I was out around the south peaks yesterday afternoon, starting at Eyam and had a great time. Started by riding up past the Riley graves and then down through the woods. Came upon an absolute tech fest, mud, roots and baby head sized rocks… absolutely smashing, banging it down on my HT, finished that byway with a great big smile and that was in the first 15 mins of the ride.
Down another byway to Stoney Middleton and then turned off up Coombs Dale. I’ve never cycled this part of the peaks before and I was surprised how beautiful it really is. Coombs Dale is a lovely climb on mostly grit n gravel next to a stream, in the stream, through some woods and emerging a’top the Moor with the wind blowing.
From there I took the bridleway almost back on yourself and headed up to the quarry. From the end of there turned right to go right past the quarry. Then down an awesome gravel covered very steep non tech but very fast descent at bleaklow, great fun daring myself to let off the brakes completely.
This was the point at which I cut the ride short, I had planned to go down into bakewell but turned left here and headed back up to come from wence I came.
Decided against the route over the hill back to stoney and turned down to descend Coombs Dale. My God awesome fun, so fast and passing beautiful scenery. There is a series of bumps and lumps daring you to grab some air every few seconds. One of my spokes had cracked earlier so with this in mind I was trying to keep the bike on the ground, and struggled. Loved it. There was one brown pants moment where the ground after the jump was much lower, squeal of the brakes and a small skiddy…. on the gravel.
Turned up the cliff path from stoney back to Eyam and did the first part through the woods again and back along the road closed due to landslip. Great ride in an area I’ve never been before but I shall definitely be back.