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Is that a very snowy Chinley Churn?
Yes. Very very windblown too - some bits where the wind had blasted the ground almost clear of snow, other areas where it was 6ft deep!
This any better PP?
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/73773087@N07/9094116991/ ]WP_000976[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73773087@N07/ ]h4muf[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/73773087@N07/9094118391/ ]WP_000974[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73773087@N07/ ]h4muf[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/73773087@N07/9096341788/ ]WP_001008[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73773087@N07/ ]h4muf[/url], on Flickr
dr's gate?
The Peak District is ace, the normal everyday routes are great, the cheekys even better same applies for white peak too!
Tis funny watching some of you outsiders/ southern ponces trying to ride it sometimes! You come up here with your balls all shiny mincing around the rocky descents/ get off and push
Yet us northerners could come down south and nail your southern soft fairy like singketrack!
If you can ride the dark peak at speed and climb it all at speed you can ride anywhere in the uk easily, it can't be said the same for vice versa as some of you lot clearly can't handle it
And boring?!?!? Seriously?!
Of course Rob!
I love the peaks, cut my teeth riding around the Macclesfield forest area, which isn't as technical as the dark peak area around hope but is still predominantly rocky, wide trails.
I do remember not really liking the very technical stuff when I first tried it (like Cavedale), but you get better technically and then you enjoy the challenge much more than the sum of all the other tamer stuff put together.
The riding I have locally now in Leeds is I would say *about* as good in pure riding enjoyment terms, but in a different more woodsy, flowy, singletracky, (southern-ly!) way - and there is more of it and more variety.
However I do still really miss being able to get right out onto the middle of a high moorland trail on a warm summer's evening. Perhaps that's because its what riding used to mean to me in its entirety, and I can't do that so easily from where I am now without either doing a very long ride or getting in the car first. Maybe I would feel differently if I had grown up riding mostly woodlands.
oscilate wildy - i applaud you sir - soooo right! BTW get carlos to bring you out saturday for a cheeky feast!
Oscillate wildly too right! Some of the descents in the books are best taken flat out gives you balls the size of water melons and the cheeky trails are just rude been riding the cable ridge descent down the back of ladybower inn for years and it always puts a smile on my face! I could show you a ride in the peaks that's in no book that would take some beating but I'll never tell 😀 check out jack reading playing in the peaks films and then tell me it's shit!
Ok, spot the location Peaksters
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Howden Dean?
Howden Dean?
Very good, your turn
🙂 Frigging scary is that trail!
I like the Peaks but the Surrey hills had already stolen my heart.
Frigging scary is that trail!
Hehe, its a bit of a sphincter nipper
Yet us northerners could come down south and nail your southern soft fairy like singketrack!
Now then, in their shandy drinking deffence, it took me at least 5 minutes to figure out you can corner with one pedal down rather than level to avoid rocks when I moved here.
I'm still yet to find the gnarrly braking bumps everyones complaining about at Swinley, it's all just smooth to me 🙂
Great riding there, whether on a hardtail or a suss. I'm lucky enough to have Surrey Hills on my doorstep but I get up to the Peaks whenever I can.
Well, I ride in the peaks every week and I love it, and just ride a hardtail, no fancy full suss!
There are lots of other great places to ride MTB but I happen to live here and I love having the peaks trails on my doorstep.
Dave, pure class mate. I too applaud you. BUT you must have the right tires no?? 😉
Rob, no play for me, sorry. Sent you a text.
I miss the Peaks. South West corner of Sheffield was the perfect place to live. Loads of wooded singletrack for the Soul and then head out to the Peaks for the 575.
As has been said, the guidebook stuff is crap. The off-piste stuff is sensational in places. Trail centres are dull as hell by comparison.
Rob - will do bud should be free in a few weekends time so we'll try head up and check it out he's been buzzing about that cheeky route you do for ages do should really check it out this summer
I know it's horses for courses etc but to say the peak district is boring actually has me questioning if you actually like mountain biking, to me the lakes and peaks and some Wales is ultimately what MTB is about, I sometimes crave pure single track that goes on and on admittedly but the Peak District has is to in places if you explore and are willing to FP it. I'd probably love Surrey hills/ quantocks etc as I'd enjoy the singketrack but even if I didn't find it better than the the Peak District I'd still never say its boring, natural rocky stuff is what MTB is all about to me!
I still stand by if your riding the stuff at peaks well and fast and fit enough to get up it all then there's nothing else in the uk as challenging
It's also very epic feeling if being out there in the wilderness, look at the pics above they look amazing!
A 4-5 hour hayfield/Edale/Jacobs route is a proper buzz fest, amazing climbs amazing descents, amazing views and if you get the summer weather it's possibly one if the best days out you'll have all year, love the fact that every time it rains or drys or snows etc the terrain changes and properly keeps you on your toes
Peaks FTW!
Edit : haha Carlos! I'm still actually quite stunned just how well that racing Ralph is holding up! It was a risk albeit a well questioned one, but if I get a full summer like this out of it on the routes were doing its been a mint buy!
