Winter visibility on your bike!

It still surprises me when i'm out either on my bike or even in my car just how many Cyclists/People On Bikes I see or almost DON'T SEE with inadequate or no lights on their bikes. I have long been an advocate of daytime use of rear L.E.D lights on bikes but it seems that many people don't even use them at night! There are so many cheap options available now that there is really no excuse to be riding around in the dark. Many rear lights are now USB rechargeable removing the necessity for batteries.

The Lezyne Femto Drive at £12.99 and also the Moon Lunar at £14.99 are both popular compact, easy to fit and very bright rear lights. The Moon is USB too. Another popular option is the Fibreflare. This is a long stay mounted rear light that emits a super bright glow.

In addition to rear lights i would always recomend a high vis jacket and reflective strips. There are also reflective fluro bag covers available like the Respro Hump for around £45.00

At Cyclehouse we have one of the largest ranges of great value lighting solutions. Why not pop in and have a chat with one of our experts. Become En"light"ened.

2014 Mountain Bike Ranges

Over the last few months we have been busy product ranging for 2014. We have been blown away by the range and depth of new bikes in all categories. It seems like most bike companies have got stuck in to both 29" and 27.5" wheel Mountain Bikes. We now have some nice new models in store representing both sizes.

The Whyte 9 Series stands out as a real UK style Trail Bike with it's 27.5" wheels, 130mm travel and 66 degree head angle. Also the award winning Whyte T129 is back in stock with a three model range.

Scott's Scale range of MTB's is available with both 27.5" and 29" wheels throughout! The new Scale 960 at just under £1000 is proving to be a popular model and we are told availability will be sketchy for 2014 due to very high demand. The big news from Scott is the fitting of Fox rear shocks to both Genius and Spark ranges. These bikes are now offering unrivaled performance and value.

Trek have released a group of 29" Hardtails under the X-Caliber name. Prices range from only £450 and they look the part colour and spec wise.

Riding Essentials....What to wear when out on your bike!

Essential Items Every Cyclist Needs

At Cyclehouse we are regularly asked what type of clothing should be worn to get the most out of cycling.
The good news is that there is a huge range of great product out there and here's a heads up on what's what.

Part 1 Lower Body.

Padded Shorts - This has to be the single most misunderstood piece of cycling kit available and a real must have for comfort. There are lots of different types available from basic liners to full on pro bib shorts. The pad itself is usually synthetic or in some cases may contain gel. The days of chamois are long gone.

Short Liners - These are a basic Lycra, Cotton or Mesh short with a built in pad normally worn as a replacement for underwear. The padding is to stop undue friction or rub and to stop the rider getting "saddle sore". They should be a close fit and worn next to the skin. Popular with leisure cyclists, liners are also  found inside Baggy or Technical MTB shorts.  Liners range in price from around  £20

Lycra Shorts - These are normally worn when riding a "Road Bike". An anatomic fitting short made with several panels and a padded area inside. Lycra as a fabric is light weight, comfortable breathable and quick drying. Expect to pay around £30 to £50.







Bib Shorts - Well these are what serious road riders, mountain bikers and your top Pro riders wear. They are made from the most advanced technical fabrics and can be cut from many different panels to give you a great fit. They have extremely good padding in and will provide the best platform of comfort to cycle in. These can range in price from £40.00




It is worth mentioning Bib Knickers and Bib Longs   at this point. Normally worn during the colder months, Bib Knickers are 3/4 leg length and Bib Longs are full length with a stirrup at the foot. These garments are constructed with a layer of Roubaix built in for warmth.





Baggy Shorts - Specifically cut for cycling using various abrasion resistant,quick drying materials.These are a great option for casual cycling and are worn by most mountain bikers .Baggy's often  come supplied with a click out padded undershort. Expect to pay around £50 for these.
Also available in 3/4 length. 








Socks - Everyday socks can be worn, however cycle specific socks are anatomically cut and vary in warmth and breathability.












Cycle Shoes - There are several types of cycle shoes. Road, Mountain and Leisure.

Road shoes tend to be light weight stiff and help to provide the optimum foot position over the pedal and the best pedaling efficiency. Road shoes need to be used in conjunction with a specialist pedal and cleat system where the cleat is fastened to the base of the shoe and locks in to the pedal body.

