Our first visit to Gisburn Forest had been eagerly awaited and the high turnout showed as much. Nick, Matt H, Kevin C, Eleanor, Andy, Derek, John, Rob and Richard made the journey north wondering what delights might await them.
We knew it could still be snowy, so it was no surprise when we rolled into the still frozen carpark. Didn’t look too bad, just about rideable. We all got togged up and set off with high hopes, looking forward to the advertized “dancing with your mountainbike”.
Wrong!
The snow was just awful, progress was nigh on impossible. Every time you moved off wheels sank in and it was like riding through glue! On the rare occasions you could get moving it wasn’t long before the snow ripped your front wheel at rightangles and you began heading for the ditch.
Progress was pitifully slow but we pressed on, riding or pushing, hoping that soon we would be on the single track under the trees and out of the snow. Sure enough we soon got on some pretty good singel track which served to wet our appetites for more.
Back out of the trees we pushed and slithered along hoping for the next section of single track under the trees, it never came. Some bright herbert had thought it would be a good idea to cut most of the trees down and the track was just impossibly covered in slush, ice and snow. Result, we pushed just about the whole way round.
That is until we got within a couple of miles of the pub!
The group voted unanimously for the pub. So it was we had a nice lunch by the fire and headed back via the road to the cars. Nick and Matt were daft enough to opt for more pushing in the forest and they havn’t been seen since.
Not the day we expected but it was a hoot and we just had to laugh. I think almost everyone fell off at some point but the best was Richard who lost it in the trees and rode straight into one to test if his collar bone was healed fully, it was, sigh of relief not hurt. Well not until Derek rode into him on the ground anyway, that’s gratitude for you, last time he gets a lift anywhere. Only joking Derek, I’m OK really.
Gisburn Forest……….The Big Push!
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N/ice report Richard! The only bit you didn't mention was the bit at the top – all of us in a line trudging through deep snow, (well other than Derek who refused to be defeated and kept trying to get on his bike, usually managing 2 metres before falling off in balletic fashion) looking forward to what had to be a wonderful single track descent, (it'll be worth it when we get there we thought) only to get to a junction without a waymark…then the slow realisation that we'd come full circle and were at the same spot we'd been at 30 mins previously. Cold feet, Arctic conditions, no landmarks visible other than snow and trees all around us, and visions of us walking in circles until we lay in the snow and waited for rescue. Would anyone notice the absence of 9 WVCC riders I wonder?! As it happens Nick's map, Matthew's GPS and Richard's compass did the trick and they cleverly managed to re-orientate us in the general direction of the pub. I recall someone suggesting we sing a song to keep our spirits up – they get the prize for cheerfulness in adversity! Despite it all I loved it, there's nothing quite like a bit of adventure in good company, although I can't say it did much for my pre-Llanberis training!
brrr….rilliant place despite the curve ball of copious amounts of snow. using it to my advantage though it did keep the fitter riders a bit closer to the unfit riders! definitley have to sort a date for a post-thaw ride as there was loads to have had a go at. thanks again nick and enjoy your skiing
It was good to see Gisburn, know where it is now for the future. Keen to get out off road asap if any of you guys are riding soon?
Yes, thanks for the report Richard. Matt and I had a good time at the Velodrome watching the Revolution Saturday evening. We managed to ride most of the way back to the car park after we left you. The last half mile or more was in the trees and just about snow free. Lovely flowing bermed singletrack we must return to when conditions are better.
It's true that the worse the conditions the better the banter. Best line was Derek's who tried to explain his persistence at trying to ride in the unrideable section –
where he would fall every 2 metres before remounting again – being due to his poor short term memory!Matt had to take a bit of flack about his new knee pads too – leading to some jokes about him having broken them in by wearing them around the house.
I won't be out again now until 6 Feb at Delamere, but I'm sure you can leave a comment here if anything else is arranged meantime.