Excellent conditions today for mountain biking in the Dark Peak although the sunshine didn't make the route any easier to ride. I'm sure it wasn't this hard riding up mountains on loose rocks 20 years ago, or perhaps we had better bikes back then.
All went well, if a little slower than planned with very 'technical' riding over Mickleden Edge and Cut Gate down to the Derwent Reservoirs and then over the Tops again and down to the Edale Valley. Another long stiff climb took us on to the very busy ridge between Edale and the Hope Valley. We followed the ridge From Hollins Cross to Mam Tor and along Rushup Edge from where Simon took a heavy fall descending towards the road. He had a lump the size of an egg protruding from his left shin and extensive off-road rash.
Had there been the opportunity I suspect he would have called it a day but as our transport was at least 20 odd miles away so once he had gathered himself together we headed back to Dunford Bridge by road through Chapel, Hayfield and Glossop and then on the Trans Pennine Trail over Woodhead.
Only Simon and myself mountain biking with Richard opting to go for glory in the Holme Valley MTB Challenge, Big Phil was having a potter round the 200 mile Coasts and Castles route from Newcastle to Edinburgh and Brian and Grimpy were defending Grimpy's lead in the season long LVRC Percy Stallard series. I look forward to hearing how they fared.
