drunkcyclist2

Words by Alex, Pics by Slim

Crew: PTD,Dr Simon, EL Pres, Salad dodger, Troll, Butty, TJ, G, Dunc, Croxy, Stunt

Chef de mission: Doog

Route: BL, zig zags, charity lane, Butty’s singletrack to Narnia, back to charity, extension, standing stone, Nessitt hill,various routes to Standing stone for Pizza Collection, new al fresco spot.

Conditions: Sunny and warm, dusty dry trails, windy later

Stats: Punctures 3 (2 for G, one for Stunt), Offs El Pres.

Notes:

Doog and El pres hatch an al fresco plan…and the weather holds 🙂

Much debate about a new campfire spot, Butty impresses with mappage and Ferriser nameage! Midgy worries continue the debate..

Stunt shows the new Plus bike and triggers tyre pressure geekery

Fairly classic route, the climbs are hot and the descents are loose!

G manages to get a rear puncture in the butty singletrack – midge exposure early while he fixes it.

Threeway split at Nessit under a superb setting sun – A team follow PTD for maximum riding, B team take a slightly shorter route, and C team head to set up camp.

Midge debate becomes irrelevant as the wind picks up, and a most excellent spot is found complete with fire stones already in place and plentiful wood.

Stunt shows his inner scout and rustles up a double height ring of stones, and a healthy fire contained within.

Butty brings red wine & proper glasses (of the picnic and nice burning variety)

Doog spoils us with beer and pizza – a great combination.

Laughter and merriment, and plenty of warmth from the fire (no shortage of helpers putting more wood on!!)

The sitting stones are a tad hard on the bum.

Moon shots later denied by flat battery on the big camera.

Eventually with all beer drunk, TJ’s brandy demolished, and the fire doused..time to head home..

Further excitement to come as some follow the Dangerous brothers down new cheeky tracks we spotted on the way in.

What could possibly go wrong?? (offs and punctures apparently)

Others take more conventional routes – but water bars at speed lower down do for even the fattest of tyres, and Stunt manages to get as far as Sunderland street before giving in to reality (and finding out that the ex demo bike is not tubeless!)

Rumours of Salad Dodger walking home on the last hill

Home safe check in’s eventually complete when some of the most lubricated awake on sofas in the wee hours 😉

Another top evening, new territory to explore and a new favorite campfire spot 🙂

Pics by Pete, Words by Alex

Crew: El Pres, Mr Incredible, Butty, Dunc, Stunt

Pub:  Slim

Route: BL, Cat, Danebower Hollow, Cumberland Clough, Standing Stone, Forest Fire roads, Reservoir, Smithy

Conditions: Warm & Humid, much surface water.

Stats:  1 Mechanical (El Pres), 1 Faff (Butty)

Notes:

Another afternoon of rainfall radar brinksmanship…with a final deluge just before the off (and sufficient weather to see off 3 sheds)..but dry at 6:30.

Butty claims to be tired from a fast paced tuesday night ride, Dunc claims Not to be tired despite some impressive 40mile commutes!

El pres fills the route leader vacuum with “the classic” ..and the weather plays to our advantage by keeping the moto’s off the new road.

Saddle talk whilst we wait for Dunc – poor state of El Pres’s (duct tape repair worn through), Butty faffs with his because “its poking him in the c**k”

It’s a different crowd instead, as Manchester Wheelers are running a time trial to the cat, complete with snazzy car (two tone stripes no less).

numbered riders whizz past downhill (warming up before the start) and we even get a nod or two!

We haven’t got very far before Butty calls a faff stop to re-adjust said saddle! (and sneaky extra air into Dunc’s rear tyre)

Heading up again, Butty is in the lead group, and Dunc falls off the back almost immediately..which just goes to prove that your legs may have different ideas to your head!

We are almost at the turn off for the rat run over the tops when the first time trialler comes past, ladies first number 3, which leaves us wondering where one and two are.

Overtaken is the answer, as two comes past, then one..pedalling at a low cadence on a full TT machine passing us slowly (Dunc shouts appopriate roady encouragement). It doesn’t take long for someone to take the bait..and stunt chases all the way to the top keeping in touch to the final hairpin (moral victory?)

Wispy low cloud hangs over the forest, shining tor and the weather looks gloomy but not actually precipitatious.

Regrouped Danebower hollow is splashy but fun, Cumberland clough is greasy on the sides, and the brook is rather rocky (and running a river) with some added cow hazards lower down for the advance riders. Some spare vertebrae on show at the gate and circling buzzard suggest nature is lurking for the unwary!

El Pres suffers rear mech slackness at the bottom, forensic investigation swiftly concludes that it’s f****d! Extra strong cable tie to hold it in place is the right plan…but the first attempt leaves the loose end pinging in the spokes, and Chris manages to cut the whole tie off instead of trimming it back. Take two works, although leaving him in a comedy low gear for the flat 🙂

Another heron spotted standing still in the river, and up to standing stone.

