Fanylion Mountain Bike Team
Official site of the Fanylion Mountain Bike Team. Includes mountain bike ride guides, gear reviews, bike maintenance, team reports and rider profiles of the Fanylion Racing Team.
Peak District
October 18, 2008, England
Peak Report 18/19th October.
Cut Gate path is probably one of the most classic ‘Peaks’ routes and was on my ‘to do list’ for sometime but this weekend those plans did not evolve. Ok, so we rode some amazing trails the Peak has to offer but it felt I had been beaten by the curse of one of the Peak Districts Park Rangers and failed the Team. Maybe next year eh son?
As the newly named Love Rant and Shortbread hatched the most amount of Faff we have ever seen due to Shortbread using Dr Dowling techniques to get to a ride (a train) as his car was knackered. I initially thought the weekend was in jeopardy as Downhill Manic, Quad and Beard had joined the queer brigade and bailed. Love Rant and Shortbread made it so due to some fine work by Mummy and Daddy Love Rant, Rspkt goes out to them. Beard on the other hand needed some early Saturday morning abuse. Eventually we all headed over to Castleton to rendezvous with He Magazine
After a few greetings, pleasantries and ‘doffing of ones caps – sorry helmets’ we headed up the broken road to Mam Tor with He Mag firmly placed at the back. The driving westerly wind made hard progress but with the wind now on our tails, it made the ascent a bit easier reaching the stone sets on the ridge but as we headed up the path on Hollins Cross, the Park Ranger I mentioned stopped us. It was at this point myself and the Ranger had a ‘map off’ with me proclaiming we are on the right track and him telling us to turn back. Thinking he was just one of those miserable walker’s (I didn’t see the Park Rangers embezzled on his fleece btw!) I drew my OS Map OL1 from my camel back like a sword ready to do battle. As I neared him, he drew the same map and it is then I noticed he was a Park Ranger. Ok, my map navigation skills had taken us on a walker’s path but at least he let us ride down what we initially came up but this is where his curse was set. Beard and He Mag went over the bars and my mech hanger snapped throwing the mech into the rear wheel and buckling it. Bugger, as I didn’t carry a spare we were doomed, but I knew Eighteen Bikes in Hope should surely stock one so Love Rant, Shortbread, Beard and He Mag headed over there as I freewheeled the agonising couple of miles. Luckily Shortbread had sorted one out and we were soon back on the trail with Love Rant at the map faff helm.
The old Roman Road climb up Hope Brink is a tough ascent to Hope Cross but with the classic, boulder field of a descent to Haggwater Bridge made it worthwhile. Regrouping at the A57 He Mag called it a day and headed back to the car. The ascent Woodcock Coppice is a bitch, a real bitch but Love Rant and Shortbread cleaned it. Earning our descending tokens, we hit the Lockerbrook descent to Derwent Reservoir, fast, tetchy and rocky, just what we like. Convening at the bottom we decide that time is not on our hands to tackle Cut Gate Path so whilst we munch on various trail snacks a goon on a Spesh files down through the gate, turns round and pops a manual. Fricking hell mate, this isn’t a shoot for MBUK ya know as he completely flips it in front of various families and bikers. He is in agony and cannot un-clip as we all try to refrain from pissing our pants and calling him an unt©. Still laughing and wondering if he will ever sit down again we head to Ladyboy Reservoir and Derwent Moor. Shortbread and Love Rant tackle a short sharp section, which leaves myself, and Beard pushing and screaming Chimpanzee noises to aid Shortbread. It helped, but I think the many walkers in the vicinity thought the Chimpanzee troop had made a kill in the canopy. The section round Derwent Moor is a pure class – lunar landscape – boulder field - heaven. Love Rant punctured in full throttle as we dropped down to the pub for some refreshment.
Back on track and over the dam at Ladyboy we pick up tarmac in the aptly named place called Shatton. By now the weather was turning fast as we tackled a stiff tarmac climb around Shatton Edge. Beard was on form but by now enough was enough, as we dropped down to Brough on some fine rocky double-track. Love Rant and Shortbread continued on tackling Bradwell Edge. 4 miles on tarmac back to the cars is the qucikest way as the low cloud and rain soaks us through. A good 32 miler done.
Steak and Chips followed by beer and raving like ‘back in the day’ in the Maskery pub in Congleton. All good.
Sunday dawned and ‘Team One Day’ (Beard) decides not to ride today. Sorting his fitness for one day he has done but riding two days on the trot he hasn’t. After porridge and bacon sarnies myself, Shortbread and Love Rant head out on a windswept day. Wildboarclough and Charity Lane has some fine downhill sections but I was feeling so a – 15 mile, no RSPKT - ride was in order. I was pretty shot I can tell you after Saturday coupled with a belly full of alcohol.
Again a FanyTastic weekend in the bag. Next year Cut Gate will be done. Hopefully with a few more Lions.
Word to ya Mutha,
Bear.
OUT.
Riders present
Bear
Shortbread
Love Rant
Beard
He Mag
Enjoyment level
Rave Safe