you've got the wrong bikes

“You’ve got the wrong bikes" shouted the first mountain biker of the group we met as we descended past them on the rocky and steep route from down from Long Causeway on Stanage. Then one of his mountain bike riding mates promptly fell off in a heap.

I’ve got nothing against mountain bikers at all, friendly types all of them we met, but some of them might not have realised that one of our party, Dave Howgate , had probably been descending rock strewn gullies on a normal touring bike long before they, or their mountain bikes had been born. This was a fact he seemed to pleased to tell them all at the Woodbine café in Hope. It seems there isn’t a pass or route in England Scotland or Wales that Dave and his trusty steel framed tourers haven’t been over.

I thought our assortment of different bike types descended pretty well from Stanage. Dave on the old Holdsworth tourer was never more than 10 seconds behind us despite walking the most severe sections, Rob was away on a suspension MTB, Simon was riding that tank of a bike he uses to pull beers kegs on trailers, and I was on the cycle cross bike which coped well with all but the worst sections.

We also found out then when Dave asks you if you know anything about (insert Peak District landmark name here), you will know an awful lot more about that landmark 5 minutes later.

More to follow…..

happy 2007

Well that's Xmas and new year over for another year.

I didnt manage much cycling over the festive period, bad weather, traveling and the usual December chest infection meant just half hour out on the fixer on Xmas day and a longer run out on the fixer on Saturday night. It might be time to try 42 x 16 as I'm spinning the 18 tooth sprocket like mad .


Spent new years eve afternoon fitting new tyres to the Airborne and the cross bike and giving both bikes a new year clean up.

First ride of the New Year this afternoon I reckon.