Route : RB – War Memorial – Higher Lane – Windmill La – North End Farm – Waulkmill Wood – Poachers Snicket – Oakenbank – Jumper Lane – Highway Man Rd – Gritstone Trail – Sponds – Dale Top – Poachers
Climbing Dale Top – Kersh in first place (Butty’s photo)
Conditions : Gloriously Autumnal ..sunset was brill….and before 8pm
Notes:
Rishinomics was good …but TNR is where my heart lies
A fair size crew assembled at RB – inc Duncan (now free to ride) , Croxy (not playing golf for once) , Troll (not dealing with the roof) ….and the long awaited return of PTD
Brief stop on Jumper Lane
Bernard asked for a “rerun of that route we did towards Kettleshulme a few weeks back” so that is roughly what we did ..and it is a good formula for a Bollington-is circuit. Mr K was impressed , at least .
“Is that Winter Hill?” : Pete’s Photo
The light post sunset at Sponds Trig was just something else …
Pete’s photo
Plenty of space at the Poachers where Spitting Feathers , Farm Yard something , Some Orange Weiss beer all conspired to tickle our tastebuds
It was getting chilly though by 10pm . Autumn cometh ….
A select few had a last drink inside – Whisky for a select few to celebrate a house purchase in Upper Bollingtonia
Poor Butty suffered a bad case of over-used chain on the trip home …
Route : Stoneyfold Lane, Zig Zags, Walker Barn, Charity , Narnia , Hardingingland, Bottoms Reservoir, Ranger Centre, Trentabank Little Loop, St Dunstans
Conditions : Sunny, mild, getting cooler later, a touch of Autumn in the air
Notes:
Judging by how difficult it seemed to get a table for this weeks WNR at The Leathers or Sutton Hall ..Rishinomics has been a roaring success . Lee, however, had several good ideas and in no time at all had sorted us a table at the St Dunstans.
A classic circuit of the forest ensued
Yesterdays rain was fairly phenomenal …halfway up the track to WindyWay house there was a mini fountain spouting up !
In the final days of August the sun is now at a low angle after 6:30pm ..giving us beautiful views .
We were followed down Charity by two youngish guys on full downhill bikes ..who were travelling at an impressive speed . The second one had his Irish Wolfhound in tow, travelling at an impressive speed and definitely “getting air” .
Charity was like a river , and Narnia was very slippy .
En route down to Hardingland I came across a lone crank arm with pedal lying on the deck….
I met Lee walking back up the track. A get you home fix was achieved and he disappeared home to get another bike.
The rest of us climbed back to the ranger centre..passing a very busy Leathers Smithy ..and then did a little circuit back on the fire roads before our descent to the St Dunstans.
The beer was great (Deception and Heathen) , food and service excellent . White Bait and Haloumi Fritters ….
Route : RB – War Memorial – Higher Lane (Endon House) – Redway Lane – Kerridge Bridleway – Lidgetts Lane – Oakenbank – Poachers Snicket descent – Lord St – Gleave Ave Snicket – Hurst Lane – Canal – The Poachers
Footpath 21 – “Gleave Ave Snicket”
Conditions : Damp but never really wet, mild, low cloud
Queen St – why are the cobbles different in this stretch ?
Notes :
A simple tour of Greater Bollingtonia with an Eric friendly crew size
Chris was back in the saddle but with a slightly bent derailleur ….we suspect this was collateral damage from last weeks mishap
A little local history tour of Queen St was included ..why are the cobbles made of a different stone in one short stretch ?
A new snicket is added to our repertoire – Chancery Lane to Gleave Ave – Footpath 21
The annual appearance of El Pud, the Crown Prince of Ribald discussions . I think he must have mentored Funky Dunc
Speed Wobble (a 4.7% IPA) and Glacier relaxed tongues and quenched our thirst.
Wednesday Night …Pie & a Pint night at The Poachers…Pork/Cranberry & Black Pudding was marvellous
El Pud’s conversation topics ..Epstein docs on Netflix, Capping executive pay at £250K p.a., ..I had better stop there as we enter NSFW territory. But he is such good value.
