Everything about Mountain Biking in the North East of England
MTBE forum ride (aftermath)
Well what can I say about today's forum ride...contrary to common belief I did enjoy myself. The first climbs took it out of me as I pushed too hard too soon and was walking 1.5 miles into the ride, I had an unnerving sense of foreboding and nearly turned round and quit. It was only Suzie C that convinced me otherwise!!
At the top was a welcoming site, our first downhill section but before that....you guessed it another little climb but the reward was class...It was a quick descent full of rocks and gullies and I liked it because the track was wide enough to be forgiving if you took a wrong line. That was over far too quick but still another descent awaited and we were warned by Ian? to keep out of the gully as it'll rip your derailleur off no problem. This descent was a bit more technical, the start was fine and I rode so far down but after 100m or so it got a bit messy and too technical for me too handle, walking again! even Gunner got off and walked so far down this one. Suzie and John C both give it a shot with Suzie coming a cropper!!
Well Murphys law prevailed and what went down had to go back up!! and it was a killer of a climb, I remarked that I'd been up here with my dog once....once being the appropriate word here!!!
You guessed right I was walking again...with Suzie C. We reached the top and were told that instead of going down the intended route we were going to go right onto a track that brings you up behind Capt. Cooks Monument. I knew what lay in store and was not looking forward to it one bit!!!. We reached the point I was dreading a small, but steep, slippery rocky climb, bad enough walking it never mind having to drag a bike up as well!!! Still spirits were lifted when I seen Gunner taking pics of me, John and Suzie C struggling!! Spirits lifted even more when Gunner told us no one rode up.
So at Capt. Cooks I thought we were going down the track to Gribdale Gate...WRONG we were going down a sinewy singletrack the got a little bit too close for comfort to a rather steep drop!! John came a cropper. I was a chicken sh*t and walked most of it. Then came the part that really hacked me off. Fair enough we were on a mountain bike ride but this was not my idea of an enjoyable part of it, quite the opposite. What lay before us was a downhill singletrack run, rocky muddy slippy. No f*****g way was I risking this, I would be injured seriously as I don't have the technical ability to cope with a singletrack downhill like this. I was not impressed by the decision to take this route a fact I made pretty clear when I got to the bottom.
When we got to the bottom the best way to describe this section of the route along the bottom of Easby moor was like riding through the Somme!!! I was walking again, totally losing heart in the ride and not enjoying it one bit!!! Then there was another rooty rocky very technical descent....You carry on lads...I'm walking this B*****d, my displeasure was very apparent I think!! Walking again!!!. Still things got better when we got to the bottom onto tarmac upto Dikes Lane. It was at this point that me and Suzie C decided to go the road route through Gt. Ayton, Newton under Roseberry and finally back to the start.
The one thing that put a smile on my face....we were first back!!
I've realised one thing with this ride, I aint as fit as I thought I was.
Still not bad for a fat bloke eh!
At the top was a welcoming site, our first downhill section but before that....you guessed it another little climb but the reward was class...It was a quick descent full of rocks and gullies and I liked it because the track was wide enough to be forgiving if you took a wrong line. That was over far too quick but still another descent awaited and we were warned by Ian? to keep out of the gully as it'll rip your derailleur off no problem. This descent was a bit more technical, the start was fine and I rode so far down but after 100m or so it got a bit messy and too technical for me too handle, walking again! even Gunner got off and walked so far down this one. Suzie and John C both give it a shot with Suzie coming a cropper!!
Well Murphys law prevailed and what went down had to go back up!! and it was a killer of a climb, I remarked that I'd been up here with my dog once....once being the appropriate word here!!!
You guessed right I was walking again...with Suzie C. We reached the top and were told that instead of going down the intended route we were going to go right onto a track that brings you up behind Capt. Cooks Monument. I knew what lay in store and was not looking forward to it one bit!!!. We reached the point I was dreading a small, but steep, slippery rocky climb, bad enough walking it never mind having to drag a bike up as well!!! Still spirits were lifted when I seen Gunner taking pics of me, John and Suzie C struggling!! Spirits lifted even more when Gunner told us no one rode up.
So at Capt. Cooks I thought we were going down the track to Gribdale Gate...WRONG we were going down a sinewy singletrack the got a little bit too close for comfort to a rather steep drop!! John came a cropper. I was a chicken sh*t and walked most of it. Then came the part that really hacked me off. Fair enough we were on a mountain bike ride but this was not my idea of an enjoyable part of it, quite the opposite. What lay before us was a downhill singletrack run, rocky muddy slippy. No f*****g way was I risking this, I would be injured seriously as I don't have the technical ability to cope with a singletrack downhill like this. I was not impressed by the decision to take this route a fact I made pretty clear when I got to the bottom.
When we got to the bottom the best way to describe this section of the route along the bottom of Easby moor was like riding through the Somme!!! I was walking again, totally losing heart in the ride and not enjoying it one bit!!! Then there was another rooty rocky very technical descent....You carry on lads...I'm walking this B*****d, my displeasure was very apparent I think!! Walking again!!!. Still things got better when we got to the bottom onto tarmac upto Dikes Lane. It was at this point that me and Suzie C decided to go the road route through Gt. Ayton, Newton under Roseberry and finally back to the start.
The one thing that put a smile on my face....we were first back!!
I've realised one thing with this ride, I aint as fit as I thought I was.
Still not bad for a fat bloke eh!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by soshea on -
well at least you seem happyer now denny.well i enjoyed it loads even though it is going 2 cost me about 200 quid to sort my bike out as it now needs a new crank, rerear mec and a new chain to say the least.but thanks to paulb i got some sound advice what 2 buy.
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Permalink Reply by Denny Teasdale on -
Yeah wasn't too happy about the route we took from Capt. Cooks as I know that kind of riding is just too much for me. I am not technically adept enough to ride singletrack downhill...period, the wider downhills are fine as you've got room to move around the track and select your lines whereas on singletrack you've got to commit and really search for the best line in a space about 18 inches wide!! Still like I said overall I enjoyed it, just that section put a little bit of a dampner on it for me..not to worry though. Haven't inspected mine yet...possibly new pads!
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Permalink Reply by Dr_Death on -
The climb up to Capt. Cook monument is a git. Took me about three attempts to clean it and even now it is a struggle. Do-able, but tricky. There is loads of great riding to be had around there, but a lot of it is VERY technical. Worth coming back to later though.
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Permalink Reply by Denny Teasdale on
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I'll probably do this ride again later in the year I'll just miss out that downhill section from Capt. Cooks. I need to get out into the hills a bit more as most of my riding at the moment is along rail paths, a few more days in the hills won't do me any harm.....I think!!
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Permalink Reply by Shnifter (Garth) on -
lol great write-up, sounds like my standard of riding!!!!!
Should we organise a date in early February for the community to have a ride-out? Great Ayton/Guisbrough would certainly be an ideal location for my little group
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Permalink Reply by Denny Teasdale on
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I'm sure I could get along to it...work/wife/caligula (1 yr old son) permitting of course. I have a day off in the week if that's any good? I can trawl my routes to look for something in the Guisborough area if you want? Will have to let me know ASAP so I can get it mapped out/uploaded.
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