So, with all the dropouts it was left to an intrepid trio of Scott, Rob and me to brave the elements and ride bikes, drink beer, eat food and bivvy out in some strange place. After a quick coffee in Church Stretton waiting to see if Burty would turn up we ventured forth, straight into a sharp climb up through the golf course to the top of the Long Mynd. The weather kept promising the worst, but the rain kept off, with just light drizzle and a stiff breeze. A decent ride up and down the ridge, including a cracking descent of Minton Batch, we then headed over towards the Stiperstones - passing with just a small coincidence The Bridges pub. I don't think they minded 3 soaking wet filthy mountainbikers sitting in the pub, but a pint and a meal later we headed out up and over the Stiperstones. Some cracking riding, just a little slippy and slidey, the rain stayed vertical, and the ground getting more and more waterlogged, we were getting wet from above and below. The wind picked up as we headed back to the Long Mynd ridge, and as it got dark we headed towards All Stretton, down through the wettest grassy field you could imagine. We timed the arrival at The Ragleth Arms almost to perfection, and while Scott banged on the door, Rob and I went to check out the campsite at Small Batch to see if there was a dry sheltered spot. The campsite was empty, waterlogged, and quite shut, so on return to the pub we considered our options. A decent meal and a few pints later we hit the road, having decided to investigate a derelict cottage and barn we had ridden past earlier - if that didn't work we were off up into the woods. The wind was increasing to 40mph, so it was a choice of shelter or shredded tents. Around 11pm we got to the cottage, the door was padlocked and the windows too small so we checked the barn out, a good roof, dry floor, some walls meant this was better than most travelodges. I think we all had an interrupted night listening to the wind, but at least it was dry and we were sheltered. I think it was definitely an overnight spot to arrive late and leave early! Sunday was a shorter ride, up and over the Long Mynd again, then down to Church Stretton and up to the Caradoc hill and along the side of the ridge. The ground was completely waterlogged, and it was still pretty wet and windy, but we were all enjoying the riding. Time wasn't hanging around though so we decided to head for home, before we started not enjoying it
Over the 2 days we did around 90km, 1400m of climbing and found some new trails. Thanks to Scott for sorting the route out and Rob and Scott for the company - I thoroughly enjoyed it, and despite the forecast, the weather wasn't as bad as promised. It was a shame more didn't make it, and it's a route that needs repeating in drier conditions, a summer bivvy would be brilliant.
