🚵 Torque vs The Green Tunnel
- John Nickolls
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
A Summer Ride Across Cannock Chase
There are rides where every statistic matters.
Distance.
Average speed.
Elevation.
Heart rate.
Power.
Cadence.
Then there are rides where none of those things tell the whole story.
Today’s ride across Cannock Chase was one of those.
Yes, the numbers were good.
14.8 miles (23.8 km) ridden.
1 hour 36 minutes in the saddle.
1,178 feet (359 metres) climbed.
A top speed of 20.1 mph (32.4 km/h).
But if someone asked me what I’ll remember in six months’ time…
It won’t be any of those.
It will be the brambles.
⸻
A Perfect Summer Morning
Cannock Chase has become my local escape.
Just a short drive from home and suddenly you’re surrounded by towering pine trees, winding forest tracks and miles upon miles of trails disappearing into the distance.
It’s difficult to believe somewhere this good is almost on my doorstep.
The Scott Aspect eRIDE 910—better known simply as Torque—was charged, cleaned and ready.
Tyres checked.
Bottle filled.
Helmet on.
Bosch battery full.
There really is something satisfying about setting off knowing everything is ready to go.
No fuss.
Just ride.
⸻
Why I Bought an eMTB
People still ask why I chose an electric mountain bike.
The answer becomes clearer every time I head out.
Without the Bosch motor I’d probably spend most of my time thinking about the next hill.
With Torque, I spend my time looking around.
Listening to the birds.
Watching the sunlight flicker through the trees.
Stopping for photographs.
Taking different trails just because they look interesting.
The bike doesn’t remove the effort.
It removes the worry.
That’s a huge difference.
⸻
The Chase Never Stays the Same
One of the best things about Cannock Chase is that every ride feels different.
The weather changes.
The colours change.
The surface changes.
One week it’s dusty and fast.
The next it’s soft and grippy.
Even when you ride the same trails, they somehow feel new.
Today’s conditions were almost perfect.
Dry enough for good grip.
Warm enough to enjoy every stop.
Just enough breeze to keep things comfortable.
The forest felt alive.
⸻
When Nature Fights Back
Then…
The trail disappeared.
Well…
Almost.
Instead of a nice flowing ribbon of singletrack, I found myself riding through what can only be described as a green tunnel.
Brambles.
Everywhere.
Long stems reached across the trail from both sides, determined to make contact with anything passing through.
Unfortunately…
That included me.
Within seconds I could hear them scraping along the bike.
Tick…
Tick…
Tick…
Then came the unmistakable sting.
First one leg.
Then an arm.
Then another scratch.
By the time I’d escaped the leafy ambush I’d gained a collection of fresh “Cannock tattoos.”
Torque carried on as though nothing had happened.
I looked like I’d tried to cuddle a hedgerow.
Mountain biking isn’t always about jumps and technical descents.
Sometimes it’s simply surviving aggressive vegetation.
⸻
Torque Didn’t Miss a Beat
One thing that continues to impress me is just how capable this bike feels.
The Bosch Performance Line CX motor simply gets on with the job.
Steep climb?
No problem.
Loose gravel?
Carry on.
Roots?
Keep pedalling.
The assistance always feels natural.
You’re still riding the bike.
You’re simply riding a better version of yourself.
Every climb becomes enjoyable instead of something to endure.
⸻
The Numbers
For those who enjoy the statistics…
Today’s adventure covered:
14.8 miles (23.8 km)
1 hour 36 minutes riding
1,178 feet (359 metres) climbed
Maximum speed 20.1 mph (32.4 km/h)
The route naturally split into two distinct rides.
The first explored the wooded trails around Cannock Chase with over 720 feet of climbing, while the second headed back towards Stafford with more flowing terrain and a slightly faster pace.
It wasn’t about setting records.
It was simply about enjoying every mile.
⸻
More Than Exercise
There’s something incredibly therapeutic about riding through woodland.
No traffic.
No emails.
No television.
No endless notifications.
Just tyres rolling over gravel.
Birdsong overhead.
The gentle whirr of the Bosch motor.
Occasionally stopping just to appreciate where you are.
It’s amazing how quickly everyday stresses disappear once you’re surrounded by trees.
⸻
The Joy of Exploring
I never set out to become a mountain biker.
Yet here I am.
Exploring new trails.
Finding hidden corners of Cannock Chase.
Learning what Torque can do.
Building confidence with every ride.
There’s still so much of the Chase I haven’t explored.
That’s probably the best part.
Every ride leaves me wanting another one.
⸻
Looking After the Kit
Back home, the routine is almost as enjoyable as the ride itself.
Brush off the dust.
Inspect the tyres.
Check the chain.
Recharge the Bosch battery if needed.
Top up the bottles.
Get everything ready for next time.
It’s the sort of ritual that makes ownership satisfying.
Good equipment rewards good care.
⸻
Final Thoughts
When I looked at today’s statistics later, they were impressive enough.
But statistics never tell the whole story.
They don’t record the smell of warm pine trees.
They don’t capture shafts of sunlight breaking through the canopy.
They don’t mention stopping to admire the view.
And they certainly don’t count the number of times a bramble tried to remove a layer of skin from your legs.
Those are the moments that matter.
Torque once again proved why buying this bike was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Another ride.
Another adventure.
Another reminder that some of the finest days out don’t involve travelling hundreds of miles.
Sometimes they’re waiting just a few minutes from your front door.
And if that adventure leaves you with a few scratches from the local wildlife…
Well…
They’re simply proof you were really there.
⸻
🚵 Ride Summary
Bike: Scott Aspect eRIDE 910 “Torque”
Location: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
Distance: 14.8 miles (23.8 km)
Ride Time: 1 hour 36 minutes
Elevation: 1,178 ft (359 m)
Top Speed: 20.1 mph (32.4 km/h)
Mechanical Problems: None
Bramble Encounters: More than enough.
Smiles: Every single mile.
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