October Forum Ride, Report and Pictures.

Gunner

Well, more of the pictures and less of the report this time, I'm afraid as I'm still trying to get time to sort out my XT brake arrangement Rolling Eyes

Lovely start to the day as we gathered at Clay Bank, the clouds on the Southern horizon pushing back to reveal blue skies, and patches of morning mist creeping up the low valley floor.

Today was going to be slightly challenging after all that rain from yesterday, and I think Andy was already questioning his tyre choice before we even hit the trails...........

ANDY AND GRANT DISCUSS TACTICS:

ANDY'S TURNER AND GRANT'S "BORROWED" SPECIALIZED LOOK ON:

LOOKING OUT ACROSS THE VALLEY:

Setting off, we headed over the road from the car park and up a steep climb, following the very edge of the forest on our right side with the open moor on our left. Once this initial climb is out the way it was a muddy and wet dash through the forest with tyres fighting for grip on some of the sections.

Andy's Turner seemed to be handling everything quite capably.

THE INITIAL CLIMB FROM THE ROAD:

A sharp left at the bottom of the dip, through a single gate took us out onto the moor, for a sit and grind grassy climb up to the next gate. From here it was time to shoulder bikes for a steep, but short carry to the high point of Cold Moor. Back on the bikes for a short singletrack climb, then amazing views over 2 valleys as we followed the more defined trail to the Cairn.

Stopping here for a re-group, Matt seemed to be having a little bother with his drive train but couldn't quite pin it down, TILL LATER!!!

INSPECTING MATT'S BIKE AT THE CAIRN:

GRANT ROLLS IN:

JEZ BRINGS UP THE REAR WITH STUNNING VIEWS:

Setting off again, without really finding the problem with Matt's bike, Andy nearly took an early bath riding at speed through a large pool on the trail.
I had luckily took the outside knowing that these can be deep on this section but Andy can't have realised and had a slight "moment" where his sudden loss of speed on hitting the water nearly threw him off, luckily he recovered quicky and was able to keep going without mishap!!!

Well done Wink

Now it was time for a long, steep descent into Chop Gate. This is a great bit of trail and is only spoilt because of the gates near the bottom. Everyone enjoyed this section I hope I can say.

Arriving in Chop Gate we turned left and made for Bilsdale Hall. Grant was having a bit of chew with his low gear on this climb so we stopped to investigate at one of the gates.

ANDY ADJUSTS GRANT'S REAR MECH:

Back on the bikes for another steep grassy climb, before the hard work of shoulder bikes and steep climb up Medd Cragg.

CLIMBING MED CRAGG:

From the top of Med Cragg we headed over to Round Hill, Matt puncturing en-route. A quick stop and we were on our way again, taking a right turn at Round Hill and heading East for Bloworth Crossing.

Nice bit of fast track this, and just before Bloworth we swung left and took the old railway track, but a cry went up and we stopped as Matt appeared to be having problems with his chain.

And what a problem it was, let's just say, he had to remove one of his jockey wheels which had come loose anyway and by amazing good fortune the bolt had managed to stay in-situ. He then had a right mess on while we tried to work out how his rear mech should be, before re assembling it.

Moving on from here we headed to the Incline for a fast descent to the gate, Andy and his Turner certainly like someting with a downhill slope Laughing

It was obvious that we were all suffering from reduced braking capability due to the wet and muddy conditions over on Cold Moor.

At the bottom of the Incline we swung hard left Laughing

and followed the main trail through the forest, this is a good trail to do at high speed with some nice dips and climbs, back to the road for a short but steep climb back to the Clay Bank car park.

Total distance I believe in the region of 13 mile, though Jez should be able to correct me and provide the figures for the amount of climbing we did.

For anyone looking for a good all round route for fitness/stamina building I can certainly recommend this one, done at pace, and if your a real massochist do it the other way round.
Wink

HarryB · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject:

Looking at those pictures it seems that a good walk was spoilt by taking the bikes with you Laughing

Gunner · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

I like that one Harry, Laughing

elli d · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 64 Location: co.durham

looks like you had a few problems

mr-marty-martin · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 3780

looks and sounds like a great ride

i done my fair share of shouldering the bike today, but was well worth it as i found some suberb single track and switchbacks incased with trees so was a funny sensation, sliding the back end out and smashing it into the odd tree Laughing

was realy good to get on the muddy stuff actualy as ive been on the road for a couple of weeks

Jez · Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 248

Stats for the ride:

2131ft ascent
12.5miles

Gunner · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

Cheers Jez. Wink

grant · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 902

good ride lads
good write up gunner , really enjoyed this ride as it was my first ride out on a mountain bike , met some good lads as well , who know their stuff ,
cheers lads
allready looking forward to next ride out .
grant

soshea · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 466 Location: NUNTHORPE

yeh good write up it's hard to believe i was there. Very Happy

grant · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 902

i didnt know that this mountain biking makes you ache so bloody much .
i am aching all over must have been all that walking we did up those hills .

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