She's here!

Dust. How I love dust.

Kids back to their mums after she finished work and I was out! Hot sunny dusty trails and it was ace!

Horrocks, Ciggy tunnel, rocky road to burnt edge (cleaned it!) Kennels (super quick) and rode my nemesis dab free, ICR, Gardens, Pike, Kennels and Marino. Met Jase on the Kennels and waited for him at the top so we went down Marino together. Hit 30mph over the rocks... which I was pretty chuffed about.

All in shirt sleeves. Wonderful.

I love her so much.....

Darwen Moor, sans bummers

Scorching day yesterday, around 25 degrees and a nice breeze. Good turn out with Jase, Clarkey, Weest and myself all reporting for duty.

Along Longworth Clough and Clarkey gets a puncture, apparently the tyre was a bit tight on the rim which made him a bit narked, to the extent he was considering calling a taxi to the pub. Weest soon had him right and we carried on. Up the long soul destroying climb of the A666, (why oh why oh why do people ride this for pleasure) and we were at Cadshaw. Top of the Bastard and we decided to have another bash at the Singletrack over to moor, which was lovely.

Climb up along the edge to the steep drop. Weester, having developed a vagina and tits, loudly proclaimed that he didnt fancy the climb back up to the tower so wouldnt bother with the drop, needless to say he was lambasted and shamed into following us. Well worth it as the little techy drop is ace fun.

Back up to the tower in short order and admired the views. Quite clear considering the heat. Spun accorss the moor to Lyons Den and blasted down to the road. WW back to Blow Job Alley, where I insisted that someone, anyone, other than me went first down the last decent. Our fears were groundless though as there were no bummers in sight. Here the lads went straight on as the were off to the Tap for a couple, I went through the forest, over to Cox Green and through the quarry. The cheeky little track through Higher Ridings was starting to get well overgrown and I got a shin full of Mon's Nettles. I noticed that in the wooded sections it was pretty fookin dark. No wonder, as when I finally got home after pulling up the Valley, it was nearly 10pm!! 10pm and still enough light to ride. Brilliant.

Solstice next Tuesday though. Bright side = start of summer, shit side = light nights getting shorter.

THIS is what its all about!

So, after eagerly watching the weather forecasts after Sundays mudathon, Thursday night was looking, well, lush.  A quick head count for what would be the 1st daylight night ride showed that Weester's bike was in bits, Tossers back was in bits, Pikey and Clarkey wanted to bum each other in private, leaving just Me and Jase.

I was slightly apprehensive over riding with the powerhouse, especially when he sent an email announcing that he had not ridden into work that morning in order to "save his legs" for tonight. I was therefore expecting to have my legs ripped off. No matter, a good fast ride would probably do me good, trying to hang on to his tail.

6.45 came, but Tosser needed a bit of help lifting his barrel of ale into position for the weekends festivities, so we sorted that out for him. It was a lovely night, little bit of cloud cover and a surprisingly chilly wind. We headed up Horrocks Fold, Coal pit and arrived at the gate in no time at all. The sun was slowly sinking over the western horizon and looked promising for a nice sunset. Jase got a nice pic at the gate.

We set off up the path, noticing a couple of other guys in front for a nice steady pace up. I have been experimenting with my shock  the last week or so to see if I could make it a little more plush. The nice Mr. Turner (How many bike makers send their customers a personal email with technical help) suggested that I run it with 30 - 40% sag, slightly more that what I had been doing. I did this on Sunday and it felt very wooden for some reason. Here, off road up the climb it felt the same. Starting to do my head in as the whole bike just felt wrong. Anyway, up to the top of Winter Hill, we bumped into what looked like "team orange" as 3 lads all on identical 5's came past us. Up past the mast and down the shoulder, the path was drying up nicely, a couple of puddles but nothing too deep or slippery. As we came down to the chute the setting sun made a lovely backdrop.

At Belmont Road, I was fucking around with the shock once again when I noticed that the rebound seemed very slow. I couldn't remember changing the setting but wound it down anyway. Setting off along Belmont Road to the pigeon tower was a revelation!! It was literally like a different bike. The shock was soaking up small, medium and big hits with so much plushness it was unbelievable. The suspension has never ever felt that smooth. So, made up with finally getting the sweet spot.

Top of the ICR and we bumped into a big fat scouser leaning on his big fat Landy Disco. "down ear lads" he drawls pointing to the ICR, "I've just come up it in this" he enthusiastically gestured towards the ageing Disco. I was slightly tempted to stop, shack his hand in a congratulatory fashion, and praise him for hauling his fat stupid scouse pimply arse up the ICR and then contaminating the peace and tranquillity of the area with his big mouth, but then decided against it.

We flew down and I decided to try and jump the tarmac drop, but as I got on the tarmac I lost all my speed and rather than jump off, I just kind of fell over, heavily bottoming my forks out. I could hear Jase right up my trumpet until the hairpin where he started to drop back a little, probably feeling the pounding his arse was getting. Pulled up at the bottom and he wasn't that far behind me. We both had stupid grins plastered all over our faces.

Back up through the gardens at a right rate of knots we were soon stood on top of the Pike surveying the wonderful view of the Lancashire plain in twilight. Down the rocky chute and avoid the ruts, we headed over to the Kennels. We pushed up here and then legged it up past the mast to the top of San Marino. We turned the lights on at this stage and Jase, God bless him, broke out the Hip Flask. The Famous Grouse went down exceptionally smoothly and warmed us up. I suggested Jase went first as he battered me down here last time so off he set. I gave him a good 300 yards before I set off after him, but couldn't close the gap at all, he was fookin flying down like a man possessed. Stupid grins all round at the bottom.

Rivi was wonderful tonight, I reckon a couple of dry days and we'll have Dust!!

She's so close I can almost touch her.................................