The Edge Cycleworks 'Social' Ride

Nercwys Forest

Sun 20th November 2011

My work as a guide started soon after arriving at the Moel Famau car park. Trudie wheeled her bike over with a rear brake problem. Despite a recent service by her local shop it had a sticky piston and no pads!? Thankfully Nick saved the day with spare pads and I managed to get everything back together. However, it was fortunate Trudy wasn’t a slow rider as there was nothing I could do about the piston, so she would be pedalling against a dragging brake all day.

The ride finally started 30 minutes late but it soon stopped again for more brake fettling. Paul mentioned the need to warm up as everyone was getting chilly. What’s the phrase…’be careful what you wish for’? Not long after we arrived sweating at Maeshafen after two of the steepest climbs on the ride.

The mechanical issues were soon forgotten as we rode through the crisp, sunny November morning to Nercwys Forest. The winding trail through the forest was accompanied by big, clear views across the Cheshire plain and plenty of slippery bits to catch out the unwary. Winter riding at its best!

The first half of pleasant XC riding transformed at Eryrys with the first big down hill. A carpet of leaves covered the fast, muddy and rooty track, which had us all buzzing at the bottom. After the tricky bit Nigel decided to crash on the final tarmac section to the bottom of the valley, by riding off the edge of his tyres on a hairpin. His pads saved him from worst but his new bike got scratched on its first ride!

The opportunity for a chat made the next few miles of lanes pass quickly and we soon found ourselves on the ridge of the Clwyds. Fast as you dare double track dropped us down the other side of the hill, then near Ruthin we turned back into the Clwyds for the long final climb.

Realising the extra effort of riding with a dragging brake, Trudie’s bike took one for the team and punctured a tyre, which extended our break on the way up. It was welcome relief for everyone as the long climb was starting to take its toll. But eventually the final descent came into view. After slithering our way down it was only a few minutes until we finished the ride back at the car park.