Allendale Round

Expectations were quite low today as the Muddy Bums gathered in Allendale Town. The grey sky and cool breeze was a disappointment after Saturday's glorious sunny weather and it had even been a good forecast for today. And the planned ride hadn't received a particularly warm welcome either as rumour had it that there was lots of boring tarmac and little interesting singletrack. And Julie's particularly low level of enthusiasm reached an even lower ebb when her bladder burst in full public display in the village square. And today there wasn't a rush of helpful male hands to assist this damsel in distress. It wasn't an age related incident though - as Julie's bladder was brand new - and had cost over £20 from a supposedly reputable outdoor shop. Julie wanted to go home at this point - but she wasn't getting out of the day's delights quite that easily. Willie donated his bladder to Julie for the day and then we were off.....

Arthur, Ian B, Ian A, Willie, Julie and Mark finally left the village square en route for the Chimmnies.  The weather started to blow harder on our faces and then it started to spit with rain as we toiled up the steep tarmac lane out of Allendale. Spirits weren't exactly surging at this point but no one complained (or at least I couldn't hear anyone complaining). The Chimmnies were reached in good time with a "get on with it" pace being set by all present. After a short rest we headed up to the road for the much anticipated tarmac miles down towards Carrshield where we left the road and headed up a "new" bridleway. New as in no one had done this one before and from the looks of it not many had ever come this way on a bike or on foot for that matter. The route was not particularly clear as the height was gained and then after about a mile of steady climbing the route disappeared all together. The following trackless fellside will be glossed over here but on reaching Issac's Tea Trail we all welcomed the beautiful sight of a classic singletrack snaking its way accross the fellside. There then followed a supremely spirit uplifting route that stretched for a full 3 miles back into Allendale.

Towards the bottom of this track we met up with the Mid Air Crisis bikers who were following an MBR route up from Sinderhope. After a bit of banter we descended to the River Allen for a lunch stop where everyone agreed that Issac's Tea Trail had been very well worth the effort to get there. After lunch the climb up to The Broadway was taken on the water board track past Byerhope and we then started down one of my all time favourite routes down The Broadway to Hangman Hill. Everyone cleared the route and the ever present muddy puddle in great style. After a short unplanned stop to fix the only puncture of the day, we turned North West towards Stobbs Cross on another entertaining moorland trail. Ian A impressed all with his powerful hill climbing - although his freewheel mech clearly didn't appreciate the work it was being asked to do - and failed. But it wasn't too far now for Ian to push past Stobbs Cross before a long sweeping descent back into Alendale Town.

A long, lazy refreshment break was then taken in the newly refurbished Cafe where the quality of the staff was particularly appreciated by most of us, before Ian A's cheese and potato soup arrived. This soup was perhaps representative of the whole day - it sounded a bit odd, no one had tried it before and it looked a bit suspicious - but it tasted great, outstandingly great and everyone who tried it thoroughly enjoyed it ! There has to be a lesson in there somewhere .....

Mark

THE MUDDY BUMS  (aka "the Clarty Ars#ses")

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND

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