An evening ride with the girls

The NWMTB girls were riding from near Chinley in the Peak District and as I now live nearby I thought it would be silly not to join them. Leaving what I thought was loads of time I forgot to account for the headwind and the fact I didn't have quite the right location so was a little late. Fortunately I was able to catch them up. We headed down Roch Clough and I remembered just how rocky it was out here. I walked one section where the drop was too big for me but otherwise managed okay. Near Hayfield we headed over to Cracken Edge where the views were stunning before returning by Roych Clough.

After a fab ride and just as it got dark I headed home, following my Garmin I ended up off-road and was beginning to worry I was going to end up going down Cavedale, which I knew to be a very technical descent. As it was it was nice easy riding and I came out on a road I knew.

A late night but worth it. 37miles in total and felt strong on the climbs.

A sunny Sunday

Waking up to a lovely sunny day we knew we had to get out so we set out to find some of the local geocaches. At first we weren't successful but soon we were finding them and enjoying being out in the sunshine. Getting to Eyam we had ice-cream before returning home via another two caches.

After lunch I headed out on my bike, Ali was tired and decided to be sensible and do some work. It was amazing out and I was really happy with the route I had plotted. When I got back I was about to wash my bike when Ali said it was too nice a day and she wanted to ride the route as well so I headed back out with her. It was getting a little cooler but it was still a lovely day. She was flying today even jumping on a rocky descent, unfortunately this led to a puncture which I got to fix!

In the end I had ridden 26miles and walked about 4miles, not bad for a sunny Sunday.

Riding my mountain bike from the new house

Hannah came over to see our new home and brought her bike so of course we had to go riding. Ali helped me plot an eight mile route and we were lucky with the weather after days of rain it was clear. After a very short road section it started with a climb which had us all off and walking. But once up high it was a series of short ups and downs, before a fab descent to Calver. Then one last climb to descend a track we had walked down the week before. It was techy and fun but showed me I have lost some descending confidence and skills. Still its a great place to practice.

Local walks

We've been out a few times on little walks from our house, an hour at most. I think we're going to love it.

First bit of off-road

With us both now working and loads to still sort out, all our stuff is still in boxes, we've not had a chance to ride off-road yet. But when I left work on Friday I decided to ride a slightly different way home. I started following where my garmin wanted to send me and when I noticed a bridleway heading in the right direction I followed that. In the end I did three seperate off-road sections, linked by a couple of road bits. Great fun and makes me want to do more.

New Commute

As lots as you probably know Ali got a new job in the Peak District so this weekend we moved. Today I started my new job, although I've loved teaching Bikeability I didn't fancy commuting into Manchester everyday and spending half my life on the train. So today was my first commute, it was a perfect Summers day, its a little hiller round here but stunning. On the way home I stopped to watch the paragliders.

We've also made the most of our surroundings by going for evening walks....which has slowed down unpacking.

Arrivee

So the crazy 200k Audax I rode in March made the back cover of Arrivee, fame at last. Well in Audax UK circles.

Last run and ride over Winter Hill

I'm going to miss my Monday night runs with Ros. It keeps me running as I haven't had the motivation to go on my own and it is great getting out into the hills.

Since I've now finished work I was inside all day packing (and falling asleep on the sofa) so I rode over on my mountain bike. It was nice to get some off-road miles and ride some of the trails that feel like mine after so many years of riding them.

Mrs garage Bikes birthday Ride

It was Sarah's birthday on Friday but today was her birthday ride. A huge crowd of 23 met at Garage Bikes to headover to the ice-cream farm. The ride over was the usual Morley fare except it was dry so there was no mud, poor Sarah had to cope with dry dusty trails on her birthday and we all know how much she loves mud!

At the ice-cream farm a cake was produced, candles and a lego cyclist meant it was the perfect cake for Sarah, unfortunately the lego cyclist crashed at some point!

Then all that was left was to ride back, which meant a lovely rocky descent and some more dry dusty trails.

Lovely day. Thanks to Sarah for having a fab birthday ride, Al for fitting a new bottom bracket for me when we got back and Ali for driving me over in the morning so I could get there!

An evening ride over to Entwistle

Hannah was over and Ali decided to join us on the ride. So as not to kill Ali as she isn't very fit at the moment we headed over Entwistle way. I managed to take them on some new trails to them and the sun came out. Nice seeing as it was raining this afternoon when I was out with the kids and drizzling on the way home.

A nice 12mile ride and back home for pizza.