Misty Moors

Mountain Bike Ride

14th September Route

For what is supposed to be the hottest September since September's were invented, today could be classed as a bit of a disappointment. Wind off sea plus warm land equals cold and misty. Not just a few bits of patchy fog blowing in tatters across the moor but a proper Hound Of The Baskervilles pea-souper, cloying the vista, shrouding our usual views. Further west would have been wiser but arrangements made and all that. Another big turn out too, enough for a football team, so long as it's seven a side. Our usual start from Scaling Dam, directly to the test piece known as The Slagbag, the first challenge of the day for Trainee#2, it did not seem to be too much of a challenge. We rode onward in our cloud cocoon, a few miles of quiet tarmac to Oakley Walls, where we reverted to off road on the track to Clitherbeck Farm, no sign of the mist lifting despite vague promises it would improve as the day went on.

Next we rode along Robin Hood’s Butts, looking carefully for the Sis Cross track, luckily a cairn and a wooden post mark the start of the bridleway, visibility being somewhat constrained today. We followed the surprisingly dry track through the heather, although the atmosphere was wetter than Whitney Houston’s last joint, the track was dry and firm, the majority of moisture coming from the heather which coated with water from the cloud we were blundering through. The 5.10 wearers were destined for wet feet. From Sis Cross, the track goes downhill, we followed it, cleaving the heather, barely able to see the rider in front.

Regaining the road, a group discussion ensued, all in favour of an ‘extra loop’ to take in Ainthorpe Rigg, no objections, so we sped through Danby and up the hill through Ainthorpe to the bridleway. Trainee#2 pulling some sneaky overtaking manoeuvres, much to the disgust of The Pensioner, who believes the rightful place for trainees is at the back. The steady plod over Ainthorpe Rigg is rewarded with a fine view over Fryupdale and a steep descent of Crossley Side, today the view was not much in evidence but the descent was as much fun as usual, starting in a steep and rocky gully which opens out to a rutted greensward. Trainee#2 learnt an essential mountain biking skill on the descent; the over the handlebars involuntary dismount, fortunately cushioned by a whole summer’s growth of heather.

We carried on through some herds of cows, all bovine curiosity and borderline hysteria as they pondered whether to stand their ground, run away or trample us into the mud. Once attending a rodeo apparently qualified me as chief wrangler and I was despatched first to draw the attention of the beasts as half a dozen mud covered lycra louts sneaked along behind me.

Some arduous climbing took us up to Danby Beacon, The Bread Lad finding an extra gear or maybe some crumpet power and showing us all a clean pair of heels and a mud stained buttock cleft as he blasted up the hill. At the beacon, the relentless mist reduced the view to mere feet, as we took a last breather before tackling the sublime Roxby Moor singletrack. Again the track was dry but the heather wet, it hardly mattered now, we could almost smell the bacon sandwiches, it was not long before we had said bacon sandwiches in our hands, along with hot drinks from the van in Scaling Dam car park, the mist still encircling us.