Mountain Bike Shoes - Similar to a road shoe but with a more aggressive sole for traction when riding off road. These shoes need to be used with a pedal and cleat system.

Leisure Shoes - There are a wide range of leisure shoes available and most may be used with either a standard pedal or a specialist pedal and cleat system. The advantage of wearing a proper cycle shoe is that it puts your feet over the pedal properly for power and also keeps your feet firmly on the pedals









Stay tuned for Part 2.  Upper Body.

CYCLEHOUSE
Unit 1 Portland Trade Park
Buckley Street
Warrington
WA2 7NS

t: 01925 575 999 (Sales) | 01925 576 555 (Workshop)
w: www.cyclehouse.co.uk
e: info@cyclehouse.co.uk

f: facebook b: blog

Grinning Like a Cheshire Cat?

"Gold Lion's gonna tell me where the light is

Take our hands out of control"

The Cheshire Cat Sportive courtesy of Kilo to Go, 100 mile route!

The morning had arrived.

Heavily anticipated and well trained for.........

Well I say well trained for, if twelve typical mountain bike riders and a few official roadies mixing up forty mile sessions for 2 weeks constitutes training then we were on it!

It was a heady start, the alarm hitting the high notes at an unprecedented 5.30am.

Bleary eyed and full of starch it was time to fill up and wash down. 
Porridge and tea absorbed. 
Energy drinks mixed and clothing for the day packed.

So it begins.

Meeting point, McDonalds, East Lancs Road, an opportunity to sink some fresh Java and exchange breakfast menus and plan of attack for the day.

Coffee drank and vehicles loaded, we depart heading for Crewe and all it's spoils.

We arrive to a city of bikes and bikers, wonderous and a marvel to behold, the streets are awash with Carbon, Aluminium, Titanium, Rubber and Lycra, a strange and heady mix especially at this time on a Sunday.

Decant is swift and after a quick chat and bike kudos points being awarded we gather round  for the team depart  photo opportunity that won't seem so appealing after 103 miles have been completed.

Rolling to the start, lined out in peloton style, It gives me a 70's flashback of Kris Kristofferson in Convoy leading our boys ceremoniously to what will later transpire to be six and half hours of pain.

Kilo to Go have organised an amazing event here at Crewe Alexander stadium, the logistics and support are immense and very impressive. Colour coded start times and chipped stickers for accurate timing are just the tip of the iceberg.
There are literally thousand's of riders here, each start group accompanied by police outriders to ensure a safe and steady start to a gruelling course.
The Northern Collective Team Cyclehouse, thirteen deep, form a steady long line heading out on course in epic sun drenched conditions. Average speeds on the first ten miles are tipping a little over 20mph, everyone is buzzed and full of gusto, these events are always the same, enthusiasm over rules ability for the first 50 miles.
The unwritten rule was always to bypass the first feed station and regroup, if needed, at the half way point. This way we wouldn't lose too much time and hopefully not get caught up in the masses on the approach to some of the bigger climbs of the day.

Destination - Mow Cop......the killer climb

So with the legs spinning freely and everyone feeling strong we coasted towards Mow Cop.

This is the stuff of legend, a climb over a mile long and at it's steepest under a 1 in 4 gradient.

On the approach we thin out to gather some riding space, a fast tarmac section belies the difficulty of what's looming over us, we turn right from the main drag into the climb itself, over a railway line and start the ascent.......

It's all lung's and handbags while riders jockey for position, some flailing like a trawler man's catch. Some speed up, burning glycogen stores much needed for full on assault at the top. We crown the first section, riding out from a shadowy canopy into a sun lit stretch of bitumen pointing towards the real prize, Mow Cop itself. 

From here we can see throngs of people lining the outline of the climb proper, no pressure then. Leg's stinging and lung's at top end we get closer to the real steep bit, it's looks like a wall, sun glistening straight back at us in the morning haze. Spotters are lined out on both sides of the road, you dab, stall, put a foot down, you get no medal - FAIL.

