Leo and I headed out for a long awaited blast about Edale - it's been over 2 years since I was last there and we'd been talking about sorting one out for a while. So with good weather forecast and a test bike still in the garage to rag, we headed for Edale today.
Only Leo and I mind - not sure where the rest of the regulars were? They missed a real treat.
The first road section and climb up Jacob's Ladder was like something out of 999 SOS - Leo and I couldn't believe what had happened to the sun we drove over in! Once at the top the descent the other side was ok, but just a little too rocky for a hardtail to really beans it. Once this smoothed out the Genesis was in her element again.
After getting lost trying to cut off the Hayfield corner we managed to find a bridleway and were cooking on gas again. The across and down section of bridleway was awesome - quick fast like a racing track with enough ruts, rocks and mud to keep it interesting. Unfortunately this had been churned up by 4x4s recently - and we realised how recently when we caught them on a climb. We pushed past but once things leveled out they soon overtook us again.
Heading across Rushop Edge towards Chapel Gate we were in the elements again but the thrill of the final descent down the broken road of Chapel Gate kept us going... but who did we find but the 4x4 lads doing a snails pace. Really ruined the flow of the steep section for me, after waiting 5+ mins for them to clear 200m it took me just 30 seconds to get to the bottom.
Back to the cars in under 4 hours Leo and I were both pooped but had really enjoyed doing something other than Macclesfield forest or a Welsh trail centre. Recommended. We'll visit Castleton I think later in the year.
