Dunc arrived having managed to lose TJ just a couple of minutes before hand (he was found, and no French motorways involved this time!) Lee also found us too.

Whisky bottle empty, time to head downhill for the Kings Head 8:30 cutoff!

The King’s Head was a revelation . Customer service on another level ! Food and beer arrive very quickly and we are constantly checked to see if we need more beer. Little marquees work well and plenty of warmth !

Will it be indoors next week??

Words by Alex, Photos by Pete, Butty, Bern and Dr S

Echelons from: PTD, El Pres, Slim, Butty, Troll, Mark, Stunt, Bern, Dr S, G, Dunc.

At the firepit: Lee, Adrian

Route: Middlewood Bolly Viaduct, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale road to layby, ascent towards Bowstones, cheeky descent to Higher Lane, Priest lane/Kishfield lane into back of Kettleshulme, Flatts lane to Clayhole lane, and join with Side end Lane (under Windgather). Pyms chair, moor tracks and singletrack to Windgather, through the woods to Taxal, Taxal edge, Kettleshulme, Main road to Bakenstonedale road, Pott Shrigley, Bolly, the hosting firepit.

Conditions: Clear, cool, really dry trails, heavy shower later!

Notes:

A joint operations command of Butty and Slim, promises new routes to Taxal, and homemade lamb tagine and bolly beer to finish. Plan it and they will come!

Much welcoming of prodigals, and admiration for the welding job on Marks “new” steed. Dr S get the award for shortest bike ever! (borrowed from his son while he decides on a new bike).

And Paul has a new piece of PPE !

We are soon strung out as the route is mainly “up”. Climb on road is modified due to the amazingly dry conditions, and after some inevitable faffing, and Bern declaring that maintenance is pointless, the grassy climb to bowstones is the easiest it has ever been.

Decent to the road down rock strewn snickets is over far too soon, and more steep sections of lane as we “contour” into Kettleshulme and then climb out onto more steep little lanes.

One section is too much for Bern’s chain, and his “fix it when it breaks” comes to pass. Luckily for him others were able to provide the required quick link! Cool when you stop, and the odd spot of rain in the air, and more climbing to come.

Stunning sunset on weary legs as we ascent the final tarmac section from Windgather to Pym chair, and some debate about route and time to the end of the ride. The lure of the off road to come is too strong, so with lights on, and the odd flake of snow in the air we enjoy the trails.

The Windgather farmer is apparently not too keen on riders in the final field these days (and a quad bike was gently tracking us from below!) so we took the official route along the edge of the plantation (which was good!) and pushed up the final metres to the start of Taxal.

Fab conditions meant all too soon we were at the end and contemplating the route back. Main road and Bakenstonedale road the consensus for fastest.
All this time riding meant that some of our professionals with early friday starts headed straight home.

The remaining riders fell foul of a nasty heavy shower to arrive very wet.

Soon warmed by the fab food and drink from our hosts. The bolly mini barrels almost foxed us..how many TNR’s does it take to get beer out of one! (almost all of us!!) Stunt provided some Laphroaig for birthday drams, and it was great to get a sense of what life might return to not too soon.

Many a stiff leg the following morning!

Great work from Adrian and Lee in the great vaccination enterprise!

Covid Compliant Echelons: Slim, TJ, Lee, 3 Sheds, Dunc, Troll, Stunt, Croxy

Route: RB, Middlewood way, Grimshaw Lane, Jackson Lane, Redway Lane, “under Nancy”, back of Kerridge to Waulkmill wood, Poachers Snicket, Oakenbank, Jumper Lane, Blaze Hill, the Kettleshulme Road, Bakestonedale road, Gritstone trail, 1975 Stone, Sponds, Dale Top, Quarry Descent, Birchencliffe, Stypersons, Sugar Lane, Vale, Backgardens of Bollingtonia

Conditions: Clear and dry – cold later.

Notes:

A decent showing for another fine spring evening, although route planning leadership was in short supply!Good to see Croxy back, but only because his back was not up to golf!

Meeting at Rainbow bridge, we were passed by many familiar faces en route to the newly opened beer gardens! Our beer plan was Bring Your Own, with a later checkout of the Vale beer garden and a fall back of Slim’s firepit.

With the Troll running a little late we head back along the Middlewood to RV with him, then climb on road up to Redway, and do a little detour to the back of Kerridge before heading up the Poachers snicket, and up Oakenbank from that end.

A lot of debate about route, but in the end we head for Sponds via the “high roads” and having sorted out chip shop options for later on the way, crest Bakestondale road to a glorious low sun! The more speedy managed to make the 1975 stone for a sun setting over beer can pics!

View is stunning, but temperatures are falling fast, and with a bit of wind its all layers on!

With beer comes banter, and this weeks topic somehow ends up with the Bristol Stool Chart! The stuff being freshly spread last week is still mildly whiffy 7 days later, but the conditions are super dry, not sure if the crunching under wheel on the way to Dale top was a touch of frost, or crispy dried exrement!!

The hill sheep mostly yet to lamb. Singing gate mildy tuneful tonight. The Quarries descent has not yet got a new line where the Deer fenced plantation has encroached, but it won’t be long!

Fast downhill on dry grass! Just the one splash to face in Birchencliffe, and then choice of Left Hand Snicket or Right Hand Hazards in Stypersons to bottom out on Sugar Lane.

Early leavers peeled off back to the Middlewood, and those in search of on Tap ale carried on to the Vale and beyond.

next week Southern Banditry let by the Troll!

words by Alex, Photos by Pete

Crews: El Pres, Troll, 3 Sheds, Slim & Dr S, Butty, Stunt

Al Fresco encounters: G, Dunc

Route: Muller Corner, Zig Zag, Charity, Extension, Ferriser

Conditions: Glorious sunshine and warmth, cold wind later.

And so it came to pass that the lockdown endeth and gatherings of 6 outdoors (or more for organised sport) could once again commence…

El Pres returneth to lead the faithful, and celebrate riding and some alfresco dining..on a Wednesday to make the most of the weather.

Scorcio for March, at over 20 degrees at the start of the ride. A slow start with the team assembling eventually and lots of chat to catch up with.

Original route choice from El Pres was either wildy optimistic or a right good wind up, and a sociable pace suitable to the temperature, big backpacks and the varied fitness levels meant it was never going to happen!

A few walkers on the (pretty dry) Zig, and from the Zag a steady stream of dog walkers and others enjoying the sunshine in the evening. Although the views not the best due to a lot of haze.

Covid conspiracy theorists had left their mark on the Tarmac charity grit bins (not exactly mainstream advertising!)

We are overtaken up and down charity by bikers with no packs (cars parked at the bottom of the forest no doubt), and some on e-bikes (as is Butty!)

We arrive at the Ferriser firepit as dusk falls, having picked up beers from the coolbags in Dr S’s motor at standing stone. A mix of logging to the East, and clearing of fallen trees at the circle itself, means it feels more exposed than ususal, but there is the benefit of lots of firewood!

We soon have a blaze underway, and our butties being consumed, and careful selection of the Troll supplied beverages…as the craft artisanal brews are of single, double and triple fermentation topping out at 11%!!!!

It’s been a long time since the last campfire night, and under the watchful gaze of our friend Orion (soon to slip below the horizon for the summer) we put the world to rights, catch up with each other, and simply enjoy some time that feels “normal”.

Some folk head off early with longer journeys home, to be replaced by some latecomers..G bearing Champers, and Dunc after his Duks ride earlier in the evening.

Later with the beer all gone, we manage to tidy up, and head home smelling smoky, smelly and happy!

A great opener to the season of light nights!