Words by Dunc, Pic by ??
Crew: Dunc & Eric
Stats: Puncture x1, Brake pad malfunction due to poor maintenance x1
Approaching the weekend of the event the news was awash with severe weather warnings and forecast 60 mph winds with all day rain, deliberations of which bike would be suitable for the 60km mostly off-road route around the Peak District turned to “ will the event go ahead”, “I need better mudguards”, “how many spare pairs of dry gloves can I pack” and finding a dry bag to fit in my Camelbak.
The event is an MTB marathon, with the format being a choice of 40km or 60km routes, taking in some of the gnarlyest descents in the Peak District, starting in Harpour Hill, and covering ground in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire. You are provided with an A3 OS map showing the route and the points where you ‘dib’ your electronic orienteering style dibber to register your time at that point, with time penalties for any missed dibs. You can start at any time in a 90 min window, with a time cut off at the feed station, and quite simply the fastest person around the course wins.
I was planning to ride the event with Eric, a friend from an MTB group I ride with based in Macclesfield and despite trying to drum up additional interest from the Macclesfield group and the Duk’s MTB contingent in the week before, not surprisingly, no-one else was prepared to ‘man-up’ and brave the elements.
Checking the website the night before, the organisers had taken the decision to restrict the event to the short course only – due to the weather conditions – ah well, it’s still a day out on the bike.
An early start the next morning to collect Eric and drive over the Cat and Fiddle. As the car buffeted in those fierce winds and driving rain it left us wondering what kind of day was ahead of us!
Park up, get out of the car, put coat on, bikes off the roof and already we’re soaked – horizontal rain gets in places normal rain doesn’t. Registration complete, first dib at the start (with Eric gaining a minute or two due to some technical hitch) and we’re off at first light into the murk and elements looking for a hill climb to warm up on, I’ve even got my hood up under my helmet to keep warm at this point.
Up to High Edge, followed by an exciting descent labelled “Caution – Very Rocky” on the map, and all thoughts of the weather are pushed to the back of my mind. Next I’ve got the bike on my back walking up a narrow ginnel helping another rider un-tangle his shouldered bike from a tree at the side of the track, followed by my bike getting stuck in the same tree. Back on the bike at the top and now it’s hub-deep muddy puddles (Peppa Pig would love this) to contend with. I was relieved to arrive at the next road section. Then it’s down the sandy track in more hub deep puddles to Three Shires Head and by this point I’ve realised that my waterproof boots are great at keeping water in.
On the climb out of Three Shires, the bike choice of the light hardtail paid off but nothing was going to help climb the farmer’s field that’s even boggy in the middle of summer, add over a week of torrential rain and we’re all sapped by the time we get to the start of Cumberland Brook.
At least the first part of this descent is usually relatively dry and a few heart-stopping close calls later I’m emerging onto the Goyt Valley road with a grin on my face, a very soggy bottom and a lot less brake pad than I set off with (plus I later discovered my second best Strava time).
Grab some food at Standing Stone and then Macc Forrest sees Eric with a pinch puncture after a rather enthusiastic descent across the downhill track which was made all the more exiting with a stubborn Labrador starring us out in the middle of the track.
By the time we’re climbing from the Leather’s Smithy up to Charity Lane being passed by joggers I realise that the original 60k route may have been a little optimistic and go into recovery mode, I focus on eating and breaking the rest of the route into manageable mental chunks. This doesn’t stop the Charity lane descent being a hoon but with unhealthy noises coming from my rear brake I realise that my strategy of getting every penny’s worth of value out of brake pads could cost dearly on a cold, wet Sunday in November. 15 mins of faff and the rest of the ride will have to be done on one new brake pad and one old one that’s down to metal (one of the brake calliper pistons is stuck at this point). Always positive to look on the bright side, at least that’s a 15 minute rest and more food in the tank.
The climb from Bottom of the Oven to the Cat and Fiddle was interesting with the very welcome wind now behind us. Derbyshire bridge and the Macclesfield Old road descent see us in sight of the HQ and soon we’re dibbed in and eating sausage rolls and cake washed down with sweet tea – and home for lunch.
In all, a grand morning out.
Surname : Lindley , First Name : Andrew Age Category : M 17/39 Finish Time : 02:23:16 Position : 1st (out of 87 finishers)
Surname : Dewhurst, First Name : Eric Age Category : Male 60+ Finish Time : 03:59:55 Position : 54th
Surname : Chandler , First Name : Duncan Age Category : VM 40/49 Finish Time : 04:02:23 Position : 58th