At last a warm, dry night for a Thursday run out, 29th May 2008, and the Gollum even decided not to take his lights after seeing the morning weather forecast. That was a tiny bit optimistic.

Before I go on - Happy Birthday Speedy! Yep, our Ian has put it off for years, but he's finally conceded and gone through the Fifty barrier - Congrats Ian, many more.

Surprise visitor this trip was Ben, returned after a month with his Turner sporting a new gear hanger after its freak  accident. Also out was Arthur, suntanned and relaxed after a holiday away somewhere, Chris on the wonderfully clean Mongoose, Jason on the creaking Whyte E-5

We began with the slight rise out back of Holystone Farm, luckily that mad bastard of an Alsatian was feeding on a Rambler it had just attacked so it left us alone. On reaching the road, Jason decided to try and see what was causing that horrible racket at the back of the Whyte. It turned out to be, co-incidentally, his own gear hanger whose retaining pin was half way out! Squeezing it back in with Ian's pliers did the trick and quietened it down to nothing.. Shame that certain Scottish cycle shops mechanics couldn't have spotted this while it was on holiday in their workshop recently. We'd only just started the trek through the trees alongside the Cramlington Waggonway when the Gollum, leading dropped it off the Coiler big time on the first turn! There were riots of laughter as the others passed him showing no sign of sympathy, but luckily he landed in a nice soft nettle bed to reduce the impact of his fall slightly. The stings lasted well into the night, though.

We crossed at Hillheads and scuttled down to the road between Backworth and Seghill, then fairly sprinted along it to get to Seghill and collect Les who was sitting on a park bench sunning himself when we arrived. Golly, now seeking revenge on the others, led them mercilessly through the worst stretch of nettles and thorns he could find, and at least also got Jason dismounted over the bars, so partial revenge was gained here. That brought us to the Bay Horse at Crammy, after which we needed to cross through the estates up to the Garden Centre on the north side. It was half way through here, at the Metro line, that Chris suffered the night's only mechanical, a puncture. We broke our record fixing that (Chris' Irish Logic - "a tube is cheaper than a patch") and on we went. By the way, Chris chose tonight to start supporting Breat cancer charities - and this is how -

Yep, this little Pink charity badge (sorry about pic quality) was what gave Chris his puncture!

Down to Plessey Woods next and a stretch of bridle/singletrack we'd never noticed before - much safer that taking the road down to Hartford Bridge. We did our normal run through the riverside trail, intending to jump up to the Visitor Centre but with Gollum leading along the edge of the river, the followers all chickened out and the result of that was Jason and Ben tearing away at the front but going way, way past our target. That cost us, or more so Ben who wanted to be back at Holystone for 10:00pm, as it added half an hour to the ride.

Even then, to make up time we were forced into a fairly pacey road ride back up to Seaton Burn and we decided we'd just have time to do one section of Gosforth Park. Ian led us into the gloom, and it was then, around 9:45 to 10:00, that Golly realised he really should have brought his lights. The others all had one, so he only had himself to worry about as he took the front from the Sandy Lane break to lead Jason under the trees. It's been a while since Gollum's adrenalin count went up this high, but good fun waiting for that almost cert6ain hidden tree stump to claim him as a victim. Dead lucky for once, he emerged unscathed at the Park Drive.

Just a case of traversing the length of the Great Lime Road now, and we reached the Cave around 10:15pm. Another good ride, curtailed a little but we can go back next time and do the missing section. 22.5 miles anyway.                                  

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