I think I'm on pretty safe ground (for once!) in assuming that we gather and ride because we love the bikes. I consider myself a really lucky sod, luckier than the rest of you. Why so? Because I'm greedy. Explain?

Because about once every four or five weeks, on a Thursday night like this one, 25th March 2010, I get to ride behind Ian A, the Speedian on his "home track" in Gosforth Park. But don't get the idea I'm easily pleased, because I'm not really. We all enjoy the Trail Centres and each of us probably also has a favourite XC ride somewhere with some extra special stretch on it.

But to latch onto Ian's tail through those trees, over the whoops, under the branches, through the mud, over the roots, under the water and all without knowing when he's going to suddenly veer left or right is for me unbeatable. And unbelievably, he's kept the fun factor ridiculously high for a couple of years now - just amazing. My greed comes about from chopping peoples' noses off just to get on Ian's back wheel, but I won't apologise for it.

Now then, back to the ride. Nineteen of us this time leaving the Cave about ten past seven, and one new member - Ross - from High Heaton joining us for his inauguration on a borrowed Specialized FSR. Never mind, not his fault. And another newcomer - or is he? Jay returning from winter hibernation for his first ride since last summer.

here's Ian A's Rider List, 19 of us:

Ian A
Ainis
Chris D
Matt
Terry
Chris K
Ross
Jason
John H
Stewart
Alan
Justin
Mick H
Jay
Tim
Paul
Jon
Richy
Arthur

We kicked it off with a run along the Great Lime Road and the first split of the night when Terry turned off for the first field crossing over Killingworth Moor well behind the front men who'd been advised to wait at the church by Speedy! We cut our losses and joined them some minutes later. However, we joined by stealth, the six or seven of us at the back, after first taking in Steven Wa's singletrack blast from Clousden Hill. Bit soggy, it was, but still entertaining while the legs held out.

Speedy led from Killingworth Village down to the Lakes and into the trees for that infamous cyclo-cross section, then we made our way over an extremely wet and tricky dual towards the golf course before emerging at the end of Sandy Lane. Unusually, we tracked up the road missing out Section One of Speedy's Fun Park before ducking in to the second half way to Wideopen. That created some angst and a few hysterical but largely harmless falls in the deep mud, brought back by a single day's worth of very heavy rainfall. As is the norm, it took quite a while for the squad to reassemble half way through, with riders emerging from the trees from almost every direction. A "dare" session followed trying to get safely across the steep-sided ditch just north west of the Hotel with few managing it successfully.

Amazingly, the ride had become very hazardous with - FOG! Those of us with mega-lumen LED lamps were forced to turn them down or off completely as they simply created a solid white blanket in front of the bikes making it impossible to see anything. That's when Terry took the front for the drop to the car park, relatively safe out front although dimly lit, and just managing to avoid logs and posts while hearing all sorts of cries going up behind. When we came to rest, it seemed we still had a full complement, somehow.

Next stop was Dark Plantation at Hazlerigg, well-named but tonight well lit with a stream of bikes hurtling through, one set led by Ian and the other by Terry, in somewhat opposing directions. We regrouped on the road to its south side and Ian took over again to get us towards Havannah for another bridleway Frog-Flipping session before heading up through the trees to our traditional clearing for a rest. That's where Ross should have had his initiation but no-one had brought the specialized equipment required! The Ride Leaders then each had a go at getting us lost before Ian led out to Coach Lane, through Brunswick and up to the Big Waters. More frogs to avoid (well, we tried).

We crossed the A1 into Seaton Burn and hit the Weetslade Waggonway. A couple or three of our Townies left us here to head home. Somehow Arthur and Terry became detached from the others at the scrapyard and it was only the fact that we knew Ian was headed for the Park to finish off that we got back to them, waiting at the end of Coach Lane. Time for action, with Tim first in to take on his very own "Tim's Bridge" ahead of the screaming mob following. Unfortunately the tail end of the mob witnessed Paul take a very nasty tumble just short of the bridge itself, and he was clutching the right of his rib cage as we tried to comfort him. He looked battered but refused to stay down and dragged himself back onto the Stumpy to continue up the bank to the edge of the Racecourse.

With a couple more riders opting to ride straight on along the Park Drive we were down to six or seven for the remaining singletrack. With the fog now lifted, the place was ablaze again as the Gollum nerfed the opposition out of his way to get on Speedy's back wheel, as he knew exactly what was coming. And as sure as day is day, he wasn't disappointed, the ensuing blast at crazy knots leaving only the stoutest trees standing as they and their pursuers attempted to break all previous records through this maze of semi-visible tracks. Fantastic, high-speed action all the way with the oldies just about managing to pull a gap on the rest, though not for long.

Ian offered Mick the lead for the next bit, and again Terry grabbed his chance to get on the leader's arse for another adrenalin-pumping attack through this amazing terrain. Eventually Mick missed a right turn and things settled down somewhat as we searched for the right path out. We all met up again as we popped out the Hole-in-the-Wall onto Sandy Lane. There wasn't much time to drool though, as Ian was off almost immediately into the Golf Course section. It was very wet through here and tiredness was beginning to set in a few sets of legs. Gathering at the wooden bridge, Terry volunteered to lead and took off over the roots.

He didn't get very far before that all-too-familiar screech echoed through the treetops. And who should be parked half way up a fairly stout evergreen but Mick, determined to avoid his forthcoming holiday in the sun by hook or by tree. Fortunately he was just about unscathed and the hare was off again trying to stay ahead of the hounds. The final section fizzled out somewhat with everyone slowing down dramatically as they picked their way out of the woods to join Terry at the road. We dropped down into West Moor and made our way along the GLR with last man back arriving at the Cave at about 10:35.