So the second attempt to ride the trails on the west side of the Peaks: Could we get everyone round without broken bones or broken bikes? Ummmm, that’ll be a NO then.
The crew -
From the UKGSer site:
Iain (HighTower) on his (t)rusty Pegaso. He’d ridden the route 3 weeks earlier and knew what he was in for. Should’ve known better really.
Colin (Dwaine Dibbly) on his new XChallange. His first off road ride after an illness, he reckoned he might have to leave early due to his (lack of) fitness, but was “last man standing”.
From AdvRider:
Martin (Cello) on his XR650. Travelled up from the Mendips(?) and took too many short cuts arriving an hour late.
Len (Owdknacker) on his Transalp. Wolf in sheeps clothing.
Alasdair (GingerMonkey) on someone elses CRM 250. He being the reason Kate’s Café ain’t called Kate’s any more. Say “hello” next time you’re in Wardlow Mires.
And myself on my HP2, realising I’m getting too old for all this.
The weather promised sunshine, but it was cloudy and cool with wet roads. So full jacket and overtrousers for me (I was to regret my decision), but the sun did come out later, and no rain for the duration.
The lads were getting restless waiting for Martin, so once we’d guided him into the correct county and organised for somewhere to park his trailer the five of us did a quick loop of the Mellor trails – BOAT 22 (blocked by a large van doing a 33 point turn), Mellor Moor (blocked by horses escaped from a field), Mellor Cross, the “Tube” down to the golf course, and back through the Roman Lakes. Next time Martin eh?
The full contingent then set off riding up through Strines past New Mills golf course and on to the long trail across the tops to Buxworth. Council workers blocked our route until Len offered to sleep with them and they let us through.
No broken bones on the Coombes trail this time (phew!), which led us onto Long Hill and the little grassy descent down to the resevoirs. A quick blat along the fire road through the woods brought us into the Goyt Valley, where we nipped back up to the Buxton Road and once more spread sheep along the old road back onto Long Hill.
We then took the mostly tarmac’d road over the tops back to Coombes. And once again lunch in Chapel.
Perhaps we should have finished there. But, no, the lure of Royche Clough and Chappel Gate was too much.
I’d like to say that Iain falling off in front of me up the steep section stopped me “cleaning” it. But I’d already crunched into the side before he’d stopped. Martin blasted past and (with legs flailing) shot to the top. Two further stoppages for me I’m afraid. Colin made easy work of the climb (so much for being unfit!), with Alasdair fighting the 2 stroke CRM all the way up also.
That just left Len on the (not really ideal) Transalp. After an initial wheel spin at the bottom, he just set the revs to 500 and pottered all the way up to a round of applause. A few adjustments to damaged sump guards and we were off again.
Next was Chappel Gate. Nervously we set off up the stepped section. No incidents this time. All up in good time. No offs (that I know of) but a few teetering on the edge moments and the smell of burning rubber left wafting in the countryside. Job done.
That just left the descent down into Edale. Why is it harder going down than up? Horrible. Quite steep and full of loose rocks, like riding down a contained scree slope, with drops off steps just to make things more interesting.
We were all quite knackered now but we’d managed Royches and Chappel Gate without incident, or had we?
Iain obviously relaxed a bit too much on his approach to the end gate and somehow managed to bin it on the flattest bit of trail we’d ridden for hours.
So three of us were waiting at the gate when we heard “that noise”. We couldn’t see anything, but we knew.
Apparently Martin was having trouble starting his kickstart only XR, and after Len had started it for him, foolishly offered Len a ride. Presumably there’ll be photos of the aftermath (and a more detailed description), but it’s a good job the XR arrived on a trailer – cos it was only way it was getting home!
So after leaving the XR outside a cottage, Len and Martin rushed off to get the trailer before the old dear in the cottage could sell it on ebay.
Then there were four. With energy levels not far off empty a somewhat shortened route followed, riding the Fox House trails before blissfully heading for home.
Hope you enjoyed it guys!
)
- am on holiday - back sometime on the 12th. Have to be the next one.
