The Peak District Riding Thread

Good call. Drove to the in-laws yesterday and even though the Whaley - Macclesfield road had been well gritted, it had loads of patches of ice on it from frozen run off water.

Can any of you Whalley locals say what Buxton Old Road gravel climb up towards Long hill is like? Komoot says it’s gravel and looks quite smooth but a guy I rode with said no chance!

It's fine I made my gf ride it on her hybrid, she only mildly complained. From memory there is a bunch of smashed up tiles or something near the bottom as you come onto long hill just take care there.v I wouldn't say it was smooth but its definitely doable.

1 Attachment

I bailed on it once on a road bike, but the route was just up to the top of the climb and back before descending down to the east so there was no real reason to force it. My pal who used the route did the same, also on road bike.

From memory I thought it actually required getting off and climbing over some boulders..?

Aye as I said not smooth. It's nicer going down towards Buxton iirc.

I have ridden it a few times recently in both directions, once on a road bike with 30mm tyres and otherwise on my tourer with 40mm WTB nano tyres. As you head up out of Whaley the tarmac runs up to White Hall. From there it is gravel with a ribbon of broken tarmac down the middle up to the top. There's then about 300m that's quite cut up / rutted / muddy from water running down the road (circled on map attached, this pretty much lines up with the blue arrow above) before you rejoin tarmac just below the marked reservoir. I rolled down that slowly on the road bike, the tourer enjoyed it a bit more. As said above because of this it is nicer going towards Buxton, but in the other direction it is doable too. And well worth it to dodge Long Hill itself. I use it to get from New Mills over to Buxton to head into the White Peak so I have mostly ridden it in summer, once in winter. This dodgy section obviously wetter/muddier in winter but it does not seem too horrendous round here at the moment.

1 Attachment

I enjoy it more from Buxton. Get up the steep, technical climb then fast down the disintegrated road trying not to smash your wheels. Just that sketchy section you wish for a MTB, but it's short enough

I did it a couple of times because it forms part of the 68 sustrans route. I now choose to do the busier road (long hill?) next to it, especially if I have any panniers etc. and the view is good from there too.

Just watched Adult Life Skills, some lovely shots of a famous Peak District climb in it

Epic Bike Tag!

Easy. It’s somewhere here but I can’t get street view to play ball and get me the right aspect.

https://goo.gl/maps/AGGsLrQ7YUvPFxYL9

Chrome Hill area yeah. Be good to follow it, if it heads nearer mcr I might join in.

Gah - not the road I thought it was. Rode out this morning but couldn’t find the spot. Frustrating.

Will keep an eye on this, looks fun

Crikey it’s been a long time since I rode round the Goyt Valley and up to Long Hill. The road from the reservoir dam up to Long Hill still sucks though, especially the grinding straight bit!
Lots of elderly white guys out who’ve apparently forgotten how to wave or say hi at anyone under 50, except the lad who smoked me up the first big climb past windgather and managed some humour.

1 Attachment

Yeah that is a shitter of a climb!

My "do steep big hills" route would be blaze -> pym chair -> up out of the valley to top of long hill

Miserable gits. Nice views :)

That’s the old tramway line. Never ride up it!!! Bloody horrible.

The average speed for the KOM on the descent is about 60mph which tells you all you need to know.

Cheshire has the least friendly riders in terms of waves given v received. Shower of cunts.

I'll have you know I'm very friendly, wave and ask how you are. I think the nearer Mcr you get the more cuntish the mamils become (Prestbury/Kuntsford/Alderley village darling/Wilmslow).

Prestbury/Kuntsford/Alderley village darling/Wilmslow

Wall to wall £5k Pinarello cunts.

Yup!

I think the nearer Mcr you get the more cuntish the mamils become

Oooof. That hurts.

I meant the nearer you get in Cheshire, not yer actual Manchester dwellers, who are some of the nicest people you're ever likely to meet, I spend my working day in and around Manchester, met some absolutely lovely people.

Yeah, I regularly commute Manc - Macc and back. Never get acknowledged by numerous roadies I see between Prestbury and Handforth, possibly 'cos no helmet and fixed gear (normally), but the Casati may get an airing soon.