The Peak Park are conducting a survey to find out what people do for recreation in the Park, as mountain biking seems quite unrepresented by them (bar cycling round the dams), it would good if us ’serious mountain biker’ could show how many of us there are using the area.
A suggestion worth making might be for more bridleways, but that’s up to you. It takes about 5 minutes, and should benefit us in the long run.

Survey at: http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/looking-after/consultations/recreationsurvey.htm
(Note: You have to tick ‘no’ to options you don’t want, not just leave them.)
More Info at: http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/news/news-display-page.htm?id=17604

As many of you will know the pump track has been growing, with there being over 40 rollers and 6 berms last time I counted. With the latest line being called The Big Dipper I would have laughed at anyone who said there would ever be as many as there are, when we started that muddy winter morning. Right I thought it was about time we had a big gathering of riders down there to ride it before autumn arrives. So after talking with a couple of people Saturday 13th has been suggested. I know a number of you including myself works on a Saturday so I thought if we started some time after lunch people can come down when they can.

Last Saturday myself, Jeff and Matt spent a good couple of hours doing a combination of riding and digging and came up with the idea of racing with there being two set routes with each rider having to complete both. To make this possible we made some of the roller wider so you can now fit next to each other on the left-hand straight. I suppose you could call it pump track dual racing. Anyway maybe we could do some of this and have some sort of knock out competition.

This meet up is open to anyone who wants to come so just leave a comment if you need help with directions etc and we’ll email you.

“Returning by popular demand the 8th Hope Valley Mountain Bike Challenge takes place on Saturday 27th September 2008. For those brave enough to take up the challenge it offers a choice of two off-road routes of approx 20 and 38 miles around the Hope Valley.
For experienced riders the route is technical and takes you via Jaggers Clough, Edale and Jacobs Ladder to Hayfield returning via Rushup Edge and takes in Hollins Cross (Mam Tor) on the way back.
For a shorter day you can return from Edale still taking in some of the most beautiful scenery in the Peak District. As in previous years great refreshments will be available at 3 main check-points along the route together with hot soup at the finish.
‘It was probably one of the most varied and technical courses I have completed’ and ‘I enjoyed the challenge and the refreshments kept me going – thank you for organising such a fantastic day’ were some of the comments after the challenge in 2006.”

Registration will take place at Hope Valley College where parking is available. Be sure to arrive in plenty of time to register and get to the start point 3 miles away in Shatton, the finish is at Hope Valley College (with hot soup ). The start time is intended to be 9.30am. Riders must be 17 years or older and must wear a helmet. The entry fee is £15.
The event is organised voluntarily by two local Hope Valley schools, HVC and Hathersage Primary School, with all proceeds going to improving facilities for the children. Advance registration is advisable – it will ensure your participation as well as assisting with organisation and catering. The first 50 entries will receive a free T-shirt.

The route involves the downhill section down Brough Lane (watch out for snake-bites), Jagger’s Clough and Hollins Cross to Castleton on the short route as well as the long descent towards Hayfield and Chaple Gate in the long route. It generally looks a good route with relatively gentle climbs and descents, with a few more extreme sections on the long route.

View the route map - PDF 2.2MB
OS Getamap of start point
An interesting account of the 2006 event

Email Julie Colley, julie@sladenlodge.co.uk, for an event entry form.

Back at the start of August James, Matt (Ashmore) and me (Jeff) went over to Edale with the intention of riding and filming Jacob’s Ladder. After an impressively (for us) continuous ride up there, from parking area at the bottom, we got to the Ladder where we discovered Irwin’s brakes weren’t doing much following his visit to Morzine. So with filming that track out the window we carried on to the top, putting the bags down on the flat middle section, we added to the length by going up the footpath on the right, giving us a 100m run in to the left hander into the initial gully. It was a good run with some water slashing in various places where it was following the track. I caught Matt up as he hadn’t been riding for a while and overtook him on the flat section. We picked up the bags and then did the section below the gate, it was tiring and my brake levers were too far out.

After that we headed back down to the car before going to the most excellent pub in Edale (possibly even the Valley), The Nag’s Head, and there was a comedy moment where I rode off ahead with Matt’s car keys in my pocket before realising and going back. We happened to bump into Shane and had a rather nice plate of chips and onion rings with a side dish of banter, followed by a generous amount of chocolate cake courtesy of Shane’s missus, cheers .

Following a lesson in trials riding from the ProMaster we drove up to Mam Tor, leaving Shane to his work. We rode down to Hollins Cross, with Irwin’s brakes improving somewhat we filmed on the bridleway that goes down to Greenlands, before a final sweaty push back up to the car. The weather was good and I got funny shaped sunburn where my arm pads weren’t covering.

08-08-01 Edale JI+JK+MA - Jeffs, 6 Pictures
08-08-01 Edale JI+JK+MA - Matts, 5 Pictures

On Friday Irwin and I rode the Pump Track in Bamford, it wasn’t too wet considering the weather of recent, an extra line has been added coming off the far berm and we did a bit maintenance on the far inner berm. We then had a competition that involved the middle line into the mini PT berm and then rolling as far up the bank as possible, I won, possibly due to a controversial wheelbase size advantage. Following that we took pictures on the mini PT berm.

