Needing to warm up
again we decided to
keep moving. Having
one more climb helped.
By the top of this we
were warm and ready for
the final descent. The
descent was quite
interesting as Higgs had
worn out his
replacement pads and a
few of us had nothing
left on the rear, but we
all made it down in one
piece.
On the short ride back to
the cars somebody
floated the idea of a post
ride pint. As ideas go it’s
always a good one. With
the bikes packed away it
was off to the George
Hotel for beer and crisps
all round, well, except for
those who had tea.
again we decided to
keep moving. Having
one more climb helped.
By the top of this we
were warm and ready for
the final descent. The
descent was quite
interesting as Higgs had
worn out his
replacement pads and a
few of us had nothing
left on the rear, but we
all made it down in one
piece.
On the short ride back to
the cars somebody
floated the idea of a post
ride pint. As ideas go it’s
always a good one. With
the bikes packed away it
was off to the George
Hotel for beer and crisps
all round, well, except for
those who had tea.
| |||||||||
| A Oneplanet Adventure Shop Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
The predictions of a biblical downpour seemed to have put some people off riding. Sabine and me arrived
in Hayfield to find only four others getting ready to brave the elements, which actually turned out to be light
rain. Definitely no animals going two by two.
Seconds before setting off I was asked if this was the ‘flattyres’ ride. Cheryl, who was new to the rides,
also informed us her friends were not far away. Chris and Paul then turned up, also new, followed Cheryl’s
friends and Paul B. We set off late but were now a group of twelve, with Sabine happy to have the company
of women (more of them please, Sabine).
in Hayfield to find only four others getting ready to brave the elements, which actually turned out to be light
rain. Definitely no animals going two by two.
Seconds before setting off I was asked if this was the ‘flattyres’ ride. Cheryl, who was new to the rides,
also informed us her friends were not far away. Chris and Paul then turned up, also new, followed Cheryl’s
friends and Paul B. We set off late but were now a group of twelve, with Sabine happy to have the company
of women (more of them please, Sabine).
The easy start on the Sett Valley Trail didn’t last long and we were soon fighting
up the first climb. It may not have been raining heavily but the ground was
soaked and the mud was thick. It warmed us up nicely though.
I always try to balance effort with a worthwhile payback and it came in the form
of the Laneside farm descent. As always this loose, rocky track was great fun,
although the puddle near the top was deeper than usual and those who rode
through it got very wet feet.
After Rowarth we got more than wet feet. The ford at the bottom of the next
descent was the deepest I had ever seen. Choosing my usual line I still hit it at
speed and made a satisfying splash, before stopping to watch everyone else’s
attempts. Most made it, some didn’t, but the star of the show was Ches. He hit
the ford at full speed and disappeared in an explosion of water, coming out the
other side dripping from head to foot.
| Paul B on the first climb |
| (clockwise, from top left) Paul, Chris, Lee, Higgs, Cheryl, Sabine, Paul B and Matthew descending to Laneside farm |
| Paul in the ford and Darren dragging his bike out |
| Higgs making a decent splash with Chris waiting for his turn |
| Ches making a spectacular entrance |
| Lee and Anne get through the ford but Cheryl gets her feet wet. At least she tried. Sabine and Matthew, far right, cheated and found an easy way to cross a bit further up stream |
Now we were properly wet and it was still raining and but waterproofs and the following climb to Cown
Edge kept us nice and toasty. Some horse riders and their hunting dogs briefly slowed our descent on the
other side. The riders tried to let us through but the dogs weren’t listening and swamped the first couple
of bikes, so the rest of us stay behind. We made careful progress to the next junction before disentangling
ourselves. Fortunately we went in opposite directions.
While crossing the undulating terrain that followed the trails started to take their toll on our bikes. I
thought everyone was standing around after a deep, waterlogged section to see who stalled and got wet
feet (again). Well they were, but only to entertain themselves while Higgs replace his worn brake pads and
Chris sorted out a rear mech that was ghost shifting. Darren did mention that his £300 GT, with
maintenance consisting of spraying on GT85 and leaving it in the garden, was still running fine.
Edge kept us nice and toasty. Some horse riders and their hunting dogs briefly slowed our descent on the
other side. The riders tried to let us through but the dogs weren’t listening and swamped the first couple
of bikes, so the rest of us stay behind. We made careful progress to the next junction before disentangling
ourselves. Fortunately we went in opposite directions.
While crossing the undulating terrain that followed the trails started to take their toll on our bikes. I
thought everyone was standing around after a deep, waterlogged section to see who stalled and got wet
feet (again). Well they were, but only to entertain themselves while Higgs replace his worn brake pads and
Chris sorted out a rear mech that was ghost shifting. Darren did mention that his £300 GT, with
maintenance consisting of spraying on GT85 and leaving it in the garden, was still running fine.
Although it seems an abusive relationship
Darren and his GT get on well. In the
muddy field that followed the bikes heavy
construction allowed it to sink through the
thick mud and find traction, leaving
thousands of pounds worth of
thoroughbred mountain bikes floundering
in its wake. Then on the rocky descent into
the Goyt Valley, which had turned into a
stream, he was still near the front.
| Riding to HIlltop farm |
| Anne, Sabine and Cheryl on the Smooth Lea Farm climb |
In the valley we found the river inches from flooding. Luckily our track was just
above water, saving us from a lengthy detour. I’m not sure everyone thought
they were lucky when I let slip we still had a big climb ahead of us. After riding
up through the golf course we came to a flat section and waited for Ches to fix
his puncture. “That wasn’t so bad”, said Paul. “That was only the first third and
it gets harder”.
above water, saving us from a lengthy detour. I’m not sure everyone thought
they were lucky when I let slip we still had a big climb ahead of us. After riding
up through the golf course we came to a flat section and waited for Ches to fix
his puncture. “That wasn’t so bad”, said Paul. “That was only the first third and
it gets harder”.
(left to right) Ches, Higgs and Paul B surfing the waterlogged Bottom's Hall
descent into the Goyt Valley
descent into the Goyt Valley
Although the next section was short it was steep. While Chris swore at
his bike for ghost shifting again it was agreed the climb was getting
quite arduous. And still it went on, up a loose rocky track, where I
brightened Chris’s day by clipping the side of a rut and falling into a
bush. The loose rocks then gave way to steep tarmac leading up to the
cross. Darren’s wheelieing at this point seemed slightly inappropriate.
After the cross there was teeny bit more climbing before the sight of a
trail that went down hill. Muddy ruts at the start of the descent turned
into rocky double track and we enjoyed the almost forgotten feeling of
speed, until my tyre exploded. Something sharp put a 1/2cm hole into
my tyre, which had to be patched with toothpaste tube.
his bike for ghost shifting again it was agreed the climb was getting
quite arduous. And still it went on, up a loose rocky track, where I
brightened Chris’s day by clipping the side of a rut and falling into a
bush. The loose rocks then gave way to steep tarmac leading up to the
cross. Darren’s wheelieing at this point seemed slightly inappropriate.
After the cross there was teeny bit more climbing before the sight of a
trail that went down hill. Muddy ruts at the start of the descent turned
into rocky double track and we enjoyed the almost forgotten feeling of
speed, until my tyre exploded. Something sharp put a 1/2cm hole into
my tyre, which had to be patched with toothpaste tube.
| By this point any way of getting up the hill was accepteble |
| Paul and Darren at the top of the final climb |
| Top of the last descent |
| Ches starting the last descent |
| Heavy casualties were suffered by Higgs' brake pads, not a pretty sight |
Directions for this route can be found in my route guides.