2010 - brrrr...
First outing of the year saw Ian A and Terry K heading out from Ian's just after 10:00 am and along the ROAD on the Great Lime Road heading west to South Gosforth where a partially frozen Isobel awaited their arrival. Beautiful morning but real cool under a blueish sky.
Heading where?
The SpeedIan had a plan, so we followed it. Or followed Ian at least. Or Isobel did and Terry tried. Unfortunately the latter's decision to wear a full set of armour today was to hamper rather than help his cause as the ride wore on. Boy, was it hot inside that 661 body suit, Bomber armoured shorts and Dianese leg guards!!! He'd worn them expecting the ride to turn into a fairly dangerous dual slalom duel in the trees between Speedy and himself, and hadn't expected Izzy to be around to calm things down.
We started with Bluebell Woods where the grip levels were reasonably adequate for all three of us, but it wasn't long before those Trailrakers that served Terry so well on the ice last Wednesday night began to make their mark, being if anything just too grippy in the deeper snow. The extra drag they imposed had him gasping for breath and they'd only covered half a mile! Here's the scene:
The run up to Melton Park was very picturesque. Did I mention there was no wind, thank goodness?
We left the estate and crossed straight over the North Road to the Great North Park where the snow was again hard going but at least had been partly trampled by homo sapien shoe wearers.
It was under the A1 that Terry lost site of the other two for a few miles as they just skeeted up the incline and vanished up the singletrack to Brunton Lane, where they kindly waited.
Figured!
I managed to confirm just exactly why our Ian has acquired the ability to put his head down and vanish without really trying! He rides in a gear three lumps higher than me but pedals at the same rate, more-or-less. Shimpools. I even had the chance to take some measurements today, and they indicated that he gains 200 metres in a minute, and therefore a full kilometre in just five minutes. And how often does he look back? Must be great to have stamina and strength like that, but of course he's just a young 'un!
Anyway, he kindly allowed me a rest when we reached the road, then we had a natter about Life, the Universe and Retirement while we waited for a pedestrian type to get out of our path. Next rest halt was Havannah Pond where the water had a covering of ice and snow and a great many footprints all over it. Ian was the only volunteer to risk a trip out on his bike while we two watched in anticipation, but fate didn't strike!
The long road haul up into Dinnington Village saw Izzy and Ian having to pull over and wait for Terry yet again as there was just nowt left in his tank. We slithered onto the Route Ten bridleway and crossed back east again to Seaton Burn where another catch-up and wait was needed half way through. Pathetic.
Terry the Roadi - nah, can't bring myself to say it.
Luckily the road through Wideopen wasn't too busy so we used it to get into Gosforth Park, where Ian kindly asked if there was any energy left for the customary blast through. Only Ian was blasting, however, as he led us on a dizzying maze through the trees, with grip again OK but the going was pretty hard. It seemed an awful long time between hitting the first stage and arriving at the exit gate at Peter Barrat's, but at least we did get a short race of sorts near the end.
Then there was a slight sting in the tail for Terry as Ian steered us down to Findus then turned right towards South Giosforth where we'd started. Now in the state TK was in, the last thing he fancied was reaching his own street (well, the ancient west end of the Great Lime Road) and pedalling directly AWAY from home! Therefore he got well tailed off at the back again, but fortunately just until we reached the edge of Longbenton Estate where we'd emerged earlier on the way out. That's where Isobel headed for home again, and the other two returned by bridleway past the Cat and Dog Shelter.
The "short ride" had stretched to almost four hours by the time Terry got back home where he had to use a chisel handle to smash the ice off both rims and the swing arm before the bike could be put away! Thanks for the company you two. Things can only get easier from here on!