08-08-22 Pump Track JI+JK, 5 Pictures

As many of you may know me and Nicky decided this year to go out to the Alps for 2 weeks. We where Joined for one week by James W and his friend Martin. I have decided that rather than writing a massive long post about what we did everyday i would pick ten events or things that happened whilst we where out there and write a little bit about each of them, so here goes.

1. Lifts, i know this sounds like abit of a obvious one but not only does it mean that you dont have to push back up the mountain side. But it also means the tracks are so much longer with the average descent time being 8 mins plus if not significantly more in places. But not only this it also gives you the chance to cover/explorer much greater distances. For example the Mossettes lift takes you up to 2250m which is extremely high

2. Braun roof n slopestyle (best trick) We were luck enough to be able to go and watch Sam Pilgrim (GB) out trick the rest of the field. The contest took place over a short course (1 drop and two dirt jumps). It was practically impossible to take any decent pictures of the riding as the contest was at night and you couldn’t get close enough for a effective flash shot. There was a real atmosphere with people sitting up on the roofs of buildings, loud music thanks to the Red Bull DJ booth. With the Cheerleaders getting the crowd warmed up before the riders dropped in. Highlights from each of the three runs can be found on freecaster. By trick Run 3 the riders where really going for it. It was great to see people pulling such technical tricks as these up close, massive respect.

3. The Chatel bike park is home to loads of well built trails and has a small area at the bottom known as the “Drop Zone”. There is this Wall ride with a fun box on the other side. With a series of three variously sized drops/jumps aswell which kept us entertained for a number of hours.

4.XC Helmets and Crowbar goggles While we were eating our lunch mid way up the Chatel bike park we spotted these two guys modeling some truly horrific headgear. The combination of xc helmets with Oakley Crowbar googles i am sure you will agree looks rather daft. I managed to take a couple of pictures of these guys as i thought i might report them to the biking fashion police.

5.Braun roof n slopestyle (Main event) The main slopetyle event took place the following day after the best trick contest and had a much larger field with a step up in rider class. We were therefor very excited to see the likes of Cam McCaul, Darren Berrecloth, Cedric Gracie and Ben Boyko and not forgetting british hopeful Sam Pilgrim. The course was much longer and included a roof top section. I got a couple of pictures with my favorite being one of Cam McCaul doing a 360 bar spin. But i decided to use the picture of Sam Pilgrim not because it is a better picture but instead because again to our delight he won. Highlights of both runs can be seen on Freecaster, with Sams second run being partially impressive.

6.Table tops In Avoriaz there is a short 4x track, i call it four cross but you would struggle to get anymore than two riders side by side on most sections anyway. We stop briefly one day on it and took some pictures, the rest can be seen in the image gallery. The track itself isn’t partially technical or long. And the jumps are not that big (well apart from one) but the view makes it. With Alpine meadows and high mountain peaks.

7. Cows Again a strange, let me explain. I am guessing so that the farmers can keep track of the cows easily they all wear larger bells around their necks. The large group shown in the picture, i guess there must have been at least 50 were making an impressive amount of noise. Not only that but during one run down the Les Gets “Jump track” me and nicky almost hit one as it was stood right on the the track. It made for a comedy moment as we narrowly mist it!.

8. The view from the top of Mossettes lift, as i have already said this lift goes upto 2250m and takes you over the border into Switzerland. From here there are loads of different ways to head off, you have got the single track route, miles of epic alpine single track, puncture alley (a daft fireroad), the Swiss National downhill track (as seen in Kranked 6), or you can head down the ridge further into Switzerland. Anyway back to the view, From here you have a breath taking view over much of the Portes du Soleil region. The picture shows the Dents Blanches which are covered in snow all year and meet up with the flanks of Mount Blanc.

9. Morgins This is a small swiss town that we had heard lots of good things about so we decided that it would be worth the trip over. This involved heading off into the unknown and riding off the beaten track a little. But we ended up getting caught up in the middle of a mountain bike race (we even got filmed!) But we made it to Morgins and we were not disappointed this small town has three graded downhill tracks blue, red and a gnarly looking black run. But a mechanical problems with Nicky bike meant that we had to head off early before we got to ride them all, something for next time.

10. Chatel Town We had already been to Chatel bike park which is located a short distance from the town of Chatel and we had been told of some other tracks there so we got the free bus ride to check it out. You could take you bike on the bus which was great. With half the the bus being open so that there was somewhere to store bikes. Anyway once we got there our efforts were rewarded with two great tracks. The easier of the two was a combination of doubles and berms which was great fun.

And one last thing, i have got to say the 14km road downhill from Avoriaz back to Morzine was just quality especially when you get to overtake cars!
08-07-12 Morzine JI+NB+JW, 56 Pictures