THE MUDDY BUMS (aka "the Clarty Ars#ses") MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND

Today was that first day of the season when Muddybums become Snowybums again and cycling was only part of the activities.
 
Not that it wasn’t a good workout. Nature’s spectacularly beautiful white wonderland gymnasium provided a whole body tone-up with bike lifting bicep curls, downhill bike-sledging tricep dips, tree ripping (literally) pec-deck pulls, thigh straining front lunge bike pushes, abdominal crunching side slip corrections and of course a genuine outdoor spinning class as traction was often rationed.

The usual far afield of hills and moors was replaced by around the doors more usually ridden on a midweek night. The route was simple and not too long – Morpeth Station to Station Road Stannington via Bothal Woods, Choppington Community Woods, Bedlington Outskirts and well….not much more.

Braving the conditions and the arduous 4.5 hour ride/push where Willie, Julie (who had selected her very best Wurzel happy-head today), Gavin, Tom, Dave Y and Ian S.

Highlights:
1. The snow held off
2. Let it go ‘woopie’ descents into the snowy unknown
3. Bothal woods being the easy part for a change
4. Expert supervision by Gavin and P.A. Julie as Tom, Willie and Ian demolished a fallen oak as there was no way round
5. Coffee, hot chocolate and warm cookies at the W(T)histle Stop café
6. Simply breathtaking scenery
7. A lovely log fire and sing-along at W & J’s after the ride – I do love those carols (no singing actually, only more coffee n cookies – thanks folks)

Lowlights:
1. A little bit of pushing on the odd deep snowy field or railway line
2. Lots of trees downed by the weight of snow
3. Julie’s tubeless rear de-rimming and the associated sound of escaping air - the tyre that is
4. Missing the final cafe stop at The Stannington G(o)rill(a) by 10 minutes as they closed early
5. Julie finally losing her happy head after point 4 above
6. The tongue lashing resulting from point 5 above (‘duck’s back’, baby)

Highlights outweighing lowlights considerably, a good day was had by all and by heck, the backyard stuff does come up trumps in today’s conditions when options are limited – just as well as next week could be more of the same if the forecasters are right.

Cheers Ian S