The first ride of 2008 for NMBC/MidAirCrisis was this Thursday nighter, 3rd January. We weren't sure how many riders to expect as the day had turned into a series of snow flurries of the wet but still lying variety. Still, snow rides in the past have always been entertaining one way or another.

Tonight Steve B was first to appear in Holystone before 7:00pm, joined quickly by Terry H as Golly wheeled out his freshly-modified Decathlon Rockrider. There's a bit of a story attached to that so I'll tell it here, not here. (eh?). We carefully skidded along the Great Lime Road to meet Ian A and Arthur S coming the other way. When we asked where Keith was we got blanks stares, but he said he was coming and bringing another guest just half an hour earlier by text so we headed towards the Cottage again. At the Clousden Hill we met him and first timer Tim B, another foreigner to these shore, from Norfolk I think. What a great night to pick for your first encounter with the NMBC loons.

Terry led us up the side of the Church and by the time we'd climbed the very gradual slope to Old Killingworth Village most of us were totally spent! The wetness of the fresh snow was really zapping our leg and lung power so Golly took a moment to revise the route to take into account the conditions, Terry's early finish request and our new rider's sanity. We proceeded into the top of Killingworth New Town on bridleways, and the slushy, icy descents to the underpasses provided some very scary moments, even dodgier than Hamsterley's Black Downhill runs! We emerged at Camperdown roundabout to discover from Speedy that Arthur had decided to turn back home, such was the handling of his Decathlon Rockrider on it's Hutchinson Bulldog tyres, totally inappropriate rubber where grip is the prime requirement.

That left the six of us to brave the elements as we headed over the East Coast railway line to Sandy Lane. Into Gosforth Park it was time for the Speedian to take the lead and provide some entertainment. As always, he didn't disappoint and we were treat to a couple of death-defying snow-covered loops of the Magic Forest. All of us had scares, most had falls but all were soft landing for once. After three quarters of an hour or more following the Mad One's rear light as he zigzagged along, through, under, over and between everything in there he led us out onto Sandy Lane at the half way point to get our breaths back. Fantastic fun.

We were soon following him into Stage Two and this provided even more grin factor as we were able to gather some speed. The slaloms through the trees were absolutely sweet as we separated a little with the rest of us trying to catch Ian and Terry as they zoomed along suicidally. I enjoy every ride we do whatever the conditions but sliding between tree trunks like this as fast as you dare with the ever-present threat of broadsiding into one takes some beating for fun with a big F. Didn't really want to leave the place.

Tim brings our first Mongoose, a Teocali Super - nice bike!

Back onto Sandy Lane we headed for Wideopen as the clock ticked away. The roads and pavements were lethal with the back ends all over the place if you applied power at any angle. We got onto the bridleway into Weetslade Country Park and headed for The Hill. It began to snow but it felt more like airgun pellets hitting your face as we battled up the north west face of the old colliery heap. Golly was the only one to concede half way up there as he got of to push to the summit. The others made it up like heroes. There was a short snack break at the top then Ian, with that evil look in his eye, chose the wickedest way down. We slithered down behind him through the prickly gorse with all sorts going on as we bounced off each other with the accordion effect of braking, acceleration and foot dabbing.

Heads down, we skidded on to the Dudley Road, then ploughed through to Burradon and back into Killingworth the way we'd come out. We split in the Village with Ian, Keith and Tim heading for the Great Lime Road while Steve, Terry and Golly grabbed the final fresh snow on the singletrack down through Holystone Farm. The lucky few finished their ride around 9.45pm.

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