A Harder Day in the Peaks

I've seen a pig's head used as a projectile weapon in Buxton. True story.

And what I've not seen in Macc isn't worth seeing.

The pub at the station in Sheffield is great. And it's at the bottom of all the hills.

I'm an outside chance for this, depending on dates...

I've seen a nurse go batshit insane in a takeaway in Sheffield and batter my mate.

I've got one of these for Bakewell as well, Peak District fans.

Lemme guess, your mates Saveloy Jim and Donna Tartt?

The world is full of arseholes. I've been physically threatened by fuckwads in Ferraris in Chelsea, in chip shops in Nottingham, in Kent, in Surrey, in Hudderfield. Being a piece of shit is, in managerial speak, regionally agnostic.

All that being said I vote 2 days riding the Peaks fixed and being based in Sheffield.

I'll save the story for the ride.

Sheffield's good for me. Manchester is a bit of a trek from Derby.

Got a gpx route for this?

I'll bang something up for you and then people can see if they want it harder.

Pretty sure @TheBonk put together a route round Strines that was about 100km with 4000m of climbing or some such nonsense.

It's only 2625m
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26976574

Here's the route as described upthread. None of the big name hills in there but I have included William Hill which is a really nice climb. Lots of good views.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28985936

So, what would you like? Longer, shorter, harder, faster? More big name hills?

Nice ride albeit not a lot of Peak District in that. Proper lols if fixed going up Thrush, down Rangeley and back up Hagg. I'd amend that to shoot down Rivelin and through the gennels.

I'd love to do this. When are the 'ride leaders' thinking? Personally, to make it worthwhile I need a months notice so I can book a day off work to make a long weekend of it. Presumably others who might travel from London or elsewhere may need notice too. Which makes end of January/some time in February feasible.

But that's just me. Any ideas?

Thanks for routes @The_Seldom_Killer, @TheBonk.

You need to do Mam Tor. Some get off bits, but well worth it. Not sure how much fun descending Winnats fixed would be though.

Yeah, it's just a max elevation for a 100k job that. Yours is a much more pleasant route.

Which makes end of January/some time in February feasible.

Not wishing to piss on anyone's chips but this is The North (only just). We get weather up here and we have elevation. Unlike AHIJ out in the southern lanes when its a bit parky, there's a good chance of snow or getting half way up a hill and finding it ice clad during Jan and Feb. More than once I've had to turn around early on a ride because conditions have gotten a bit Mountain Rescuey. One of which I had to try and outrun an unexpected blizzard. Fun until my lungs felt like they were bleeding and I got pasted and a touch hyperthermic (not much of a cautionary tale, I'm quite slow).

Or you could have the best of days and an amazing ride in some of the best winter scenery this country has to offer. Just be aware that taking time off work, or booking trains etc is more of a gamble at that time of year.

All fair points.

I'll happily be steered by the local knowledge.

If you were to go that way, I'd suggest Mam Nick, drop down the broken road (95% rideable) and then back up Winnats and head over to Peak Forest.

I descended Winnats on fixed once and was glad I still had two brakes fitted. There's almost always too much traffic there.

I was gonna say the same thing about the weather. Jan/feb is not the most reliable time. I guess we do have to set a date though.

Also, up Winnats? I'm up for a challenge but that's actually just hiking

Totes doable. Would rather ride up than down it.

Yep. Ice and fixed is a really bad idea.

I rode up at 8kmph average for a kilometer! 45rpm in 39x28, would be half that on a med gear fixed