Larkling: Meerbrook
A slight lull between storms saw the Larklings outnumbering the Larks for a change on this picturesque, undulating route.
Reasonable turnout in the park this morning. We had: Dave, Phil, Greg, Kevin N, Pete, Ian, Kevin J, Craig, Mike, Steve B and Ewan. Plus Steve P out for his first ride with the Wheelers - welcome Steve.
Larklings to the left, Larks to the right. Mostly.
It was about 8 degrees when we set out onto the very busy Macclesfield roads, presumably everyone was out panic buying bog rolls and hand sanitiser for the incoming virus?
Steve was pulling on the front most of the way out. Around Broken Cross we picked up Vinnie. Once we got out past Gawsworth we were onto quieter lanes and slightly less heavy traffic. Around Timbersbrook the roads started kick up and Steve P was feeling the pinch. He recently moved up here from Lincolnshire so he’s still getting used to the hills. Up on Cloudside the gun cub was in full song with shots ringing out across the plain. Around here the route rather masochistically dropped right down to later climb back up the fearsome Dingle Lane. This brought the memories back from crawling around the leg breaking Circuit Of The Cloud a couple of years back.
From here we descended into Rudyard, and crossed the A523 heading back uphill toward Tittesworth Reservoir for a well deserved lunch at the visitor centre.
The Larks looked like they’d been there for some time. The cafe wasn’t too packed, and service was pretty quick. I bought a “cheesecake starter” assuming service would be slow, but it wasn’t, so once my brie and bacon panini arrived I ended up far too full. The Larks left whilst we were halfway through our meal. Steve B decided to go back with them.
When we eventually got going again it was straight back into climbing mode. On the sharp pitch up at the bottom of the Roaches climb I had to work hard to keep all that cheese down. This climb was very busy with walkers and climbers. I reassured Steve P that we had done the worst of the climbing, but I had forgotten about the steep last bit!
When we got to Goldsitch Moss Chris suggested a freewheeling competition, on the traditional championship course. We set off at short intervals (no pedalling allowed). Pretty much everyone came to stop at about the same place, except for Vinnie who had almost got all the way up to the sign, about 200 meters past the main group!
Vinnie, easy winner of the freewheel competition.
On the tough grind on the way up to Allgreave Steve P had a minor spill. It was super windy up on the top and it started raining. I thought we were in for a royal soaking but fortunately this was short lived. At this point the group split up, as some people needed to get home. Steve, Chris, Kevin and myself took it easy all the way through Wildboarclough and up into Macc Forest. As we descended past the Leather Smithy there was an Air Ambulance helicopter just outside the pub, with lots of people watching on. It was incredibly loud that close up.
I peeled off at Gunco Lane, there were still a few left in the group heading back to the park.
Man of the match definitely goes to Steve P who looked fairly done in before lunch and still somehow managed to battle on for another 20 miles of brutal hills. Hope your next ride is a little easier Steve, good to see you.
A great day out in the hills in relatively decent weather.
Cheers Chris for planning and leading (again).
Ride safe and keep washing your hands
Ian