We hit it, spaced out making sure no other rider is going to conflict with us, line choice and path are the last link in a long chain that will culminate in success or failure. The tension builds, the shouts and cheers drown out the lactic acid and lack of useful oxygen. This is extremely steep, easily on a par if not worse than climbs like The Rake in Ramsbottom and Winnats Pass in Castleton. Losing all cognitive thought and having no idea where the rest of our number are on the hill I press on the pedals harder and harder, not going any quicker as the climb relentlessly reaches it's steepest point. The line of the wall for the pub on the right say's it all, it would be difficult to walk up here, even drive, here is where experience plays over training, keeping the bike straight and looking dead ahead I give it everything, pulse topping out at a heady 186bpm I am right at my top end. the cheers get louder and yes, there is a camera man! 
No stopping, Boom! 
I do it, storming up to the brow past the official top of the hill to encounter riders chatting and walking, the climb isn't over, what are these people doing??
The Northern Collective, are, as always, right at the top, climb finished - Take no prisoners!

I'm roughly in the middle of our number, we pull to the side and await the rest, energy gels, cake and jelly babies are being thrown into the engines as quickly as possible, That really was a tough climb!!!! 

The Collective reign, not one of our number failed to climb the Cop, medals for all!

Next stop - Gun Hill

We descend down the back side of the Cop towards the Border between Congleton and Biddulph, essentially the border between Stafford and Cheshire. Fast and littered with pot holes big enough to swallow your wheels. Many riders aren't descending well and it's not easy to pick through them. We bottom out and hurry along towards the next big hitter.
This is undulating territory and eats away at you, slowly gnawing on the muscle and sinew that's working dutifully with every pedal rev. Gun Hill rears up, a slow grind, not the kind you had at the school disco back in 86' but a real lactic acid builder. The group are fragmented and no-one really knows where everyone else is. I team up with Big Nate, we strike out on our own after a few guys stop for a natural break. The first feed station is looming and we have already decided that we would all stop at the half way point, Goostrey Village Hall. Nate and I roll past on the look out for "the pack". Before we know it were fast approaching the steep, long, rolling hills of Wincle, no sign of the rest, we figure they have put a spurt on maybe thinking we are in front. We resign ourselves to the fact we have been dropped and set about enjoying the next seventy miles. 
Wincle is tough, dropping into the bottom of the valley to climb out past the Wincle Brewery (very tempting...) long, steep, strength sapping tarmac relentlessly rolls on and on, only punctuated by riders on very expensive carbon bikes walking.......

"A rider earns his bike!"      Bill Iley  

 Topping out above Sutton and Oakgrove we hurtle down towards the half way point with enthusiasm and gusto...... we catch other riders up, one, then two, then another group of three and four. They slipstream on the back of our dynamic duo.... apart from one, a sole one man band, a true clubman in his full strip. He won't give up, pull over, no, he is going to take us there. Thirty mph lined out on undulating Cheshire lane, even potholes won't slow this man down, he is possessed. The many who have hung on have become the few and we are feeling great. We strive headlong anticipating some cake and bananas at the feed. 


5km to go
4kmto go
3km to go


They tick down seeming to be further apart each one we tick off....at last we reach our half way goal. 
We pull in, riding through the swathe of endorsement flags and hungry riders. Nathan and I are frantically trying to spy the rest of our team, surely we can't be so far behind?
A quick check on the phone reveals a missed call, they must have set off before we arrived  - we are well behind.
So, caution to the wind, no rush now so we tuck into cake and energy gels, bananas and High 5 energy drink. Soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying the effort we have put into the pedals. Twenty minutes have passed and we decide to make a move, togging back up and readying ourselves with Energy Gels and drinks we throw our legs over the top tubes and prepare for battle........ just as Adrian rides in, Adrian?? He's only one of the fastest riders from The Northern Collective. 
Mechanical? 
No. 
The lads had all stopped at the first feed station and we were well ahead, one by one the rest drip in. Little had we known we were so far in front, we would never have stopped for so long.
More chat and cake then. Don't mind if I do.


Some time later we set off, a long slither of athletic prowess snaking through the Cheshire plain. We build up to 26, 27 mph lined out, eating into riders in front as if they are stood still, we look magnificent, pro like you might say. The sun is beating down and the wind is nearly none existent. Miles tick down like ice buns at an elephants birthday party. 
We are on it!


Boom.


One hasty right hander see's one of our number hit the deck, dry roads, gravel corners and poor tyres bring Paul down, hitting the floor at a steady 25mph isn't fun, especially when your on a demo bike......
Dusting down and bike check complete he get's back on, cyclists are a tough breed and Paul is no exception.
Still strong and riding hard we maintain our average anticipating the last beasting up and around Beeston Castle. 

