Four hardy souls - Gary, Simon Ian & Richard - set off from Hillsborough Park at 10-ish (Simon was late) After calling at Butties to pick up Essentials - water bottle, new rear light, we set off up through Oughtibridge up to Stockbridge (the last bit being the route described in the solid air posting below - could've called in at Andy's house to make ourselves a cup of tea but forgot the key - and the milk - and the teabags, and the duster - doh!) Hence up to the balcony road to make our way to the Flouch, plenty of hard climbing and solid air involved, plus a bit of storming downhill, on to the Holmfirth Rd,
Simon's confident prediction that it would all be downhill from there turning out to be false. Plenty of showers to keep is refreshed as well. On the first proper downhill there turned out to be a farmers market going on, cars and people everywhere, but soon afterwards we were on the proper downhill into Holmfirth, Ian & Richard doing strange things to get past the inevitable queue of traffic heading into town, whilst I found the offside the best place to be. Soon eating breakfast in the cafe - Gary popped off to see a friend - and then we were fully prepared for the climb ahead - and it is mega.
The April/May CTC mag said it was a "Northern classic". The hairpins on the approach I found not bad - having done a few of the classic French climbs, and some in the Pelopennese - but the last section was definitely painful.
It was a relief to get to the car park and sit down for a while.
However, some of us took it in their stride...
Ian strolls up Holme Moss...
Whilst others weeped with joy when they got to the top...
Whilst we were all pleased to have a sit-down...
..and some of us had a spot of bother with our Kaggies in the breeze (Richard actually)
& Simon just pretended it was nothing to him, whilst harbouring aching muscles he previously didn't know he had.
The downhill run made Alton Tower's Oblivion ride seem pretty tame. Simon's topbag came open risking jettisoning his possesion all over the peak district, so a stop was required. At the bottom the Woodhead road offered the usual stream of cars & trucks; fantasies of a button you could press that restricted traffic to 20mph "whilst lights flash" for the 10 minutes or so you need to get to the Glossop Rd ensued. The Woodhead Road over to Glossop really is a cracker - we were musing on what a shame it would be if cyclists were dissuaded from using it by the stupid revisions of the highway code, because the transpennine trail runs alongside and is therefore "available".
Rolling into Glossop, and you know you're on the wrong side of the pennines. The cafe was indicated, but according to Ian we were not allowed to go inside the cafe because we would only get too warm and comfortable and not want to leave. This leads me to Ian's Rules of Cycling, as I understand them:
- Cyclists should use main roads whenever possible.
- Putting your bike on the train as is as bad as putting it in your car - if you go for a bike ride you should cycle.
- You should never go inside a cafe because you will only get too warm and comfortable and not want to leave.
- Only 8.5% cider should be drunk on bike rides.
Having sheltered outside the cafe for a bit there seemed to be a minor letup in the torrentiality
so we set off up the hill and towards the Snake. At first the rain was bad enough, but then it cleared as we reached the top. However this was a false friend and as we started to descend the Derbyshire Monsoon commenced. For me, my brakes didn't work as we were aquaplaning, the road was a river, I couldn't see a thing and the traffic wasn't all that forgiving.
Eventually the torment ceased and we emerged to a reasonably clear vista as we descended towards Ladybower. However we were now soaked as wall as aching in those unknown muscles. When we got to Yorkshire Bridge I decided to check the trains from Bamford - there was one in about 12 minutes so ignoring Ian's strictures I went for it. Got to Bamford with a minute or so to go, just time to smugly text the still-cycling, detrained at Dore and half an hour or so later I was relaxing in a Radox-enhanced hot bath. Bliss!
Gary & I decided that this would be known as the f***ing h*ll ride, as this was the most frequently offered comment!
Sunday 13th May - The Rhubarb Ride
This was a slightly different kettle of rhubarb. It was an opportunity to meet up with pp & pedal Ready trainer Mike, in his relocated town of Wakefield (he actually lives in Crofton) With a projected meet time of 11:00 I went for the 09:36 train only find that this doesn't exist - the 09:42 to Huddesrfield got me to Barnsley & I set off from there. (train info follows) This was one of the class 158's relocated from Central, as you could tell from the grubby interior and faded green exterior.
Having had the experience of the TPT in Barnsley, allegedly it's spiritual home but where some othe most-abused sections reside, I hit the A61 from right outside the station, with a stonking downhill run getting me out of town, heading for Royston.
Here I came across some of the most inconsiderate road users you can ever hope to meet. Yes, I had the misfortunate to meet..a cycle race. Why a pack of cyclists think they can pass you with milimetres to spare, whilst offering patronising comments like "eh, you're doing quite well really" is beyond me. If a motorist offered such behaviour I would (a) try my best to D-lock 'em
(b) take their numbers and 101 'em.
Any, took the first opportunity to de-stress by getting onto the lovely Barnsley Canal section, of the TPT past Cold Hiendley and before you know it you are Walton just outside Wakefield. The TPT skirts around Wakefield through up-market Heath, but it was time for me to bite the bullet and head for Wakefield central, passing this excellent candidate for Cycle Facility of the Month:
Rolled up at Wakefield Westgate to find Mike waiting around, after a cup of tea and a chat got the call from P&T, "We're at Kirkgate. where are you?" It seems rail confusion continues.
So, we set off through Thornes Parkwith its Motte & Bailey, Mike filling us on the local political situation. It seems there is an ambitious plan for a BMX park and other facilities, although local residents are concerned that this could lead to young people hanging around together engaging in healthy activity and and enjoying themselves when they should be stuck in their bedrooms IMSing, eating takeway pizza and drinking coke. Also Wakefield recently got rid of its healthy travel initiative and cycle forum , so the place really is in trouble.
This got us down to the Rhubarb route. Wakefield is of cuurse famous for its Rhubarb production, although I have yet to see a Rhubarb farm. There's a rhubarb sculpture along here that you can see quite clearly from the train, but I have yet to see from a bike. Maybe its all a myth? However, we did come across this rhubarb painting, which as Tony said made it the vegetable seem quite exotic:
Then we found this one a bit further along in Horbury:
Soon after this we found ourselves at Horbury Bridge, where all routes collide. (see earlier blog entries on this topic) Then a sharp climb to get onto the valley road toward Cridgington, a bit of a roller-coaster, over the motorway, a sharp climb and lots of roads with names like "vCliff RD, and it was here that Polly Blacker found her spiritual home:
But by now the rain was definitely setting in as we headed for Newmillerdam. We thought we had spotted a bench under a tree where we could eat our sarnies in a slightly soggy setting, but it turned out that the bench was in the open whilst the tree was obscuring the view, so there was nothing going for it. However, Mike was kind enough to invite us back to his place, a mere half an hour or so away, so off we set. The route back took us past Walton where the TPT passes through again This was a chance to chat about the cycling situation in Sheffield and elsewhere whilst eating our sarnies in the dry.
The time came to head home sowe set off to find the main road into Wakefield. Simon thought he'd left hi goggles back at Mike's so I returned, but then found them in my bag so was able to shoot off to town. Headed to Kirkgate but missed the train there so the next stop was Westgate.
Sure enough P&T were there & with a chat about stuff with the booking clerk we were on the next Virgin to Sheffield despite not having bike reservations. Anothe great pp ride! Don't miss it next year!
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