Saturday Morning Cheeky Ride

Nice and clear this morning, so as no Sunday ride this week as Dean is away for the week I decided to have a quick ride up to the Pike.  From home via Middlebrook Valley Trail, thought about stopping for a coffee at Costa, but carried on.

The full length of Lever Park, Top Barn and onto Georges Lane via the AICR.  Very windy at the Pike, strong south easterly.  Down the sharp end which is a great short downhill, better than ever now.  Down to gate at Georges Lane and a puncture.  Fixed it in a quiet spot and home, dint get a coffee.

16th October 2011 Sunday

Phil, Dean and myself today, set off from the Smithy at 9 am, misty and light rain, visibility very low.  Up by Walker Fold Woods to the Saddle, Two Lads, down to Sportsmans Cottage, Georges Lane to the Ice Cream Run, easy this week..

Down the Tea Rooms run, early stop in the tea rooms, before Top Barn and up the alternative ICR to Georges lane.  Arcon descent and home.  For me 23 miles, 2000 feet climbing

Glentress

Spookey Wood Descent is perhaps the best in the UK, comes midway on the Red Trail.

went to see the new Peel Centre, bit underwhelmed after all the hype, though changing and showers excellent.

Still Glentress is the best, as usual

Dark Peak Challange

Saturday 7th October 2011, the BHF Dark Peak Challenge.

Myself and Dean entered this event and it really was a challenge.  34 miles of tough riding in the roughest and wild UK mountains.  The route we rode was the "Extreme", 34 miles of hard riding with 8,125 feet (2,500 metres) of climbing.  The ride started from Hope, about 250 riders, all clean and polished at the start.

Conditions went worse though and soon the climb to Mam Tor was wet and windy, the rain more or less continued all day, a steady wetting drizzle. 

We haven't rode very much in the Peak District, normally keeping to the north of Manchester, but this ride was spectacular, well constructed, hard climbs followed by rocky and wet descents, time after time.

There were four refreshment stations along the route, water, biscuits, juice.

Trail conditions varied from stone flags, to the deepest mud, imagine 250 riders and what they did to to the muddy sections.

On the start line

On the start line

First feed stop

Long push up, one of many

We rode with these three more or less all day

Near the end

Near the end

Finish line

Finish line

The aftermath

The end

Pile of crap

We finished well within the time and had a fantastic and character forming day.

2nd October 2011

Today's ride with Dean and Phil, Two Lads descent to Spoertsman Cottage.