Hope

It was a ride from Hope last night. “Hope at 7pm Thursday” or “Hope at 10am Sunday” has become a bit of a running joke amongst the Peakmidweek lot, being a byword for not having much imagination. The thing is though; it’s a focus point for lots of great rides, the best in the Peak really. If only the Woodbine caff would open ‘til 10:30 on a Thursday night, it would be perfection.

Me, Derek, Steve ‘n Steve and Wayne turned up. 4 singlespeeds (2 Love/Hates, one Genesis and a Bodgervento) and a Pastey Ti with a cracked weld. We could either be an eclectic bunch of discerning riders on very individual bikes, or a bunch of sheep following the latest fad, you choose. It turns out we are all doing the Merida Enduro in Builth Wells in a few weeks time, and are all reasonably matched, so it could be a good little race if anyone wants to pick up the gauntlet.

It was a slightly drizzly night, but the trails were still summer firm. The grass on the way over to Old Dam was nice and slick though, and had me sliding a few times. It was one of those nights where the legs work well, but the brain and reflexes were having a nap. Every stone and bump had a little evil pair of eyes and cackled at me as I pinged of each one like a billiard ball. The “flow” had deserted me, it had pissed of into the “zone” or something.

Still, we had a laugh, Wayne got overly competitive then fell off on a pebble on a flat trail, in full view which was very good of him. Derek rode to and from Hope on his singlespeed, it’s his ‘endurance’ week which means something like 14 hours in the saddle, ouch.