Rider List: (two missing - help, Ian!)

• Katy
• Sarah
• Richy
• Ian A
• Tim
• Steven Wa
  
• Arthur
  
• Jon
  
• Jeff
• Chris K
• Alex
• Tony
• Stewart
• Alan
• Justin
• Matt
• Terry K

The 17 riders above braved a slightly damp evening this Thursday, 15th October 2009 just to see off the brave Team MidAirCrisis squad as they prepare for Saturday's Hairy Coo in Perth, where they are confident of at least one podium spot in the Expert category.

Great to see Katy braving a bout of melancholy and turning out after a prolonged absence. She has at least been riding with her boyfriend at weekends in the meantime. Joining her was new member Sarah sporting yet another Specialized hardtail. Ah, well. It's a bike.

Matt was last to arrive just after 1900 but he had warned us he was on his way, so off we went on the Speedian's (Ian A) suggested "safe" route. Safe from potential thorn intrusions is what he meant by that, as he'd noticed the hedgerows had just been freshly cut over the last few days. What wisdom from our Thursday Thunderer!

We spread out along from the Cave along past ASDA and into the Country Park, the rear section already lost and wondering where to go! Straight down to business on the straight but fast and sweet singletrack alongside Whitley Road, we pummelled our way along there, all lights switched on right from the off after a very short "summer" season. Reaching Station Road we crossed into the Industrial Estate and out the back into Forest Hall before rejoining the Great Lime Road at Clousden Hill.

Another singletrack dash up to the East Lake before crossing the road and following Steven Wa into the trees past the West one. I hesitate to mention it, but this was Stewart's and Terry's opportunity to repeat their infamous Cyclo Cross event backwards. Somehow it seemed very easy tonight compared to the event itself in the depths of a freezing winter nine months ago!

It remained drizzly for most of the night but Speedy's fully raincoated entourage just shrugged it off as always. We'd just hopped off the end of the CC trail and crossed the road when Stewart became victim of its ghost with a puncture! Mr Sod lays the law down again. Now following some major activity and discussion on the Forum, we swiftly got back to our old ways again with many hands rushing to assist in the repair, unlike the situation of late which has seen somewhat less help offered but more of the hostile audio. This one didn't take very long at all once Stew persuaded the very tight bead to release itself from his ZTR rim. These look very much like skinny Sun XC rims, pretty unwilling to let tyres on or off them.

Over the level crossing and into the fields headed towards Gosforth Park now, and crossing at Sandy Lane roundabout before the inevitable plunge into back dark just beyond the Park gates. Ian steered us left this time for a change, covering his old Scouting grounds, before emerging at the road again to enter our more usual raceway.

This was quite muddy at its start and Speedy proceeded to tip himself over in the bog crossing. Not to be outdone, Alex tried it and came to a somewhat more sticky end with his left foot and half his calf totally submerged in the stinky wet goo. Sorry for laughing Alex!

Every time Ian gets in here he's off like a rat up a drainpipe, and tonight was no exception, although at least the regrouping stops were much more regular than of late. He steered us, or most of us, through the gloop and fast bits like he normally does, flat out with his red LEDs getting dimmer and dimmer as they disappear out front. The Gollum was at the rear, keeping a wary eye on Katy and Sarah as they tackled the dips, rises and roots but they had no trouble at all staying upright and moving quite quickly, although Katy had to borrow Golly's spare light to continue.

When we reached the Hotel car park, poor Arthur wasn't feeling too good so he turned for home. Katy was also subdued and hadn't intended to stay for the whole ride anyway, so she rode back into Gosforth and the Old Coast Road to the Cave and her car. First timer Sarah decided to stick it out and for the rest of the night and stayed mid-group or just behind as we crossed the A1 and hit a new section of woodland just outside Hazlerigg. Sarah almost came to grief here on a wet root and Tony took a small tipoff a bit later, but no damage done.

We got a little strung out in there but there were no further incidents as we regrouped again and continued over to Brunton Lane. However, on one of our well-traversed undertree slaloms, Chris K took a nasty fall at decent speed and twisted that famous metallic leg of his below the bionic knee. Nobody volunteered hands-on repairs so he just had to sit still while the MidAirCrisis Pi$$takometer went into overdrive scoring several nines and at least one ten.

The rain had just about stopped when Chris was able to remount a few minutes later, so we continued the short way up to the hilltop where we stopped in the clearing for our food halt. Lighting was the predominant topic of conversation for the next five minutes, coz it was dark in here.

Onward, over to the Great North Park, ever more singletrack was covered pretty swiftly while Ian and Golly waited to clear any stragglers and got somewhat left behind here themselves. Just the cruise over to Gosforth now and the freewheel down to Melton Park. That's when we lost a few more buddies while the rest of us tackled Bluebell Woods. Quite muddy down here compared to the summer months, and ever so dodgy for the Gollum, still dropping hard onto wet roots on the Meta 55 with no rear brake.

Emerging at South Gosforth we lost the Townie bunch leaving about 8 of us to finish off with the Tram Track over Benton Road and Coach Lane, before halting at the Mags training ground. Ian, Steven and Sarah left here with the rest staying on tarmac until Richy dropped down Station Road, back to the Cave arriving at about 10:20 after a somewhat less than manic cruise.

And here's Ian's bit! (just to explain - I always ask Ian to produce something in case I lose all recollection, which is regularly! But there's no harm in having two viewpoints) So thanks again Speedy.

The weather tonight was totally the responsibility of Alan, (quote, “Often the best weather of the week is on a Thursday?
Is this coincidence or did Terry do some major weather related research?!?”)

First wet night of the year still had a healthy turnout of seventeen with a new female member Sarah out for a first ride in the dark and we welcomed back Katy who has returned after several months.

The trail running parallel to Whitley Road was the chosen route to try and keep out of the rain. Beneath the Metro line and through Forest Hall heading for Killingworth lake before Stephen led us round last years cyclo-cross route, first and only puncture tonight, once the puncture was repaired the major delay was waiting to cross the level crossing beside the Station Hotel as it felt like the barrier goes down just as the train leaves the Central Station.

Over the fields towards Gosforth Park, the general direction through the park is known by most of the regulars so there’s no hanging about in here tonight other than the odd regroup, upon exiting the trees adjacent to the Marriott Hotel Katy headed for home via South Gosforth, and we crossed below the A1 and a new route towards Havana country park taking in a small wooded area which requires further investigation as a few fallen trees managed to prevent the trail from flowing.

 Biscuit stop was at the intersection of the trails within Havana where Justin unveiled a box of celebrations for all to share, however not everyone had arrived as a significant group were assisting a fallen Chris K who managed to give his knee a major whack on a passing tree.

The single-track across the field towards Fawdon golf course just has to be taken at speed, Meldon Park, Bluebell Woods and home via the Coxlodge Waggonway.
20 miles and only slightly muddy, a hopefully slower pace tonight so as not tire this weekends’ racers.