Junes virtual shout out for riding companion was answered by BadlyWiredDog AKA Jon. As far as I can tell, as I don’t have any vetenary or electrical qualifications, he has neither loose connections or any canine credentials. I drove back over to Hayfield where Outdoors Photographer and all round nice chap Richpips had guided us on one of the snowiest rides I’ve ever done and the man was there to join us too.
With plenty of time to spare I rode round in circles in the glorious June sunshine. That’s when I found out my bladder was leaking, fluid dribbling down my thighs. My Camelbak bladder that is. With two empty water bottles ratting round the back of Pugsley the Peugeot van I emptied the rapidly leaking contents of my backpack into those as Jon turned up.
Rich, having probably already ridden to Wales and back that morning, was running late and there was nothing for it but to find a soft area of grass and lay in the sun talking the inevitable nonsense mountain bikers always do. Our missing rider rolled up and we were soon out into the blazing sunshine and the steep hills.
After crawling up the first climb and reaching the first summit of the day a decision was made. With so few ‘Red Socks’ around and the best conditions we’d had all year my two hosts summised we should bag a cheeky trail* that they don’t often dare. From here on out I cannot describe anymore for fear of reprisals from the brown boot and walking stick mafia so it will have to remain top secret.
All my water had long gone when we got back and so I rehydrated with tea and cake. The ultimate in recovery food.
Fat Lad
*A cheeky trail is a footpath for those not in the know. For those who don’t know our frankly ridiculous and outdated Rights of Way legislation in the UK you can’t ride bikes on footpaths.
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