[Closed] Roman Road int Peaks descending to A57 ou est s'il vous plait?

[url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=415982&y=387635&z=120&sv=415982,387635&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=767&ax=415982&ay=387635&lm=0 ]Runs South east to north west of the arrow[/url]

Description off the Tracklogs site..

Route Description
So what did the Romans ever give us? Well the Old Roamin' Road for starters. Following the flank of Win Hill this classic bridlepath climbs and then descends quickly over grassy peakland trails turning sandy, then stoney, then rocky, then very rocky all the way down to the Woodlands Valley floor.

Its exactly that too.
The very rocky bit (not in the video)is hard to ride unless you're going fast enough, then its a doddle if a touch scary. Not managed it on my HT but have on the full sus. Not sown in this vid though. 🙁

Head sized rocks that try to push you off as you ride on them.

I see from the vid the rider wimped out over some rocky sections and took the "chicken runs", wimp!

Rode this yesterday as it's part of my regular Peaks loop (Fairholmes, Whinstone Lee Tor, Win Hill, Lockerbrook). It's the old roman road descent to the A57 from Blackley Clough. Just up from Hope Cross.

Not sure they're classed as 'chicken runs' chl. I actually prefer riding the tight singletrack section on the right of the trail. Tight, fast with nice twists and rollers. No point in pummelling yourself and the bike to death for no reason. Keeping it smooth is the aim of the game 🙂

Thanks for that info guys. Thought that was Loose Hill in the background. I'm looking forward to riding this trail next week. Those singletrack runoffs from the main track look super fun aswell !!

That is me in that video and my first time down on my new Orange Five so didn't want to destroy it. Not sure about the "Chickens run" comment mind you.

But a good bit of downhill. I use the edges at that point to gain a little extra momentum for the second half.

Is that what they call "Potato Alley"?

That's the one Esme. I didn't understand the name until i rode it. I have to say "baby-heads alley" may have been more suitable. Speed is your friend.

they are chicken runs, only used by people not good enough to ride the proper track

Not managed it on a hardtail

Rider really needs to man up a bit!

Rider really needs to man up a bit!

Agreed!!

I've got to be honest there is some stuff in the Peak that I look at and wonder "how did we do that on Hardtails.."

I remember riding potato alley on my Spesh rockhopper with Rockshox Quadra 21r forks, flat pedels, and hi-top basketball boots...

I can just ride it a bit faster now (but not much, I'm not that gnaaarrrr)

Even I managed it on the main track not slow on a maxlite with 80mm forks and pissed it on my Mmmbop

oh great another pissing contest 🙄

it is quite a good un that,change from the usual.

do it on owt cant you,all this tech bollocks of today eh 🙄

I find it funny that just because I never went all the way down on the main route I am a chicken. There's a lot of people that can talk a good job.

hepsta - bear in mind that blower rode chapel gate on a single speed fully rigid made up by lukeb (many will rember him and his mechanicary skills that made cynic al look like a pro) when it was properly ****ed up!

pastcaring - not a willy waving post just fact! its not even hard

You could quite easily do it on a BMX. Just at a slower pace, I'd like to think I'm an experienced rider now that can descend pretty well. Please post videos of your descents I would like to watch.

I don't video i ride. This however is blower on Parkin clough, widely known as one of the hardest descents in the Peak:

I find it funny that just because I never went all the way down on the main route I am a chicken. There's a lot of people that can talk a good job.

Its not a question of "talking a good job" there are parts of the peak that have been destroyed by people making their own lines (and I include walkers here)
Whinstone Lee Tor has become a very wide track in the last few years because so many new lines have appeared. The runs around the challenging bits on potato alley have become far more pronounced in recent years
I confess I find it mildly amusing that 5in travel bikes take to the smooth edges.
For me the challenge is to get down the rocky bit..

Theres no challenge in the rocky bit. Its just a silly motorway with a load of rocks. Potato alley must be one of the most tedious trails in the peaks.

Zero technical skill required, zero fun gained...just sit on your bike and get the shit kicked out of you...zzzz.

If thats how you feel Joe you need to ride it faster and harder

For me a lot of dark peak riding is a bit dull, views are nice and all but like the link above to the potato alley decent, hardly inspires me to go out an ride that hill. Maybe i have done it do death?

Also, whats with all the "i could ride that in my underpants on a penny farthing" boasting about?

I thought the 'chicken run' was fenced off now.

si_progressivebikes - Member

For me a lot of dark peak riding is a bit dull, views are nice and all but like the link above to the potato alley decent, hardly inspires me to go out an ride that hill. Maybe i have done it do death?

im with you there,think ive done it to death too,but some of the lesser well known un's ahem (fair few out there) 😉 are quite good if you know where to look..

he he he

If Cruz Heckler is who I think he is, last time I rode down it he took great pride in getting down it faster than me on his Prophet taking the chicken runs whilst I took the proper lines on my hardtail.