Ps did you get out tonight did you get my email?
Twang that looks a great little ridge ride that, not heard of it mind is it cheeky?
Can't argue with that oscillate, but a wilderness? Nowhere near mate - it's the busiest national park in the UK. Even at the top end, which is v quiet, you never get that wee balls-shrinking feeling you get when setting out into the Scottish mountains.
OW - I'm tempted to say that for someone who spends about 3 weeks whinging on about how.draggy rear HDs, RQs etc are on the road you a) may not be as tough as you think and b) by this admission it seems the good bits need connecting.
I never said it was boring and you'll note I did enjoy it in the end. Hollins was stunning at 9pm.
Did a ride out into the Dark Peak this evening - it was dreadful, rain, mud, fast trails, winding stuff, rocky stuff, hills, climbs, descents - think I may move to Norfolk.
I miss the Peak now it's too far away.
Also being STW I'm amazed no body has corrected the OP on the biggest issue. It's singular.
Anyway I can get my 150mm HT to flow down stuff in the Peak, you don't ride through the rocks more leap between the smooth bits 🙂
Doctors Gate- never done it. Is it worth doing, any loop/route? I could do it this weekend.
Howden Dean- Never seen that, where is it?!
Speaking as a southerner, there's nothing in the peaks either up or down that's particularly difficult to ride. Straight lining little rocks on a long straight descent really isn't as hard as you all seem to think it is.
nickc. Erm. I disagree but if I point out the locations I'll get 'in trouble'
Meh.
Peak is a trail centre in all but name, right down to the names for the trails. It also points out the overwhelming sense of entitlement which characterises so much of modern mountainbiking; I've bought a bike so I'll ride it where I want.
Re its busiest place etc.
If you start early you can get by without seeing a soul. The week before last whilst out it was 2 hours before I saw another person. When I'm finishing a ride back at the car, thats when you get people queuing up looking for spaces (circa 12.30 onwards) but that'd be anywhere nice.
Normally at this time of year you just a gaggle of Duke of Edinburgh types. Thats it.
Whereas (even though I love it) - the Surrey Hills is bloody packed compared.
The Peak tends to get busy on the 'fashionable' routes; Mam Tor etc which I don't really bother with or the top of Kinder where you don't get riders anyway.
Doctors Gate- never done it. Is it worth doing, any loop/route? I could do it this weekend.
You're all about 'the flow' this week, right? In which case the answer is probably not. It doesn't have much flow, bits of it are great, other bits are broken and nasty and boggy and steep at the same time, which is quite an achievement, but it has atmosphere.
It's also a pig to reach legally. You basically need to ride a big chunk of the A57 complete with brain-dead tourists oohing and ahhing at the sheep instead of looking where they're going. Otherwise, use your imagination and a map and there are options, the classic loop would take in Cut Gate, but you could equally do all sorts of stuff particularly if you're prepared to start early.
Loving the usual STW black and white thinking where the Peak has to be either brilliant or complete rubbish. Or a trail centre full of people who've innocently fallen foul of someone else's personal prejudices... oh...
Peak is a trail centre in all but name, right down to the names for the trails. It also points out the overwhelming sense of entitlement which characterises so much of modern mountainbiking; I've bought a bike so I'll ride it where I want.
You really do squeeze out the last drop of acid from your 'back in the day' lemon don't you? 🙂
Garry_Lager - Member
Can't argue with that oscillate, but a wilderness? Nowhere near mate - it's the busiest national park in the UK. Even at the top end, which is v quiet, you never get that wee balls-shrinking feeling you get when setting out into the Scottish mountains.
yeah defo! on saturday we were up there, did a four hour route, and i reckon we saw proabably 2 other mountain bikers and very few walkers! i get a sense of being out there mostly everytime i ride it (but i tend to avoid the 'MAIN' routes on summer days etc)
its a busy national park dont get me wrong, i agree, but i still get a great sense of adventure and being 'out there' on the routes we do, same again applies for white peak too
You really do squeeze out the last drop of acid from your 'back in the day' lemon don't you?
Nothing to do with 'back in the day', all to do with people riding in environmentally sensitive areas where lots of work to stabilise the edges of the peat by seeding is being ridden over and undone.
That's happening now.
