Sunday

Long wet, cold, muddy, misty ride around the usual haunts, Winter Hill, Walker Fold, Coal Pits, Winter Hill again, Ice Cream Run, Yarrow, Healey Nab and back to Lever Park. Riders, Richard, Dave, Rob and Phil. Missed Dean today, not so well this week, hope he back soon.

Very wet and muddy, slippy everywhere today, also did I say cold, 6.5 degrees, just like winter!

North Face Trail

The weather started out very bad when we arrived at the car park, heavy rain and low visibility. After the usual faff of getting ready it was a little better. As usual now Phil shot off and left us, but we picked up another ride, Bob from Tynemouth and he stayed with us for the rest of the ride.

The trail was great, better than I had remembered it in April, though every hollow was filled with muddy water, and there are lots of hollows, so very wet today.

Had some fun on the boardwalks, they were actually treacherous, there is no wire mesh on the boards, just slippy wet wood....

A great day and good ride, not to long, but in the wet long enough.

Had a try at a short video, see it here

Saturday started off better than I thought with the weather, so although I wasn’t planning a ride, I couldn’t resist the sunshine.
Up from Scout Road to Walker Fold, then took the left hand option uphill, it’s a really technical climb, we only ever came it once before, so first time up. Then up to the mast and down to Two Lads, had a look at “Hole Bottom” on the way, you can see the old brick kilns , or rather where they were, I don’t think many people know where this is and what it was a long time ago. You can fid out a lot more about Winter Hill HERE.
Then down to Georges Lane, from Two lads. Came down the Ice Cream Run at the fastest speed yet, normally ride very slowly and normally fall off, but faster seems better, my GPS said approximately average speed of 10 miles an hour, which if you know the ICR, is not bad.
Back via Lower Barn, full of riders and other day trippers, easy ride home again
21 miles in good weather and warm temperatures.
Sunday’s ride cancelled due to bad weather.