Be gentle on me though, I'm no better than when we last met on one of Timpo's rides, probably worse 'cos I'm on a bigger bike this time
I'll bring my camera then
I'm not going then............................
Phew.). The little climb at Grindleford (that used to cause lots of problems before it was “repaired”) took me to the Stoney Middleton trails, and then into Eyam and over to the Great Hucklow trails.
Billy No Mates Ride Report Sunday 21st.
Of the four riders I was going to lead on the ride, none turned up. So I was on my own.
A quick whizz around the Mellor trails to warm myself up, then over to Whalley Bridge, through the Goyt Valley to Tenterhills. There was a “Road Closed” sign at the start of the trail, so I turned around.
I hadn’t ridden the BOAT at Hollinsclough for a while. Not a lot to get excited about, the shallow ford the only highlight. A turn around and then back into the village and over the trails to the top.
I had to get my map out a couple of times trying to retrace the route I'd been led on last month to Hulme End and the back of Ecton. The grassy trail was extra slippy and I had my only encounter with a bad tempered rambler – no words, but that face will haunt me forever! All other walkers etc throughout the day were very polite, no problems.
More map reading and straining of memory cells took me to the grassy climbs at Oldpark and Mere Hills. Good news - 18psi worked a treat.
I then had to rely wholly on my memory as I’d dropped off the bottom of my map and missed the next couple of trails (maybe?) and arrived in Ashbourne from a different direction. I missed some more trails (I think) until I popped back onto my map at Kniveton and headed along the trail to Tissington Ford to clean my bike.
I missed the Ballidon trails and went straight to Blakemere and Moorlands Lanes. Clough Lane was next where I met up with a couple of lads who were heading for Australia next week for a grand tour on BMW F650 Dakars (they’d been trail riding as training for about a year). Are you on this site lads?
There was no chance of a repetition of my “over the bars” moment on Back Lane out of Darley as we had to follow a 4x4 crawling up it. It was slow going around Beeley aswell - lots of walkers enjoying the good weather.
The Edensor and Pilsley trails followed and then road to Calver (missing out the Hassop trails cos I turned right instead of left
I then headed for Peak Forest and then nipped over to Royches and headed back to Marple via the usual trails. 6hrs and 120 miles in total.
It’s been a while since I’ve spent a whole day trailling on my own (I only saw 4 others all day) and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’m kinda glad no one turned up to join me!
I've not ridden Tenterhills since I bought my 1150 (it was tough enough going on the Dakar!). Looking forward to an old favourite.A quick revisit sometime over Easter it is then
Next weekend is our wedding anniversary - so no trail riding
Easter Saturday I'm booked in for a ride over the Gatescarth Pass, so I'll not be able to organise another Peaks ride until the weekend of 10th or 11th April. I'll post details nearer the date.
