After hearing so many great things about Peak District riding I decided to take the train up to Sheffield and check it out. For context I'm mostly an xc rider based in the south-east who loves long scenic rides with a few flowy trails thrown in
I had a fantastic ride, maybe my favourite ever. I started on porter brook trail, a few laps of lady canning's plantation, houndkirk road, longmore estate, froggat edge. Gritstone is a very nice surface to ride on, and what a view!
Shortly after I messed up a bunny hop, landed on a rock so hard with my rear tire that I tore the bead. I was able to repair with a plug but wasn't too confident it would hold, so used the excuse to head down into bakewell where the lovely staff at peakland cycles sorted me out, while I tried out a proper bakewell pudding, yum.
Down towards Alport some schoolgirls doing D of E were scared to enter a field with a herd of cows at the gate. I felt like a hero parting the cows like moses and the red sea but almost fell over while mounting my bike. Up a testing climb to lees moor, chatsworth estate, then another very nice climb out from baslow.
Blacka moor was another highlight of the ride that I couldn't believe is so close to sheffield. The final test was devil's elbow, I've read a bit about this trail and it is definitely beyond my ability at this time. Dabbed my way down it and I would like to come back with better skills and probably body armour.
Good route back through Dore, Ecclesall woods whose stream was an alarming orange colour, and some back roads to Abbeydale brewery which poured out delicious IPAs.
I'm aware this might just be a regular Saturday ride for some of you but for me it was pretty special. It seems I barely scratched the surface, I can't wait to come back and check out the dark peak!
sounds brilliant 😍
It's great isn't it? I live within an hour and so look on it as home having been walking and riding here all my life. Yesterday I did the Win Hill classic with a few tasty variations and spent most of the day marvelling at how lucky I am to have this place (and a brilliant bike). Living in the moment at it's best, it's about having the experience (NOT making memories)
