A Rare Club Ride

Stuff and 'ting mean that I don't get out on sunday club rides very often.

A perfect storm last week meant a rare club ride with NATS on Sunday from Bakewell.

20 riders in bright sunshine set off.  I got chatting to a new chap on another 69'er called Paul.  He was riding an old skool Maverick frame and fork.  Unfortunately his ride lasted less than 15 mins due to lightweight jockey wheel failure.  He had to turn back and limp all the way back to Ambergate.

He didn't even make it to the newly reopened Headstone Tunnel on the Monsal Trail which we did in both directions on the figure of 8 ride.

The ride had some big hills in it.  Especially the road climb out of Cressbrook - only just managed it on the 36-15 gear.

An anticlockwise circuit of Millers Dale ended with an extreme descent back to the tunnel.

Back past the cars for another loop.  This time through Bakewell and up and over into Chatsworth.  It was like being on safari chasing huge herds of deer across the grassy savanna of the estate.

One last climb through Edensor (after the standard conversation about the village relocation) and back to the cars for 'special' sticky ginger cake made by Alex

Thanks must go to (nearly) always jolly ride leader Simon 

Sun, cake and great company.  Maybe I'll be on another club ride soon... maybe