Four for the Edge
Forum ride at Stanage Edge 5th December 2004
Only
four of us made it to Dennis Knoll car park. This was going
to be the smallest forum ride yet and letting Rob, [Soul
man.] lead, it was probably the fastest!
Strangely for a forum ride the weather forecasters got it
spot on. Strong winds that blew away the early cloud cover
and left blue skies and only a slight chill in the air.
Stanage Edge as a ride isn’t anything really exciting.
An opening climb that is both hard and tricky, climbing up
a steep gradient on cricket ball sized rocks and a surface
of rough sand. Even Rob had to dab once or twice as he charged
up to the top. Doug showed impressive style managing to clear
a huge water bar, and so flushed with success attempted the
almost impossible task of scaling a boulder the size of a
small family saloon!
Before you make the top, pause to catch your breath and admire
the view. Look over to your right and you can appreciate
why I choose this route. Looking along Stanage Edge itself
and out over the Derbyshire countryside, you can’t
but help wonder about those Roman Legionnaires who walked
this way all those thousands of years ago.
Once at the top you can get your breath back and for those
who aren’t affected by the height, swerve off the main
trail and ride along the “edge” itself. Whilst
those with a healthy respect for sudden and very long drops
make good use of the remains of Roman engineering.
Bounce along the “road” and through a gate and
you are out onto the first and probably fastest bit of downhill,
[off road.] on this route. In the dry it must be fantastic;
in the wet, as this summer has been. Well it’s an interesting
challenge for man and his tyre choice. Thankfully this time
down there wasn’t a single faller.
Grinding out the miles via the road around the reservoir
was never going to be fun but to get to the next interesting
bit it had to be thus. Road miles = distance gained.
Through Ringinglow, {wouldn’t you just love that as
your address?} and up a broken road.
Through the gate you’re on Houndkirk Moor. A trail
of rough sand and sharp, jagged, jutting rocks to keep you
alert and then it’s a quick left turn, plunge down
steeply until the road and a short blast to Blacka Plantation.
This is where it gets interesting. Wet roots and fine single
track weave through the trees. One or two hidden but thankfully
small drop offs lie hidden in here, ready to snatch the unwary.
Sudden deep pools of mud bring you to a sudden and painful
full stop. A slower, more cautious approach reveals a hidden
route through the trees and the bogs.
A clear path takes you
down to the ford, [water, not the car!] clear and cold, surprisingly
deep and very sharp climb
up the other side on a trail that’s disintegrating
into slimy mud.
Rob again, shamed us
all with his fitness by not only cleaning the section but
scaled all the water bars to boot! Once you’ve crossed the open ground and regained the
moor, it’s a fairly straight run for home. Or for we
four, the call of a pub lunch could be clearly heard.
A good day’s ride, in excellent company. We were lucky
with the weather and the food at the “Scotsman Pack” can
be highly recommended.
for photos of the ride at Stanage Edge
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