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I've had a nightmare day today. Did the BHF Dark Peak Challenge...
Snapped a spoke on the first descent and another one later on, weather said it would be fine so I left summer tyres on - been slipping and sliding everywhere on the descents, no winter coat so piss wet through twice, cramped up on the way to Mam Tor, couldn't ride, couldn't walk, couldn't even extend my leg to put my foot down so just fell on to my side. Had a run in with a tree on one of the descents and have bruising all down my arm. Felt like we have spent 80% of the day riding into a head wind. Final climb of the day, Mam Tor - into a headwind with cramp.Gutted.
Told myself to MTFU about a hundred times but I wish I had a recording of the muttering that was going on under my breath. Went something like this: "What kind of f'in course designer put the biggest climb of the day at the end of the ride? A f'in sh1t one thats what. F'in headwind. Cock. F'ing cock. F'in buckled wheel. Awwww cramp... MTFU. Come on you F'in useless..."
Took me 7 hours, however nearly 2 of those were from the last feed station to the end. Guys at the feed station said it should only take an hour...
'Course designer'? Did you really mean that?
That was what he called himself on the start line. I did wonder...
Natural and Off Piste is the only way of true MTB'er 😉
Not gay trail centres.
🙂
I always wondered who'd 'designed' the Peak District. He's a done a pretty good job eh 🙂
rockitman - I feel for you I got cramp early on the descent of Snowdon on Friday and just fell to the left, calf still hurts now!! Cramp is proper nasty.
Never suffered with it before & done some big rides this year too.
Hope it doesn't happen again, was completely immobile for about 10 minutes...
I see BWD is on hand with his usual dose of sarcasm. I don't think rockitman was implying that anyone designed Lockerbrook et al, and neither do you do you? You knew exactly what he meant, but as per, couldn't help being facetious, eh?
Ah you did just need to MTFU. 😉
That wasn't the biggest (certainly not the hardest) climb. Quite enjoyed it actually. Sense of humour failure possibly! 🙁
OK does sound like lots of bad luck & inappropriate gear.
I used to cramp up a lot. I use Skins compression stuff and haven't had any cramps for a while since - may just be coincidence, but until I cramp with them on, I highly rate em.
I had a large glass of tonic water when I got home to prevent cramp later. I was going to take a bottle to drink on the ride but forgot. It works - I think its the quinine.
Just under 8 hours for me and enjoyed it a lot. I wouldn't choose that route myself, and it's the first time I've done some of those sections in that direction, but as an endurance event it worked.
My mate Pete, 9 months older than me at 57 was 2nd of the black riders home in just over 5 hours.
ohh rockitman you weren't the nasty person to told a marshal to F'off for taking pictures were you?
Planning on going up again - what route changes would you recommend then Big John (can't think of any I'd want to do in reverse)?
rockitman - i'm glad i stayed at home then 😉
a good drink to help prevent cramp which i found useful at SITS this year was to combine a good dollop of honey with a pinch of salt & maybe a bit of extra sugar too. boil up, cool down & stick it in yer water bottle!
Will this mark the start of [b]E[/b]quipment[b]TFU[/b]?
anyone got a PDF or GPS track of the route? I'd like to go and give it a whirl some point. Unfortunately I couldnt make the event as I had family birthday shindings to go to. It was for my birthday so felt compelled to go 🙂
I'm not going to suggest changes because that would sound like a criticism, and as i said I thought the course was great for its purpose.
But riding from Edale I usually go up to Hollins Cross and then over towards Mam Tor and then drop down the brilliant Cavedale into Castleton. Then spin over to Hope, up Hope Cross, down the Beast and left to get to the bottom of Potato Alley.
Then coming back tend to come back from Hope Cross into Edale.
so that's about 1/3 of it the other way round.
Peachos, I reckon you would have finished first... Are you taking honey to Glentress?
I did have a complete sense of humour failure but I wouldn't of ever told anyone to F Off. I was more annoyed at myself. I can ride much better.
Big John, it was nice to meet you and I was chatting to Pete at the finish line.
The route itself was fine. It was the start / end point. If it had started at Fairholmes it would have been great. If we'd gone up the road out of Edale to Mam Tor first that would have been cool - get the worst bit out of the way...