Road Cycling in Derbyshire - any recommendations?

bigmat

I'm heading up to Chatsworth House near Derby for a few days with the family tomorrow. I'm taking my road bike, so would be grateful for any suggestions of routes in that area. Probably looking at between 20 and 50 miles ideally, if there are any iconic climbs or great descents in the area then it would be nice to get the heads up!

Cheers

Mat

smegma

You can't go wrong cycling in the Peak District. Strava will show you the popular rides. Up to Hathersage and surrounding areas is a nice ride from Chatsworth.

Jim

Sharkyssurfers

from years ago when i lived in the midlands, you could try going ashbourne and then to Dovedale, and a curcuit round as that has some good climbs for you

rolf_f

Monsal Head is a short sharp classic.

willy b

Loads of stuff, and Chatsworth is a good base, as you've got the dark peak to the North and White peak to teh South.

Some climbs you need to do:
- Climb from Chatsworth to Beely Moor - http://app.strava.com/segments/771533
- Riber Castle climb (Epic) http://app.strava.com/segments/669111 & http://app.strava.com/segments/669110
- Winnats Pass - http://app.strava.com/segments/990240 (bit far, but worth it)
- Rowley Bar climb - http://app.strava.com/segments/808869
- Frogatt Climb - http://app.strava.com/segments/1087839

My old local patch, so know it quite well. Got to say I miss riding there! Enjoy!

bigmat

willy b wrote:

Loads of stuff, and Chatsworth is a good base, as you've got the dark peak to the North and White peak to teh South.

Some climbs you need to do:
- Climb from Chatsworth to Beely Moor - http://app.strava.com/segments/771533
- Riber Castle climb (Epic) http://app.strava.com/segments/669111 & http://app.strava.com/segments/669110
- Winnats Pass - http://app.strava.com/segments/990240 (bit far, but worth it)
- Rowley Bar climb - http://app.strava.com/segments/808869
- Frogatt Climb - http://app.strava.com/segments/1087839

My old local patch, so know it quite well. Got to say I miss riding there! Enjoy!

I have unfinished business with Winnats - had a go a few years back but was riding into the mother of all headwinds, it practically blew me off my bike and its one of those that once you stop, its almost impossible to get going again.

willy b

Winnats is great, I think Riber "may" be a little harder, certainly steeper!

rhext

The Goyt valley just north of Buxton is nice: good climb in and then out of that. From Chatsworth you can basically head off in any direction and have a cracking day out. Southern peak district tends to be characterised by busy A roads in relatively flat river valleys, steep climbs up the valley sides and then either rolling hills or open moorland on the tops. From Chatsworth, you could head South to Beeley, climb up to the moors and then basically plot a route north zigzagging up and down the edges (Stanage, Frogatt) as far as your legs will take you. Or head a bit further south and take in Wirksworth, Ashbourne, Tissington etc, maybe even try a section of the High Peak Trail and/or Tissington Trail and get away from the cars for a bit. Head West over to Chrome Hill or the Roaches (if you're feeling really energetic), or North up to Castleton and maybe one of the passes (eg Snake). Don't be tempted by the Cat and Fiddle though - lousy pub.

Kieran_Burns

They've resurfaced a stretch of the Tissington Trail a couple of miles south of Parsley Hay, it's horrible big gravel bits now. I expect it'll smooth out in time but right now, not really suitable for a road bike. (I had all sorts of fun with my 28c tyres)

sfichele

willy b wrote:

Winnats is great, I think Riber "may" be a little harder, certainly steeper!

Is the Riber the one that was on the Cheshire Cat sportive? Because if it is, then Winnats is definitely massively harder than anything that was on the cat, including mow cop

willy b

I very very much doubt it! The Riber climb is in Matlock, South Derbyshire! Although not seen a route for the Cheshire Cat.

sfichele

Ah Matlock, yeah sorry you are right, that's not part of the Cheshire Cat I'm confusing it with some other similar sounding climb.

Just had a look on google maps and mapmyride and that looks like a toughy but not sure it's as tough as Winnats

Riber: 1.24K 115m ascent
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/51086364

Winnats: 1.9K 208m ascent
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/55319832

willy b

Yeah think you're right tbh. Think about Riber is how steep it gets!

bigmat

Cheers for all the recommendations. Turns out I was a bit further south than I had realised. Managed to get a few short sharp rides in:

http://app.strava.com/rides/10678293
http://app.strava.com/rides/10678278
http://app.strava.com/rides/10678280

Great riding, hills whichever way you turned!

willy b

Nice rides. Can't wait to get back out there this weekend 8)