Crew: TJ, Butty, Lee, 3 Sheds, Pete, Kersh, El Pres and Bern
Route 1 (Pre incident) : Maze Rendezvous – Via duct – Butty’s Rooty return along MW – down to Bolly Rec – under the aqueduct – up to Clarence Mill – Canal Towpath – exit to SugarLane – Ascent of Styperson – Descent of Styperson
Route 2 (Post incident) : Styperson’s Woods ascent (again) – Long Lane – Beeston Brow – Poacher’s Snickett – Waulkmill Wood – contour back through the Poultry House – Redway Lane – Grimshaw Lane – C&P
Pub : Cock & Pheasant , Bollington
WhatsApp to El Pres: “ Yo Chris ….I am doing the WNR write-up…do you wish to issue an “official statement” on your incident ?”
Reply :
“ No official statement necessary as nothing unusual took place. The president lead his followers with his usual bravery and daring and completed the ride as normal. Any rumours of accident or injury are completely false and without foundation. “
A career in politics awaits , methinks…..
Notes :
Meanwhile …..
It is Butty’s Birthday , It is Butty’s route – nobody argues ….
The Cock & Pleasant , as our eating and quaffing venue. Has been arranged . Menu choices had been made.
Then Kersh arrives at our RV point unexpectedly …this is when the jinx was created …
But at this point we are none the wiser …..
Butty leads us across the viaduct and then his Rooty double back …much fun….
Down the big steps to the Rec ..and a brief encounter with our Jane and the Spans …
Up to Clarence Mill and across the fancy & cyclist friendly bridge ..the Canal and River Org have done an excellent job of fixing up the canal here.
Off at bridge 22 and up to Sugar Lane …where Butty leads us on a push/climb up through the woods. The jinxer rides a lot of this …the rest push a lot.
Then a bit of a free for all descent back down through the roof’s playground of berms and bombholes. I held back a little , but followed Lee Chris and TJ’s route – not sure who was first . Not very far down I encounter TJ and Lee further down what I would describe as an “impossible chute” of loose stones and mud. Chris is standing up and looking a bit dazed. At least he is standing up ! Nurse Wadsworth calmly takes control …fabricating a triangular sling bandage from Chris’s jacket, and walking Chris’s bike ands own out towards sugar lane.
TJ then phones in the Poynton Branch of International Rescue ..and 20 minutes later the Mystery Machine (aka TJ’s 54 plate Merc Van) arrives to pick up his excellency.
The rest of us (and the afflicted one) have been resting on the verge on Sugar Lane , sipping fine whisky provided by the Birthday Boy .
There are rumbles of thunder from across the Cheshire Plain .
El Pres is whisked off by TJ and Enid, the rest of us have another go at some more aversion therapy – a second ascent through Styperson Woods.
From here to The C & P was an inventive route again .
C&P : Good food (excellent eggs , Gammon Steak and Chips) – Estrella , Amstell & Doombar …And Kersh gets El Pre’s PIzza. That about sums it up. We may not return.
At last orders we are turfed outside to shelter under a table umbrella for our last beer and a cheeky AOE. There is a flash or two of lightening and it starts to rain .
Its 22C at 11pm ..definitely a tropical night
Postscript : Fortunately it was not a bust collarbone. He is a placebo of a cyclist . Any excuse to see the A&E nurses.
Rainbow Bridge, Tinkers Clough, Kerridge, Poacher’s snicket, Oakenbank, Jumper Lane, Climb past The Highway Man , Gritstone Trail , Dale Top , Bakestondale Rd , The Poachers
Notes:
El Presidente had the plan
I sorted the food Logistics at the Poachers …Chicken , Ham & Leek Pie was the preserve of his excellency. But Steak & Kidney was fine for the mere mortals
Dr S & Coley joined us this week as the “guest stars”
Butty sorted a novel and refreshing route in well known territory . Jumper Lane gave great views to the West
As we climbed the light got better and better . Up on the Gritstone Trail and at Sponds we were treated to spotlights of late sunlight on Kinder Downfall and Kerridge End/White Nancy.
My pressure adjustments for the rocky bits of Dale Top resulted in a definite episode of Tyre Faff. I had to use a CO2 cylinder to get down from Dale Top to Bakestonedale …and by Spuley Lane my rear tyre was almost flat . I rolled down to the Poachers leaning forward to lighten up the deflated back end.
Good job I can walk home from the Poachers in 10 minutes 🙂
It was a schoolboy error …no Stan’s sealant left in the tyre.
