2007 Ride Log

In 2007, I learned I’m crap at blogging 🙂 It takes me ages to write a post, and then even longer to tweak/perfect it, so usually I can’t be bothered to start. For 08, I plan to ditch the fine wordsmithery (ahem) and just slap up quick notes each ride. To hell with eloquence! 😀

Also in 2007, we chalked up two dozen Mud and Bruises rides! Mountain biking is definitely the sport for me – I loved every single muddy painful exhilarating bloody sweaty scary gasping mile 🙂

2007
Sun 23 Dec – Peaks (Stanage) – post coming soon…
Sun 18 Nov – Watlington – post coming soon…
Sat 10 Nov – Peaks (Cut Gate) – post coming soon…
Sat 20 Oct – Cannock – post coming soon…
Sun 14 Oct – North Downs – see post
Sun 16 Sep – Bedgebury – James, Baz, Ed, Chris
Thu 6 Sep – Cannock – post coming soon…
Sat 1 Sep – Woburn – James, Baz, Rowan, Chris, Ed
Thu 2 Aug – Cannock – post coming soon…
Sat 7 Jul – Peaks (Edale) – see post
Sat 9 Jun – Peaks (Carsington) – James, Fionnuala, Gordon, Hazel
Mon 28 May – Chicksands – see post
Sun 20 May – Chicksands – see post
Sun 13 May – Aston Hill – James, Colin, Ed. Wet, slippy, pain.
Sun 29 Apr – Rutland Water – James, Fionnuala, Baz, Rowan, 15.5 miles
Sun 15 Apr – Streatley – James, Baz, Rowan. 21 miles Knobblies route
Sat 14 Apr – North Downs – James, Baz, Colin. Holmbury singletrack
Sun 1 Apr – Woburn – James (new bike), Ed, Colin
Sun 11 Mar – Aston Hill – James, Ed. Dry, grippy, fun.
Sat 10 Mar – Rutland Water – James, Fionnuala, 8 miles
Sun 11 Feb – Woburn – James, Baz, Chris, Ed
Sat 27 Jan – Aston Hill – James, Baz, Chris. Fell off and bled a lot
Sat 13 Jan – Swinley – Ian, Chris, Ed
Sun 7 Jan – Woburn – James, Baz, Chris, Ed. Trail map from Knobblies.

And, just for completeness, here’s the 2006 rides too…

2006
Sun 31 Dec – North Downs – James, Baz, Chris. Coldharbour
Sat 16 Dec – Chicksands – James, Chris, Ed. Ed’s video
Sun 5 Nov – Chicksands – James, Baz, Chris, Ed, Ian
Sat 29 Jul – Afan – Baz, Colin, Anna, Ian, Chris, Ed – photos
Sun 2 Jul – North Downs – Baz, Chris, Ed, Colin – photos
Sat 8 Apr – Epping – Baz, James, Chris, Greg, Dmytro. On the train

 

Edale, Sat 7th July

An old post that I never published…

For our first visit to the Peaks, we chose the much-blogged-about Edale loop (see Chocolate Foot, Flat Tyres, Knobblies).

The hills here are steep and technical, and the very first climb (up to Hollins Cross) highlighted our lack of fitness and/or bike skills. Having missed a turn on Mam Tor, we ended up at the summit where Baz demonstrated his mastery of Wingardium Leviosa.

A tough slog onto Rushup Edge was followed by a superb long descent to Roych Clough. But our average speed was low, our legs were tired, and it was getting late. Time for a cheeky shortcut? We turned north across Brown Knoll – a big mistake, the next mile of miserable peat-bog trudging took over an hour.

Eventually we reached the top of the rocky and seriously steep Jacobs Ladder. Now this is a scary section. We walked the first 50m, then got back on for a fantastic banzai descent, which dropped 300m in 3 miles and fired us right back to the car, brilliant!

An excellent challenging route, which must be treated with respect.

Route/Conditions:
Sunny, 16°C, strong winds. Lots of rain recently but the going was good. Total 13.5 miles in 4 hours.

Learning points:
1. The Peak District is proper tough! Expect low average speeds.
2. We wasted half an hour getting change for the parking meter in Edale. Keep a few quid in the car and save faff time.
3. On test this ride: Cadbury’s brunch bars. Score: 10/10 😀

Crew, kit, bruises:
Baris (Spesh FSR XC Comp), James (Trek Fuel EX8). A few minor spills, but no bruises, and no mechanicals. Hurrah.