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Perfect weather for a great ride with a good bunch of Retro Riders
Now for the report:
NWA: Forest of Rossendale ~ 29/01/11
The day began with temperatures hitting -4.5 , but for me this was a good sign, as the recce had been awful in the heavy rain and -4.5 meant the chances of rain were minimal.
MrLee was quick to set up his amber wall tyre emporium and with tail gate high business began with the exchange of cash and promises of paypal transactions, I must say they are great tyres for the price.
After we were all acquainted and bikes had been fettled with we were ready for the off, but not before the obligatory line up photos.
The Bikes: GT Tequesta, Orange Clockwork, Marin Palisades Trail, Giant Terrago, Alpinestars Ti Mega, Specialized Rockhopper comp.
After giving up looking for the self timer feature, I had used many times before, the riders picture was taken without me in it.
The Riders: Mr Lee, sinnett177, Brocklanders, Beavis, giant-one, and the inept camera user HarryCrumb.
The ride took us along the river side from Rawtenstall into Waterfoot where we then began the climb up along tarmac, bridleway, and the frozen mud track to the descent from the signal mast into Bacup centre. As the 1st half of this ride is all about climbing it was only fair we went up hill out of Bacup and joined the cycle route from Higher Change to its junction with the A681. Not forgetting Richards hold up at he was cut off by the reversing manoeuvre being made by a blind motorist from a farm.
The true off road part of the ride begins here, as urban life is left behind. We made our way to Heald Top Farm, where we were greeted by a duck, dog, and friendly resident. Those who were there will remember this bit as the piece where you really did hold onto you bike for dear life. We worked our way across Heald Moor where we stopped for a break and quick photo shoot.
Beavis and Mrlee riding across Heald Moor
Mrlee takes the opportunity for a publicity shot with his BikeFood drinks bottle
Giant-one takes advantage of the pit stop
Once we were back on the bikes we were soon up to the Beacon on the Burnley Way, where I left the group with mark so that I could take in the down hill ahead to set up a vantage point for some action shots. This was a great bit of moorland track across Deerplay Moor where I took advantage of the cold hard ground unleashing the 46T Pace chainring.
After the wrist crushing downhill of doom we had the dog leg of death, where Mark’s elegant dismount was not caught on camera by the button fumbling Crumb.
Mark descends the Dog Leg of Death
Mrlee begins to close up the gap behind sinnett177
Sinnett177 and Mrlee work their way up the technical climb on the second part of the dog leg
Mrlee looking chuffed with his performance on the Dog leg of Death
Brocklanders, Beavis, and giant-one unaware of the Dog Leg of Death lurking around the corner
Brocklanders takes the dog leg in his stride
Beavis on the dog leg with his Hi-vis forks on the Palisades
Giant-one enters the Dog leg of Death with already near jellified arms from the wrist crushing downhill of doom.
We left bridleway and headed up the A671 in search of food via a 1 mile each way detour to find the pub was closed. The second food stop option was several miles away in Lumb. We arrived at the Hargreaves arms via the path of the ice slick and to top it off the pub we had stopped serving food.
Brocklanders guards the bikes while we all visit the bar in search of food and drink
Mark and Richard tucking into their bar snacks, the only food on offer.
The faces are near mutiny after the false promises of food, to be later forgotten by the sight of the local Greggs store in Rawtenstall.
From Lumb we followed the ByWay joining Lumb and Rawtenstall, where we took the oportunity to stock up on food before we arrived back at the car park.
A great ride with a good variety of trail, I hope it wasn’t too disorganised being my first outing.
Finally your “bike of the ride” the Marin Palisades Trail, ridden by Beavis
Now for the report:
NWA: Forest of Rossendale ~ 29/01/11
The day began with temperatures hitting -4.5 , but for me this was a good sign, as the recce had been awful in the heavy rain and -4.5 meant the chances of rain were minimal.
MrLee was quick to set up his amber wall tyre emporium and with tail gate high business began with the exchange of cash and promises of paypal transactions, I must say they are great tyres for the price.
After we were all acquainted and bikes had been fettled with we were ready for the off, but not before the obligatory line up photos.
The Bikes: GT Tequesta, Orange Clockwork, Marin Palisades Trail, Giant Terrago, Alpinestars Ti Mega, Specialized Rockhopper comp.
After giving up looking for the self timer feature, I had used many times before, the riders picture was taken without me in it.
The Riders: Mr Lee, sinnett177, Brocklanders, Beavis, giant-one, and the inept camera user HarryCrumb.
The ride took us along the river side from Rawtenstall into Waterfoot where we then began the climb up along tarmac, bridleway, and the frozen mud track to the descent from the signal mast into Bacup centre. As the 1st half of this ride is all about climbing it was only fair we went up hill out of Bacup and joined the cycle route from Higher Change to its junction with the A681. Not forgetting Richards hold up at he was cut off by the reversing manoeuvre being made by a blind motorist from a farm.
The true off road part of the ride begins here, as urban life is left behind. We made our way to Heald Top Farm, where we were greeted by a duck, dog, and friendly resident. Those who were there will remember this bit as the piece where you really did hold onto you bike for dear life. We worked our way across Heald Moor where we stopped for a break and quick photo shoot.
Beavis and Mrlee riding across Heald Moor
Mrlee takes the opportunity for a publicity shot with his BikeFood drinks bottle
Giant-one takes advantage of the pit stop
Once we were back on the bikes we were soon up to the Beacon on the Burnley Way, where I left the group with mark so that I could take in the down hill ahead to set up a vantage point for some action shots. This was a great bit of moorland track across Deerplay Moor where I took advantage of the cold hard ground unleashing the 46T Pace chainring.
After the wrist crushing downhill of doom we had the dog leg of death, where Mark’s elegant dismount was not caught on camera by the button fumbling Crumb.
Mark descends the Dog Leg of Death
Mrlee begins to close up the gap behind sinnett177
Sinnett177 and Mrlee work their way up the technical climb on the second part of the dog leg
Mrlee looking chuffed with his performance on the Dog leg of Death
Brocklanders, Beavis, and giant-one unaware of the Dog Leg of Death lurking around the corner
Brocklanders takes the dog leg in his stride
Beavis on the dog leg with his Hi-vis forks on the Palisades
Giant-one enters the Dog leg of Death with already near jellified arms from the wrist crushing downhill of doom.
We left bridleway and headed up the A671 in search of food via a 1 mile each way detour to find the pub was closed. The second food stop option was several miles away in Lumb. We arrived at the Hargreaves arms via the path of the ice slick and to top it off the pub we had stopped serving food.
Brocklanders guards the bikes while we all visit the bar in search of food and drink
Mark and Richard tucking into their bar snacks, the only food on offer.
The faces are near mutiny after the false promises of food, to be later forgotten by the sight of the local Greggs store in Rawtenstall.
From Lumb we followed the ByWay joining Lumb and Rawtenstall, where we took the oportunity to stock up on food before we arrived back at the car park.
A great ride with a good variety of trail, I hope it wasn’t too disorganised being my first outing.
Finally your “bike of the ride” the Marin Palisades Trail, ridden by Beavis
(sorry) :roll: 
