August Forum Ride.....OR "Mixed Bag".....Report &a

Gunner

I have alternatively titled this report, "Mixed Bag", as this was exactly what it was today, which led for a very interesting ride.

We had a mixed bag of weather, everything from rain/sleet Question

/sun/howling wind, on what seemed to be a rotating schedule Rolling Eyes

We had a mixed bag with the terrain, particularly as a result of the recent rain, tarmac/rocky descents/rocky climbs/grass/muddy descents/muddy climbs/just mud/bogs/singletrack/fire road, etc., etc.,

And we had a mixed bag of ability, with Matt being on flying form both uphill and downhill, Gouldy much improved in fitness, Darren maintaining a good solid pace overall, JohnC starting well but seeming to hit the wall towards the end of the ride, Jez, our new rider going for it on the downhills and grinding it out on the climbs, and me Embarassed

seeming to have problems with my balance, as I kept falling off, or nearly falling off Embarassed

Leaving the Visitors Centre at 0900, 6 of us headed off through Bousdale Woods to do the route from the early Summer Edition of MBR Magazine, the weather was fine although a tad windy.

Filthy was riding was single speed and it was soon apparrent that although he was only coming as far as Kildale, he may not make that, his seatpost was sitting a little too low and he was finding it hard going.
As we crossed the track to the Unsuitables a pair of riders informed us that some one had turned up at the car park for the ride a little late, Matt volunteered to ride back and collect them, very decent!!!

While we waited, and chatted, Filthy took the oppurtunity to get up to Highcliffe.

Matt soon brought Jez up to the group and we set off again.

Arriving at the climb to Highcliffe debate followed as to whether we should take the Tees Link or the Fire Road, Darren and I voted for the Tees Link, but the Fire Road won

DEBATING THE TRAIL TO TAKE:

Climbing the Fire Road we headed off through the trees for the Moor to Sleddale. It was here that Filthy decided to leave the group knowing that he was not on the right bike for the route Sad

HEADING ACROSS THE MOOR TO SLEDDALE:

Crossing this part of the Moor, Gouldy punctured, a ruddy great nail from the mooorland fencing sticking in his tyre. He urged us to go and he would catch us up. Luckily I only went a short distance to the gate to hold it open but after about 10 minutes with still no Gouldy I decided to ride back. Gouldy had replaced the tube but couldn't get it up Embarassed

His pump was proving absolutely useless, so I unclipped mine, swapped the valve settings and hey presto, ready to go!!!!

A PICTURE OF MY MARIN WHILE WAITING FOR GOULDY:

From here we caught the rest of the group then climbed up from Sleddale to Percy Rigg, then dropped down through New Row to take the tarmac to Little Kildale for a steep climb up to Warren Farm. Stopping for a breather and to regroup we then sped down the grassy track passed the old mine workings before climbing the grassy sponge like field over Leven Vale.

JEZ BRINGS UP THE REAR OVER A ENERGY SAPPING FIELD:

Now it was time to shoulder bikes at the gate for a climb up through the heather.....

Back on the bikes at the top for about 200 yards for most of us, it was time for some rocky descent down to the ruined farm.
As usual Matt showed us how it should be done, at speed too Twisted Evil

Steve managed it much slower, maintaining a fine balancing act over some of the drops.

Darren managed to draw blood from the shins after an "off", and the rest of us walked it, though Jez dropped his seat and went for it.

DESCENDING TO THE RUINED FARM:

At the farm the weather changed and a heavy shower started as we followed the bridleway towards Baysdale. This part of the route was extremely boggy and very overgrown with fern. Then the rain passed as soon as it had started.
I managed a spectacular "off" here as I headed for a gorse bush with nothing gripping the wet grass, stupidly I put a foot down but the back end of the bike just lifted and through me Embarassed

Following the track through Baysdale Abbey it was a steep tarmac climb and time for a rest and re-group before heading along the Cleveland Way and turning off across Battersby Moor where Gouldy dropped into a deep puddle which threw him. As I watched this I rode off the track into nothing and was "off" again Embarassed

Crossing this Moor there was then the nice rocky downhill which is Turkey Nab, Matt again taking the oppurtunity to show us how it's supposed to be done Shocked

The rain then started again with a vengeance as we headed on road to Kildale, letting up just as we passed the Tea Rooms which looked full judging by the bikes outside.

Climbing up to Bankside Cottage we then had a muddy trek through the woods and an equally, if not muddier crossing of the Moor, arriving at the Red Run. Heading down toward Dikes lane Matt and Jez rode down that rooty descent Shocked

It was then a long haul up through Aireyholme Farm with JohnC looking quite tired by this stage, but Matt was on great form really steaming up the climbs.

ON THE TRACK THROUGH AIREHOLME:

Re-grouping at the top of this climb it was then the home stretch, with everyone using the downhill fire roads through Guissy Woods to high tail it back to the car park.

An enjoyable ride, regardless of the conditions

Very Happy

Dave F · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 204 Location: Darlington

Looks like you had a good run of it - can't beat four seasons in one day Shocked

- I had a good spin round the woods tonight - dare I say it, but the weather was perfect!

mr-marty-martin · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 1537 Location: co Durham

looked a top ride lads Very Happy

and good on matt for going back for jez Wink

johnc · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 174 Location: stockton

Great ride today, hope jez enjoyed his first ride with us, weather was all over the place today.

I had totally burned out by the time i got to Aireyholme Farm, the legs had run out of steam, also when i got home and cleaned the bike, i had snapped a spoke in the front wheel Sad

Greg · Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 539 Location: Billingham

Sound like another cracker Gunner, have you got map of this ride?

Cheers

stanghow steve · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 259 Location: nr guisbrough

great ride thanks guys and good to meet you again jez

BigG · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Guisborough

Saw a group of riders down near Sleddale farm, looked like some1 was repairing a puncture as I came down towards the gate, with a group of riders further down near the sheep field, could well of been your group.

I was just out on my usual short ride, about half the distance you lot must have covered! Looks like a good ride though, one day my fitness may be good enough.

jim · Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Posts: 49

I did a similar route from pinchinthorpe to battersby moor and baysdale abbey this afternoon looks like you all had a good ride!

matt.will · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 235

Gouldy · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 510 Location: Ingleby Barwick

Gunner · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

Gunner · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject:

Ahh!!! Here it is, I knew there was a map of this route lurking about on the site somewhere Very Happy

http://www.mtbe.co.uk/sunday-1st-june-mbr-ride-t604.html

Click on the linkl, then scroll down to JohnC's post, it is contained within Wink

darrenvt2 · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 74

dont know what choccie bars matt was eating but you had a lot left in the tank on the the hills towards the end, also gouldy your a bit of a dark horse your fitness on the hills there was a few times you creaped past me not bad for a smoker Laughing

good write up gunner i would say i was in a perfect position (right behind you) when you fell off having watch gouldy do the same, mind you did plenty of that myself long the route

Greg · Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 539 Location: Billingham

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