Northern Collective Cyclehouse Train - Note Lee on his super stiff Scott Foil 20

We rattle up it, zero issues. There have been a few strained faces in the last ten miles but only smiles now, its the final stretch.


Eighty Five, 85, 8T5, miles covered.
Last feed station, do we stop? Of course, we can relax slightly, nearly done... isn't it?


Game Changer.


This has really altered the mind set of the group, or at least mine.
We set off in search of the final twenty five miles, tough.com.
The group splits on a relatively innocuous climb, it may as well be Alpe D'Huez. I drop along with Nathan, our early effort clearly coming to the surface. we see the group ebb away over the crown of the hill.
We make the top and it's clear to me I'm running on empty.
Dig deep.

The last ten miles are tough, a bit like walking on broken glass.

No conversation takes place as both of us aren't giving anything away, silence is a sign of emotional pain as much as physical, the end can't come quick enough.

We soldier on, entering back into suburbia from the rural back lanes of the last forty odd miles we can almost smell the finish, we gradually rise up and over a small brow, other riders getting brave at the promise of the finish urge past. Experience pays dividends here and we stay in our zone, still five miles to go........four.......three.......two.......

We can see the stadium, almost there, we have done it, we have bloody done it!

We roll through the sprint finish like arena, set up for all who were brave and fit enough to take part, what an achievement.
We meet up with the rest of the guys, warm smiles, aching legs, the eyes say it all. 
We look like a gaggle of miners fresh from a fifteen hour shift.
We all received the Mow Cop Killer Climb medal, not one of the Collective failed, nor did any of us dab on any other hill.
Times weren't bad either, actual ride time for the first group 6 hours, they managed to put nearly thirty minutes into Nathan and I in the last twenty miles......oh well it's only what we put into them at the half way point!


Beer in hand we sit round waiting for the first round of cramp to kick in.
All of us proud to have completed a super tough course.


Are we coming back next year?
Maybe.....

CYCLEHOUSE
Unit 1 Portland Trade Park
Buckley Street
Warrington
WA2 7NS

t: 01925 575 999 (Sales) | 01925 576 555 (Workshop)
w: www.cyclehouse.co.uk
e: info@cyclehouse.co.uk

f: facebook b: blog

Children's Bikes - How are the sizes measured

Children's Bikes

How are the sizes measured?

Unlike with adult bikes, children’s bikes are measured in wheel size rather than frame size ranging: 12”, 14”, 16”, 18”, 20” and 24”. So don’t confuse them with adult bikes as they have the same numbers, but refer to a different measurement.

Note: all ages are estimates and based on averages and there can be exceptions if your child is bigger or smaller than average.

12"
12" bikes  are designed for ages 2-4. The 12" wheel bike will usually come with stabilizers, so is either great as a first bike or a natural progression from a balance bike.

14"

14” bikes are just that little bit larger than a 12”. The two inch increase in wheel size doesn’t normally affect the stand over of the bike too much. The 14” bike will suit a 4-7 year old.

16"

Although some manufacturers will provide 16” bikes with stabilisers, it’s not generally recommended that you use them as the extra leverage from the larger wheel can over-stress certain stabilisers. 16” bikes are designed for ages 4-7.

20"

20” wheel bikes are aimed at children of around 7-9 years old and will commonly feature gears if only on the rear of the bike. 20” is also the size of a BMX bike’s wheels but remember BMX sizing is completely different, adults ride 20" wheel BMX. 

24"

A 24” wheel will suit a child aged from 9-12 years old. These bikes have front and rear gears and are effectively scaled down versions of their adult counterparts. When your child out-grows a 24” wheel bike, they will need to be fitted for an adults 26” bike. The size will now be measured by frame size or specifically the length of the seat tube.

So if your looking for your child's first bike or the next size up, pop in store and see us, we can size them up and make 100% sure they are on the right bike and have fun doing it!

CYCLEHOUSE
Unit 1 Portland Trade Park
Buckley Street
Warrington
WA2 7NS

t: 01925 575 999 (Sales) | 01925 576 555 (Workshop)
w: www.cyclehouse.co.uk
e: info@cyclehouse.co.uk

f: facebook b: blog

The Last Big Weekend - Dalby

 "Went out for the weekend, it lasted for ever, high with our friends it's officially summer" 

Arab Strap 

It started with a chance meeting at Trek UK last Autumn, meeting new people, talking ride planning and bike spec's, swapping numbers and sharing rounds at the bar.

