Trail ride in the Peak District

[carlnicholson...]

I've been trying to sort out going off road for a long time, finances never allowed, neither did time having a new family to look after, but now I have my life sorted, I felt it was about time.

I posted on the forums at www.trailbikemag.com asking for help finding a route with a plan to go out alone for a couple of days, and after much advice to the contary, Slider sent me a PM offering a guided jaunt around his neck of the woods, entering the peaks through Leek. I couldn't refuse.

The morning of the ride came in no time, and I felt I just wasn't prepared, I had spare tubes, chain link, bit of oil, had just serviced the bike, but I had no proper armour, just good motocross boots, and a road style armoured jacket. Not great, but for the simple lanes I would be on, I thought it would be fine. Simple lanes? How wrong I was!

I met Steve at his house after riding the DR from mine in Warrington, and we set off to meet Will and Bushy a few miles away, a cracking pair of lads with serious ability and a pair of spanking KTM's, a 525 and a 250. And they knew what to do with them, I was starting to feel a little inadequate to say the least!

We set off to the first trail, I was expecting a nice dusty, maybe a bit muddy track, no flaming chance! I was met with a huge, steep, rocky climb made no easier by all the rocks being totally loose. I shit myself. I had no choice but to click first and just go for it knowing momentum was my friend, and Steve now was not! I wobbled, slipped and slid all the way up, but made it, god only knows how! It felt great to do it!

The biggest problem with steep dodgy climbs is that they all come with steep, dodgy drops on the other side. and despite all the valuable help and guidance from the lads, I just didn't build the confidence to launch down them, every bump and loose rock or boulder made me feel like I was about to be launched off. I ended up rolling down them so slow that it was getting a bit pathetic! This was a theme that carried on through out the day, and loose down hills are now something I have to get some serious practice at.

In no time, and another stupid down hill loose rocky slope later, we were at the river, Steve had disapeared so Will gave me a heads up on how to tackle it. He also informed me Steve was round the corner with the camera, I presumed in wait to snap me going straight on my arse under water! Bushy went ahead of me and I tried to follow his line, a line which took his whole front wheel under water, seeing that, I was sure I would be swimming at some point, but it was not to be, I kept the revs and speed up and just sailed through it, what a feeling! Probably nothing special to most, but getting through that made me feel a bit proud of myself. Pic to follow!

The rest of the day was filled with, what I considered to be, quite hardcore trails, the climbs were steep and hard, most with totally loose surfaces, and some with large steps. After all the whining I did about the bloody loose, slippy down hills, Steve seemed a bit worried about my ability to get up the next few hills and gave me a fair bit of good advice, low gear, high revs, keep the speed up and a good blast of throttle just before a step. I did as he said, and what seemed like totally impassible climbs flew by in a haze of adrenanline, sweat, concentration and laughter! I was getting a bit over confident though, I was watching Bushy restart his bike whan I should have been looking ahead, I let the speed drop off and the next step stopped the DR with the haste of a brick wall, and I was on my backside in fits of laughter in an instant. The jacket and Steve's old knee pads (thanks for them mate) made the tumble completely pain free and to be honest, I was glad to get the first fall out of the way, maybe now I wouldn't be as worried of falling off!

We had a quick break for lunch, complete with a full english, minor adjustments to my throttle, and a serious top up to Wills seemingly completely empty hydraulic clutch control!

The afternoon started with a brilliant long trail around some spectacular scenery, which ended with another loose, steep down hill. despite my best efforts, I just couldn't carry any real speed and keep the bike stable, and to be honest, it was starting to really get on my wick. The other three could whizz down, and I knew my bike was capable, therefore the weak link had to be me. I've really gotta work on it!

There were a few more seriously hard, fast climbs, but I was starting to really enjoy them, I just tried to pick the best line I could, (it's surprising how little say you have in that!) and just gun it in first keeping my (vast) weight low and trying to keep the bike stable. Getting to the top was always met with a big cheer and surprised comments from the others and it felt just bloody fantastic. I had just launched my bike, which I go to work on every day, up a seemingly impossible steep climb with massive boulders and steps, and got to the top without breaking anything, I couldn't believe it, god, I love this sport!

The others were planning to stay out for a fair while longer, but the trails were taking their too on me and I could feel my concentration start to waiver. I knew I had a long ride home, and were were now quite far north so I put it to Steve that I might leave them eariler than planned and he had a look at a few options on the GPS. He definatley had a look of 'You flaming tart' about him when I asked! We did a few more lighter, faster trails which were great fun, especially after the hard climbs and drops of earlier, and at about half four, they got me to a petrol station near Snake Pass.

We said our good byes and I finished off a top days laning with a jaunt home along the pass and down the M60. I had such a great day, it was immensely more challenging than I expected and my whole body was aching by the time I got back! The DR had lost half it's number plate, the wiring to the horn had come away and the head light was blown, but it was still in better shape than me!

Steve, a big thank you mate, I had a top day and can't wait to do it again. Cheers.

https://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.13395264be.jpg
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[Kiss_My_Rs]

Great read

You think you have trouble you should try to do the above on the 400sm near impossible i tell thee.

Give us a shout if you want some company next time your going up as i live in Manchester.
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Http://www.manchesterbikers.net

[Will87]

Carl you did brilliant for your first time out on the trails, getting used to the descents etc just takes practices and you get used to how the bike reacts, you did about 90 miles with probably only 1/3 or less road work which is good for a first time! We stayed out and did another 40 miles or so and bushy had a big issue with hollingscloth going up the long climb, enough for me and steve to have a few ciggies at least!

Will

[carlnicholson...]

Hi Will, didn't know you were on here!

I felt like a right tart shooting off early, but Steve told me of Bushy's problem and after seeing him blaze along all day like a pro, maybe it's better I left you grown up's to it! Don't know how you had the heart to throw such a mint KTM over such horrific trails, that bike's a credit to you.

I can't wait to go out again, I just need to have a look at the valve stem seals on the DR first, it's started burning a bit of oil. I didn't notice on tuesday with being behind Steve's oil burner all day, I have oil comsumption comparable with his nearly now.

Thanks for all your help on the day mate, your advice was invaluable, all three of you made the day for me, can't wait to do it again!


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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."