The big loose rocks on the descent were tricky without a saddle but I made it down, if a bit slower than
usual. With the hard part over all that was left was a mile or so on the smooth tracks. We rode down
through the park and past the castle to, tick off all the attractions, on the way back to the car park and the
Great House Barn for a well deserved bacon barm.
Thanks to everyone who turned up and the weather for making it such a good ride. Thanks also to Ian for
buying Sabine and me coffee and bacon barms, they were much appreciated.
A description of this ride can be found in the routes section of this site.
usual. With the hard part over all that was left was a mile or so on the smooth tracks. We rode down
through the park and past the castle to, tick off all the attractions, on the way back to the car park and the
Great House Barn for a well deserved bacon barm.
Thanks to everyone who turned up and the weather for making it such a good ride. Thanks also to Ian for
buying Sabine and me coffee and bacon barms, they were much appreciated.
A description of this ride can be found in the routes section of this site.
| |||||||||
Clear blue skies welcomed us to Rivington Pike and it was set to stay that way
the whole day. The 10 o’clock start time proved just early enough and
everyone managed to find a space in a car park that was filling up fast. We
didn’t actually start until a little after 10. Ken said his bike felt weird, which was
tracked down of a very loose headset. Suitably fettled, we set off.
the whole day. The 10 o’clock start time proved just early enough and
everyone managed to find a space in a car park that was filling up fast. We
didn’t actually start until a little after 10. Ken said his bike felt weird, which was
tracked down of a very loose headset. Suitably fettled, we set off.
| Heading out from the car park |
A gentle spin around the reservoirs
started the ride and got us away from the
crowds. We arrived at Healey Nab woods
nicely warmed up and ready to tackle
something more difficult. A tricky, rock-
strewn climb preceded the rock steps on
the descent. A challenging section that
wasn’t easy to clean. The descent
continued down a fast muddy trail. Sketchy
and fun, it had everyone smiling by the
bottom. Even the climb back out of the
| Off the bikes for the stone stile |
woods had a number of obstacles to keep things interesting.
It wasn’t long till we emerged from the trees for the long, steep road
climb away from Anglezarke reservoir. The incline had our legs
burning but the view from the top was a fantastic reward. The descent
wasn’t bad either and we dropped through a couple of loose rocky
corners with some welcome speed. There was a bit of singletrack
parallel to the wide track at the bottom of the clough. I warned those
who wanted to follow me about the rock step at the end. Ken
listened. Jim however, decided to please the crowd with an over the
bars dismount, although an untidy landing kept his overall scoring low.
It wasn’t long till we emerged from the trees for the long, steep road
climb away from Anglezarke reservoir. The incline had our legs
burning but the view from the top was a fantastic reward. The descent
wasn’t bad either and we dropped through a couple of loose rocky
corners with some welcome speed. There was a bit of singletrack
parallel to the wide track at the bottom of the clough. I warned those
who wanted to follow me about the rock step at the end. Ken
listened. Jim however, decided to please the crowd with an over the
bars dismount, although an untidy landing kept his overall scoring low.
| Ken and Sally heading to Healy Nab |
| The view from Healy Nab Woods |
| Nic on the short descent by the water steps |
Returning to Rivington Country Park saw
the foot traffic increase. It was time to
take things easy and a good opportunity
stop for a bit of food before heading to the
top of the Pike. A jarring, badly cobbled
track started the climb and soon had
everyone hunting for the smoothest line.
We reached Rivington Hall Barn, a popular
bikers café, to find the car park filled with
a sea of motorbikes. Somehow we made it
the foot traffic increase. It was time to
take things easy and a good opportunity
stop for a bit of food before heading to the
top of the Pike. A jarring, badly cobbled
track started the climb and soon had
everyone hunting for the smoothest line.
