Trail ride 28/11/04

Jamie picked me up early around 8.30 for a lift back to his place where me bike has sat in his shed since the puncture last weekend . Arrangement where made to meet the latest recruit into the trail riding (when there's no wind ) , clan back at my place at 10. So me and Jamie had a nice little warm up trip back across Bargoed and through the old tip back into Blackwood to meet up with Jonnie Mobbs .
Mobbs turned up on time and unloaded a nice looking Dr 35o eleckie start model from the van with no war wounds on him !
Off we went with a nice little warm up down from the house though a little pathway to Pontllanfraith , up pass the golf to descend down thought a little trail into Willie for what was the first crash of many with Mobbs overshooting the junction at the end of the lane and giving the Dr's front brake a good hand full locking the wheel ending in an embarrassing pile up , ooooppppsssss .
    Never mind back on to the first challenge to climb back up through the forestry . OPPPS mistake number 2 , i,d overestimated Mobbs riding experience , for some reason thought he was an x motocrosser , and the first obstacle to clear to get up through the trail i,d chosen was a 3ft wall . Up cruised the gas,gas ,,, off bounced Mobbs in a heap and Jamie was eyeing it with a doubtful look. Give the boys a gee up,,,,,,,,,, and up bounced Mobbs , closely followed by Jamie with a look of surprise on both faces as they cleared the intimidating hazard . The climb up was a lot harder than expected with the ground so wet and Mobbs twisted his ankle , stalled the Dr a few times and run the battery flat (no kick start model) . Decided that the climb was a bit beyond the experience needed and aborted for another day and headed back after bump starting the Dr the way we came back up to the top of the mountain .
Then took some easier running trails for a while down the back side of the mountain and into Pandy lane , along the lane to Bedwas and then a nice climb on dry stone back up to the top on valley , down through the forestry to the next challenging climb back up a stone , rock and lump infested narrow trail onto the very top . Myself and Jamie hammered up but Mobs stalled half way up on the steep part and again run the battery flat , ( or for a kick start) . After a bit more bump starting eventually made it to the top with a little assistance . The ruts across the top before the drop down into Risca where as bad as ever with the water logged conditions making for some nervous moments and then a bit of a mini disaster , the fender bag on the gasser exploded spilling its contents along the trail , managed to find some of the bits but 2 Iridium plugs a miss , dammmmmmmmm , quick repack into bum bag of what we had left and across to the highest point on mountain , with some scenic views in the clear bright sun right down to Cardiff bay on one side and both Severn crossings on the other .
Briefed the boys that the decent maybe a bit hairy with the wet ground conditions , yahooooooooo here we go for the ride more thrilling than the big dipper !!!!! We all reached the bottom ok and progressed on into Risca for a fuel stop , and mind and body refuel .Took a look over Mobbs mc and could see why he was having a bit of a hard time , with both tyres pumped up hard getting grip front and back was difficult but as no tyre locks fitted left as was incase valves ripped out .

Stage 2 .
Nice and refreshed with 2.5hrs up on the clock pressed on through Risca up the lanes , down a nice little gentle trail and on to the next challenging climb back up onto Pontypool , gnarly loose stone , twisting back and fro up the valley we all made it to the top but the old Dr of Mobbs was showing some war wound by now with a few offs bending both clutch and brake levers round like bannanas and Jamies fender bag having a blow out in sympathy of mine .
Nice fast blast next straight along the top to Crumblin with some huge bomb holes filled with water , down into Crumblin up onto Aberbeeg and up , back up through the forestry on the old special test route of previous lond distance trials . Mobbs was feeling his feet by now and climbed up through the steep accent of the climb with relative ease , the same wa sent to be said of the long rut infested , water filled hole run across to Brynmawr with myself , Jamie and Mobbs having some good over the bars offs trying to keep in the ruts . By the time we reached the fuel stop number 2 Mobbs was knackered and the following hot drinks and encouragement was making things any better . After a brief rest decided on a short easier trip back .

Stage 3
Up over Brynmawr past the golf course and down into Ebbw Vale with another climb back over and onto the top on the mountain to take the trail back down into Oakdale and back to the house .

Arrived back to house after a total of about 5.5hrs riding and what must have been over 100mls , several small offs , no dead bikes but 2 dead fender bags foe me and Jamie , two bent levers and a missing number plate for Mobbs .
All in all a v good ride in some bright sunshine although the route was cut short a bit due to the riggors of the deep ruts across the top .

ROLL ON NEXT WEEK !

MAY HAVE SOME IMAGES LATER!