I seem to be developing the habit of not reporting Thursday night rides lately. Can't help my keyboard running out of ink. But here's one more.

Thursday 20th march 2008, and gathering for the start were Arthur; just off the Belfast plane; Chris D, having got sick of the downhilling in Holland (!); Terry H, now recovered from his recent bug attack; Jason, escaping his kid's football practice; and regular Speedy, alias Ian A. We left just after 7:00pm and headed out the back of Holystone Farm. We could see Derek's monstrous Hope HID beam approaching from Backworth miles away, blinding us. After we'd met mid-field, we turned him around and shared the power of the Hope unit as we headed back up to the Waggonway and over to Hillheads Farm.

From there we moved north over the next few fields and west towards Burradon. We crossed to the bridleways and over to Gosforth Park at the Garden Centre. Time for the Speedian to hit the front and pick a route through the trees as darkness descended a little later than usual thanks to a reasonably clear sky. We set out with the intention of staying out of the wind, and Ian proceeded to serve up a massive helping of root-jumping satisfaction as we weaved about beneath the branches, or rode head-first into them! Great fun in here and once more we ended up creating a few fresh trails while somehow meeting again at the end.

We popped out at the Hotel car park and after a quick discussion decided to do a clockwise loop up to Brunton Woods from Meldon Park traffic lights. That was nice and calm and we soon emerged at the short singletrack through to the far end of Hazlerigg and the start of the Phase Two singletracks. Yet again great fun in here, ever darker as time went on, until that most dreaded of events overtook young Chris and his Mongoose. Puncture! We mucked in to help as Chris dug out his spare tube, preferring replacement as "they're only two quid each", rather than patching. Shame, it was a lovely night for patching.

By this time, leaders Ian and Terry had managed to pull out a lead of half a k, and it wasn't until Ian rang the GollyMobe® that we were able to alert them to our problem and our position. They managed to backtrack and find us following Golly's garbled and confused directions, and somehow Speedy managed to tip himself of the Stumpy on flat grass! Not hurt though, he reckoned, but cause of much amusement. As was Gollum's assumption that the "patch" he'd handed to Chris to cover the thorn damage to his tyre was not, in fact, sandpaper. It was, and he deserved his "Prick of the Night" award for suggesting it was a stiff patch. And to be sure, Chris let him have it for that, but then so did everyone else. Deep embarrassment followed inside Golly's balaclava.

We blasted out of the woods to the Wideopen road and decided we'd better head back. However, we couldn't ride back along Sandy Lane without a final dip into the woods again, and that was a great way to end the night after Derek had departed for home with his lamp power beginning to fade. Another good ride, and maybe not many more to come in total darkness when the clocks do their Spring Thing. Better get out now and try one, eh?

Keep watching and if you fancy a ride out with us, drop us a line here: bailout@midaircrisis.org.uk