We reached Rivington Hall Barn, a popular
bikers café, to find the car park filled with
a sea of motorbikes. Somehow we made it
| Ken and Jim at the top of Healy Nab |
| Nic and Sally climbing out of Healy Nab |
| Jim riding a rock step in Healy Nab Woods |
| Ken leading the group climbing from Anglezarke Reservoir |
| Heading back towards Rivington Pike Country Park |
through the constantly moving
mass of bikes and returned to
relative calm of the trails to
resume climbing the lumpy
mass of bikes and returned to
relative calm of the trails to
resume climbing the lumpy
stone tracks. Through the terraced garden and past the Pigeon tower
we gained height, eventually reaching the steepest part that took us to
the tower at the summit of Rivington Pike.
we gained height, eventually reaching the steepest part that took us to
the tower at the summit of Rivington Pike.
| Ken and Ian climbing from the Barn |
| Sabine and Paul before climbing to the Pigeon Tower |
| Paul, Sabine (above) and Jim (below) riding under the Seven Arches bridge |
The radios went mental and had to be turned off. At this height they picked
up everything and just produced noise. Once tranquillity was restored we
stood for a while to appreciate the stunning view. It was pretty clear and
we could just make out Blackpool tower in the distance.
The descent off the top started with some nice rock steps, although the
majority erred on the side of caution and took one of the many chicken
runs. Jim tried a second dismount in the ruts that followed, but again
landed in a heap. He was going to have to work harder for a perfect score.
The descent continued through Wilderswood on some fast twisting
singletrack, one of the highlights of the route, before a final blast down
some broken tarmac to the bottom.
After enjoying a chat in the sun we found our legs had cooled off. Not the
best thing before the long, bumpy climb back up the Pike. For some it was
up everything and just produced noise. Once tranquillity was restored we
stood for a while to appreciate the stunning view. It was pretty clear and
we could just make out Blackpool tower in the distance.
The descent off the top started with some nice rock steps, although the
majority erred on the side of caution and took one of the many chicken
runs. Jim tried a second dismount in the ruts that followed, but again
landed in a heap. He was going to have to work harder for a perfect score.
The descent continued through Wilderswood on some fast twisting
singletrack, one of the highlights of the route, before a final blast down
some broken tarmac to the bottom.
After enjoying a chat in the sun we found our legs had cooled off. Not the
best thing before the long, bumpy climb back up the Pike. For some it was
a painful experience but at least it was the last climb. Only one big descent remained to complete the ride.
| Col and Paul near the summit of Rivington Pike |
| Proof that we all made it too the top |
| Paul riding the rock steps from the top of the Pike |
| Ken, Paul and Jim on the fun trail down through Wilderswood |
The Pigeon Tower marked the start
of the descent. It had a broken
wall next to it that looked like it
could make a nice drop off.
Despite the audience I stopped to
give it a go. The drop off went
smoothly but Sabine wanted a
picture and the camera hadn’t
worked. While I checked the
camera there was a group shout of
alarm. Jim had tried his dismount
again. An attempt at the two-foot
of the descent. It had a broken
wall next to it that looked like it
could make a nice drop off.
Despite the audience I stopped to
give it a go. The drop off went
smoothly but Sabine wanted a
picture and the camera hadn’t
worked. While I checked the
camera there was a group shout of
alarm. Jim had tried his dismount
again. An attempt at the two-foot
high drop threw him over the bars for a head first landing. Escaping injury he was finally given a perfect
ten, if only to stop him trying again.
With a few words of warning about the big rocks we started the last descent, only to stop shortly after.
Before the rocks I took some air, then heard a metallic snap on landing. The sight of my saddle bouncing
down the trail was quite disconcerting. The clamp bolt had snapped leaving the seat post bare and ready
to skewer. Not a thought I relished. The seat post and all the bits got stuck in my pack. There wasn’t far to
go, I’d just stand up for the last few miles.
ten, if only to stop him trying again.
With a few words of warning about the big rocks we started the last descent, only to stop shortly after.
Before the rocks I took some air, then heard a metallic snap on landing. The sight of my saddle bouncing
down the trail was quite disconcerting. The clamp bolt had snapped leaving the seat post bare and ready
to skewer. Not a thought I relished. The seat post and all the bits got stuck in my pack. There wasn’t far to
go, I’d just stand up for the last few miles.
| Sabine and Nic riding down through the boulder field on the Pigeon Tower descent |
| Sally taking on the singletrack staying high of the boulders |
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