|
Malham and Mastilles Lane
26th April 2009
The 24 riders were: Roger, Clone, Tyre Kicker, Tracey, Geoff, L’Onion, Rambo, Chunk, Brownpants, Jonesy, Scarey Carey, Julian, Ed and Mrs Ed, Red Rooster, Santa Cruz, Ste Nico, Edgey, Nobby, Peter Rabbit, Si, Rafi, Paddler and Myself.
The route started from the beautiful village of Malham and as usual a poor mans uplift (big Climb!) got us going on yet another bright and dry day. Soon legs were warmed up, and everyone got into the flow on a cracking wide open route.
First faff of the day went to Paddler who decided to that he needed to put his front tyre on the back wheel and his back tyre on the front wheel much to everyone else’s amusement. Various excuses as to why were given but he still got some stick! Remember the 7P’s in future. (Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance) Once sorted off the group rolled across some beautiful open countryside surrounded by spectacular views.
Long steady tough but manageable climbing followed quickly with fast open grassy descents with multiple line choices and some cracking sections.
Ste Nico had an over the bars moment however managed to carry on without problems. Saved by his body armour! A quick lunch stop later next to a pub that no one nipped into for a swift pint was followed by another long tiring climb.
At the bottom section on one of the long downhills Julian tried his best to top the stack of the year leader board by losing it and wiping out big time. He was a little shocked and bloody in the gluteus maximus region (his arse!) but was other wise ok. Less well however was his spectacularly taco’d rear wheel. Queue the continuing trailside repair lessons with part 2 “how to fix a taco’d and snapped wheel”. The usual suspects sprung into action. The wheel was off, the QR was bent straight again. The wheel was bashed against the ground until straight, then splinted with a steel tyre lever, some toothpaste tube, gaffer tape, string and a couple of zip ties. Job’s a good un. It worked and managed to get Julian safely to the bail out point and back to the cars with 2 tired Woolly companions whilst the rest of the group took in the final loop.
Some nice rolling paths through national trust land passed some miserable walkers and led to a boggy, muddy, grassy climb that sapped the energy from tired legs. A short downhill followed, then the last long uphill of the day across harder open rocky grassland. Hendy managed to snap his super posh carbon railed saddle which left him with no option but to remove the seatpost and finish the ride standing up! Hendy managed like a trooper but his carbon curse continues, following a rear mech and now saddle, only bars and rear swingarm left to break!
Arriving at the top of the last climb we were greeted by Roger’s frank assessment of the last downhill section, “it’s fast, loose, rocky, grassy, well pretty much everything you could want” And true to form it didn’t disappoint. All arrived at the bottom with red hot brakes and massive grins. Truly a fantastic end to a great ride. The variety of riding the club has is immense and today was another example of a well planned, well executed group ride. The newer member did really well to make it round a tough route with smiles at the end.
Ride stats were, 24.5 miles, loads of height gain, 1 broken wheel, 1 snapped saddle, no punctures (hoorah!)
PICTURES HERE
Video of Julians wheel
|
Homepage
