Ticked off the 'to do' list

[Adam_P]

Myself and Jay discussed the possibility of going for a ride out today via IRC earlier in the week. One or two text messages last night led to me pitching up at his place at just after 10 this morning to head to Matlock Bath and then across to the Cat and Fiddle.

I'd done Matlock before, Jay hadn't, and neither of us had been to the Cat and Fiddle, and it was on both our lists of 'biking things to do in 2005', so it made sense to make the best of the good weather.

Steady ride to Matlock, with yours truly almost getting lost (despite having the GPS fitted) as I hadn't been the way we went for a long time. Got halfway round Mansfield and decided that entering Matlock into the GPS was a good idea, as it turned out, I was going the right way, but was happier when I knew I was!

Had lunch in Matlock, guy on a ZX10-R blasted up and down the main street a couple of times and caused more noise than all the other bikes put together. I also noted that he'd taken the mirrors off it too, so he obviously wasn't that bothered about anyone else on the road.

I then realised that I wasn't exactly sure whereabout Cat and Fiddle was in relation to Matlcok, so, one quick check in the map in the Tourist Info office and we were set. (Yes, we really were that amaturish!!! )

had a fairly steady run up to the Cat and Fiddle. Some of the tarmac on that road is disgusting and Jay had a slight moment when he got caught in a rut in the tarmac as a car was coming the other way. We stopped for a cuppa at the pub then carried on into the edge of Macclesfield. Then we turned roudn and rode it the other way!

Jay went first on the run back across and seemed to be enjoying himself. It was quite funny for me actually, watching him hang off like a monkey on all the bends (I reckon he thought he was back at Cadwell again) but he had a spirited ride and I caught up with him near the Buxton end.

Came back via Chesterfield and we both gave a guy in a Fiat Brava a lesson in how to get away from traffic lights while coming back through Mansfield.

Only downpoints, Jay having to fill up with Petrol, not once, not twice, but three times over the course of the day! The Hornet take range takes the piss!

I filled up at the same time as he did at the start of the ride and reckon I could have sneaked it all the way home without fuelling, but I filled up as Jay needed to on the way back. Some more ammo for me to use against his yellow tart-mobile.

Oh, and he toldme that if I was going to 'make progress' on the way back to rememberthat he didn't have a screen like I did. Didn't stop him thrashing up the A46 as we left his place at 112 though, did it??!

Top day out. We ought to get a BCF rideout to Matlock during the summer, fish and chips were fab!
____________________
Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP
Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary

[jay12329]

The weather was good roads dry and i had a great day.
Nice steady ride over to matlock, some very special bikes there, and then theres Adams foccer at the other end of the scale.
Then when we worked out where to go with the aid of a map we looked at in the libary, errr, i mean shop. We headed off to the cat and fiddle.
The first half upto the pub i wasnt too impressed. Poor road surface and not much in the way of nice bends. One i saw coming up so i dropped back a bit from Adam so I could carry some corner speed, went in quick hanging off and the front wheel caught a groove in the tarmac and ushered me towards a MPV coming the other way!
Got to the pub and there is bit of a breeze, my alarm tried to set itself off cus of the movement! After coffeee we set off on the second half of the run.
Now these were some nice bends, started to get into a groove, moving about on the bike and it ended. For the way back I lead the way, was realy having fun this time, got held up by traffic part way through so i didnt get a full run at it.
Now for the petrol thing, I dont like running much over 100miles on a tank, so after 60 or so i sugested i may need some fuel before we go up the cat and fiddle, I filled up at the next station. I could have gone for longer but didnt want to have to take it easy to conserve fuel. So yes i filled my tank 3 times in the day, but only 6-7 lt each time, so i could have got away with only filling twice.
All in all a good, day. And if you think 112mph is fast on the A46, you should have come back that way with me
Oh and i got my Knee down on the road for the first time today.
J

[lumphammer]

Adam what GPS do you use?

[Shaun]

Yeah that first half as you called it is nasty, I never bother with it unless I need to fill up, the macclesfield side is excellent though and the trick to not getting stuck behind things is to look right ahead, you can see pretty damn far. I've done a coach round the outside and a bus up the inside with my knee down.

there is a couple of nasty corners on there, with the worst being from experience a sharp left literally straight after a nice right hander under the trees as you're coming from the macclesfield side towards the pub, good fun though.

Next time you go give me a shout and I'll come play, always good fun up there and the bonus is its about half an hour from home.

[bazza]

If you want a real challenge, try a trip to mid-Wales and ride from Newtown (SY16) to Llandrindod Wells (LD1) in Powys. A 26 mile route which I'm sure has no straights longer than 50 mtrs. Or maybe it just felt that way.

I should really link this to the "Riding on your own" topic...

(Postcodes in brackets for online map entering purposes).
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[Adam_P]

[Annabella]

Glad you guys had a good ride and made the most of the dry weather.
I spent the best part of the sunny and dry Saturday we had holed up in a rather grim High School for some training Boo!
So as you can imagine I'm a little jealous.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
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[Black Knight]

[iCraig]

The cat is a nice road, and its also very close to me too, so next time you go up there let me know.

Also theres a better and longer way around the Cat, I normally go into Congleton, up to A54, which is another nice and decent road which is in parts as good as or better than the C&F, and its quieter too as not alot of people use it.
The A54 join with the C&F at the straight bit shortly after the pub, I then turn left to do the cat, tis is little longer and nicer ride in my opinion.

[bazza]