The Edge Cycleworks 'Social' Shop Ride

Long Mynd

Sun 20th March 2011

After driving through the rain we were all happy to find Church Stretton was dry. Not only that but spring had arrived. Buds on the trees signalled the warmer weather, as did five pairs of hairy legs. Finally, it was shorts weather!

But it was early and there was still a chill in the air, so we were glad of climb out of Carding Mill Valley. Glad that was, until we ran out of breath or lost grip on the almost too steep climb at the end. But once we had winched ourselves to the top the hardest part of the ride was over. After that it was long descents and long gradual climbs on our way to the Stiperstones and back.

Thoughts of the previous climb were dispelled on the first of the long descents, 2 miles of fast double track that dropped us off Long Mynd. At the bottom the Stiperstones were visibly closer and the rocky ridge continued to grow quickly as we spun along the quite country lanes that followed.

The climb up to the Devil’s chair was a much more civilised affair, with time to chat and take in the view. At the top our concentration returned to the trail with some technical bouldery riding, that led us on to the second of the long, fast descents. There were a few extra hazards to be aware of on this one, but the walkers at the top stood back and watched, and there was nobody using the DH tracks that crossed our path in Eastridge Wood at the bottom.

Once the descent was over we followed a series of easy trails back towards Long Mynd. While they were made more eventful by hoof churned surfaces, a horse blocked gate and ill mannered MX’rs they were only short interruptions that didn’t spoil the ride.

A few short climbs and descents later we hit the final big climb back onto Long Mynd. A tail wind helped us up the quiet lane, so we reached the top quite quickly. It was then time for the last, and best, descent of the day. A brief hiccup on the vague junction at the top had me shouting at Ian but he soon noticed and headed in the right direction, down the fast grassy descent. It got even better when we hit the singletrack lower down, for all but Rich who overcooked it and crashed. Fortunately, he found dead bracken makes for an excellent crash mat, so we all made it back to Church Stretton in one piece.

Long Mynd and the Devil's Chair route guide