We should be treating the area with respect, avoiding damage, recognising that the people who come after us might like to use it too.
adsh - Member
OW - I'm tempted to say that for someone who spends about 3 weeks whinging on about how.draggy rear HDs, RQs etc are on the road you a) may not be as tough as you think and b) by this admission it seems the good bits need connecting.I never said it was boring and you'll note I did enjoy it in the end. Hollins was stunning at 9pm.
ohhhh dear! 😆
so because i want a fast rolling rear tyre im suddenly a shit rider/not tough? 😆
1) its less grippy, less traction, less volume
2) its more skittish on peak rocks, its narrower etc
and im now using that for the same rides i did with a bigger 'eat up the terrain' type tyre 😆
so how does that make me not as tough? if anything its made things more challenging, but its made road sections feel quicker
we do have to tie up road sections yes, but again its natural, these natural trails were'nt made with mtb'ers in mind im afraid, if you want to stick to all off road and it bothers you that much go to a trail centre
i cant believe your having a pop at me for wanting a faster summer rear tyre 😆 WTF? shall i ride a draggy as hell tyre in future to satisfy you??
anyways, im not here to bicker!
im glad you enjoyed it in the end, all i can say is i guess its not for everyone, and some people will not enjoy it straight away as it does take some getting used to riding it, when your use to no rocks i suppose!
but its definitely not boring, or if it is then i must be one hell of a boring guy!
Nothing to do with 'back in the day', all to do with people riding in environmentally sensitive areas where lots of work to stabilise the edges of the peat by seeding is being ridden over and undone.That's happening now.
Really? I know about the reseeding on Bleaklow and Kinder etc, but as someone who runs and walks up there - I wouldn't ride on either by choice - I rarely see mountain bikers or tracks in those sort of areas. Where are you thinking of?
And without being silly about it, it seems harsh to use the activities of a relatively small number of riders to beat up 'modern mountain biking' for having a 'sense of entitlement'. Walkers have been destroying peat for decades now, hence the endless millstone slabs laid across popular paths.
And don't get me started on sheep and their responsibility for deforestation etc...
Only ridden there a bit but I did find it quite underwhelming. I'm sure there is lots of good stuff there but the classic BW routes seem a bit dull. It doesn't have the charm and scenery of the Lakes/Dales either.
Prefer Calderdale from my (admittedly limited) experience.
There's more to the Peak than Bleaklow and Kinder...
I got interviewed by Granada TV quite a number of years ago when mountain bikers were causing concern in the Peak and from where we were filmed I pointed out that there were legal, sustainable, excellent tracks and trails on every hill we could see to ride without ever needing to go into sensitive places.
Now I walk in the same places and see the tyre tracks through the edges of the peat, see the skid marks down the steep grassy areas, see the litter, see the inner tubes.
People buy mountain bikes and some of them think they are entitled to go anywhere, to ride anything and to not care about it.
Just because you don't like mountain biking any more or actually ride mountain bikes - don't let that feed your prejudices crikey. 😉
Is it only mountain bikers that drop litter and erode paths then?
Just because you don't like mountain biking any more or actually ride mountain bikes - don't let that feed your prejudices crikey.
Wrong on both counts, but use it as a way of ignoring what I'm saying anyway... 🙄
No, of course mountain bikers aren't the only ones who drop litter or erode paths. They are the people riding bikes in the areas I'm talking about though.
crikey - Member
There's more to the Peak than Bleaklow and Kinder...I got interviewed by Granada TV quite a number of years ago when mountain bikers were causing concern in the Peak and from where we were filmed I pointed out that there were legal, sustainable, excellent tracks and trails on every hill we could see to ride without ever needing to go into sensitive places.
Now I walk in the same places and see the tyre tracks through the edges of the peat, see the skid marks down the steep grassy areas, see the litter, see the inner tubes.
People buy mountain bikes and some of them think they are entitled to go anywhere, to ride anything and to not care about it.
ooooooohhhhhh pissssssssssssssssss offffffffffffff 😆
anybodys entitled to go anywhere! millions of walkers over the years have made it what it is today not a sudden influx of mtb'ers
i love the fact a dog has more rights to be there a man on a bicycle trying to keep fit! 🙂
Now I walk in the same places and see the tyre tracks through the edges of the peat, see the skid marks down the steep grassy areas, see the litter, see the inner tubes.
I hadn't realised it was that bad - where are you talking about?
I'm off out for a walk, I'll see if I can get some photos but the cloud is a bit low. I'm not going to say where, I'd rather not advertise it...
As a suggestion to the southern shandy-drinking mincers who don't like the Peak, but find themselves mysteriously drawn north - if you stay on the M6 a little bit longer, then turn left, instead of right, you'll find yourself in Cheshire. Which will be much more agreeable to your delicate sensibilities. Hey - why not go the whole hog and bring the road bike? 😉
Hmm, as an ex- motorbike trail rider, I have seen what eejits on over powerful race bikes can do to trails. Of course the same doesn't apply to MTBs, the power is down to the rider, but I worry about a time when Peak Park etc. try to limit MTB use because of some of the issues people have mentioned.
I was up over Lockerbrook on Sunday and couldn't believe how many MTBs were out which is good for the sport but might get the NIMBYs all in a lather. We do need to keep an eye on our rights.
Never properly ridden in the peaks (wharncliffe is as close as I've got in that direction on a bike) but it doesn't really seem like my kinda riding. From all the pictures etc I've seen it looks pretty boring and techy whereas I prefer fast twisty and jumpy. Guess I need to give it a go but straight line rocky descents sounds boring as hell and not worth all the climbing it looks like you have to do.