I confess I find it mildly amusing that 5in travel bikes take to the smooth edges.

You find it amusing. Strange sense of humour. I am more than capable of just going down the main route getting thrown all over. I'm not afraid of it. But as I'm sure most people on here would agree, its mush nicer to use the flowing single track around the edge once in a while. And like I said it gives you that extra momentum to take when you enter the main run again.

For me the challenge is to get down the rocky bit

Oh and if you find it a challenge then maybe your more of a "chicken than I am" 🙄

interesting comment about full sus.. i have serious issues following one of our uni riders on an mmbop running 110mm travel across any track in the peaks and i would probably guess most people on here would too...

Yeah... I'm with Hepsta on this one. We rarely ride Potato Alley / Blackley Hey / whatever it's called 'cos frankly, the main loose rock section gets boring WAY before the end, regardless what bike you may be one. At least going down the singletrack at the side gives you some twists and bumps and something to pump...

Just did Potato Alley on Saturday for the first time in years and years (having moved to Scotland). Put a big grin on mine and others' faces, as does Dark peak riding in general - I think its hard to beat. We did it for years as teenagers on skinny steel hardtails and appreciate it all the more on full suss now. Whether someone else would be beat me down on a hardtail, I don't really care (but I'd take on that challenge).

Anyone riding Friday? And Parkin Clouch - does that come off Win Hill down to near the Ladybower dam?

Its OK every once in a while but I do find it simply a bit too straight.

We tend to turn right down the Beast to the A57, we occasionally do Potato Alley for a change. There's more fun loose descents in the Dark Peak for my money though!

Jimmy - I'm hopefully out Friday, my Five is in for repair at the moment so might not have it in time 🙁

Will probably be doing this descent again aswell.

Looks pretty dull, sorry to be a hater. I'm sure we all do it from time to time but widening BWs by taking runs off to the side is a little bit wrong.

hepsta - Member

I am more than capable of just going down the main route getting thrown all over. I'm not afraid of it. But as I'm sure most people on here would agree, its mush nicer to use the flowing single track around the edge once in a while.

MartynS - Member

Its not a question of "talking a good job" there are parts of the peak that have been destroyed by people making their own lines (and I include walkers here)
Whinstone Lee Tor has become a very wide track in the last few years because so many new lines have appeared. The runs around the challenging bits on potato alley have become far more pronounced in recent years

Bunnyhop - Member

I thought the 'chicken run' was fenced off now.

The fencing off has happened on the other side of the hill, on the descent from Hope Cross down towards Hope itself. It's happened because, as Martyn said, the paths are just getting wider and wider and wider. This is due to walkers as much as riders, but we must shoulder some of the responsibility. If we want to be regarded as "legitimate mountain users" as Dave termed it, then we must reciprocate by actually thinking about the impact of our actions and doing something which may be less preferable in order to minimise or at least reduce the damage we do - and make no mistake about it, turning a rocky trail 3 foot wide into a multi-threaded trail 15 feet wide *[b][i]is[/i][/b]* regarded as damage

Pieface - Member

If Cruz Heckler is who I think he is, last time I rode down it he took great pride in getting down it faster than me on his Prophet taking the chicken runs whilst I took the proper lines on my hardtail.
Posted 13 hours ago # Report-Post

last time i rode with you was 2+ years ago

Can't stand Potato alley, mind you I've never been down it on an appropriate bike. Last time it was on a fully rigid Carver s/speed, though I probably never take it quick enough and I bounce all over the shop.
Sure it was easier 12 years ago?

I'm with the "it's a litte bit dull" crowd on this one.

Head sized rocks that try to push you off as you ride on them.

I remember them being more fist sized.

cruzheckler - Member

I don't video i ride. This however is blower on Parkin clough, widely known as one of the hardest descents in the Peak:

Yeah, except that it's not actually 'widely known' at all... though it is hard.

As far as Potato Alley goes, it is what it is. Lots of rubble and a good laugh. Needs to be ridden fast and loose. And what's with all the sniping on here? I'm sure most STW regulars are way faster and more skilled than me, but do you really need to rub it in?

Anyone got a route or GPX or whatever that incorporates that Parkin Clough? Looks like fun.

Parkin Clough is not legal and will not help to promote a responsible image of us. Given the number of good legal trails, I don't think its wise to advocate it here.

Although Google may well tell you where to find it.

I found it - just wondering how to incorporate it into a good ride with other stuff but never mind - I don't intend doing it on a sunny Sunday afternoon or anything though.

Never knew it had the name Potato Alley though