Busy but riding

A lovely ride at Phillips Park with Sarah and Vikki today. Nice to be back on my mountain bike.

Two hours in the white peak

Been a while since I've been on my mountain bike with having a cold and then starting a new job so I headed out for a easy two hour bimble. I explored a new cheeky trail which was lovely although I had to scramble over some trees that had come down. I also did Baslow Edge, creeping past the horse riders in the riding school after coming down the footpath. Heading through Froggatt I saw I cool area where there had been sort of fire. After taking a photo a women coming out of adjacent house in her car asked if I wanted something, turns out it was her land. Oops.

Walking home

Lunch with mum today and she was on the train so after leaving her at Grindleford I walked home along a new path. Lovely skies and Froggatt woods were lovely to walk through.

Lots of carols

Lovely day today with Hannah and Norn. Carols in the Cavern then carols with the Christmas Tree lightening in the village. Finished off my dinner at Pizza Express. Lovely Sunday.

Another day caching

I'm starting a new job next week today might be the last time in a while that I get to go geocaching during the week with my dad. The plan this week was to meet him at hope and we would make our way to Bretton via the abney Moor. I decided to run over to meet him so I didn't have to collect my bike later.

With a big rucksack packed and tired legs I actually did more walking than running but it was a overly morning although the wind was a little biting on the tops. But still means eight miles in the legs.

Caching was fun although less caches found than normal as I forgot to bring spare batteries.  We were going to stop at the pub at Bretton but I was shut so we carried on home finishing in the dark.

I'm pretty tired now.

Hannah 's mum joins us on a Monday.

Apparently my pictures from my rides and cafe stop around here have been really tempting so we invited her down. Her and Hannah did a bit of gardening and then we went up to the longshaw estate for food and a walk. A drive around and then home for tea. A lovely day and good to rest my tired sore legs.

Another day in the hills

I met Anna, Carolyn and a couple of boys up on Curbar Gap and it was already a lovely day as I was pedaling up. We headed along Curbar edge but after that it was all new to me. It included Blacka Moor and some really tight singlet rack.

A perfect day but I was starving when I got home. Tired legs after lots of miles this week.

A long and lovely day

Yesterday stayed early as I was getting the 7:30am train from Grindleford. It was a straightforward journey to Horwich and I'm really enjoying the book I'm reading so it was nice to have time to read.

Arriving at Ros's the group was soon ready and we headed up Winter Hill. It was nice to be on the old stomping ground and it was a lovely day.

Back at ros's for lunch and then a pleasant couple of hours playing and cutting and sticking with the boys.

The journey home wasn't quite so straightforward piccadilly was packed and fortunately I got on the train as not everyone did. At Marple the train emptied a lot though and I had a seat. The last bit was riding home which made me smile. I love loving out here so dark and so quiet.

A morning jog

I can't quite call it a run as I was slow and there was lots of stopping for photos. It was a lovely misty morning and I headed up onto Eyam Moor where I could see for miles.

Mondays Rock

Another fab Monday rode with Hannah. Tried the cafe at Grindleford station and had the hugest portion of chips. Then some exploring on the way home and a nice chat to a guy from the National Trust who was very pro mountain biking.

Another Monday and some exploring

It was pretty misty out today bit another fab ride. We explored a bit today going along Curbar Edge and then discovering some lovely singletrack through the woods. Breakfast stop I had the big option before a bit of messing with my seatpost left my saddle at a very jaunty angle which wasn't very comfy. One last new track that I wanted to try meant some more climbing before getting home. I like Mondays.

Quick afternoon ride

Ali's sister was visiting and she wanted some sister time so I went riding. A nice local loop including a new descent into Eyam. I also tried getting a picture of myself using the timer mode on my phone and discovered the Silent Heritage Site, maybe not the best place for me.

Local trails

Greg came out from Manchester for a ride. I met him at Grindleford station and we made out way over to the Abney moors. The bridleway was hard going in the mud but fun. After dropping to Bradwell, I think I'm riding more of that descent we headed for breakfast via Silly Dale.

Then it was some playing round the quarries before back to mine. Thanks for coming out Greg.

Miles and smiles

Our with Ali again today. Took her down the techy decent to Bradwell.