The Poachers was all Covid Compliant ….and we got table service out the back . Food and beer deliveries ..Windswept IPA at 5.2 was tasty but strong , a session IPA ..something called Steerage and wee Leffe for the AOE at the end of the night.
Route A: Macc to Kidsgrove by Northern Rail – The Banjo Loop – The midnight trail back to Macc
Route B : TJ Mystery Machine delivery to Hot Lane – Descent to rendezvous at Kidsgrove – The Banjo Loop
Banjo Loop : Canals section – Road climb to Mow Cop – Fun descent including “the wood which was not dry” , and grassy sections – the another tarmac ascent before a great section along Congleton Edge and then back to the homestead
Conditions : The short version was “improving” .
Notes:
A southern trip to do a Biddulph Banjo Loop thing was floated a week or two back …thanks to Bern’s and Mr Troll’s planning it finally came to pass.
Crew B arrived chez Troll and Ruth in heavy rain showers , and the cloud seemed to be hugging the ridge. Atrocious weather would be an appropriate description.
We descended towards Kidsgrove in slightly lighter rain, but waterproofed up as best we could. By the time we got to the station it had abated . Phew.
The route to Kidsgrove station was via quiet lanes and former railway lines with bits of industrial heritage before the delights of Kidsgrove station itself (which felt a little too “Birkenhead-esque” to me)
Then a bit of canal section , with an interesting stop at some tunnels , some locks (in active use as we passed) and also a visit to the start of the famous Macclesfield Canal.
Then a tarmac lane section climb up to the heights of Mow Cop, with a brief faff stop to deal with TJ’s saddle coming loose. This was an opportunity for Bern to reveal his infamous comprehensive (if somewhat weighty?) toolkit .
From Mow Cop we had the delights of a wood (shady and slippery but fun) and grassy fields descent to Ackers Crossing.
Another tarmac climb, but gentler this time, to the Congleton Edge off road section – great fun – and much easier on a full bounce than my recollections of doing it on a hardtail in c2004 with 80mm forks.
Then home via a more gentle tarmac climb with a visit to Phil’s new land and property acquisition ! . It definitely has potential but it will be a long job.
Once back at Hot Lane the hospitality unfolded ….
assorted draught beers in milk bottles ..inc an IPA at 7.1 , a lager at 4.? And a fine Pale Ale at 4.?
Fantastic food from Ruth – Duck Tagine, Monkfish with olives and something , couscous & great salad, fresh baked bread and garlic bread
Some chocolate stout that was 12.? % and cost more than this in £s for just one can ….
The fire pit was ablaze (Wood brought by TJ in the Mystery Machine) …so we gathered outside to blether and get gently kippered.
Crew A departed on the long journey back to Macc about midnight led by the intrepid Mr Wadsworth …fortunately they started with a long downhill and I gather Lee had chosen as flat as possible a return journey.
Back at revellers central the Malt Whiskey was broken into…and we tried our best to make contact with alien spacecraft (well, TJ at least)
About 1.30am we started getting the “Three Rings” WhatsApps from the Macc bound boys but in Biddulph the AOE with whisky was in full pace
It all got a bit hazy after this point but I do recall Kitchen Dancing about 3am …with a cardboard box of percussion instruments appearing and a crew accompaniment of some Santana track …another TNR first !
Friday was a slow start with an excellent al fresco breakfast of smoked fish, spinach, egg, pancetta , cream …
Our thanks to Ruth and Phil for their hospitality and entertainment, and to Bern and Phil for logistics
Conditions : Humid and cloudy but the sun came out on Piggford Moor !
Muddier then it should be for July on the PM crossing
Route :
Stoneyfold , Zig Zags, Teggs Nose, Saddler’s Way , Langley , Reverse Nessit, Shutlingsloe Approach , Piggford Moor, Standing Stone, Left hand forest descent , Rezzies, Sutton Hall
Nosh : Sutton Hall
Notes:
Much debate over a southern trip but it was too late to sort properly . A welcome return to a Teggs/Forest/Piggford Moor circuit and a Sutton Hall finish. It has been too long !
And we have Dr S as our guest star in the crew this week – with a decent camera as well.
The muster point has now shifted to the top of Stoneyfold Lane – no doubt the local drivers appreciate this .
A conventional ascent to Teggs , but a rare descent of Saddlers where the gnarly section at the top was tempered by a group of MTBers pushing up to Teggs .
We managed to get to Langley without injuring any of the walkers in our path. Tick.