Cyclehouse/Northern Collective/Big Bear Bikes

Here starts the pay off.
Two go mad in Dalby.


Pickering is the destination and the guys we are riding with are "Bears" or more specifically, riders for Big Bear Bikes.
We arrive late on a Saturday night, wearily booking in our accommodation. Mike and Amanda are our hosts at Eleven Westgate, a cosy B+B with plenty of space and homely charms. Well kitted out for Riders and Hikers with a drying room and Bike storage with mini workshop.
Bags dropped off, room checked in and keg was next on the agenda. 
A late night entry to the nearest fine ale establishment and 4 pints of Leeds Best was the only tipple worth  a go!
Breakfast came quickly next day as did the cold weather front. A fierce mix of gale force and hail saw our arranged night ride in jeopardy. We popped into BBB to have a chat with Dave to see what was in store for us that evening, " A short sharp one through the trees" was the answer, although a call from his wife confirming snow fall on the moors above Pickering didn't bode well.
Coffee and bike chat ensued and we took off in search of some carb absorption.
Pickering doesn't have a lot to offer on this front, especially on a Sunday at this time of year. Burger. Bevvie. Retreat to hotel to gear up.  The skies are darkening and cars driving through the village are snow topped.
We rendesvouz at the shop, a sombre mood is apparent but no-one is talking of backing out.
A quick decant and we are all mobile, a short sharp drive up a country road and we arrive at a small village named Newton. Its just turning dusk and it is blowing a gale, there is snow on the verges and windchill is effectively -3..........
There is a  suggestion........... " A few beers instead lads? You have a big ride on tomorrow."

"You always pass failure on the way to success"

Mickey Rooney

Stand firm. Tog up.  Bikes out.
To say it's cold is an understatement, conversation is minimal. This is going to hurt.
Five set out, short blast on tarmac followed by a short sharp left into an unassuming muddy path.
Sketchy. Muddy. Wet.
Almost immediately we are in a maze of off camber, switchback, off piste trails, cutting through tightly packed woodland. We hurtle along, woodsmen on a mission. The last bit of twilight evaporates and we are enveloped in the sticky pitch of night. The fun sections end with various sketchy recovery's and we head out to Stony Moor - a well trodden trail strewn with bike eating size rocks hidden in a swampy soup. On a dry day I'm sure this would be fast, hard packed and full of opportunity's for catching air and kicking up roost....... Today is not that day. One by One we attack, each trying a different line, each trying not to make a dab. It's almost impossible, lipping giant rocks popping out of the gloop but hard work pays off and George and Morgan make easy work of it on their singlespeeds! Six miles are almost finally over as we make the long climb out towards the warmth and welcome of the local pub in Newton. Ride over, pack up and change. Short and sweet and desperately hard, the ride is like the bar maid, we recline with ale in hand and talk about the day to follow - 32 hard miles in and around Dalby.

"You must look into people as well as at them"

Lord Chesterfield

Deluxe Wash Station

The day came around quickly and the cold night before was a distant memory as sun light flooded the prep area laid on by our hosts. A quick wash with some H+S and an application of tlc and the steeds are ready for the onslaught Dalby has to offer.
We meet at BBB and load up with some energy gels and banter. One tyre change and a quick check of pressures and we load the "Team Bus" and get on our way.
Sprint overland to the top of the Hole of Horcum, a giant devils punchbowl scooped into the landscape of the Tabular Hills high on the North York Moors. Legend has it that the amphitheatre was made by a giant, who scooped up a large ball of earth and tossed it aside to create a nearby hill, Blakey Topping.
Well, legends aside we decant the bus to a howling North Westerley, numb ears and watery eyes are served up neat and we head off towards Flyingdales. The wind is fierce and we do well to keep on our bearing. A fun singletrack opens up into an open moor and we traverse to a high point, picking our way through the traces of snow laid down the night before. A small chute is presented and we each take a turn in fighting to stay upright on  what should be a fun entry to an odyssey of XC heaven. Dropping onto undesignated fire road we make huge advances while out of the wind and sheltered, moving at a very steady 15mph. Cutting back round to join bridleway we inch higher to join a footpath that will take us into Dalby, we carefully carry our steeds and hop over a gated fence to find our meander into the forest. Tractor units and woodsmen line the route, massive deforestation is taking place, out with the old and in with the new, we take heed and assume some trail maybe affected.

