Keele next,which wasn't too bad,but then the rain came.....Rode over to Hanchurch which was dire. Really hard work slogging through the mud. We had a committee meeting ,the outcome being ,to head straight to the pub.......but it was 7 o'clock ,so we decided on a lap of Hanchurch. It stopped raining,but it was a struggle. Think we''ll leave it until it dries -out,or freezes.

--- Si(guest) 

neh, not venturing out to the 'lawn' , might not make it back for the lions etc, besides it's full of all those has been celebritys filming some bloody crappy reality tv show at the moment. Dunno why they keep eating all those kangeroo parts though, ya can buy a wrights pie around the corner!!

Daz, good work owd. I thought I'd drained the alcohol out of it, apparently not, if you are juggling cocktails, you're some man! Hang fire with the 37" Flatty & DVD Combi, i'll burn us some DVD's to watch off the World Wide Web. Summat to do on a Wednesday night if (when) it rains........Hang on, say the secret code, and the handlebar mount feature will spring into action, we will mount it to Rusty's bars to attempt to slow him down - but don't put the 2010 Best Cafe guide on screen, that'll make hime go faster!

What am I on about? Cheers for dropping it off Cyril - http://www.magictools.co.uk

--- Si(guest) 

Dude... I'm getting a burning desire to build me a shed!?!?

Daz, good work owd. I thought I'd drained the alcohol out of it, apparently not, if you are juggling cocktails, you're some man! Hang fire with the 37" Flatty & DVD Combi, i'll burn us some DVD's to watch off the World Wide Web. Summat to do on a Wednesday night if (when) it rains........Hang on, say the secret code, and the handlebar mount feature will spring into action, we will mount it to Rusty's bars to attempt to slow him down - but don't put the 2010 Best Cafe guide on screen, that'll make hime go faster!

What am I on about? Cheers for dropping it off Cyril - http://www.magictools.co.uk

--- DM(guest) 

I'll return it to base asap!

....And finally Hanchurch which was horrible. I was feeling a bit knackered by now,slogging through the mud just about did me in .

The happy contestants this week were ,Ade, Andy "The Hat",Army Mick,Tom,Martyn,Dom and yours truly.

just drop it in the shop

thanks very much :)

I'll drop it into the shop for you when I get chance mate, and i'll let you know when I have done so!

Si

I intended to give it a miss this week,following the Lakes trip,....but when the Mrs says,""You are out on Thursday night ,aren't you?" it seemed to good an opportunity to miss. I was joined by Kitchen Mick,Martyn,Army Mick and late arrival,Kinky John.

We headed along the cut ,towards Hem Heath in the pouring rain. It was a relief to get into the woods for a bit of shelter. Treacherous under foot (wheel) as you'd expect. We were all doing our fair share of slipping and sliding,but as usual,Army Mick out did us all. As we approached a particuarly sloppy section,I encouraged Mick to go in front of me. Mick found a slippery branch part-submerged in the mud.Over the bars he went,executing a perfect face-plant. How we laughed!

We then went through Barlaston Downs,very wet,very slippery...and no dog walkers( more sense than us) Great fun. But not for Martyn,he'd forgot to charge his lights so headed home.

Out of the Downs,Tittensor Chase,Saw Mill and then home.We didn't stop for a pint.....and it was a wise move,cos it lashed down after I'd cleaned my bike.

Out of the Downs,Tittensor Cha

We must be nuts. See y'all next week!!

What do you mean - "poor line choice"? I was doing the intrepid explorer thing, looking for new routes & that. Honest. I do it regular, that's what's led to the new "Stunt" nickname I've inherited. I think it's an amalgamation of two words - 'stupid' and another one.

Conditions were as muddy as you'd expect,great fun slip-sliding our way round Hanchurch...honing our skills..or not.

We didn't suffer any mechanicals...although CG was struggling with lack of traction..Mark had stuck 60psi in her tyres...to avoid punctures!

Tim treated us to the best comedy moment of the night,poor line choice in Merlins.....asking for trouble,but he escaped unscathed.

Good Night.

