I managed to crawl in around 2am, very, very tired.
A proper thank you for such a decent event. I remembered the single track being excellent from 2010 when I had the Chute.
But, what made this time round even more exciting was the fact that I was riding 20 year old tyres and a previously un ridden 20 year old+ bike...
A very big thanks to Letmetalktomark for the lift and the road trip conversation.
High points:
Old Ned's search for the 'Q' factor on my frame
Illicit drug taking
The beer
The singletrack
The bike
The Saracen Conquest
The last piece of (excellent) brownie
Heathy's constant bellowings of encouragment
The one time I could genuinely shout 'COMING THROUGH!!!!' at the top of my voice as I really really needed the space at a near 30mph
The table of freebies and after ride sales
Not so high points
The long jetwash queue and I only managed to clean one shoe.
The mud
The cut-up routes
The wet slippery rocks that were not natural to the area but put in place to make the most of the 'Rad skills'. Apologies for those behind me, I really did not have the skills to make my bike go down trail centre style sections.
The echoing thunk of mud encrusted chains trying to engage gears.
The usual thanks are there for John, Ededwards and Sinnett177 for the organizing.
More thank yous for the man who gave me the computer parts, Johnyboy666 for the bike bits, Heathy for the £20 XT thumbies and £5 Manitous.
The mud has stained my hands a peculiar colour and none of my clothes came out of the wash any cleaner than they went in. I'll hope to get a RB jersey soon as a blindingly white T-shirt is not the most suitable attire.
The bike was the much publicised Harry Quinn. It turned out to be a revelation, absolute perfect climber only spoilt by a loose headset and too long a stem. It recieved some interesting looks tin the jetwash queue ranging from alarm to long stares of interest.I now have big shoulders from hoiking that overlong stem around the hairpins.
I was a bit surprised to find myself in the middle of the pack, normally my fitness only allows for me to be with the 'cool' 'kids at the back.
I absolutely recommend the Tioga Farmer John Cousin with a 20 year out of date review for a front tyre, spot on. My front wheel was clean as the tyre shed mud straight onto me rather than the rim allowing my front brake to work in any condition.
The beer was just right for the end of the ride. If I didnt have to work that evening I would have had more and regaled Mark with my excellent yodelling skills all the way home.
Note for the next ride: If Ededwards says that its not muddy, bring wellies.