Short and sweet

Another quick four miles with Ali. This time with her on her full sus. She is riding the descents really well at the moment.

Mud and more mud

With Hannah back from her holidays she requested an easy ride,  some excuse about not having been on a bike for a month. I had a nice easy 25 miles planned in the white peak. She also asked for breakfast so bacon rolls were made in her arrival before we headed out. We were lucky and the weather decided to be sunny and clear. Although it wasn't long before Hannah started mumbling something about hills. I'm guessing how much she had missed riding up them.

 

It wasn't long into the ride when I decided to do a superman impression apparently it was quite impressive and I landed  flat. Amazingly apart from a slightly sore elbow I was fine. So we could head off before the walkers came to check I was okay. We were headed out Chatsworth way and the trails were very muddy but lots and lots of fun. We got to the lunch stop at Rowsley before they started serving lunch but after two breakfasts I only really had room for cake anyway.

 

Then it was uphill Hannah was having some  chainsuck issues so she tried cleaning her chain and jockey wheels to see if it helped,  otherwise her Hill climbing gears just weren't working!

More mud and more hills with the only disappointment being that Black Harry was closed so we finished with a road descent.

Short rides can be lots of fun.

After dragging myself over to Leeds on Saturday it seemed rude not to ride. Just over 5 miles but lots of muddy singletrack. We also got to see where Sarah and Al are moving to.

Then today another short ride, local trails this time. 4 miles of rideable up and techy down. Ali was flying on the downhills and had a huge smile on her face when we got home

Short rides can be lots and lots of fun.

Silly Dale

Last minute message from a friend led to a ride in the sun on Wednesday. .

Dizzy Coo meets hairy coos

Sarah came over with her cross bike today. She asked me for something easy and not too rocky which is basically impossible out here. I took her up Baslow Edge to meet the hairy coos that live up there. Somehow apart from a five minute shower we missed all the rain and had sunshine.

Both sides of The Dale

Just a short ride today as still very tired but I thought it was important to get out of the house. I did a loop that climbed up one side of the Valley and then across to the other. It's muddy out there now. The ride had bits of everything from the lovely hills to quarries.

Out on the mountain bike

Ali was only going to work in the afternoon, having worked from home in the morning. I knew that I would probably do nothing and then best myself over it so I decided to get my mountain bike out leave at the same time as Ali and ride the route I had plotted in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. Only the very start and end of the route were on trails I had ridden before. I went through Chatsworth where I saw deer. Weather was lovely as well. At first the trails were wet but soon became muddy I even walked a couple of hills due to lack of traction (still have a semi-slick) on the back. I kept looking at the views which were stunning. About half an hour from home the weather changed and the rain started but it didn't matter. I got home and hosed both me and the bike down.

Getting back out on the bike

After the Doctor yesterday telling me that I really was to get back out on the bike but also not to worry if I didn't enjoy it just yet I set myself the task of putting cross tyres back on kermit. Then I headed out over to Baslow Edge. Only a short ride but I followed a new track and I was having fun. All progress.

More running

Just a short run this evening with Ali after the Doctor had visited me. 1.7miles but nice and hilly. I found myself grinning as we came over the hill and was so glad we had got out.

Dr told me I needed to get back out on my bike so I guess that is the next thing.

Running with Ali

Been a hard couple of weeks and me not being in great form we haven't really left the house. But we both have a half marathon to run in January so this morning we headed out.

It wasn't fast, it wasn't far but even in the mist it was pretty.

Not feeling it for riding at the moment, and a little scared to go on the bike in case I don't enjoy it so going to try and run a few times a week.

My first DNF on an Audax

I'd entered this Audax a few weeks ago and had really been looking forward to it. But after not finishing Dusk til Dawn last weekend, a night in hospital and most of a week off work I was unsure. But I also knew I would beat myself up if I didn't go. Ali dropped me off with instructions to call her if I needed a lift home from ANYWHERE.

The first section was flat and fast, although windy I assume it was a tailwind as we were moving fast. I rode sometimes with a group and sometimes on my own and made reasonable time to the first control. By this point I was remembering all the things I had forgotten to bring, including a bike pump although fortunately I did have a CO2 inflator with me.

