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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
| > Home > Newsletter > Mountain Biking > Cheviot Challenge |
Cheviot Challengeaccording to the Gospel of MBROn Sunday 1st June I ventured up into the wilds of Northumberland to see if anyone would turn up for my 25 mile toughish escapade. Having reccied it 2 weeks previously and sent out tempters such as 'bring lots of food - no cafes in sight', 'bring knobbly tyres to cope with mud' and 'lots of crash potential', should I have been surprised that the turnout totalled 6? I was most delighted to see the combined person of KevAndy - Andy having done one ride on Saturday supported in fine form with Kev. Then there were the other likely lads of Kev and Ed - good to see you all. The weather was on our side with warm sunshine - just what you need for a steady slog up hill for 2.5 Hours!! Starting at Alwinton we headed up the west side of Kidland Forest - although the sun was out the ground still held a lot of moisture which made for some grunting up the hills and a bit of skidding around. A bit of downhill and cross country started to challenge some of those tyres or was it that Kev just wanted to sit down? On and on we climbed up hill until I could cheerfully declare we had arrived in Scotland! A well-laid flagstone path led us up to our highest point - that well known unnamed summit. The flagstones gave plenty of challenge and saw me attempting (& succeeding!) in going up 3 steps in one go - hurrah for suspension!). The path then went down the Pennine Way - an abrupt stop for Steven as Andy and Kev pondered a bit of a drop off. Onto Black Braes and then to Swineside Law and Hindside Knowe (thank goodness for MBR - I haven't a clue where I am!). Over moors we pedalled - some up and now more down hill - some near misses as Steven and Andy got stuck in a rut - my miss was not so near as a dead hit - falling off into a bog. Being the only girl I hoped for sympathy and a helping hand but all I got was laughed at and washed off with the contents of a camelbak - cheers! Eventually we hit the road in scorching sunshine and Kev and Ed decided they had to rush back so would take the short cut on the road. Kev (mark 2 ) decided he would keep them company and Steven, Andy and I headed off to finish the loop - all unchartered territory as we hadn't made it this far on the reccy trip. It seemed like a bad idea as we headed off the road and up some more loose rocky steep stuff (very technical eh?) However, we were rewarded with about 2-3 miles of lovely single track running along the side of the Usway Burn - sometimes a bit too close for my liking especially with a 15' drop off. Andy was in his element and sped off into the distance. The entertainment was almost to an end when we came across a stubborn horse - blocking our track - or maybe he was just waiting for someone to talk to. I asked if he was going to move to which he shook his head right on cue! So round the rear we went - keeping our distance and headed off to join the road and speed back to Alwinton where we were surprised to find Kev x 2 and Ed still in the beer garden - NOT!! So after a swift shandy it was homeward bound - thanks for a great day out. Judith |