We started at the Hayfield visitors centre car park and headed out along the Sett valley trail for about 1.5km leading down to the A6015 road accessed via a small gate. From here we climbed a small road and turned R towards New Mills taking the first left up a short sharp road climb passing disused quarries on the left and past Moore Lodge. From here we could see where we were heading, the snowy covered peaks of the distance hills.
We stopped at the top of the road climb to gather the troops, we should have known from this point in that today was gonna be a mechanical nightmare as Bam Bam’s rear hub seized and Prilleys seat post bolt snapped and ‘pinged’ off into a field. Priley, (on his beautiful new titanium On One single speed) quickly realised that climbs and saddles go hand in hand and disappeared in search of a repair shop.
We continued on past Moore Lodge along the road (which quickly deteriorated) and turned left through a stile heading up along a steady climb which ran parallel with a cobbled stone wall (a common feature of the area). The terrain was boggy at times but offered good traction if it wasn’t for the constant flow of water running down from the hills above. At the end of the track we crossed through another gate and started a heavy ascent up… a snowy blanket of snow and ice laid beneath us and we were reduced to pushing our trusty steeds up the long climb. A clean sweep at this section would be challenging in the summer months let alone the harsh wintery conditions we had decided to visit in!
As we waited at the top of the climb huddled behind a stone wall for the final few riders who had been struggling with the mandatory bike push we thought about the path ahead… if this was the beginning how will the rest of the route turn out?
Normally I’m happy to wait for people but today was not a friendly day and as the wind and snow lashed at our faces I was very tempted to crack on! As we waited huddled behind the stone wall we soon realised that it offered very little protection from the elements and no sooner had the ailing riders caught up we quickly set off along the line of the stone wall through a rutty and boggy path with numerous deep puddles and un-riddable bogs. As we pressed on you could see where the ground beneath us and snowy drifts had swallowed wheels and probably whole bikes other the previous days. Riders becoming the victims of the harsh winter we’ve been having. Eventually we reached a gated access on the right and headed up a small climb with terrain typical to that what we had already experienced. However, this time at the top we were greeted with a great view and a very welcome downhill section covered in a thick blanket of snow… time to test the new brakes I think!
A fast roller coaster ride with the unforgiving snow just pushing you were it wanted you to go… fast round a corner narrowly missing a timber post and barbed wire fence… drop off into a snowy gulley and spat out only to find my front wheel drifting left and my rear wheel going right. My first spill of the day a taster of things to come. We continued through a narrow gate past Hills Farm and stopped at the bottom to admire the view of Kinder far in the distance. The only thing to spoil the view was a line of 5 riders pissing in the wind! A school boy error on any day but even more humorous when your caught on camera!
As we gathered the troops once more Priley reappeared after a local ranger miraculously found a matching seat pin in the back of his Land Rover! Is there nothing these boys don’t carry?
Down and across the main road we turned right and headed up a steep’ish climb only to be greeted by a thick blanket of snow that had drifted across the path… there was only one thing for it… PUSH, PUSH PUSH! As we neared the top the snow thinned and once again we were riding. At the top our prize awaited, a fast gnarly decent laden with drop offs, ruts, gulley’s and sheep. Its at this point we should say watch out for those sheep as several troops were left severely traumatised on the fast descent grabbing at their brakes only to find that they weren’t stopping! Needless to say well be pulling wool from our rear mechs for some time to come! Half way down we turned right and continued along a steep road up. The climb was short and sharp, the kind that leaves you breathing heavy for no reason at all! As we rounded the head of the road once more the snow had drifted across the trail and what would normally be considered a tough climb became un rideable due to the foot plus of snow beneath our feet. Once again we were reduced to pushing a lengthy slog up past Coldwell Clough. Onward and upward as they say.
After a very lengthy and demoralising push we headed across a boggy field. Rhythm was hard to find and as we struggled to negotiate the numerous ruts and marshes that lay in our way the snow set in thick and fast. There’s only so much of this that any man can take and it’s at this point that auto pilot kicked in. Follow the crowd syndrome took over and I soon found myself pushing and pulling through the various bogs that lay in my way. As we made a gradual decent along side a stone wall deep gulley’s grabbed at our cranks and wheels, clipping in was something I hadn’t been able to do since the first road climb and my enthusiasm was running low, very low!
Eventually we reached a snow free trail with a fast descent that snaked around a rock laden path. Wolfman decided on an alternative route and flew down the grassy field to the right and I couldn’t help but follow (mainly due to my inability to turn to follow the official trail). “Rider right” was the yell from Wolfman (a former downhill racer) as he flew across the trail at head height to leave one of the more leisurely riders looking a little pale! A stop at the bottom to fix a quick pinch flat and then a big climb up a cobbled path.
For future reference never ask to try out somebody’s full susser at the base of a big climb… as I rode of on a shinny new Trek Remedy testing the full 140mm of travel down a gentle slope I turned only to see my trusty steed heading up the steep cobbled climb with someone else on her… you know who you are! Needless to say climbing any steep ascent is a challenge at the best of times let alone on a trek remedy with a setup from hell. The cobbled path was the easy part of the climb and as I ground past Wolfman (who looked more horizontal than ever on his 9 inch downhill rig) we soon saw the terrain turn slippery and wet with very little traction or none at all. Head down keep climbing, should have saw that gulley, oh sh## im off again and this time falling sideways clipped in over the edge.. Bruised legs and arms, covered in mud I know I’ve had better days but something keeps us pushing onwards. As we reach the top and cross over a little bridge Bam Bam’s front cones have come loose now and he seems to have left his confidence back at the car park!
The climbing was well worth it as we started the descent through some fast flowing singletrack full of drop offs, miniature berms and gnarly rocks. The speed keeps coming and my brakes have taken some serious abuse. Faster and faster, through a sweeping switchback, hop over to the other side of the trail and change lines… my hands are getting tired but I know that the end is near so I hold on and push on faster and faster. Sharp turn ahead, riders on the left negotiating some rocky steeps down to the stream crossing… rider right I yell as I rattle down and through the stream coming to a rest on a grassy bank. Bam Bam appears a few minutes later, his bike a casualty of the typical abuse they should be built to take… his cones have seized and it’s a mile and half road descent back to civilisation.
As I tuck into my coronation chicken sandwiches I reflect on the day we’ve had. Only half way round the intended route, 4 hours in and were physically and mentally scared. Bikes are limping off and I cant help but smile. It’s been a hell of a day but a good one at that!
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:31 am
Silly Silly Boys!!!! Sounds like a cracker to be honest and you obviously grafted. Let’s do it in the Summer.