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

THREESTONEBURN WOOD WANDER / 11.4.10 – Spring has sprung! the daffs is oot at last ... so to avoid an early wetting we start from the Breamish Valley at Brandon Ford, instead of the usual at Powburn Services so as to avoid the river crossing as the bridge there is now being dismantled. As Nico and I arrive, Arthur, Ian A, Tom, Izzy, Gary, Mark and the new Gary are already fettling their mounts in the sun, and YES! again .. it’s a perfect warm and dry day for a bicycle ride. New Gary is a convert from Ncle MTB, and has been riding out with them midweek, but now thinks his new carbon Stumpy needs some real proper mtb use on the natural Northumberland trails, as opposed to the urban concrete and manmade variety ... heheh only joshing guys. Suited and booted we start of on the cheeky little climb oot the valley on the green lane past Heddon, and quickly gain the height for a the undulating ride over the fields to Roddam Rigg, and it’s dry, dry, dry all the way, even the boggy soggy field by Nova Scotia which usually gets me walking by the top. Peaking Roddam Rigg we get the first brilliant views of snowy Hedghope, Threestoneburn Wood and the ride ahead, and after the hot climb up, overheated heads and bodies are refreshingly cooled as we pile down the field over the recently NEEB electricity upgraded track to National Route 68. A quick breather and chat and it’s off again, lickity split to Calder, where no farmers disturb us (!) and a fast roll on hard trails to the bridles over The Dod again sees no untoward interest in oor activities. Garments are being stripped now as the long slow climb commences up to the natural bowl of Threestoneburn, but riders are really enjoying it, with the slight tail breeze and a full Northumberland spring chorus of curlews, larks and the chirruping and squeaking of Scott’s ‘n’ Oranges in tandem .... me? I love the smell of GT85 in the morning, but it was fierce sparse on some riders bikes today. A more perfect spot than Threestoneburn House you will not find, and prehistoric man obviously agreed by building a stone circle here, but could we agree to visit it? Tom’s beguiling report of past visit’s and Mark’s ley line commentary had us all mightily confused and the circle sailed by. And now into the forest, on good track heading for the summit of Langlee Crags, and the only wet ground of the day is slogged over to get to the start of the mega downhill of the ridge into the Harthope Valley, with perfect views all round of snowy Cheviot. The team set off down, brakes squealing like stuck pigs, but Gary gets a snake bite half way down, so it’s a repair job in probably the most scenic spot ever to get a mechanical. Tom and I help with the rest of the crew waiting below like ants. Quickly repaired we re-group, only to have stop again with the tyre down for a second time. The patches have not stuck! as the tube is far too small for his rather large tyre, so his spare tube is utilised this time, and everyone is happy. On we roll down the by the sublime Harthope Burn, through a secret valley, which we are all Happy to be in and lunch in, and out we pop at N.Middleton ford. The ford is happily taken by some and some use the chicken run aka the bridge. Tarmac Rout 68 is now utilised for a speedy roll through the ford at Lilburn, Illderton and the Roddam Burn, with very few exiting with any honour on the wet climb out, Nico was the only rider who I saw do it. Legs are getting tired now and we begin to retrace our route out in reverse over Nova Scotia and on to the best way to finish a bike ride, that is downhill and very quickly, which is exactly what happens, with dust flying and whooping noises issuing forth. ...... 18 miles covered and at 6.5 miles an hour makes it a faster than average ride than of late. What a difference a bit of dry ground makes, long may it continue, thanks all who rode out for another fantastic ride. ~ Gav/Mosstrooper