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

To change your logo go to the 'Page Master' under the 'Design' menu

With the big thaw underway, Sunday 10th January ‘twenty-ten’ (10.1.10) featured yet another Morpeth start.
With the numbers swelling to seven (Julie, Willie, Sue, Gavin, Graham, Tom & Ian S) riding conditions were decidedly ‘squirrelly’ – the official term for uncontrollable wheel wander.
With deep snow turning heavy and no firm base, the story of the day was punctuated by dozens of dabs, squillions of sideslips and Sue’s high-pitched Michael Jackson impersonations (who’s Bad?) from behind her buff-berka.
The running order constantly changed as nearly all riders took it in turns to ‘hang a sharp left or right’ becoming beached in the deep stuff while those behind tried to keep momentum going and ride past and occasionally over the fallen (sorry Graham).
At least the route from the station via Hepscott and Stannington led to the River Blyth valley where there was a perfect calm away from the gathering easterly wind. The woods here never disappoint and today featured a family of three dear, stunning ice formations on rocks & river sides and deux person – Français in the form of Nico (a muddybum colleague) and his wife out for a walk looking for brownie points.
With bodies having really only covered a few miles, but legs trashed from the work rate, a stop at Plessey Park café was in order. We’ll be back sometime as the soup & hot chocolate was fab.
A discussion about the route home led to Humford woods being ditched (for the second week in a row) in favour of some tarmac to Bedlington - into the face of the easterly with snow narrowed road giving buses to chance to get up close and personal before spraying rare rock salt in your face.
Then it was off through ‘bandit pass’ to join fields and bridals to the west of Bedlington. Here Ian’s rear mech (xtr no less) finally gave up the ghost having jumped all day – the culprit identified as goosed bearings in the lower jockey wheel. Tom gave Ian a reminder about bike maintenance (my – how Tom has changed since he got a new bike!) and explained how to remove the jockey and run home on the wheel bearing only – thanks to Willie for as usual assisting the repairs.
Tom was also unconsciously teaching us lesser riders throughout the day by giving a master class in smooth pedaling and balance to take today’s prize for traction.
Thirty minutes later (including walking, riding and a snowball fight) Ian’s kitchen table again became the stop before home. Gavin’s bike is now set to autopilot to reach here once within 500 metres – and amazingly this seems to fine-tune his balance too!
Topped up with coffee, biscuits and mince pies, the remainder of the crew set off for the station - Xmas-fattened bodies and under used muscles feeling all the better for getting back in the swing. (Will Julie’s jeans fit tomorrow?)
Another great day out with fine company and banter – thanks to all.
Ian S