Route cut short, El pres and Dunc head to the Smithy for early beer and to order food, the rest head left but choose a lower track instead of Nessit, and have fast gravelly fun with good views, and atmospheric mist and clouds.

Good to be back at the leathers, Duchars slips down like water, Carol does us proud with puds after the kitchen staff bail out, Bilberry pie a TNR first? Slim shows off the new mirrorless compact proper camera, Stunt tells of new bikepacking bike bargain arriving in the morning, and conversation ranges widely (analysis of the evolution of sooty  to sweep to sue complete with hand movements anyone!)…and the Troll announces that his Leek hidehole may finally be ready for a TNR urban bivvy post a visit to the brew station!!!

Legend of the AI robots in the basement of the leathers is begun.

Very mild ride home

Crew: El Pres, PTD, Butty, TJ, G, Mr I, Eric, Stunt

Route: BL, Old Road, Charity Lane, Bottom of the Oven, Tea Rooms, Cat, Danebower Hollow, Cutting the corner to Cumberland Brook, Standing Stone, Nessit Hill, Reservoirs, Sutton Hall

Conditions: Bright Skies, mild with a cool breeze higher up. Lots of water on the trails

Stats: Rear tyre burping from Butty

Notes: Better weather on a Thursday night, but fingers are firmly crossed for St Swithins day as its been a poor “summer” so far.

Annoyingly it is also bringing out the other Bikers, as the high pitched high revs are dopplering in the distance as route is discussed. Go high because we can, avoid new road as much as poss!

It has also triggered some “bright” clothing, Butty with dayglo orange shorts, TJ (fluoro as usual), and Stunt with the Jellybean top. PTD on the kermit five goes ninja black, and Mr I ignores fashion for the good old faded green sweatshirt!

G does his usual of being at the front and taking an alternative route – but only succeeds in giving himself a nice off road uphill challenge on the bridleway to windyways just to stay with the bunch.

Good views from the start of Charity – Shropshire hills clearly visible

Lots of running water on the downhill, and a salvage rear mudguard almost causes carnage by distracting butty at a critical moment on the extension. TJ gathers it whilst butty sorts his tyre out.

A strung out peloton means the early arrivers above the tea rooms get to watch the motorised brigade. The lotus super 7 was the best “bike” in our humble opinion.

Windproofs on, and plenty of comments for TJ’s latest see through aldi effort (mainly though we are just jealous of his chiselled torso which it shows off nicely!)

No time for a cheeky loop into the Goyt so straight up to the Cat and turn right.

No short eared owls spotted across the moors, one dead sheep on the short cut.

Lumpy and wet down Chumby, and butty Burps his tyre again getting air off the grassy jump after the gate.

Work all finished on the quiet lane to standing stone, and time for a full Nessit.

Quick stop at Dans bench, and a few lights on as its getting dark under the trees.

Someone’s been busy with chainsaws and a big digger – forest trails getting overly tamed?

The beer is calling, although G peels off as he’s being good!

Ursula Minor wins the battle of the pale ales, with Homeless lager making a few converts!

Mr I starts with a G&T (with it being summer and all!)

We finish with a special offer Whisky.

Mostly home before the witching hour!

words by Alex, Pics by Slim
Crew: PTD, El Pres, G, TJ, Butty, Slim, Mr I, Stunt

Route: BL, Old Road, Zig Zags, Walker barn, Chazza, Narnia, Chazza again, short cut to Narnia, Witches cottage, Leathers Smithy, Sutton hall.

Conditions: Cool, breezy, heavy rain at the end.

Stats: A stat free night?

Notes:

Another TNR where the rain gods are playing with us, late afternoon rain is mostly gone by the time we assemble.

Butty obviously thinks it’s not going to be too wet (in T shirt and lightweight aldi waterpoof only) having said that he would only be riding if it were dry (optimistic?)

Whatapp updates from Slim – late to don waterproof, G – be here at the rather precise 6:39….and he was!!

Its a stick to the forest kinda night with many route options..

to start with it all improves, layers removed on the climbs up the zig zags (enormous puddles though!)

Layers back on at chazza as the wind begins to bite (more big puddles)

Splashy down, then right turn into a slightly muddy narnia – with washed out gravel at the bottom. Butty leads a split to do some exploring – its deemed good enough for a second go, regrouping at witches cottage its back up and round, a bit tricky under the trees to find the route again (3rd time lucky).

A good spot to stop for PTD specials (Happy Birthday!) absinthe then abelour and lots of assertive discussion on the state of the nation…time to get going and continue in the pub as the leaden skies finally let go again.

Narnia 2.0 is much greasier , thoughts of hardingland are shelved by some, and its everyone for themselves to the pub. Hardinlanders much damper it must be said.

Leffe discontinued SHOCKER! but ales reliably good Zi Man nice and light (unlike the weather), Lord Lucan reliable as ever. Weather means its quiet and we are looked after very well. We are weak when it comes for puddings, red wine makes an appearance with cheese!

Dry ride home…