How do you climb around the Dark Peak ?

pshore

I've just spent a day around the Dark Peak and did a 32k loop approximately Edale, Jacob's Ladder, Kinder Resevoir, Mam Tor, Hollins Cross, Edale.

We spent a lot of time walking ! We were forewarned that the Jacob's Ladder climb was near impossible but the rest of it was very tricky too.

We are from the south so don't get to ride uphill on damp rocks very often but seem to be getting no better at it. Is it possible by reasonably fit people to climb those damp rocks in the Peak District ?

We had some pretty fit riders in our group plus a combination of hard tail, rear suspension, tyres etc. Moving average was a depressing 8km/h.

Phil.

slowslowslow

It is pretty tough in places round there. I always find it hard going when I visit, which is only 2/3 times a year tops.

Don't forget though that many people have grown up and ridden it week in and week out as their local trail so they are used to it and make it look easy.

But it is an amazing area. I would take a bit of walking for the views anytime.
Next time try cut gate. Awesome.

sniper68

Whichever way you do the route,personally we always descend Jacobs,there a fair bit of hike-a-bike even in dry conditions unless you are very fit Even when wet though the rock in the Dark Peak is very grippy so it's a case of technique and fitness=success 8)
I usually just find a gear and spin until my legs say no-more 8)

pshore

slowslowslow wrote:

It is pretty tough in places round there. I always find it hard going when I visit, which is only 2/3 times a year tops.

Don't forget though that many people have grown up and ridden it week in and week out as their local trail so they are used to it and make it look easy.

But it is an amazing area. I would take a bit of walking for the views anytime.
Next time try cut gate. Awesome.

Glad to hear that I am not alone finding it tough !

The people we saw all seemed to be on the downhills this time. Everybody made it look difficult except a group of riders who were wearing England cycling jerseys who flew effortlessly down. Maybe training for the olympics ?

Thanks for the tip about Cut Gate, that is one route I have not yet done. Some great pics of a route here: http://www.flattyresmtbroutes.com/GlossopCutgate.html

pshore

ibbo68 wrote:

Whichever way you do the route,personally we always descend Jacobs,there a fair bit of hike-a-bike even in dry conditions unless you are very fit

Lesson learned. That'll teach us for following an 'Killer Loop' route. They were really trying.

ibbo68 wrote:

Even when wet though the rock in the Dark Peak is very grippy so it's a case of technique and fitness=success 8)
I usually just find a gear and spin until my legs say no-more 8)

I can normally get up and over steps throwing my weight back and forth but in the Peaks there seem to be so many strung together and when it turns uphill its so hard. The main problem for all of us was losing traction at some point in the ascent.

I did learn to slow down and not ride at max heart rate all the time. This allowed me to have a bit left to pump the pedals and get out of the saddle at obstacles.

Phil.

sniper68

Cut gate is probably best avoided at this time of year,I'm less than 10 mins away by car but will leave it until we have had a long dry spell or a few days of hard frost.The top section on Margery Hill is a real bog at the moment.Being peat and gritstone it doesn't drain well.At this time of year parts of it get little sun so never really dry out but become ridable again with frost.

pshore wrote:

Thanks for the tip about Cut Gate, that is one route I have not yet done. Some great pics of a route here: http://www.flattyresmtbroutes.com/GlossopCutgate.html

That route is a BIG under taking and best left for summer.The shortish out and back from Ladybower to Langett(14 miles) is usually enough for most riders,the one in the Link is a around 37 miles and over 6000ft of ascent and takes you UP the Doctors Gate path which is probably longest descent in the Peak :?

Cheshley

Slowly, in the low gears, gasping and wheezing.

or on foot.

I love the area around Dark Peak but as an unfit rider who suffers on any uphill, the climbs there are particularly difficult for me. Doesn't stop me having a go but it does get frustrating when other members of our group are leaving me for dead on the hills and then there's that guilty feeling that they have been standing around at the top for ages waiting for me at catch up, especially if the weather isn't very pleasant..... :oops:

@Ibbo, what is the area around Doctors Gate and Kinder like for riding? I've never been that far over.

sniper68

The only bit of Kinder you can ride(legally)is the Jacobs Ladder route but you wouldn't want to ride on the Kinder Plateau anyway as it's a bog for much of the year.
Doctors gate is a tough technical descent with some steps/drops and unless ridden on the above 37 mile epic it means a massive road climb out of Glossop on the A57 for one off-road bit(Doctors gate).

Cheshley

ibbo68 wrote:

The only bit of Kinder you can ride(legally)is the Jacobs Ladder route but you wouldn't want to ride on the Kinder Plateau anyway as it's a bog for much of the year.
Doctors gate is a tough technical descent with some steps/drops and unless ridden on the above 37 mile epic it means a massive road climb out of Glossop on the A57 for one off-road bit(Doctors gate).

Cheers mate, I think us Slow Riders will give that a miss then. Some of the group fancy the Jacobs Ladder descent but I'm not so sure they want to try it in the wet. We're out in the Peaks on 4th December and looking to put a route together that isn't going to be too boggy.

sniper68

Apart from a small section up to Hollins Cross/Mam Tor and a section along Rushup Edge that gets a bit boggy the Jacobs route is pretty much all weather,some big climbs though.The Ladder descent itself is pretty much the same wet or dry.

_jon_

I've been up to do Jacob's ladder twice in the past couple months, both times the ground was wet. As has been said though it stands up to the water quite well; was only slippery on the grassy sections.

I started the route from Hayfield (clockwise) and although I'm reasonably fit I had to stop a few times to catch my breath on the way to Jacob's ladder. I think it's because as well as being a very long ascent, the rock gardens mean you have to put that much more effort in to clear them. And I hate pushing my bike so attempt to clear all of it.

The descent more than makes up for it though!

hoochylala

Echo the find a gear a spin it till you clear the climb/legs die - whichever comes first

It does take practice though - I have been riding the Peak regularly for the last year or so and definitely have noticed a improvement in technique and fitness - climbs I would of walked are now cleared.

Keep with it - don't let it put you off visiting again for some great riding

miss notax

pshore wrote:

ibbo68 wrote:

Whichever way you do the route,personally we always descend Jacobs,there a fair bit of hike-a-bike even in dry conditions unless you are very fit

Lesson learned. That'll teach us for following an 'Killer Loop' route. They were really trying.

Think we tried the same ride..... :?

Needless to say I won't ever try to ride UP Jacobs Ladder EVER again!!

pshore

Looking back I think it may have been easier to carry the bike up the walking route at Jacobs Ladder.


Quote of the day said at top of Jacobs Ladder, our first climb:

"32k is a short cycle ...... yeah but its a bloody long walk"


I just need to find a steep hill to practice on now, in Cambridgeshire (scratches head).