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I have been tasked with planning a route for some of the lads in the club. They are all pretty much roadies so fitness is not an issue. 20 miles+. Was thinking of the Ladybower area as I have ridden round there a few times but can't remember how to get to any of it. Cut gate is out as it will be a slop fest, done it many times and it's the only bit I am familiar with. Anyone got any route/ gpx suggestions and also where to stop for a brew and a butty.?
I have downloaded a couple of routes off the mbr site but not sure if they are any good or if they are rideable this time of year. I went in the winter last year and it was all pretty good even though it was wet.
I don't want to disappoint them and put them off bouncy bikes forever.
Cheers.
This
[url= http://www.v-publishing.co.uk/blog/v-publishing-blog/2014-01-20---free-download-kinder-all-weather-circuit.html ]wet weather route[/url]
Did it last sun, still very dry in most places
Make sure your'e at the back with a GoPro on the descents?
Make sure you're at the back with a GoPro on the descents?
😀
Fitness? They may well have it in spades. Handling? 😀
[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/humour-tips-for-becoming-a-roadie-14451/ ]Since roadies and mountain bikers have a common heritage, it's no surprise that they share some vocabulary. It's also no surprise that the variance in meaning in some of that vocabulary can get you into trouble.
For example, if a mountain biker says a ride is 'technical', you can assume that there is loose shale, several ledge drops, high-penalty (e.g., death) exposure on one side of the trail, or slick, mossy roots twisting along the singletrack. If a roadie calls a ride 'technical' on the other hand, it most likely means that there is a roundabout somewhere in the ride.
As a second example, when a mountain biker talks about going on a 'group ride', it means that a bunch of friends got together, regrouped at junctures of the ride, talked as they were riding, and probably had a beer or twelve together after the ride. When roadies have a 'group ride', on the other hand, riders are expected to ride in a tight formation, paying strict attention to the gap between your front tire and the rear wheel ahead of you. the gap should be no more than four inches. After the obligatory ten minute warmup, it becomes each rider's dual purpose to drop every other rider, while not being dropped [/url]
Fitness on tap but the technical ability will be another issue. They all have mountain bikes but apart from the odd trip to Cannock I don't think any of them have done any "proper" mtbing.
They'll be reet, what's the worst that can happen.?
My brother-in-law is a hard-core roadie 20 years younger than I am. On a recent visit I took him on his first mountain bike ride on a mid-level technical trail. After a 10 minute warm-up ride from the parking lot to the trail head, he took off like a madman----then we hit the steep rocky sections and his pace dropped to a slow grind. The combination of 7-8000 ft elevation (he lives at sea level in Seattle), 3 crashes resulting in some highly decorative rock rash and he developed a whole new appreciation for what MTB is all about. So wish I had a GoPro with me at the time.
Anyone on the day shift.?
The kinder loop that James posted is the most weather-proof in the area. Up Coldwell clough and down Jacobs ladder (as God intended) will be character-forming for anyone not used to the rocks.
It's not a long route - 15-ish miles I think, but it's quite a hard 15.
Ladybower stuff would be fine in general - Hope brink and Whinstone Lee Tor get mashed in the mud, though, so prob not great right now. Many alternatives though.
Everything is a sloppy mess in the Peaks. The route Jameswilliams54 has posted is rocky enough to stay dry. There's no way that's a 3hr+ route though. Personally I'd start in Hayfield and add on New Allotments and the Foxholes Clough descent and then cross the road to pick up the route at Higher Heys, then when you come back via South Head do the descent to Coldwell Clough again but stay left and go up the slight incline so you can do the camp site descent to Hayfield for a good finish to the cafe.
Took seven of them oop north to the peaks on Sunday. None of them died, a couple fell off but all of us giggled like school kids.
It was kind of fascinating watching none mountain bikers realalising just how hard it can be. All of these boys will happily knock out a 60+ mile club ride but 30 miles in the peaks destroyed them.
Fantastic ride and best of all we have trail centre trip planned for the end of the month.
Just beware, I assisted a severely injured roadie on his second time off road as his mates stood around flapping at Llandegla not long after the Freeride area opened and he had OTB on the first decent drop and shattered his vertebrae, punctured both lungs, eight ribs.......
Having done the first aid that basically saved his life whilst the ambo arrived I was, two years after events, contacted by a solicitor representing the injured man who was suing his mate who organised and was 'leading' the ride.........
I pointed out certain aspects that have lead to me not being called as a witness as I would undermine the injured mans case significantly...... There are big signs and a Freeride park is not a place for a second time off road roadie on an ancient 90 mm travel hardtail.....
So just be warned......
shattered his vertebrae, punctured both lungs, eight ribs.......
Christ.! 😯
I've stopped "organising/leading" my works crew for the resasons Suggsey mentions. One or two are just liabilities waiting to happen and I reckon our work may not be too happy if/when someone does get hurt! They are already proposing to ban biking on site because someone fell on an icy road earlier in the year and has posted a claim 😐 I cycled past him as he was walking up the road pushing his bike not realising how badly injured he was 🙁
MBL and a good few years experience btw.....
I know he was in a full body cast and it took him a good eight or nine months to be moving about properly but Ill admit I was disgusted that his own poor decision making and lack of common sense in the first place put himself in the position to have the OTBs....peer pressure or testosterone didn't seem on the face of it to be in play from what I could see they we're all under biked and under skilled and quite obviously hadn't stopped and read the signs and warnings.
Thankfully I was very experienced in emergency first aid and neck stabilisation/ immobilisation amongst spotting other symptoms like him not being able to breath over and above broken ribs although my heart was in my mouth as I had to manoeuvre him from laying head downhill to sat upright against my legs still with me stabilising his neck whilst my assistants ie his mates I was directing in how to help me conduct the process so he could at least breath.
If you are leading or organising anything always always make sure you've fond a full first aide course.....and to be honest all MTBers should do one if they can to self treat if needs be. It is a good feeling knowing for sure you saved someone's life.