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On reaching the summit
for a second time there
still wasn’t any view, so
again we didn’t hang
around. The summit
marked the start of the
long final descent. It
undulated along the
ridge at the start before
hitting a fast grassy track
that just got faster.
When we regrouped I
could hear fast, random
babble, always the sign
of a good descent and
we still had more to
for a second time there
still wasn’t any view, so
again we didn’t hang
around. The summit
marked the start of the
long final descent. It
undulated along the
ridge at the start before
hitting a fast grassy track
that just got faster.
When we regrouped I
could hear fast, random
babble, always the sign
of a good descent and
we still had more to
The forecast at the start of the week had been for a nice weekend. Driving to Long Mynd on the Sunday,
under low cloud and through the rain, it was anything but. With the way it was looking I wasn’t expecting a
huge turn out. My forecast also turned out to be wrong and the car park filled up steadily. By the time we
were ready to ride there were sixteen of us and with ten new faces I had some work ahead to remember all
the names.
under low cloud and through the rain, it was anything but. With the way it was looking I wasn’t expecting a
huge turn out. My forecast also turned out to be wrong and the car park filled up steadily. By the time we
were ready to ride there were sixteen of us and with ten new faces I had some work ahead to remember all
the names.
I had decided not to use
the road climb out of
Church Stretton as it was
steep and no fun at all.
We rode up Carding Mill
valley instead. Although
this would mean pushing
out of the top of the
valley, we got the
opportunity to splash
through the fords first.
Being a martyr to my
camera I rode through
the group on the first
section where the
pushing started. All the
words of encouragement
the road climb out of
Church Stretton as it was
steep and no fun at all.
We rode up Carding Mill
valley instead. Although
this would mean pushing
out of the top of the
valley, we got the
opportunity to splash
through the fords first.
Being a martyr to my
camera I rode through
the group on the first
section where the
pushing started. All the
words of encouragement
helped me clean it. I would have said thanks if I had been able to. Finally back at the front I brought out the
camera, only to find it hard to hold steady I was breathing so hard. With that burst of energy went my
determination to ride the entire climb and I joined the walking at the second push near the top.
camera, only to find it hard to hold steady I was breathing so hard. With that burst of energy went my
determination to ride the entire climb and I joined the walking at the second push near the top.
| Jason crossing one of the fords in Carding MIll valley |
| Martin and Steve riding up carding Mill valley after the first push |
Sabine (left) and Mark (above) on
the Stanbatch descent
the Stanbatch descent
After a bit of a breather we rode through
the cloud along the ridge. With nothing to
see at the summit we kept on riding to the
first descent. The descent was kind of
interesting. All the moisture and dirt either
covered our glasses or went into our eyes,
neither of which was great for plotting a
route through the loose rocks. From the
nervous laughter at the bottom I guessed I
wasn’t the only one who’d had a few
moments.
Sabines sarcasm backfired. ‘Can we have another climb now please?’
she asked. ‘Yes’ I said ‘It’s just round the corner’. The steep grassy
climb was a bit muddy at the start and there was a bit more pushing.
After that it was all rideable, but not easy. Everyone gave it a good go
though. At least there were two good things about getting to the top.
There would be no more pushing and the descent of Minton Batch was
next.
she asked. ‘Yes’ I said ‘It’s just round the corner’. The steep grassy
climb was a bit muddy at the start and there was a bit more pushing.
After that it was all rideable, but not easy. Everyone gave it a good go
though. At least there were two good things about getting to the top.
There would be no more pushing and the descent of Minton Batch was
next.
(left) Mark and Anthony start the climb to the glider club
| (above) Lee starting the climb to the glider club |
(middle) Steve, Martin and
Tom climbing through the
murk.
(right) Chris, most of the
way to the glider club. The
fact that Jason is walking
gives an idea how steep it
was even if the picture
doesn't
Tom climbing through the
murk.
(right) Chris, most of the
way to the glider club. The
fact that Jason is walking
gives an idea how steep it
was even if the picture
doesn't
I led the way into the descent and
showed how not to ride the boggy
section at the top. After I picked
myself up we got on with riding
one of the sweetest bits of
singletrack I know. We left the
cloud behind and had good
visibility so could really enjoy the
thin track as it weaved its way
down side of the valley. The fact
that it was wet and slippery only
added to the fun.
showed how not to ride the boggy
section at the top. After I picked
myself up we got on with riding
one of the sweetest bits of
singletrack I know. We left the
cloud behind and had good
visibility so could really enjoy the
thin track as it weaved its way
down side of the valley. The fact
that it was wet and slippery only
added to the fun.
| Tom, Steve and Neil riding out of the clouds at the top of Minton Batch |
| (left to right) John, Anthony, Darren and Steph (taking it easy) on the sweet singletrack of Minton Batch |
| (left to right) Anthony, Jason and Tom further down Minton Batch |
A couple of miles later we reached
the junction at the bottom. Even
though this meant climbing again
we started on a high from the
descent. Also it was fully rideable
this time and we had time for a
good rest as John had to fix a
puncture.
The hard riding was now over and
it was time for an easy ride back
along the ridge.
the junction at the bottom. Even
though this meant climbing again
we started on a high from the
descent. Also it was fully rideable
this time and we had time for a
good rest as John had to fix a
puncture.
The hard riding was now over and
it was time for an easy ride back
along the ridge.
| Wayne and Russ, Minton Batch |
| Russ and Neil, Priors Holt climb |
| (left to right) Lee, Wayne, Neil and Steph heading for the summit |
| Steve and John on the fast Cross Dyke descent |
| Sabine on the Cross Dyke descent |
| Wayne and Russ on The Batch singletrack |
| Chris on The Batch singletrack |
| Round the corner was the last bit of the descent |
come. The singletrack dropping
into The Batch was, as always, a
great way to finish and we rode
back into Church Stretton with
hardly a memory of those first
hard climbs.
Thanks to everyone who turned
up. It was great to meet so many
new people and I hope to see
you all again. Don't worry that's
as hard as the climbing ever gets.
into The Batch was, as always, a
great way to finish and we rode
back into Church Stretton with
hardly a memory of those first
hard climbs.
Thanks to everyone who turned
up. It was great to meet so many
new people and I hope to see
you all again. Don't worry that's
as hard as the climbing ever gets.
| Directions for this route can be found in my route guides. |