Morpeth Winter Round
Winter imposed its self today. The original planned ride was hastily re-scheduled to take account of the dodgy driving conditions, so "scenic" Morpeth Railway Station saw 8 rack up for a shaky 10.20'ish start after three frozen bikes were fettled back to order. (frozen freewheel, headset and u/s brake) ...... Faces were all shiny and aglow although with zero flesh exposed it was difficult to know who we were riding with. The ride rolled out down into the Wansbeck Valley and after slip slopping around for weeks in utterly saturated ground the going was superbly crisp and firm, and quick progress was made down and up out of the valley and onto Cottingwood Common in crystal clear air, blue skies and sunshine with surprisingly little wind.
On into the tundra, woods and frozen lakes of northern Morpeth aka "the ex-opencast" and our rendevoux with Rosie by the igloo was a no-show, she'd got cold waiting and pingu'd off. By now people had realised who they were riding with and the banter between Ian S, Nico, Tim, GavMc, Kev and Willjulie was good. At the high point on the snowy Hebron highlands the views over Northumberland down to Newcastle, over to the coast and up to the Cheviots were sharp as a pin and speed quickened as we set off down along an old opecast road in virgin snow inspiring the comment "it's like skiing on bikes" as IanS slalomed down putting complete trust in rubber on ice. A snack stop was beckoning by now so the puncture in Dukes Wood was not unwelcome and as the pack stuffed their faces, poor GavMc laboured with frozen fingers.
Fixed and with sustanance taken a chilly roll along the first section of tarmac in the day to Linton was endured and the dive along the old mineral line was fast with Willies put down of the locals ringing in our ears, but with no incidents we got spat out onto the maindrag A189. A short spin and we entered the winterwonderland of the fabled "lost" woods of Ashington. In these barren wooded flatlands it would be easy to get lost as Stanners of the North knows only too well, but with a local (Kev) on board we sailed through and into High Market where puncture 2 halted us right outside Rosie's door. Whilst we chatted and looked extra cold no hot beveridges could be found (wink wink Rosie) Fettled, but frozen again we dived back down into the Wansbeck Valley where Nico showed us how to jump a bike in the local woods playarea.
The turn for home now saw the best part of the day with a ride all the way along the river on a superb 4miles of frozen hard singletracks through the woods, steps and winter wonderfullness.
3.30pm.... legs and light failing we finaly hit civilisation again and the last climb out the valley had us back to the cars for 3.45pm. ...... a classic winter ride in a more semi-urban environment, but non the poorer for it. ........ Merry Xmas and Happy New Year ...... Gav.D/mosstrooper.
THE MUDDY BUMS (aka "the Clarty Ars#ses")
MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND
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