Dirty Bikers

After talking about it for the last month it was finally time to head up to Jacobs ladder and the surrounding peaks. After a miserable week of weather we arrived Saturday morning to find the sun is shining and its blue sky’s all around… aren’t we glad the previous week of wet weather didn’t make us cancel last minute Friday night!

We started of at Edale train station on a sunny Saturday morning. With our bikes at the ready and our designated tour guide… Bamford that’s you by the way, we set off on what we hoped would be a classic.
Turning left out of the car park up past the rambler inn we turned left and headed up what Bamford had us believe was a bridleway… 100 yards on and 1 upset farmer later we head back down the private access road and back down to Edale station… Bamford, what were you thinking!

The official route should have seen us turn R out of the station and R back towards Barbour booth along the road we just came up before turning R onto the trans Pennine trail and up towards Jacobs ladder.

As we headed along the Pennine way towards the base of the ladder we questioned who was going to have a crack at tackling the ladder in a clean sweep… why not I thought, how hard can it be?

The base of the ladder doesn’t give too much away, a steep ascent with steps formed from stone slabs making it impossible to find a rhythm and get your head down, a couple of pedal revolutions and im off pushing and pulling my bike up like the rest of em! As you head past the first crest you realise your in for a long haul uphill with your bike on your back. Easier for the Kish titanium club than those carrying the Orange 5s and the Morewood Shovas…. Especially those weighing over the 30lb mark!

As the ladder levelled off we decided to get on and ride again, tackling the loose terrain and negotiating our way around the ramblers that had overtook us on the long haul up.

Before long the climb turned steep again and we were left with no option but to push once more. The view form the top is inspiring and if you’ve never seen it before then make sure you stop and admire…. As well as catch your breathe!

As we sat back and caught our breath a group of bikers passed on the way down. After a few line checks they decided to have a go at the big descent… I know they say speed is your friend but I think the moment got the better of one rider as he decided to go full speed ahead only to get a pinch flat on the first rocky section, unfortunately for him the speed he was carrying in meant he had to keep going down to the base before he could assess the damage and hopefully sort it out!

We set off further along the ladder and turned L heading towards Coldwell Clough, up over a small vertical slab (ride it, you know you can) and down to the start of a flowing section of singletrack broken up only by farmers gates. The descent along here can be taken fast with plenty of drop offs and technical ruts to have most people grinning from ear to ear. As we reached the first gate we couldn’t help but laugh and as Pryally finally arrived with his hands suffering from the lack of suspension we were secretly grinning inside. A couple of sections of singletrack and gates later we set of on a long descent down to the Clough. As we head down at lightening speed we realise that the bunch of ramblers walking up aren’t going to make our lives easy so we have to manual through the centre of them sending old ladies and handbags flying…. Im sure they didn’t thank us for it but after the last 20 minutes climb im keen to have some fun!

The terrain gets rougher further down and as we reached the end of the line my back end spins out swinging me round 90 degrees and to the end of the run 10 yards short of the next gate. Stop for a quick laugh regarding old ladies and were off again heading through the farmers gate and down the tarmac road through Coldwell Clough. Brakes on at the bottom so we don’t miss our turning through the first gate (turning L across the river) and up a short sharp climb, crossing waterbars and struggling to keep the momentum going. A clean sweep should be easy here, providing you keep your momentum going and your front wheel doesn’t wonder, sending you rolling towards the edge! We reached the top and sat on the grassy knoll whilst Bamford checked the map… a little confusion and a banana later we set off down through the gate and turned L up along a tarmac road and turned L again along the Pennine Bridleway through a field full of Bullock and there young cows.

As we headed along we could see what appeared to be a bigger than average cow blocking the path… only on approach we realised it was in fact a bull. Queue me panicking and backing up like a little scared and lost boy looking down at his bright red top… Thankfully the bull was more interested in grazing than chasing me round a field so we set off as fast as possible up the hill to the next gate joking about bulls coming after us! A few giggles and a mop of my brow later we headed out along the path and stopped at the top to admire the view of Brown Knoll.

As we ate our ham and piccalilli sandwiches 2 old boys stopped for a quick chat and to admire the Kish titanium, rigid single speed that had been brought along by Pryally. These boys loved their bikes and you could tell by looking at them that they were super fit.

From here on in our 3 man ride turned into 5 as Phil and Kirby decided to join us for the remainder of the ride. If your lucky enough to bump into these 2 gents on your travels then you’ll know that when I say their fast uphill as well as down that im not telling porky pies… talking of pork pies “Pete where were you with our pork pies”?

From here on it was downhill with some lovely loose rocky sections, drop offs, jumps and some serious speed to put a big grin on your face. As we raced down against each other we were forced to take lines that you wouldn’t normally consider in an attempt to squeeze past the rider in front resulting in big air over a few drainage bars and drops. I should have known better than this as the first one down gets to get the gate for everyone else! LOL

Down at the bottom a quick stop to open the gate and head up a long climb. You can choose to take your line along the grassy verge to the right or try your luck in the slippery limestone. This section is broken up by numerous gates which was a little tedious as was the length of the continual climb. Never the less we kept going and would have a managed a clean sweep through the entire section if it wasn’t for a pesky limestone slab that spun my rear wheel like it was made out of banana skin! If you do decide to go up the limestone trail make sure you keep your eyes open for riders and crossers heading in the other direction!

A pretty uneventful climb and a few gates later we turned L along the bridleway that ran parallel with the road. Along the path and through a small gate on your R. This marked the start of a small cross country climb through deep puddles and a handful of gates once more. Pryally was pretty busy racing ahead on this section when one of the above mentioned puddles swallowed his bike and landed him straight in a big dark wet puddle which we concluded could only be made from one thing…. Sheep piss!

As the grass disappeared the path turned into some flowing singletrack which made for some good entertainment after the last few miles of climbing, through the gates but watch for the stone tread on about the 5th gate when trying to manual through. Phil wasn’t so lucky and hit his front wheel hard only to be caught mid air by Kirby, how we will never know! Onwards across the trail and down a fast section of singletrack towards Mamtor.

Here we followed Phil and Kirby round the side of the road to a short cut which cut out the large uphill push and the several dozen walkers waiting at the top. The path joined Mamtor probably half way up and although we wanted to tackle the full descent it would have been impossible for the shear number of walkers.

The track flowed really well here and you could go as fast as you wanted, providing you kept your wheels out of the little wheel grabbing ruts that were constant throughout this section. Down at the bottom we said goodbye to Phil and Kirby who were parked in the car park to the R and we headed downhill to the L but keeping on the path to the R.

Another flowing section of singletrack with bumps jumps and drops with the occasional sheep running past. Keeping the speed up we flew through this section and through the next gate into a gnarly little rock section. Having never done this before we let the speed pick up and before we knew it we were manualling and dropping over 3 technical drops all in one tiny section with a little too much pace…. hang on for dear life with your eyes closed… and we were clear of the section and laughing like a bunch of school kids.

Through the gate and turn L along the road and head back towards Edale. A great days riding made even better by the beer in the ramblers in were we assessed the days events and recapped over a lime and lemonade… you know who you are!

As I walk back to the car (as ive suffered a pinch bite along the way) I cant help but think that this should be tackled the other way round but im not disappointed, just more eager to return.

No related posts.