Snow above Flyingdales

Flow?

Entering the first section at the back of the red route we gain our first taste of the effort needed to enjoy Dalby's rewards.
Flow is a word that does not resonate in our ears right now.
Working the trail, never relenting we manage to keep our speed. It's tight, twisty but in a contrived way appearing downhill but actually undulating all the time. We traverse to the next gate. Maintaining our high average, it's tough, uber tough. The Bears, Morgan and Rich, are super fit enduro athlete's, riding for hours at high speed over technical terrain is "Their bag". Mike and I however have a little more finesse and prefer to slow it down and concentrate on style and technique - no room for this today, we grit our teeth and hold on. Today we are being taught.


Two sections pass in quick succession, we pass gates waymarked with the red route arrow, we cannot feel the wind or the cold, this is almost clinical in approach. heart rate 176bpm, speed 14.8 mph, this is slightly uphill, no time for chat. Rich jokes of how, in preparation for the Sleepless in the Saddle, he and Morg would do twenty miles of this route every morning pre 6am on singlespeeds. This is acutely evident. Fire road becomes singletrack and singletrack becomes tarmac. Boom were on it again, a heads up of bomb holes as we hit 20.

Boom!

Brace. Brace. Brace.
The forest engulfs us encouraging more speed down and through some newly laid hardcore, the berms flow and we spit through another gate and on an upwards trajectory. It's fast and the first section that truly flows, I'm heading up the arrowhead and feeling the peer pressure, cracking slightly as we top out through a leafy clearing.
We stop and take on some fuel, a heady mix of gels and energy bars. Twisting, contorted, the trail ebbs on, a short rocky bermy chute creeps up and fun seeps in from the side. Careful now.

This feeling doesn't last long, next up a longer than necessary technical climb, demanding no less than 175bpm, it stings and smarts the senses. Wrought lungs and and gurns all round we fire through a clearing and into a fast technical section, rocks, roots, drops it awakens the senses and quells the XC demons. 
Same to follow, an unrepentant repetitive mantra of up, down, up, down. The strain is showing, we are offered a shortcut, well I say shortcut , were at 21 miles in and have averaged 9.6mph well above our seasonal average. Taking a long steady climb out we head along a grassy section of trail and without warning or indication skip left into the trees.

"Suddenly I stop, but I know it's too late, I'm lost in a forest all alone"

Robert Smith 

Previously used black trail, long forgotten, untamed and wild, we hit up the rooty sections and splash through muddy cutties. Awesome.
Conversation is sparse, food is needed. We head straight to the trail centre...... to find the cafe closed. Vacant looks abound we ask a lone "staff" from the bike shop if we could possibly score some calories. 
"Over there!" she exclaims, one handedly pointing to the new purpose built multi million pound visitors centre on the horizon. We are saved and duly head over to purchase over priced sandwich and soup combo's with a dedicated mission to give heartburn to those who fall for it's home made allure. Calories consumed and we press on, this time we climb out simply to descend back down, up and past GoApe which looks far better than the incarnations at Rivington and Delamere. Morgan affirms this with giggles and pointy finger gestures at where he dangled precariously the day before.

"Well, you wouldn't want a Bucket to the Chops!"

