16th June 2016 - Clappersgate for Claiffe

Joel, Grant, Jamie, Ian and CT met up this evening, yes you read that correctly Ian came out to play :) Nice and easy route into Claiffe along the cycle paths and around Wray, up base camp drive, passed 3 other guys at the gate, then a test up the single track past the base camp huts, dry but ride-able. Head up past Scab Moss and onto the second testing climb, up to the Hollin Band plantation (now mostly chopped down) for the third testing climb! then back to the fire road and off to the view point, only a little detour in search of single-track and met a couple of local riders, quick chat and back down the other way ;) then downhill to the shore, here Ian decided to head back at his own pace, so south along the shore then UP the downhill, yes I know but sometimes it has to be done, again actually OK (a little walking for some) then we met the two locals again before they shot off and we headed back into the forest and found our way back to the Belle Grange descent and yes it is rocky, especially for us hardtails and rigid boys! back north along the shore and cycle path for the last leg. Must have been over 10 mile, at least felt like it, back around 10pm-ish:)
Next ride TBA

JP

Proof it was Ian :) 

The view at the top of the third technical climb;)