Well, today was the day that the Castleton killer was tamed.
Bob, Jim, Sam, Matt and I met in Castleton at 9am. Matt had got there first, twenty minutes early. Fortunately the smelling salts brought everyone round and off we set, in quite dismal weather. The broken road climb was despatch and we crested the shoulder of Mam Tor. On the following grassy and rutted descent it became evident that no one was quite ready to deal with the first properly slippery riding we had done in a while. I managed to low side myself trying to get out of a rut, but it was onto wet grass, so the bike and I just went sledging for about 3 metres. No rocks involved.
We then tackled the also rutted grassy descent to back Tor bridge. Again there were sketchy moments aplenty, but all arrived safely. I then contributed the first mechanical of the day as my headset started to bind (quite dangerous that). It got sorted in the end, but I think the lower bearing needs replacing. On one smoothies are gash it has been decided.
We climbed Jaggers Clough, dropped to the stream and climbed steeply out again. Sam and Bob showed a clean pair of heels up here. Matt and Jim both gave it a decent go. I gave it a go. This brought us to the top of the Beast. Not before I contributed another semi mechanical with a loose lock on grip. The beast didn’t have its teeth out today we decided. Everyone descended at a good pace despite the rocks looking a little ‘green’. We now pushed up Hagg Farm to Lockerbrook. Again a really good descent with everyone riding it well. Now Bob got in on the mechanical act with a tubeless tyre issue. Cue much joking about hands covered in jizz etc.
Lunch at Fairholmes followed. The. The climb up from Bridge End which saw some very good stamina and skill from everoyone except me (I showed a bit of brute force and stubbornness, but still didn’t get to the top feet up. Now onto the Hagg Farm switchbacks, which were owed one from earlier. Sam generously held open the midway gate to give everyone else a continuous run. This was probably the best descent of the day from my point of view, finally getting a rhythm and speed going. Again we all blasted down, no worries. Across Snake Pass and onto the climb to Wooller Knoll.
The climb was dispatched with ease by most of the group (ahem) and we dropped to the Roman Road, disappointed at having to pedal all but the steepest bits as the wind was quite strong for August. We then rode down the Roman Road to Hope with another extended mechanical, from Sam this time, but involving tubeless tyres again. Cue much joking about hands covered in jizz (we are nothing if not predictable). A depressing road section to Edale followed into a headwind. There was some roadie style jockeying, but we made it for a cafe stop. Matt surprised everyone for the second time today by emerging with a full cream tea.
Off up to Hollins for the last time. The bikes were making some fairly sub-optimal noises by now. Everyone got to the top in one piece, but it was a bridge too far for me as I pushed up the majority of it. Now for the final descent down the ‘back’ bridleway into Castleton. A very interesting bit of trail, some more ruts to cause some dicey moments, and a big drop at one point that my now addled brain could not compute. I just hit the anchors and spoilt that bit for Matt and Jim who were behind. Through the gate into the rocky bit I had another brain fart and just gave up trying to control my bike for some reason. I parked the front wheel up the bank on the right and laid down for a rest, causing Jim to stop again. Still, all down safe and off to Castleton for some good pint(s) and average chips.
The only one to escape the mechanical fairy was Matt (I can’t remember what Jims bike did).
A great day out, big thanks to the lads for making it and having a laugh along the way. Cheers to Bob for driving, I could barely keep my eyes open on the way back, so driving would have been a chore to say the least.
See you Wednesday evening 7pm Woodhouse Eaves village car park.
