I thought I'd post a report of my ride yesterday on the "classic" Ladybower
off-road route in Derbyshire. I'll keep it brief as although very pleasant
it was uneventful and I'm mindful of Michael Palins cycling sketch so will
try to avoid details of sandwich eating and so on....
As is normal at this time of year cabin fever is a risk so on Friday eve I
decided to prepare my kit with an early start planned for the morning, my
usual riding pals were busy hanging baubles on trees or somesuch so it was
to be a solo affair, an upside of this being simpler logistics.
I parked up opposite the angling centre by Ladybower Reservoir at 08:15 just
as it became light enough to start off without lights and set off in -3c
clear conditions trailing a long shadow, already the sky was turning blue
with nary a cloud in sight.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=418500&Y=387500&A=Y&Z=5
Over the Ladybower dam and a short off-road drop to a disused railway
track then a bit of road climbing through Thornhill & Aston to pick up the
Roman road running northward, the last time we did the initial off-road
climb in the Autumn much walking was needed as the mud caused traction loss
but, ho-ho, the ground was nicely frozen creating the kind of surface
normally found after a dry spell in summer.
On my right the plantations and to the left beautiful views over the Hope
valley toward Mam. The excellent trail conditions made for an easy climb
before the rocky descent down to the A57, this being taken more cautiously
than usual being on my own. Some extra caution was needed anyway as in
several places the flat stones that create a rough stair effect of drop-offs
were ice-covered adding a new dimension.
Caution or not on some part of the descent I bent my outer ring which was
realigned by use of body weight and foot, a better attempt will be made
today (or replacement) but the outer ring was not essential to the ride!
This first section was devoid of all other people, normally you'd expect to
meet quite a few ramblers, mountainbikers, horsey folks and unfortunately
the odd trail (motor)bike, almost eerie.
A suicidal leap across the A57 then a hard tarmac climb on the hairpins
past Rowlee Farm to Lockerbrok Farm before another exhilerating descent to
Derwent Reservoir. A short ride along some of the perimeter track, cross the
reservoirs just below Derwent Dam (of "Dambusters" fame) following the north
shore southward then a climb up onto Derwent Moor and hey-ho walkers &
other mountainbikers, more like a normal weekend morning!
The climb involves a small amount of walking on some of the more raggedy
sections but at the top its worth stopping for a few minutes to look back at
the fantasic view of the reservoir a long way down in the valley, cast your
eyes upward to the top of the plantations and reflect on the climbing
descending done so far and know it's now downhill nearly all the way back to
the car.
The moor was bathed in sunshine and most of the more boggy sections were
frozen and although rutted generally making for an easy ride with the gentle
downward gradient, this really couldn't be bettered in mid-summer.
There are several boggy bits which bury an unwary riders front wheel
launching them over the bars (first hand experience!), I was treating them
with respect and just as I was feeling smug that I'd ridden another
successfully dropped my guard, picked the wrong line and hey presto! over
the bars!
All too soon I was back at the car, on the one hand feeling fresh enough to
carry on, on the other having the sensation that I was quitting while ahead.
And so home for lunch, the upside of a solo ride being simpler logistics, no
sitting around drinking tea at rides end and no stopping at the pub on the
way home, the downside of solo riding being no back-up, no-one to drink tea
with and no-one to have a pint with ;-)
And right now the sun's shining again so it's out of this chair and a short
road ride on the local lanes :-)
--
Pete
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