Ride 006.

Date: 30th October 2003                               Distance: 18.75 miles

I can’t believe this ride was so long considering we only intended a little look around some of the “play areas” around Guisborough Woods and Great Ayton. Not the full squad today, Ian being otherwise engaged and Crankshaft Steve probably too traumatised from travelling 25 miles without the aid of an internal combustion engine to ever join us again.

Set off from Pinchinthorpe and made our way on the fireroads to Roseberry Common and up to the top of Cliff Rigg Quarry where we rode down the steep shale slope across the top end of the quarry to warm up. A well used singletrack leads downwards along the Great Ayton side of the quarry to the jump area. Unfortunately for us it passes through an unkind amount of gorse bushes which left us several souvenirs. We spent some time having fun riding up and down the craters in the jump area, without doing anything as technical as actually leaving the ground. Somehow Oz managed to end up in a heap at the bottom of one slope, glasses bent, body battered and bruised. Now he knows how the rest of us feel every ride. Some spectators strolled up, apparently expecting us to entertain them with fearless aerial manoeuvres and suchlike; we explained we are really just some old blokes who should know better and departed for the fleshpots of Great Ayton.

Managing to shun the cafes and cake shops, we arrived at Dikes Lane and turned right up the bridleway to Easby Moor and The Red Run. It was at the Red Run Simon’s cycling forte became apparent; it’s either abundant courage or advanced lunacy. One glance over the edge at the near vertical start, a word of encouragement and he launched off, not even bothering with the brakes – then returned for another go. Oz’s attempt was more flawed but he still did it, which is more than may be said for Bob and me. Yellow streaks shining in the sun, we waited at the bottom and took pictures.

The singletrack along the side of Easby Moor and through Millbank Woods is beginning to become worryingly muddy – this does not bode well for the winter months. Soon we reached the road at Bankside Farm and a nice downhill blast to what is fast becoming our regular café – Glebe Farm tearooms at Kildale. The weather was pleasant enough for us to sit outside and enjoy our coffee. As usual Simon took aboard a surfeit of calories to see him through the ride ahead.

We rode up to Percy Cross Rigg, stopping at the old military gun emplacement or whatever it may have been on the top, before the swooping downhill back to Guisborough Woods, where Oz realised his bag was still on top of the gun emplacement. We kindly waited while he went back up for it.

More technical stuff followed, we went into the woods and did a section of the Black Route, some rooty stuff, followed by wood-edged singletrack. Bob’s dangling toe-strap caught on a projecting branch, stopping the bike in its tracks and while Bob continued down the slope at the side. It’s a pity we were so far in front we missed it. This was the first (and no doubt the last) time he used toe straps

Down a steep bank to the fire road near Bold Venture Ghyll, Bob again bit the dust – or pine needles and mud in this case – spat out by an unseen rut. We made our way to the brief but fun section of downhill known as The Chute, which was ridden without casualties, amazing for our inept little band.

A pleasant pootle through the pub-less Hutton Village, past Home Farm, up the last bank past Bousdale house and we were back at the cars once again. Play day finished.

Back To Rides page