Date: Tuesday 15th June 2010
Route: Iron Mine Lane, Yennadon, old railway, track along leat, Sha**er’s van, along leat, Leather Tor bridge, Raddick Plantation, Norsworthy Bridge, Deancombe, Groundhog Day, Rocky Horror, Sheepstor Village, top of Sheepstor, Scout Hut, Gutter Tor, Earthquake, HQ.
Riders: James, Colin, Rich (Colin’s Colleague), Alan, Sam, Neil, Steve.
Depart: 19:40
Arrive HQ: ~22:15
Distance: 17 miles (according to Steve’s GPS)
Weather: Clear, Dry & warm.

A Night to relish where we live (especially if you ride a full susser!)

The ride tonight started out on familiar territory by going through Lake and then on up Iron Mine Lane to Yennadon. On the way up Iron Mine Lane a guy on a road bike got caught up in the midst of us as we were spread across the road. He finally found his way through us and we assumed he was heading to one of the houses on the lane, but instead headed straight up the dirt track. We thought that was a bit brave on skinny tyres and sure enough at the quarry entrance we saw him heading back in the opposite direction having obviously thought better of taking this shortcut any further.

Once we reached the road we went back down to the old railway and then down again to the track along the leat. From there we headed down the road towards Sha**er’s van (where is the van these days?). Instead of going straight down to Leather Tor Bridge we turned left and followed the leat again. At the end of the woods we dropped down to the metal planks (Keith's Bridge) to cross the river and then had a fast blast (well I did anyway!) back along to Leather Tor bridge.

From there we climbed up the track towards Raddick Plantation and took a cut through the woods. At the end of this is what I call the Ski Slope. Everyone got down it fine in the dry, but (as I have unfortunately found out) it is a very a slippery challenge in the wet.

After descending to the road at Norsworthy Bridge we went up to Deancombe. After warnings to Rich about the drainage gully at the bottom we headed down the hill. Sam went first and was carefully crossing the drainage gully when I came careering down the hill to jump the gap. Sam was blocking the path and I was going too quick to stop, but luckily there’s a big run off area so I could avoid ploughing straight into him.

We then cut across to the tracks below Roughtor Plantation to join up with the track the Gentlemen have previously referred to as the handrail below Sheepstor, I know it as Groundhog day and the Drake’s Trail people refer to it on their Burrator map as ‘A difficult rocky section for experienced riders only’. No problem for any of us then!

After the Rocky Steps down to the road, known as Rocky Horror, we went left to Sheepstor Village then left again into new territory. After climbing up the road leading to the back of Sheepstor we found a track leading all the way to the top of Sheepstor. At the top we had a great view of the sun going down, the Reservoir and the vast landscape all round. This was where we had a moment of thinking how lucky we are to have all this on our doorstep and how good a hobby mountain biking is that allows us to make the most of it. It also makes up for all the cold, wet muddy rides endured during the winter (and most of last summer for that matter).

At this point the suspension was set to ‘comfort’ for going back down the hill we previously slogged our way up (for those without comfort settings, this is my privilege for carting all the weight up the hill in the first place!). From the bottom of Sheepstor we followed our noses towards the Scout Hut. I think this part would have to be described as a summer only route as it looked like it would be pretty much a bog in the winter. From the Scout Hut we went along the dirt track at the bottom of Gutter Tor, then turned up onto Gutter Tor and rode along the ridge to Ringmoor Cottage.

From this point it was ‘comfort’ setting again for the blast down Earthquake, which seems to be getting more washed out more every time you go there. It will soon be more of a ravine. From there it was a straightforward slog on the road back to HQ where Stephen and Greg were already waiting. There were some high brow discussions held including whether Legend is better than Jail Ale and how the good townsfolk of Plymouth consider stopping at the first turning on Roborough Down and sitting in a deckchair next to the car to constitute a trip to Dartmoor!

All in all a very enjoyable evening with no offs or major mechanical problems (except my back tyre again which had gone down by the time we left the pub!).

Reporter: James