 Rich Mcguire

Grass track. High speed. Dual ruts.
Tree felling machine with a huge bucket on. It is moving, right?
We approach, cautiously. It is moving and yep, he hasn't seen us. Two chance past Rich and I sit it out, after all you wouldn't want a bucket to the chops!
Four of us float down the tarmac road for some time, indicating a long steady climb out (no surprises), we cut right and begin ascending the wall which I'm promised summits at the much fabled pub of ale. 
Some eternity later we are greeted with the heartfelt homecoming of sanctuary.  The Fox and Rabbit Inn at Lockton. We dress down for the occasion, removing muddy attire and leaving our steeds to graze outside. The fire is crackling and keg is on the agenda. Three swift pints ensue, mainly to put off the last onslaught back to Pickering. Eventually even I have to accept if we have another we would be staying until last orders.
Into the breach we go again, this time with much joviality, speeding into the valley opposite down grass sheep trails, caution to the wind. Short lived.com
We now have to work, out of the sun and with dusk creeping in the speed picks up and thoughts of who will be first to touch base are secretly being considered. We plough a cut parallel with the steam train line, fantastic scenery is brought to the fore by a setting sun.
Eyes down looking in, we hit tarmac and the speed ramps up again. Cramp, dehydration and hunger are ignored and nervous glances are thrown around as firstly Rich makes a fake lunge enticing Morgan into the Cavendishesque lead out train. It's all in vain as the town's traffic lights change to red stopping us in our tracks. A quick look down and the Garmin 500 confirms 32 miles at an average speed of 8.6mph.
Might not sound much, but over 32 miles over that type of terrain we finish with heads held high!


A quick debrief and we all depart to regroup an hour and a half later for more keg and curry.


This has been the Last Big Weekend.


Riders on the day


Rich Mcguire

Morgan "Freeman" Lloyd

Mike Hayes

Rick Iley

Massive thanks to all the guys at Big Bear Bikes, Pickering
Rich, Morgan, George, Wayne the God and of course Dave Beeley

CYCLEHOUSE
Unit 1 Portland Trade Park
Buckley Street
Warrington
WA2 7NS

t: 01925 575 999 (Sales) | 01925 576 555 (Workshop)
w: www.cyclehouse.co.uk
e: info@cyclehouse.co.uk

f: facebook b: blog

The Golden Path

 "In a big country dreams stay with you

Like a lovers voice fires the mountainside"

Destination - Peak District

Objective - Scale and conquer Jacobs Ladder

Formation - 9 man assault 

Just as with all things planned to within an inch of perfection and military precision, this ride was always doomed to fail. For some inexplicable reason whenever there is more than five riders in a group, essential parts of your mountain machine seem to fail, disintegrate, dissolve. 

It almost feels like it happens in a billigerent way, like your bike has developed A.I.

Well this was certainly the case with Sunday's ride.

Setting off under a mundane sky in search of the best descent the Peak District has to offer, the infamous Jacobs Ladder. We departed from our obscure (under the bypass) parking spot, due to the dedicated Hayfield Car Park being over subscribed and scuttled off through the winding roads towards the Pennine Bridleway.

Burning Calf's. Wrought chest....... a sign of things to come?


Not so fast!

One seized pedal and a quick detour to the Village Store almost saw an early casualty, but three quick swigs of WD40 saw it right (I know, it's bike killer) and five became nine again.

Climbing out towards the shooting huts along the ancient byway we have time to regroup and enjoy the Singletrack to the top as we aim high over Middle Moor, now the tempo has eased and breath regained new faces are accepted and chat ensues of what's to come.

Marepiece Wood

"Ready" dropping in

Navigating right towards Farlands Booth and Marepiece Wood we see various states of disengaged gears, bent hangers and unusual grimaces as we partake in some fast, uber fun sketchy descent work. Dropping effortlessly past Kinder Reservoir we take in the wet cobbled run at an unusually high pace, following lines set down from the man in front, no time for brakes it's a dedicated run of trust!

Drop by Kinder Reservoir

Wham! Were spat out onto a tarmac road, faces alight with the first real taste of what's to come. No respite though, straight into an upward heave on a trajectory titled "Jacobs" up onto Broad Clough, this is grassy steep track intermittently cut with the remnants of double track, stone laid down years before which serves no purpose other than to guide the weary in the direction they need to be. As we top out we can scan the entire breadth of the opposing valley and its enormity is staggering. We regroup and exchange views on how many dabs were taken, if any, on the sublime climb.

Atop Broad Clough

A few smart gels and boiled sweets later, we forge ahead with visions of the "golden path" and embrace a fantastic singletrack odyssey which winds around Kinderlow End over and out to Edale Cross, super dry and techy, a marvel to ride spitting our platoon to the foot of the ascent to the top of the ladder.

From here it is all guts and garters as we hoof and power up the muddy, wet, slippy, loose rock and track. Over babies heads and toiling with the effort the group splits. 

Regroup and start over.

Singletrack Edale Cross

Nearly there....

