Festive Pootle – Marple, Sunday 18th Dec, meeting 0930-1000hrs :-)

Sit rep: All main roads are fine. High trails are snowy, but not frozen underneath so tough going. Very very wet, and cold when windy, so make sure you have warm stuff to change into afterwards. Forecast to freeze tonight so roads may be interesting, should be alright though. Would be a good laugh, shame I can’t make it now. Absolutely shattered and have a Neighbors Christmas thingy tomorrow. Have fun all 🙁

How long are you gonna be out for? (we’ve no decent off-road lights). If it’s not a mega-distance ride I might even be able to persuade the OH to come along!
Cheers

Won’t get dark before they finish Bowglie. Pootles are normally between 12 and 16 miles, normally have plenty of places to cut short or add on.

Also been out round Mellor, Marple and Hayfield today and just like Sambob says. Still plenty of grip, more if you stick to the water runs, cold and VERY wet and slushy everywhere. Feet were like ice when I got back to the car.

The Roman Lakes Cafe was SHUT today, no idea why as they are normally open and I was gagging for an end of ride brew and toastie. The gate and carpark were useable but the rest was closed. Maybe bear it in mind or check it out tomorrow if your planning a brew etc… there

Sambob – Wasn’t you with a flat at the bottom of the Campsite descent was it?????? Only Mtb’er I saw today although there were a couple of tracks in the snow/slush

Nope, we all made it safe down there. Spent half the ride unclipped because my shoes and pedals filled with snow then froze. Eggbeaters do have their benefits, even though they’d only last 3 months if I put them back on.

Had a cracking day out in the Peak today.

Hope, Aston, Blackley, Lockerbrook, Fairholmes, Hagg, Wooler Knoll etc.

Nice snow, and it was the grippy stuff.

Got a bit cold in places, so wrap up well.

Was thawing a fair bit, so Sunday might be a bit icy early on.

Early night for me, I’m knackered. See youse all in the morning

C u in the morning nbt

Well after todays ride I can’t make it as one bottom bracket is pooped and my rear brake pads are badly worn.

😥

Clothes and Bike ready to go so see you in the morning.

Will be very icy in the morning, -2 right now.

Will be very icy in the morning, -2 right now.

Is it ever. I finished work at midnight but have only just got home (7 miles) after the M602 was shut following a 4 car pile up. Absolutely treacherous out there ladies and gents, so I’m giving it a miss later (work would be seriously unimpressed if I break something else through biking), plus I’m back on at 3.00. Have a good un though…

Yup, I’m out too, few inches here, just walked the dog and gone via the main road which is also white over. Hope some folks still make it! I’ll be out over here in the snow!!!!

Sorry Jules, Jane and the rest. Catch up with you all soon I hope!

I’m out too, sorry Ladies and Gentlemen, just done a good impression of Bambi down the driveway 😳 and the Cat and Fiddle webcam view looks very grim.Even here in the lowlands there is ice on top of fresh snow 😕
Got me bike all Festive as well 😛
Have a bloody good Christmas and New Year every-one, see you all soon 🙂

Looks like I’m going to very very late, big cue going into mottram from Woodhead

Ps . Don’t wait for me, it’s to cold to hang around

Got to Marple decided weather conditions were outside comfort zone , maybe a New Year pootle instead. Have a safe ride if you head out .

The weather foiled me too I’m afraid. The ungritted road outside is literally like an ice rink! Fresh snow on top of sheet ice! My car is going nowhere today. Lovely day for it though. A local pootle may be in order I think

We’ve just had a bit more snow/sleet to go on top of the ungritted road on the estate, and my vans windscreen has iced over again since 7.30 😥

I am in the gym now, need to so something today, nice drive out this am, was looking forward to seeing some new stuff, do the more local of you mind if i tag along one nicer weekend?

Fine with me. Could also do a midweek before/after Christmas if you’re available?

Thanks Sambob Only day would be this Tuesday if it clears a bit other than that be a weekend in the new year

Tuesday might work for me, will have to check.

Disappointed I couldn’t make it this morning. Wife fell in the door from a Xmas party at half six this morning 😯 and the social services wouldn’t take the kids at such short notice 😕 ( why do we pay these people??) 😀 Took the kids up to Mam Tor for a play in the snow though. hope you had a good ride. merry Xmas …

Bloody good ride in the end, 15 people was a more than acceptable turnout. The weather cleared up and everything, we all had a great time, no major falls and no-one got lost. I’ve lit the log fire and hopefully it won’t be too long before I can feel my toes again, at which point I’ll have a shower. Really sorry some of you were defeated by the weather but well done to those who made the trek from as afield as Whatstandwell, Marsden and Blackpool!

Sorry I missed it, wiped out by the hacking cough of death or I’d have ridden over in the snow and joined you, but didn’t think you’d appreciate the hooping seal sound effects. Bastard viruses 😥

BWD the cough choir was in fine voice you’d have fitted in fine. nbt – excellent ride; snow, ice, unexptect steps, evolved lines and wall rubble all added to it. Finally at the end of the year I’ve managed 3rides in three days.

T’was a great ride. Big grins all round. Lots of snow, ice and banter.

Looking forward to the photographs.

I’ve gone through a set of back brake pads in only 3 rides, don’t you just love the Peak/s.

Sintered and bake them in the oven at 200?C for 30 minutes before using. And stop dragging yer brakes… 😉

Think you gave Dave and Will your seal skills, they sounded pretty unhealthy yesterday.

I think, actually, it was the other way round. On the plus side, I can now balance a ball on the end of my nose, leap four foot in the air and catch fishfingers in my mouth and play tunes using basic bugle technology. Who says there’s no silver lining to sickness eh… 😐

Sounds pretty cool. Seen your 69er, looks interesting. Can I have a go?

Sure. Don’t blame me if people, small children, loitering moggies and poodles point and laugh at you. And it only has one gear you know…

Cheers. Yep I saw that, would make me try harder on climbs though. I don’t have the willpower not to keep dropping down a gear.

For coughs and colds I ingest Peak grit and slurry …smashing ride out, first ride in 2 weeks for me and despite the bronchial broohaha I felt a-OK.

Thanks for organising nbt, Merry Xmas all.

the blackpool posse were most upset that “the cake man” had not been able to make it

Great ride again, good company. “Thanks to the leaders”. Merry Christmas from Blackpool posse. I was the one with the antlers lol.

Smashing ride, well worth the slightly-more-epic-than-expected trek over the hills in the snow this morning. Marvelous conditions. Cheers to nbt for organising and leading us round another entertaining route, and to everyone for splendid company.

Oh and sorry again to the lad on the Nicolai for using him as an impromptu crash-barrier, still feel bad about that…

(Tom, on the black and green Cotic.)

Tom – really, please don’t feel bad. It didn’t hurt me or my bike. I thought it was funny 😆

two hunnerd 🙂