The Edge Cycleworks 'Social' Shop Ride

Hayfield

Sun 23rd January 2011

While getting my kit ready in the car park at Hayfield my mobile rang. It was Dan. ‘Hi Col, I think I’m in the wrong place. I’m at the Sett Valley Trail but I can’t see you’. A brief discussion involving road maps ensued before realisation dawned. ‘Ok, just stand up and wave’. It still took a few moments to locate each other. The car park was a sea of people fettling bikes. It seemed like everyone was taking advantage of the first unfrozen weekend following the long cold winter.

Amazingly, once we left Hayfield we hardly saw another rider all day. It must have been something to do with the number of bridleways in the area and that we were heading away from the honey pot of Edale valley.

The route we followed took us in the opposite direction, to the Goyt Valley and back. While the hills weren’t quite as high they still contained some great riding, and a few big climbs. The hard winter had taken its toll, leaving the ground wet and soft, which made the climbs feel longer and the descending more sketchy. There was definitely enough to test our skills and energy levels.

Some of the bikes can’t have had an easy winter either, not if their broken chains were anything to go by. But they were fixed quickly and anyway, it was quite pleasant to stand around and have a chat in balmy single figure temperatures.

Although we didn’t see many other bikes there were plenty of horses. They all seemed to have come out of hibernation on the same day as well. But despite having to wait for the trail to clear on a few occasions we made good time. Something I pointed out to Steve when his legs gave out with one climb to go.

After 18 miles of muddy and rocky trails we returned to Hayfield, tired and dirty but happy to have been out. It had been a great ride to start the 2011 Shop Rides. Yes, the riding had been harder than normal but if the trails were always dry and dusty it wouldn’t be quite as interesting, would it?

A Route Guide for this ride is available on The Edge Cycleworks website.