Month: June 2021

Closing out the month with some great local singletrack riding through the woods. Keep chasing those PBs.

I can’t remember the last time I did Llandegla as a complete route, I normally end up going off piste with Neil and Lardy and sampling things outside the boundaries. This weekend it was just me so I did most of the red and some of the black bits (there are now some forks in the trail where you can chose between different options) and it was like a voyage of discovery. There were some bits that I had genuinely forgotten existed, which made it very worthwhile.

The weather was descent, the trails were dry, a 2pm start meant the trails were relatively quiet and the recently fettled bike made solid and creak free (thanks to a new bottom bracket) progress around at a descent pace. Not the longest ride but a good one.

Home -> Woods -> Beach -> Woods -> Home

Add Weather.

Notably lacking significant elevation, but the Singletrack is better…

Headed over to Rishton near Blackburn for a loop which was a Frankenstein of two other loops. The southern most one it turned out was all road and a missed opportunity as I passed a couple of bridleways. Might have to return and do some more recce work.

When they arrived, the off-road bits were mint. Some really good bits of Singletrack, including some nice little sunken trails and technical climbs. There was also some classic Singletrack ribbons which were great, except the bit through the gorse bushes on one of the hill sides which was a prickly bit to navigate.

Some good views and bits of Lancashire where you could have been in the middle of Wales miles from anywhere. Then over the next hill, you were back into obvious civilisation. Lovely little Father’s Day ride.

So today was my last day working in Durham, so earlier this week I returned to the Land of the Prince Bishops to say farewell.

The weather was kind, the ground was baked hard and dusty. The trails ranged from the improved, to the neglected to the lost.

There were cheeky trails, there were peacocks, lovely folk and head height cow parsley and handlebar high nettles.

After 7.5 years of riding, including a full year where I commuted by bike everyday even during the Beast of the East, I have come to know and love the place. I had bought the Chameleon with the intent of keeping that exploring going, but COVID killed off that idea. I’ll bank those – might get back and be able to try them one day.

That UNESCO World Heritage Site view of the city is truly a rarity in this modern age, there’s certainly no boring commutes getting into work in Durham.

Rugby season is over so up at 6.30am and out to the Dark Peak District for a classic ride.

Longendale Trail up to the Woodhead Pass, the Now Track down to Langsett, along Mickledon Edge and over and Cut Gate to Derwent Reservoir then up Snake Pass to just shy of the summit before taking Doctor’s Gate ultra technical trail down to Old Glossop…

It was scorch out there, low 30s and I had to beg some sunscreen off some walkers I bumped into. Also ran out of water on the final climb up the Snake, that was properly hard.

I have never ridden Cut Gate when it has been so dry – literally dusty and all rideable which was a complete first!

At the bottom of Doctor’s Gate as you come into Old Glossop there is a pub and for the thirsty biker it was like finding an Oasis. Suitably refreshed it was back over the tops back to the start of the Longendale Trail. A long but really good loop.