Dark Peak or White Peak ?, recomend me a route
Looking to venture in to the peaks soon, may be over Christmass, but bit bamboozeled by the amount of trails available, an some folk say avoid dark peak in the wet as it ruins your bike, an other folk say avoid white peak in the wet as too boggy ???
any advice please, on a HT , currently used to 2 laps of FTG so will be first time away from a trail center other than local stuff
any advice please, on a HT , currently used to 2 laps of FTG so will be first time away from a trail center other than local stuff
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Around the Ladybower reseviour is suposed to be a good loop. You can pick up books full of routes from waterstones, usually a different book for each (Dark or White)0
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Yep I'd start with Ladybower loop, gives a good flavour of what the Peak has to offer. Havent done much riding in the white peak, but as its limestone I'd say it hasn't got as much grip as the grit stone of the dark peak. Plenty of puddles, but it'll be all ridable...0
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think this it the one got lined up may be , the 14 m one
http://www.bikemaps.co.uk/ladybower.htm0 -
That routes a good start,will give you and idea of what's there.bamba wrote:think this it the one got lined up may be , the 14 m one
http://www.bikemaps.co.uk/ladybower.htm0 -
have a look at the routes on mountainbikerides.co.uk.
i've done the jacobs ladder route a couple of times.0 -
My route map arrived this morning from http://www.bikemaps.co.uk/index.htm, 14miles around ladybower, some hard trail , some rough stuff, few bits of road,
Would any one recomend doing the beast for a first outting on dark peak ? also,
Is Whinstone lee tor the bit where every one has there picture taken against that sign post ?
There is a section marked "the screaming mile" never heard any one mention it before ?? what is it like ?0 -
Whinstone Lee Tor is "that post" the screaming mile(actually 2/3 of a mile)was a class descent...until the forestry people dug it up to fell some trees and made it in to a fire-road the top 150 metres is ok,but better used as climb theses days.The Beast is very technical and rocky but it depends what you're used to.Nothing at any trail-centre comes close to compare it to and its probably one of the toughest descents in the Peak.0
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If it wasn't for the fact that we're riding in the Yorkshire Dales on the 29th i'd have been happy to show you around.bamba wrote:Thanks, cant wait to go, 30th december
prob best to leave the beast alone then this time,
i'd go sooner if wast at work, oh and the petrol money0 -
I'm no expert and I ride a pretty cheap HT but I did the fiqure of 8 Ladybower loop including the Beast.
It's a great ride, the climb towards the start of the second loop is hard work on tired legs but the reward is worth the climb.
You need to give the beast a go or you'll regret it. You'll be laughing your head off by the time you reach the bottom (if you manage not to fall off and hurt yourself...)Mongoose Tyax Super 2008 with just a few upgrades...0 -
Mongoose Tyax Super 2008 with just a few upgrades...0
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The classic route is go from the start and do it in this order 5,6,4,3,2,1 miss out the reservoir section(4-5) 8) I've been doing this route for over a decade and nearly always do it that way from a different start point.Bluemoon39 wrote:0 -
ibbo68 wrote:
The classic route is go from the start and do it in this order 5,6,4,3,2,1 miss out the reservoir section(4-5) 8) I've been doing this route for over a decade and nearly always do it that way from a different start point.Bluemoon39 wrote:
I'd like to try it that way round but I love it anti - clockwise so much.
I love the technical then moorland asscent up from the Pub all the way to Whinstone Lee tor, then from there down to the bottom of the flags is amazing. Also the Hagg farm descent with the natural berms is great going down but I would have thought almost unridable going up. Although the descent up to Nabs wood from the Derwent is a push up job for me.
One day I'll try it clockwise, but I don't ride it enough to risk it not being as good :?Mongoose Tyax Super 2008 with just a few upgrades...0 -
Only ridden it clockwise, but the descent down to the back of the pub from Whinstone lee torr is fantastic, with a climb up the flagstones (which IMO are dull as as descent) Then a climb up to the Roman road and a nice little climb to Hope cross, then a choice of Beast or Blackley hey.... Both fantastic descents.... 8)0
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When you get to the bottom of the Beast head up to the A57 to the bottom of Hagg farm switchbacks, instead of climbing up turn left along the A57 for 1/2 mile then turn right and climb up past Rowlee Farm on a tarmac then twisty and 100% ridable climb that brings you out at the top of the Hagg farm descent 8)Bluemoon39 wrote:Also the Hagg farm descent with the natural berms is great going down but I would have thought almost unridable going up. Although the descent up to Nabs wood from the Derwent is a push up job for me.
One day I'll try it clockwise, but I don't ride it enough to risk it not being as good :?
The Nabs Wood bit is actually called Gores Heights but most people round here call it "Suicide Brake"as a descent and "K2" as a climb.
If i could only ride it once more in my life i'd do it clockwise and double back up through the woods at the bottom of the Beast and go down Blackley Hey aswell 8)0 -
I seem to remember MBR's 2007 ride guide has some good trails in both dark and white. I'll try and dig it out, it had a good trail in the moors i want to do again.0
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It's not called The Beast for nothing, treat it with respect if you don't want a trip to hospital!0
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Keep an eye on the travel/weather.The A57 snake pass has been closed for 3 days now so you might not be able to get to it.0
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As you leave the bottom of the Beast (heading toward Sheffield) you go through a gate and down a steepish path which meets up with a wide Fireroad by some Forestry work.Follow the Fireroad(the reservoir will be on your left)for just under a mile and follow a double-track path goes off to the right and climbs steeply up into the woods.As it levels out turn right through a gate which follows a rocky path up to another gate.Go through the gate and go straight ahead for about 50mtres,turn right and you're then on the Roman road follow this back to Hope Cross and the top of the Beast 8)bamba wrote:the route i have passes the bottom of the beast, is there a way back up close by to get to the top of it or do i need to do a big detour ?0 -
Just a heads up on local conditions, my brother and I rode out from Hope yesterday, although more hiking than biking!
Yesterday, the Roman Road up to Hope Cross was virtually unrideable for long sections and on the last fenced in part - 4ft odd snow drifts. The Beast downhill was rideable, but take care as mentioned above.
Rowlee Farm to Woodcock Coppice climb was also pretty unrideable due to ice and slush. Bit of a hike to Lockerbrook Farm, but then the great descent down to the Derwent. Even the road around the reservoir was a slog with it only really clearing after the visitor centre.
It was obviously extremely cold so be well prepared for the exposure.0 -
supposed to be heading out to Ladybower in the morning (Tues), does anyone know if it's ridable now?Mongoose Tyax Super 2008 with just a few upgrades...0
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been today, first time there , throughly enjoyed it, awsome (hate having tor use that word,reminds me of americans)
had to cut the ride short a bit due to loosing the map on the desent from whinstone lee tor.
and my mates being a bit ill prepaired, no pack up ,poor bike set up , cold feet, ended up missing a chunk in between the 2 parts of the res and doing it by road,
brilliant scenary with all the snow about.
some of the up hills bits that dont get sunlight are still covered in ice as is the southern most bank of the res , about 2 inch ice/snow, just about rideable
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46017485@N07/
this should be the photos if the link works0