Butty Photo
As we climbed towards Nessit from the Leathers we got a gradual increase in a swarm of flies …by the time we got to the path out to Shutlingsloe each of us was in our own personal hell of the little devils…
….worst was one offender who went straight up my left nostril. Yuck and Aaaarrrggh !
Butty PhotoLee Photo
But why the crest where we turned left across Piggford the wind had picked up a little, the flies left us alone and the clouds had parted – all was good with the world.
In fact the evening light was so good it even made us forget about the soggy mud of the track . Shining Tor and Cat were bathed in gorgeous soft light to our right.
Dr S Photo
An ethereal mist was rising off the forest , beautifully backlit by the dipping sun.
Butty Photo
A magical time of the evening . The endorphins have kicked in. You are glad you are right here, right now…and a great descent to beer and nosh awaits.
For once we arrive on time at Sutton Hall.
Its quieter and very Covid 19 organised , no bar service , face masks for the staff . But they look after us very well ..Wibbly Wallerby all round with the odd lager.
Steak burger and chips tastes great after a three month abstinence …as does the fine malt chosen by very own Troll . Oh, And Chris Palmer is still a very slow eater !
Pete Photo
A dry ride home (in contrast to last week’s downpour) and 16C at Midnight when I got home.
Stoneyfold , Zig Zags, Teggs Nose , Bottoms Reservoir , Leathers (to order), Charity La, Forest Chapel , part tarmac, mostly forest descent , The Leathers
Notes:
The Leathers was the last pub we visited before Lockdown – so it felt fitting that it should be our first destination now that Bozza has given the signal for them to re-open.
El presidente had made reservation direct with “John The Barman” the week earlier.
And our special guest star this week was Coley .
It was a fairly regular route this week , with the exception of some deviation on the rear entry of Teggs (ooh err missus) where I believe someone had a minor off. As I had chickened out to a more conventional, classic descent I have no more details to add.
A brief stop at the Leathers to order nosh (and although tempting..we had no cheeky half) and then along wind up through the forest to Charity.
Charity was like a minor river ..and opinion was divided as to whether this made it more fun or just gave you a very damp @rse . For me, despite the resultant wet keks , it was a “proper descent” of Chazza. Leaving one with a big cheesy grin .
At Forest Chapel we took the tarmac road back towards the Leathers ..but barely 25 yards down we caught sight of a barn owl flying over the field to the left – its light colour making it very visible in the evening light. We were treated to about 5 to 10 minutes of a pair of owls flying up and down the dip in the field to our left. I caught quite a bit on my iPhone. But Butty’s photos here (from Friday night when he returned with his proper camera and zoom) are just brilliant .
Butty’s photo
Down to Bob’s bench where Coley reveals a fine taste in whiskey … then on to The Leathers where John welcomes back with (socially distanced) open arms.
Butty’s photo Bern’s photo
Gammon, Egg and Chips …marvellous . I am admonished for drinking Moretti (and not Pedigree) …but it gets worse
Some concoction of cooking whisky & Guinness known as “Nora’s Revenge”
I think Nora took her revenge in the form of a downpour which drenched me and Butty on the trip North .
Conditions : Warm, Dry and Sunny . 22c At Midnight.
Route :
Stonehenge of Bollingtonia/The Labyrinth , Canal, Hurst La , Redway , Kerridge Bridleway , Hough Hole Mill Pond, Sugar Lane, Oakenbank, Pott Shrigley, Bowstones , Descent to Knights Low, Moorside Lane, Chapel or Birchencliffe, Middlewood Way , Poynton Station
Home made vittles : Chilli Con Carne, Rice & Naan.
Notes:
Another evening when I felt that there is an upside to the pubs being shut due to Covid – once again we got a bit more inventive with the post ride food and drink arrangements – it is a refreshing change (no pun intended )
The muster point was, again, a lot easier for me this week !
A cracking ride – thanks to Butty for taking the lead on the route – and a great place to stop , eat and drink .
An interesting chance encounter with a guy who had been flying a remote control glider up on Dale Top.
Bern spent the entire ride shirtless – aka “doing a Putin”
Great to see Graham D again – sadly he has been through some difficult “life” stuff recently.
Thanks to TJ and Enid for food, logistics and a cheeky half bottle of Waitrose Cooking Whisky
A delightful ride home down the Middlewood Way in 22C temperature
