The antisocial ride tonight was Steve Hopper (leading), Mike Watson, Chris Stacey, Rich Waller, and me. We rode over to the other end of the Blue Man and did it the other way round. It wasn't too bad, considering.

On the way to Crosscliff after that we came across a trail that motorbikes have clearly been on. The ground was really chewed up and soft, making us all struggle with our summer tyres on. Steve cleaned it, but the rest of us all did short sections on foot. 

We were plagued by flies going up there. I thought I'd attracted quite a cloud, but then Rich turned up looking like that Pig Pen out of Peanuts (the kid who always walked around with a could around him). 'They like my watch strap,' Rich said. 'It's fabric and just absorbs sweat. I've never washed it.' Ewww! Still, it cleared the air a bit for the rest of us. 

Some minor mechanicals as we pressed on into Dalby, doing bits of the old black. Mike's brake was squeaking. My drivetrain was slipping (jockey wheels like shuriken!) and Rich was complaining about bearings. Still, at least we didn't find any body parts severed by the chain going around the jockey wheels, eh fellers?

Mike made a graceful dismount over that rooty raised bit of the old black. I was behind him and despite thinking 'better not take that line', did exactly that and also came to a halt.

Going down the red switchbacks, Rich went down Medusa's Drop and had an over-the-bars crash that also blew out his front tyre. 'I usually go right,' he said. 'I don't know why, but I went left and then hit a rock.'

We went back up to Adderstone from the bottom of the switchbacks, then did some of the red in reverse. We took shelter for a few minutes as a rain shower passed over, then made our way back to the Moorcock. Thanks to Steve for leading.