Started in Apedale,probably the driest that I've seen it.Still managed to topple off into the welcoming embrace of a bramble patch. Ouch!

We then made our way to Keele Woods,managed to stay on me bike.

Keele KPA was our watering hole of choice. They'd stopped serving food,but there was an abandoned plate of luke warm chips on the bar which we made short work of.

To cut a long story short,we had too much to drink and stayed too late. Mick had an incident ina bunker on his way home.Martyn was grinning like an idiot as he wobbled off home.......and I had a puncture after I left Ade. An eventful night.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/3feet2Pass/

http://www.imbikemag.com/issue2/

Russ - you were right about stopping for a pint. Turns out I should've stayed for another for what difference it would have made to how much bother I was in!

Glad you didn't mention the 'changine facilities' on the car park, I don't think that woman will visit Milford Common again!!! At least she got free parking though!

I was first on the car park,closely followed by Yorkie Dave,who rode over. As did Steve Harrison ,who I haven't seen for years. Also present and correct were Rusty and Si,Oli,Kev ,Lightbulb, Racing Dave,Alison and Daz.

Daz took us on some cracking trails,some new and others that I haven't rode for years. Cracking!

On a personal note,it's the first ride that I've really enjoyed the P7. Was beginning to think that it's only purpose was to stop the 575 from getting muddy. It's all starting to make sense now. Thanks go to Yorkie Dave for the Tea and cake. Also,it was nice to bump into Nick and his dog. Another recruit to the Massive!!

......And then back home to roast beef and all the trimmings. Does life get any better?

We just stayed in Hanchurch ,trails still in great nick. Army Mick was back on form,showing us the way up the climbs.We suffered a few punctures.......and Deano was doing sales job on tubeless .15% commision?

Hopefully we'll be meeting up at the shop next week.

Not Kev. Young Dave Riley.

here is a link to the thread on bikeradar

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12645714&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

the ride will be meeting at springslade cafe at 10am

springslade cafe can be found here

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps

Met at the shop, met Kinky John and Army Mick at the incinerator and then onto Hem Heath Woods. Barlaston Downs and through Tittensor Chase(first time for a while).

The final drop through Trentham Park was great fun. Again!!

--- DaveR61(guest) 

Think your still alive. Just so long as you dont get stuck without food and have to live off the fat in your legs :-}

Past the pools (it’s spitting); up to the gate (drizzle); into the woods (light rain); downwards thru / across Hanchurch (steady rain); past the bit that now looks like it’s been napalmed (heavy rain); perimeter up to the car park (downpour); Merlins (torrential); Sawmills (monsoon); Trentham Park (where’s me snorkel?). Quote from the Mongbike – “that was one of the ten wettest rides ever”. What the hell was number one like?

Still a good ride though and amazingly no major mishaps. Funniest bit – the pools of water around Andy’s feet after ten minutes in the Poacher’s!

We rode through a dry Hem Heath Woods,onto Tittensor Common and the onto Hanchurch. Ade's brother was wating for us with his catering van. Very welcome.

Could this be the last bone-dry ride for a while?

It is a slightly quicker pace than Tues,but not so much fannying about. I'm o'rate with the pace,but the extra pint that Russ bought me ,has taken it's toll.

'Night all.

Was worried by Extremo's absence.....has he gone back to the caff in Hope??

Yeah, Carlos is the new Ultra Extremo!!!!

Good to see Dave giving us Tuesdayers moral support back at the pub tho (didn;t think he'd be able to keep away!!!)

Over Trentham, thru the pools to Hanchurch then along the fire road to point the way home for the big fella - an early finish but sounds like he's determined to get back! Perimeter, back up top then along the road to do the ledge, which Carlos did without lights & brakeless!!! He teaches kids for a living you know. Next week he's undoing the QR levers, tying one hand behind his back and wearing a blindfold...

Pace was a bit slower, probably a combo of the quick lads moving up and the rest of us getting used to riding in the dark, which led to us getting strung out a few times. Still a good though and riding with lights is a real blast!! Not sure how long the dry trails (even heard someone complain about dust in the eyes!) will last though...