- This topic has 19 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 1 year ago by tuboflard.
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Help me plan an epic in the Peaks
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hardtailonlyFull Member
Will be staying at Edale in a couple of weeks. Have got a half day Friday, full day Saturday, half day Sunday.
I’m looking to do a big MTB ride Saturday, so looking at planning a route of 70-100km, 10ish hours riding, starting Edale.
Only ridden that area a couple of times, so done Beast, Hagg Farm, Cavedale and a few others. Looking for a mix of moorland XC, big views, as well as Peaks classics.
So, what would STW do to link in the best stuff in that area, and in what order. Guess that as its a Saturday, needs to be sensitive to the busy hotspots.
And, as a footnote, any good road or gravel loops of about 3-4 hours for the Friday/Sunday?
tuboflardFull Member70-100km is a big day out in the Peak, I’d be on my knees trying that sort of distance so fair play for wanting a day out of that size! Having said that, something like this would be a good day out I reckon
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/12685244/peak-big-day-out
Could probably do alternatives from Hathersage and take in a loop to Whinstone Lee Tor and up to Lockerbrook farm instead of Potato Alley. Report back on how you get on!
thegeneralistFree MemberOoh, another one :-). Love a peak marathon thread.
Im also trying to work out a longish ride for the weekend.This is a reasonable start:
https://strava.app.link/u8I3CnwjIqb
It links 9 of the ten supposedly best descents from the VB Graphics Peak MTB Guide. ( the 10th one requires going over Jacobs or Roych and up to Mount Famine, never managed that on the same ride)It’s an OK ride, but not the best bang for buck by any means. Also requires a couple of u turns.
There’s the Lord of the Loops at ~110km
https://strava.app.link/pFqC3u7jIqb
But I think most people agree that the huge flat bits by the A628 ruin it a bit.mix of moorland XC, big views,
Ladybower west, with screaming mile, cut gate north, Langsett cafe, cut gate back, ladybower east, up to Derwent, down 90% of WLT, cut across to A57, cheeky to stanage, down plantation, over to Lady Cannings, Blackamoor, the Curbar & Froggat loop, then back incorporating a bit around Edale if you wish.
That is a much morexc style loop than the central Edale/Castleton stuff, so easier to reach your 70-100km value without killing yourself. The problem is finding a worthwhile descent back from the edges into Hathersage.
nickcFull MemberBut I think most people agree that the huge flat bits by the A628 ruin it a bit.
I think the huge distance and endless massive climbs ruin it for most of us. 🤣 Last huge ride I did was the Mary Townley Loop a few years ago, and my body didn’t thank me for it the following day. I mean, at some level I get that you could do these massive rides, but why you’d want to still eludes me. definitely type 2 fun for me.
chakapingFree MemberI’m not that much of a Peaks fan and certainly not an expert, but you could just do the Ladybower classic loop with Cut Gate added on at one end and Cave Dale at the other?
hardtailonlyFull MemberCheers @thegeneralist, some good stuff to go at.
Any other pearls of wisdom?
And any suggestions for shorter road/gravel loops?
thegeneralistFree MemberI guess you gotta do Jacobs as your Friday loop. Especially if you’re heading east/ north the other days…
This is slightly different to the standard loop as it heads closer to the dam instead of straight up from Coldwell Clough.
(The climb straight up from Coldwell is a hideous, vile thing)
https://strava.app.link/k1k9WyXJIqbStuFFull MemberThere’s always the British heart foundation mtb challenge route ~70k – google will find the route
thegeneralistFree MemberBritish heart foundation mtb challenge route
Not feeling the love for that route, unless you just want easy(ish) miles.
Down Pindale instead of Cavedale… Noooo
Lots of filler after BradwellThe lakeside fireroad on ladybower South. Then all around the North of ladybower on the road/ gravel without going up any if the good bits…
<\ realisation slowly dawns>
And any suggestions for shorter road/gravel loops?
You were responding to this
Sorry, as you were.
/ crawls off feeling stoopid.
miniFree MemberLog into Facebook and the group called Coggers.
Ask the same question in there.
I am guessing your planning on using an ebike?
If not, truthfully, your very naive thinking a 70mile ride in the Peak is achievable.
StainypantsFull MemberI was going to suggest lord of the loops too but the bit around the Woodhead is a bit meh. I’ve done it with full bike packing gear (no chance now without). So yes a 70 mile ride in the peaks is achievable. I did set off at 6am and was out fora boy 13 hours pedalling for about 11 of those.
nickdaviesFull MemberI have an edale route I tend to use for a full day ride, out of edale, up jacobs, round to rushup, across to cavedale, up hollins and back to edale, then up jaggers, down potato and up the other side, drop down to fairholmes and up wlt, back round to jaggers via thornhill.
Approx 70k, 6-7 hours
You could add some easier road miles climbing up the mam tor road from edale to split the cavedale section into its own loop if you descend from rushup down hollins back into edale i reckon around. 85k total that way?
I like that for a big peak ride as i tend to ride solo so it keeps the car not too far away if you have problems.
Doesnt feel quite as ‘epic’ as some of the big rides like lord of the loops as its kinda 2/3 rides bolted together.
hardtailonlyFull MemberI am guessing your planning on using an ebike?
If not, truthfully, your very naive thinking a 70mile ride in the Peak is achievable.
An ebike? How very dare you! 😁
My OP said 70-100km. Yeah, may be quite ambitious, but am planning riding for 10 hours or so.
miniFree MemberCheck out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/oGkySQBkJqb
That put me on my back a few yrs ago.
thegeneralistFree MemberI am guessing your planning on using an ebike?
If not, truthfully, your very naive thinking a 70mile ride in the Peak is achievable.
I know nothing about ebikes, but am guessing that they would be no use on a 70mile day ride unless it was cloverleaf?
And 70 miles is eminently achievable. Hell, I didn’t set off until after 11 o’clock, and still managed it 🙂
( with lights in mid June:-( .)
Having said which, I did push lots in Cavedale…. doing it on a bike you could clean Cavedale on would be quite a feat.
hardtailonlyFull MemberMinor thread resurrection.
This is a draft plan for my ride next Saturday.
It’s based around one of routes @thegeneralist posted up, but with a North extension to Cutgate and back. TBH, I’m not sure whether it’s worth including Cutgate (it’s ace, I’ve done it a number of times), or whether I should add in Jacob’s Ladder, or something Stanage way?
Anyway, let me have your pearls of wisdom!
tuboflardFull MemberAs much as Cut Gate is great, it’s a lot of fairly tedious gravel up to Slippery Stones to ride and and then the same back down the western side of the reservoir.
I’d give it a miss and from Fairholmes ride up to Lockerbrook from there to rejoin your route.
And then when you’re coming in to Hope, I’d go on the road to Brough Lane, up there, down Bradwell Edge and then round the back of the cement works to rejoin your route up Pin Dale. Makes the overall route a bit shorter but cuts out the Derwent Howden reservoirs bit.
hardtailonlyFull MemberThe other consideration, with rain forecast Sarurday, is whether there is anything to avoid in the wet. Like Cavedale?
tuboflardFull MemberCavedale can be interesting in the wet, I’d probably avoid if it’s been raining hard as the middle bit would be a greasy nightmare.
The rest of the suggested route is rideable in pretty much any conditions so fine to ride. Win Hill might be a bit blustery if it’s windy.
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