We rear up toward all that is holy, the start of the ladder

"And as I Walked along the supposed Golden Path

I was trembling with fear all the lions and wizards yet to come"

Excitement. Tension. Adrenaline.

Jacobs Ladder Anyone? 

All too much for half of the nine, well almost half.
Gopro camera at the ready four of us bring up the rear which starts with a full  on assault of the senses, a little too full on for one of the Collective as he takes an early dive O'er Angies!
The rest are in full flight, dropping, cutting, drifting.Taking air and cutting a path through impossible off camber slabs and gaps. This really is one of the best sections of trail in the UK, get it right and it's Alpine in feel, get it wrong and..... well it wouldn't be good.
A section passes through a wooden gate we regroup and take on the next full on section of loose rock and cut fast hillside trail.

Trail 1
Rider Nil

Mech Ripping Time

Sram X9 rear mechs prove no match for 7000 year old rock strewn down this hillside as one of our number see's his entire mech ripped from his frame, sulky faces and an end to the "fun" follow as we discuss singlespeed options and Ray Mears style survival techniques.

Mech removal and chain stuffed in Camelbak prove most favourable with a trip to Edale  marking the end of Mike's ride.

From here Dickie and I discuss and examine the GoPro camera which has gotten itself all perplexed at taking over a 1000 pictures and some video...... this too gets stuffed in the Camelbak.

On the continued Bridleway down to Edale we come across more of our number in dire straits, this time a puncture. Always a comedy of errors when two or more people get involved with a simple task....... ten minutes later and three frustrated riders see the tyre inflated to 40psi, within seconds the incorrectly seated Continental Rubber Queen pings off the rim birthing a huge inner tube which quickly expands, almost  engulfing the bike in the process. 

Shouts of "Quick let it down!" aren't heeded. Explosion. Matt is almost thrown to the dry stone wall on the other side of the trail, the bemused look on his face say's it all. Laughs and screams of "Medic!" in a Vietnam war film kinda way go down well and we finish up and get on our way.

No-Speed Mike is towed to town and our platoon head from Edale/Barber Booth leaving him drowning his sorrows at the  local pub for a lonely taxi ride bike to Hayfield.

Our ascent starts well, Mam Nick is an awful road climb at best, our grippy tyres really aren't the first choice and we meander to our next climb. Taking a right onto Chapel Gate path we splinter again, firstly to accommodate the series of farm gates and secondly as each of our troops abilities start to wane, urgency takes hold as "Ready" needs to start his night shift as Crew Commander for Bolton Fire Service, it's apparent he is on a fine schedule. So with our nine being spread in a thin line across the traverse it as it this point where Dickie's seatpost decides to explode! 

Nuts. Bolts. Cursing. Cold.

We fall behind to remedy, the pack moves on, one of the new faces passes by and continues. Eight weeks off the bike and on a big ride like this isn't enviable. Hurt. Loss of concentration. Hunger.

We top out and regroup, the Bridleway takes us to Roych Clough which raises the smile level all the way to eleven! 

Uber techy track catapulting each of us off our line competing for dominance in the Trail vs Bike category. We sustain our delivery and pulsate down the line.

Slabs. Drops. Dirt. Water. Fast. Ebb. Flow.

We contour around the Roych making our way to Mount Famine, people are tired and making bad decisions. Cramp takes a hold of some and sheer calorie consumption on others. What should have been a tough fifteen mile loop in the Peaks on a good day has turned into a war of attrition. 

"Good things, when short, are twice as good"

Baltasar Gracian 

Doggedly we carry on, still with a "no dab" mentality.

Almost the last section, it's been a slog but it's also been incredible, exhilarating, a rush.

We all make the return leg down a superb fast track back into Hayfield, at almost 40 mph even the most drained of us are smiling.

Dirty. 

Exhausted.

All together

wait a minute.....

Mike??   

Riders on the day

Dickie
Mike
Ready
Andy
Scott
Matt
Darren
Dean
Rick (Me)


Route - Hayfield - Jacobs Ladder - Roych Clough - Hayfield
Distance - 15 miles

CYCLEHOUSE
Unit 1 Portland Trade Park
Buckley Street
Warrington
WA2 7NS

t: 01925 575 999 (Sales) | 01925 576 555 (Workshop)
w: www.cyclehouse.co.uk
e: info@cyclehouse.co.uk

f: facebook b: blog