Good day on the 456 up in the Cheshire Peak, starting from Wildborclough car park to make a change. Get’s the pig of a climb out of the way early doors whilst your fresh!
Blue skies, sun shining, big grins from Jimbo having just run the Snake in his new toy!!
Great ride, little off on Charity Lane mind, sore shoulder tonight! Bit gutted, was meant to be out on the Heckler but the damn seatpost seized!? Feel bad, that’s a sign of neglect 
Technically it was Rob’s birthday ride, but for one reason and another, most of the gang couldn’t make it, sadly.
Was good to hit the trails with Si though, it’s a rare occasion but always a good conversation.
Weather held, nice feed in the cabin at the end, it’s always a good day out!
Alright, it was last September i rode up at Brechfa (Abergorlech) with Phil, and if you remember, i kinda got it a little wrong! So today, i was keen to keep it two wheels down, and with Rob on board, ridden more in my own style!
We’ve ridden the Raven once before and it was less than impressive, although clearly unfinished, and we had all heard good things about it since, so expectations where high! When we arrived in the car park, Phil was sat in his camper van, with a brew and his feet up, eminating the “lap-o-luxury”!
The weather was damp but fair, and we set off after Rob and Phil were introduced. A good climb got us breathing hard, we are all reasonably fit, and we set a good pace. After a trip down (up) memory lane, it was time for the first descent, much fun!
I arrived at the bottom first and got ready with the camera and waited…. and waited…… and waited. I was about to start walking back up but then i heard the clatter of bikes…. Phil had had an off this time! Nowt serious, no injury but missing a few spokes!
We carried on with the trail, onto the sections that had previously been unrideable, but that now where sculpted in only the way that Sorrell knows how! Brilliant!
Well worth a visit!
Had a top blast in the Peaks yesterday with Rob and Jimbo, although the end of the ride lost it’s way a bit, was beaut weather though, just good to be out since it’s less of a regular occurance these days….
Think Rob was making it up as he went along, and Jimbo had had a late night!! LOL…. I enjoyed myself though!
Top final descent!
So soon after the arrival of the newest member of our family, I didn’t think I was going to be getting out anytime soon, but I got the green light, and one of our number who only rides once in a blue moon was also tipped for making a show! We were on! …..the only issue, Paul’s bike was rotting in a Sheffield cellar somewhere, “No bother” I say, I’ll bring two! And with that, I packed the wife’s car and headed to the hills!
It was a lovely day, but the trails were wet, I rode the On-One and I let Paul have the Heckler, we are similar weights so the shock setup was fine.
We parked up in the first car park on the left on the road to Fairholmes, the one we regularly use, kitted up and headed straight up the hill above Hagg side over to Hagg farm, down the S-bends to the A57, cross over, last little downhill section to the river and cross over for the push up the “Thing” (You can see where this is going can’t you?!)
At Hope Cross, swing a right, and traverse across to Blackley Clough, setting up for the DH assault on the Roman Road back down to the A57. Climb back up the other side of the valley past Rowlee Farm and on back to Hagg Farm for the traverse across the top of Nabs Wood before finishing off a lovely morning down the descent with “no name”!
It was a top ride, ace seeing Paul again, it’s too infrequent, but with two children, I can’t imagine how difficult it is to find the time, the last fortnight has been a bit of an eye opener! Question is though, did it change the way I ride!? Has becoming a father made me slower!? Well, it didn’t feel like that coming down the Roman Road, not in the slightest. If I’m honest though, and I have probably said this countless times already, I think the knock on the head last June might have slowed me down to an extent, anyway, I’m not about to dwell on it, i’ve just had a top ride with two top mates! That’s why I do it, it’s nowt to do with going fast! (honest!)
