Cycle Nov 6th report

[David Crowther]

We started with 7, lost 2, then lost another and finally gained one to bring 5 back to the cars. Andy broke his nose and Dave his circlip, Rosy didn’t like rain and Marian was suffering from the after effects of woman-flu. Apart from all that we had a nice day, with only a bit of light rain.
Andy and Rosy, Dick and Linn, Chris K, Marian and Dave C started from the south end of the Monsal Trail a little after the 10am scheduled start and pedalled uneventfully until rain caused a stop for an additional layer a bit short of Millers Dale station. About to depart, a voice from behind said “I think we’ve got a problem….” Andy’s trusty and well-used Brooks saddle had fallen apart at the front end. A tape repair seemed to hold it together, but the possible painful consequences of a further failure persuaded Andy and Rosy to turn back to the cars.
The rest of us continued to the (sadly closed for the season) Blackwell tea room where Marian decided that a combination of after-flu and Dick’s Tuesday ride plus a heavy and uncomfortable bike would send her back down the trail. The remaining 4 trudged up the Pennine Bridleway and over the top, when the odd noises coming from Dave’s bike were tracked down to a broken circlip which was no longer supporting the pannier. Dick kindly offered to add Dave’s bag to his own and off we went again, to meet Jo cycling up the High Peak trail from Parsley Hey to meet us. Luckily the tearoom was still open, and we enjoyed hot drinks with our lunches before heading down to Friden where we took to tarmac.
Our bikes stayed nice and clean through Middleton and Youlgreave to lovely little Raper bridge over the Lathkill. After this however, the uncyclable ascent and slippy track across fields led to some accumulation of mud and loss of brownie points for the leader. The best mud still awaited us though, with some super-clarty stuff on the final bridlepath from the A6 to the cars which doubled the width of knobbly tyres, clogged up forks. and made riding very tricky. Thus 5 muddy individuals arrived back at the start to head home to hosepipes and hot baths, with car thermometers showing 4C on the way.
Thanks to those who turned up for (despite all) a very enjoyable day.
Dave C

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