From her I rode on my own, there was a random Giraffe and Panda in a field.

I wasn't enjoying it at all and felt clammy and rubbish (probably partly new med side effects). I also knew the next control was a café where I should stop and eat and I just didn't think I could cope with people. I text Ali and dropped into Leek to be picked up.

The rest of the day was spent on the sofa curled up feeling pretty rubbish.

Dusk til Dawn

I was unsure about this race I know I've lost a lot of fitness, I've been getting more and more lifts to and from work, feeling tired all the time, and 12hours is a long time. But I'd entered and Ali was also racing with Hannah in female pairs.

Leading up to the race we had some 'Amy' moments but it was soon start time and I watched Ali zoom off. I spent the first lap riding with the winner from last year but knew I had to let her go. The course was lovely but I wasn't enjoying it. A second lap and I wanted to stop, I made an agreement with myself that at 100miles I could. On I plugged, knees started hurting and I realised saddle had slipped so a quick stop to sort that. A lap with Ali and after a couple more. I was getting slower and slower and I wasn't enjoying it, which is odd even when hurting I'm usually smiling on the bike.

Time to rest and get ready for next year.

Three Peaks Cyclo-cross 2013

So this year I had a new bike but somehow had managed no specific training, there really is no excuse as I do now live somewhere perfect to train, but on the plus side I had rode my cross bike a lot including off-road. As Ali was away I stayed at Malham YH the night before with Hannah which meant no having to get up early and an easy 8mile drive over to the start. Once we registered (thanks Ros of the Whistle as I had forgot mine). We met up with Al, Sarah and Norn and enjoyed the fact the sun was shining. Lining up it was nice to catch up with people I hadn't seen a while but soon we were off.

The road section was crazy as always although I lost the back of the main group, could tell at that point I had lost fitness over this summer, still my main aim was to make the cut-offs and finish so that was fine. Onto Simon Fell and it hadn't got any flatter, this year you could also see the whole line of riders/walkers up to the top. I soon was into my slow rhythm to the top, my main aim being to not stop which I managed. I was finding the carrying hard though, but I managed a PB to the top by a minute (probably as much to do with the better conditions but one I am pleased with).

That's me bottom left

Up onto Ingleborough and I was riding the singletrack but once we started climbing the wind became quite strong and at one point I was more of less crawling at the top. Dibbed in and started descending, a bit more walking than I would like and also one crash when the wind blew my bike off the track and I went over the bars but no damage. It was great to have my cheer squad at the bottom.

I headed along the road to Whernside and for the first time I caught someone and we shared the work to the bottom. Then it was another climb before some more descending, I managed to find some of the lines off the side of the track which helped me ride more of it.

I made the last cutoff and headed up PYG lots of riding on the way up was good but my legs were struggling. The turn around came and after walking the top section it was riding all the way, I enjoyed the descent and felt strong on the way to the finish actually passing two guys on the way to the finish.

Sub 6hours isn't anything amazing but I'm chuffed to have finished again.

So next year....yes I may try and actually train....

Riding before work with Mark

A change to my normal Monday as Hannah couldn't make it over and I was starting work earlier than usual at 12noon so I met up with Mark at work and we headed over towards Hayfield. Rushup Edge, Rouch Clough and Cracken Edge. It was misty out but lovely riding.

Getting out of the house

I've been struggling a bit lately and on Sunday I was happily hiding from the world. Ali dragged me out and we went over to Curbar Edge, lovely views and lots of rocks to climb on in lovely weather.

Risk Assessing

Went risk assessing yesterday, felt odd not having Jenny with me and being on the old stomping ground in Merseyside. Nice day and I even had time for a risk assessment.

A new trail and a new hill

Just a short ride this morning to ride a new trail I spotted on the map. Pretty and hairy cows for company what more could I want?

Traffic Jams and Ice-cream

A ride from home today so in the White Peak the whole time, I'd wanted to ride a trail that I had done on the way to work in the other direction as I remembered it looked like it would be a fun downhill.

We had a little traffic jam at one point, ate ice-cream and had fun.

 

We came down the White trail on the opposite side of the valley.

Last climb

Then a nice lunch.

Pictures of Focus Mares