Well, after a 2 week lay of due to work I managed to get out biking this week.
I thought i'd get out early and maybe do the 1st climb before the others, it wasn't going to be that easy though, I hadn't done this ride before!
It started in the bottom of Monsal dale right next to the River Wye, can't really get much lower than this, thats what my head was saying as we climbed up towards Cressbrook & Litton Slack. All tarmac but the quick pace of the guys upfront made for a demoralising 1st climb. As they rounded the hairpin and climbed higher in the opposite direction I could see how much of a lead they had gained already. Not good but I had to give it a try.
There was now a muddy/grassy decent into Millers Dale, and along the dissused railway line to the old station. Off the track and onto the tarmac again now, another climb upto Wormhill. It was on here I started to make mental notes regarding tyres, whilst the brand new front 'Maxxis Swampthing' was amazing under heavy braking and especially on wet grass and mud, it was making the bike feel like I was riding into a headwind. Need to try a ride without I think?
At Wormhill I found everyone waiting to go as I arrived, I didn't get a drink, but did manage to get the feeling back into my 3 outer toes on my right foot, they'd been getting less and less feeling as I climbed up the hill.
After a rough and cow slurry covered but short climb through the farmyard, it was a reasonably long descent through the farmland, this was not to be though. It was ankle deep in cow dung, mud and water! The bits that looked OK were actually just like sodden wet mounds, and when you tried to ride on them the wheels just sank in like riding on bread dough! The tryes proved to be an issue here aswell, picking up the mud and growing in size.
The next section was along the metalled road to Meadows farm, ahead of us was a descent that is slippery and steep, has long straights and tight hairpins! Now the tyres should come into their own. I usually try to get amongst the top 3 or 4 riders as we set off on a good downhill, I didn't this time though, and held back till the last 3. I set off behind a new rider whose name didn't catch (sorry). On the long straights I found I was getting baulked so thought I'd go for and inside pass on the first hairpin, it dind't work the door was closed in front. On the next straight I hung back a little to get a good clear run, George almost ran into the back of me now. Anyway I was looking to pass the rider in front on the next hairpin or just before under braking, I got a terrific pace up on the striaght and waited for the last possible moment for braking, relying on the awesome front tyre to keep me upright. Brakes on.... lean back slightly... unbalance the bike and turn in...... the surface beneath me has got to be one of the most surprising things I've experience in recent times. It was of course White Peak limestone burried in wet grass! I had to abort and go straight on, over shooting and loosing pace on the guy in front. I hung back now and just rode on to the bottom at a sensible pace.
In front now was the sting in the tail, A horrendous stone punctured grassy climb upto the A6 where we rode along to Preistcliffe and along the byeway to Brushfield and the final descent to the carpark in Monsal Dale. This descent was full of loose wet Limestone, and being on the hardtail bike meant for an uncomfortable ride. All in all, a different route for a Thursday evening, but probably I bit off more than I could chew for a return to biking.
Distance; Circa 12miles
Ascent:
Bike ridden: NS Bikes Surge hardtail
My performance: Rubbish! Wasn't ready, and mentally defeated before start!
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