February made me shiver...

Bit of a cold snap and some local snow made for a few interesting days after the wee Peak climb (not to mention the slippery rides to work!)  All over far too soon if you ask me but still.


I managed a little sledging which all got a bit outta hand and being a fragile 40 something ended with a very painful fractured rib.


Still managed the commute and some riding though.  The commute was more dangerous than the Pines as packed snow became icy on footpaths whereas in the forest it was mainly fairly soft.

4x4 tracks and a temperature inversion en route into Pines

The ride into and around was atmospheric and amazing in every way.  The sound of the forest as the sun set of the crunch of the snow as I picked my way along various tracks and trails and the mist which came and went depending on the terrain.

A couple of the forest vistas

The ride out past the ever present headstocks which further added to the atmosphere.  

Bit of photoshop but
The Clipstone Headstocks

So the rib made riding a bit tricky so just back on it.  Lapierre having a 'Dale' in the Pines and the Santa Cruz is sporting new boots.  The Fire XC's have literally fallen apart!! VERY disappointing as they've only been on 8 years, Schwalbe Nobby Nics have a tough act to follow...


Made a trip to see some mates at the first XC of the season at Hicks Lodge (Parking!!!) which was great.  Took the camera

303 Mr Bradley closing in on 24th place

some shots were great and are on Flickr Mids XC Hicks Lodge,


Looking forward to getting the Lapierre back later this week.


Also looking forward to organising some winter climbing soon....

Peak climb

So for whatever reason 2011 has been a bike not climb year.  Early on it was the nice shiny new Lapierre.  Later it became a bit of a thing about D2D (see previous post!!)


Last year I managed some climbing mostly solo but a nice day out with a severely enthusiastic French dude Charles was memorable.doing Red Gully and a steep ice fall which had formed as a continuation of Aladins.


Anyway, its been cold its also snowed a bit, so my mind has returned to thoughts of mountains and climbing.  The peak isn't the obvious location for winter climbing as its too far south and too low.  BUT... Early in the season snow and prolonged cold can give decent conditions on some bits of the Peak.


Rumour has it, there was snow in the Peak.  Stanage last Sunday was great for snow men and a 5 yo but in the distance Mam Tor looked in winter nick and ukclimbing winter thread showed climbs done here and in Winnats.  I managed to get out Thursday and headed through Winnats to Mam Tor over the summit and descended the main gully. The snow was soft no evidence of neve or ice as its south facing and the sun gets on it real quick.  I looked at the girdle and its a climb I'd love to do in great condition.  The climbs on the whole face are great and the topo by Colin Wells is worth its weight in gold and I'll be doing them alll in time but today conditions weren't up to much.

So it was a down and up then drive down Edale Valley to check out Back Tor which being more North facing should be better but it hadnt held onto its snow.


Back up to Speedwell and Winnats.  Elbow ridge would be worth climbing as its in an amazing place and snow or not it'll be great. The car park at 3.50 standard charge was a shock so i didnt bother.  Straight up the pass and onto the ridge and boy did I feel the lack of climbing. Not the exercise but the exposure.  It felt high.  Awesome climbing did not disappoint and it'd be great winter tick.

Not so much winter today but still worth it.

Its re-ignited the desire to be out in the hills in winter for sure but given my climbing this year is zilch might be a relatively easy time of it.

January Training


Its always hard being motivated during the dark days of January.  We decided on a great motivator though, we decided to knacker a turbo and inter-cooler on our year old (admittedly second hand) car.  Only the one thousand quid for a new one... plus fitting.


'We' decided to take our time and sort it out in good time.  In the mean time we will manage with the one car, AKA Carl will get about on his bike and Gill will use the remaining car!!

A crap photo but riding in the January sun is just amazing