The one with Mud, Cold, Mini Eggs & The World's Most Excitable Lamb
Ride Date: 22/02/2014
Distance: 17 miles
Route: Bakewell > Pilsley > Chatsworth.
Weather: Temperature: 1°C, Wind - 23mph →, Humidity - 100%, Conditions - Cloudy.
Riders : Jake, Matt, Howard & Carro
Note - I've skipped the Cannock write up as it was the standard Dog & Monkey with no significant incidents, although it was good to see Ricky & Basil's brother David out with us for the first time!
On with the Bakewell ride, a strange ride, with some new bits, some familiar bits & some bits in reverse. We met as usual near the railway station and headed down hill swinging round on to a bridleway that climbed out behind the Thornbridge brewery over the fields towards the Monsall Trail, it was a good tricky climb up, with plenty of mud & then a skittery drop down on to the trail, broken up with a few gates. Once on the Monsall we headed West for a short distance and then left it following roads through Great Longstone & towards Hassop. Here we swung off through a farm with the obligatory axle deep dung and on to a very nice descent into the valley. A short climb up through the woods brought us out on an undulating trail meet the road at "13 Bends". Almost straight across the road was a fast bridleway with a stiff climb up to Pilsley where we paused for Matt's Mini Eggs and a breather.
We left Pilsley village opposite the Chatsworth farm shop and took a right towards Bakewell, this was the first long climb of the day, climbing steadily up to the start of one of our favourite descents, the Golf Course, I think we took a slightly different route this time, but it was still great fun slip, sliding all the way to the bottom before climbing back up via the road.
Next up was the road to Edensor, I've only ever done this as a climb, this time it was going to be all down though! It was fast & the winter ruts made it quite tricky in places & we soon emerged at Chatsworth.
We progressed via road to Calton Lees & started the long, but strangely satisfying climb out towards the farm. It was here pushing up the steep field, that we met the Lamb! it seemed very excited to see us and stood atop of a grassy knoll where it bleated as loud as it could at us as we struggled past. From here conditions played a big part with the woods being very hard going due to general winter bogginess, good for the skillz, but tough at the end of a ride. We ended up taking a slightly different route back by traversing the woods and coming out across the golf course and back to the cars.
Not too bad a ride all in, conditions were what are to be expected for the white peak in winter, so it goes without saying, that it would probably be better in summer.
We are back in the Dark Peak for the next couple of rides, a mid week escape involving Jacob's Ladder & then a Sunday visit to Derwent Edge, check back soon!
Distance: 17 miles
Route: Bakewell > Pilsley > Chatsworth.
Weather: Temperature: 1°C, Wind - 23mph →, Humidity - 100%, Conditions - Cloudy.
Riders : Jake, Matt, Howard & Carro
Note - I've skipped the Cannock write up as it was the standard Dog & Monkey with no significant incidents, although it was good to see Ricky & Basil's brother David out with us for the first time!
On with the Bakewell ride, a strange ride, with some new bits, some familiar bits & some bits in reverse. We met as usual near the railway station and headed down hill swinging round on to a bridleway that climbed out behind the Thornbridge brewery over the fields towards the Monsall Trail, it was a good tricky climb up, with plenty of mud & then a skittery drop down on to the trail, broken up with a few gates. Once on the Monsall we headed West for a short distance and then left it following roads through Great Longstone & towards Hassop. Here we swung off through a farm with the obligatory axle deep dung and on to a very nice descent into the valley. A short climb up through the woods brought us out on an undulating trail meet the road at "13 Bends". Almost straight across the road was a fast bridleway with a stiff climb up to Pilsley where we paused for Matt's Mini Eggs and a breather.
 |
| Mini Egg break & Carro's puncture that never was! |
Next up was the road to Edensor, I've only ever done this as a climb, this time it was going to be all down though! It was fast & the winter ruts made it quite tricky in places & we soon emerged at Chatsworth.
We progressed via road to Calton Lees & started the long, but strangely satisfying climb out towards the farm. It was here pushing up the steep field, that we met the Lamb! it seemed very excited to see us and stood atop of a grassy knoll where it bleated as loud as it could at us as we struggled past. From here conditions played a big part with the woods being very hard going due to general winter bogginess, good for the skillz, but tough at the end of a ride. We ended up taking a slightly different route back by traversing the woods and coming out across the golf course and back to the cars.
We are back in the Dark Peak for the next couple of rides, a mid week escape involving Jacob's Ladder & then a Sunday visit to Derwent Edge, check back soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment