Macclesfield Write-up

It was a very unusual Macclesfield ride. There was no rain, no injuries, no-one got lost, and we all made it back to the Leathers Smithy pub for the first time in 3 years (well, all apart from Edwin and Simon who attended the ride a week early and didn't fancy hanging around...).

The uphills around Macclesfield are always gruelling and you question your sanity for putting yourself through it. However, we all seemed quite sensible and pedestrian when we were met at the top of the first steep ascent by a fast moving guy on a "single speed 29er" (geek speak for a bike with big wheels and only one gear, which is very hard work up hill). Madness. We duly interrogated him about his bike whilst he has catching his breath, and then continued up and up and up until we were rewarded with a gradual descent over small rocks, before moving on to the Charity Lane descent.

This is a loose narrowing track over a couple of small drops onto rocks and deep gravel through a couple of bends. None of us really seem to have mastered cornering through gravel, I still use the gorse bush as a cornering aid, Curtis ploughs through it without realising it is gravel, and Jim may well have the necessary technique, as he rode it all, thought it was a bit tricky, then realised his fork was locked out. Maybe he was a step ahead of us, as from here we had a long road climb up to the Cat & Fiddle and the road of a thousand mile an hour motorbikes. We took the bridleway away from their race track, and had our own adrenalin rush on another series of long gradual loose rocky descents. We were welcomed at the end of each descent by an eager swarm of midges, each of them pinching you on the arm to get your attention. Friendly little things...

Dave is keen to get out on the rides as training for his Trans Alp ride in a couple of weeks, the climbs may be more painful, but I bet he won't encounter anything as vicious as the Macc Midges.

We swept back towards the start as the sun crept behind the rolling green hills, casting long shadows over the dry limestone walls. We all exercised a little caution on the innocuous corner where Rob broke his collarbone a year earlier, and without the distractions of A&E, and not being drenched to the bone, we actually managed to get to the Leathers Smithy for a drink where we reflected on our ride.

photos available on our facebook group page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/photo_search.php?oid=111792272200749&view=all

Thanks to Mark Slater of Price & Slater Solicitors for leading the ride.

For information on future biking networking events please contact John Kitching, event organiser john@frenchlawconsultancy.com or see the calendar on www.biking-networking.blogspot.com

Next Event - Macc Forest, MTB, Tues 29th June 18:30

Mark Slater will be ride leader for the Macclesfield MTB event on Tuesday 29th June, meeting at 18:30 at the Leather's Smithy. Mark has a 90% track record of guaranteeing rain on his events, so please be prepared and bring waterproofs, towels, dinghies, life rafts, whatever you think necessary.

The ride will be 90 minutes to 2 hours of intermediate riding over rocky, loose and forest terrain.

Mountain bike tyres are essential. Front or full suspension is recommended. A rigid mountain bike will be OK. The group will stop to re-group at the top of the hills and at the bottom of the descents.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone who may be interested in coming along, but please ask them to contact me to confirm their interest.

Please email johnkitching@hotmail.com to confirm your attendance, or call John Kitching on 077668 123 74

Please remember to inform John of your emergency contact details and any relevant medical condition/allergies etc in the case of injury.

The event is also listed on John Kitching's facebook page where there is a new Biking Networking Group page - you can interact with other group members, post ireelevant info etc - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129497230405998#!/group.php?gid=111792272200749

NB the calendar Matrix posted some months ago incorrectly says the event is Tuesday 28th June, that should read Tuesday 29th.

A gruelling 20km Peak District loop

Here is a gruelling but fun 20km loop in the Peaks. It feels a lot further than it is and has some long technical climbs rewarded with classic Peak District descents.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/detail/18452604/

Facebook page for biking networking

I have created a facebook group page on the John Kitching facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129497230405998#!/group.php?gid=111792272200749

You can interact with other biking group members, post photos and videos and start discussions, check out events etc.

Marple Ride write-up

Despite the forecast for heavy rain, we avoided a downpour and set off into the evening air, fresh after the afternoon showers. The only rain we encountered was the raindrops that lingered on the woodland leaves, which were disturbed as we rode by, alongside the river past Roman Lakes. The route took in an initial loop of ascent and singletrack descent before heading up the Fox and the technical rocky ascent towards the golf course, then bearing left up to Mellor Cross revealing panoramic views across to Kinder and over to Manchester. We paused a while to admire the view, beneath grey skies that had been prised open with long cracks of evening sunshine. The views faded to memory as we hurtled down the hill, and then through the endless wooded, rocky, twisty descent past Linnet Clough. Happy as pigs in mud, we returned to the Midland Hotel where we had a quick beer in the beer garden, it would have been unfair to plant our muddy shorts onto the pristine leather upholstery!

Route details below from imapmyride.com

Event organised and led by John Kitching, contact johnkitching@hotmail.com

Event sponsored by French Law Consultancy www.frenchlawconsultancy.com

Marple ride 18:00 Tuesday 8 June 2010 MTB

FORECAST - Heavy Rain - so bring waterproofs...

Marple 18:00 Tuesday 8 June 2010 MTB

MTB Intermediate

Event Summary

Meet at The Midland Hotel, Marple Bridge at 18:00

Set off 18:20 pm

Bike for 90 minutes to 2 hours

Return to The Midland Hotel for refreshments.

Location
We will start from The Midland Hotel, Marple Bridge SK6 5DT

Train – you can get the train to Marple (NOT Rose Hill Marple), and The Midland Hotel is 200 metres to the left, down the hill.

www.midlandmarplebridge.co.uk

What to bring
You will need to bring your own bike and helmet and usual biking gear (hydration, tools, clothes... etc) and don't forget some cash and business cards! Please make your own way to the venue. Please make sure your bike is in working order to avoid delays at the start.

Food at the Pub
Please bring some cash with you if you would like to eat and drink

Provisional Circuit details

MTB - : Intermediate grade.
The route has long climbs mostly off-road, with occasional road climbs. The descents are off road, rocky, muddy when wet, but no drop offs.

Mountain bike tyres are essential. Front or full suspension is recommended. A rigid mountain bike will be OK. The group will stop to re-group at the top of the hills and at the bottom of the descents.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone who may be interested in coming along, but please ask them to contact me to confirm their interest.

Please email johnkitching@hotmail.com to confirm your attendance, or call John Kitching on 077668 123 74

Please remember to inform John of your emergency contact details and any relevant medical condition/allergies etc in the case of injury.

Event organised by John Kitching , French Law Solicitor, and sponsored by French Law Consultancy www.frenchlawconsultancy.com

Chorlton Write-Up

It was not wet. Only 4 other people turned up to see me lead a ride in the dry and one of them was my wife. Typical. At least Curtis, Lynn and Dave got to avoid the curse of the weather. I pity those planning to ride at Macc Forest with me later in June as we are surely doomed to torrential rain now.

Dave knew the trails round Sale and Chorlton Water Park well and showed us some nice new bits I haven’t ridden before. They may have doubled as footpaths but it was hard to tell in such dry conditions! We all had a nice gentle ride round and marvelled at the nice carbon bits on Dave’s Trek. Then we retired to the lovely Jackson’s Boat for refreshment and to discuss the finer points of a healthy life style. Chips and beer all round highlighted just why we are all such fine specimens.

No one fell off, it didn’t rain and we didn’t get lost. Great ride.

Mark Slater

Price & Slater