Kinder Circuit.

A longer ride today, in fact the longest mtb ride that I've done for a few years, and another route from the 'Dark Peak Mountain Biking' book. The guidebook suggests starting at Edale, however I'm far too tight to pay to park if I can avoid it so I parked up on the Chapel to Castleton road, and it was closer as well.
The first section ridden was Roych Clough, a UCR which leads into a bridlepath. The UCR section has now had a Traffic Restriction Order placed on it, until recently it was popular with 4x4s and motorbikes. Personally I think this was a mistake, a better way of managing the track in my opinion would have been to introduce a permit system whereby those that applied for a permit in advance would be allowed to drive along the track, something which works well on certain Lake District lanes. On parking up I realised that I'd left my OS map in the kitchen, the first of two silly mistakes today. I did have the guidebook though, and I'd been studying the map the night before. I'd also walked and ridden parts of the ride previously as well.
Roych Clough was teeming with mtbers today, not suprising as the track is long and varied, stone giving way to rocky sections leading to sand and back to stone etc. The climbs are tough, forcing me to walk at times (I was on the singlespeed Mojito), contouring round South Head and the Biblical sounding Mount Famine and heading towards Hayfield. Twice along this lane other mtbers held gates open for me, I like that!.

At South Head looking towards Mount Famine.

Before hitting Hayfield I turned right along a bridlepath towards Kinder and Jacobs Ladder. Pleasant riding through pasture land led to tarmac, and a road climb to the next offroad section. This was a tough climb leading straight to Jacobs Ladder, so tough that I walked most of it! The track was steep and stony and passed between fields of sheep and mooing cows, and I spent a little time watching a farmer with his young sons and dog herd sheep from field to field. After a long walk and a little riding I reached Jacobs Ladder, where I had a bite to eat and watched some mtbers walk their bikes up the path onto Kinder itself. Kinder, as usual, was busy with walkers.

On the right track.

The start off the climb up to Jacobs Ladder

Jacobs Ladder is a test piece for Peak District mountain bikers, a test that I've probably failed! The first section is rather steep (I fell off, going to slow), then there's large rocks to contend with lower down (fell off again) before the path levels out close to Upper Booth.

Heading up to Jacobs Ladder.

The top of the Ladder.

Tarmac leads to Edale, then a stiff road climb up to Greenlands Farm and the next off-road section. A stiffer muddy climb (and more walking...) leads up to Hollins Cross and a paved track towards Mam Tor leads to another muddy climb followed by super singletrack contouring below Mam Tor leading to the final short road section, uphill to the start of Rushop Edge. Whilst climbing up to Hollins Cross a fell runner stepped aside to let me pass, saying that its easier for her to move aside than it was for me. Which was true, I do the same when I'm out walking and I see bikers. And whilst climbing up the paved track a walker held a gate open so I didn't have to stop!

Why do farmers always put the gate at the muddiest part of the field? On the climb to Hollins Cross.

The first part of Rushup Edge is a climb, initially on a well made path then along wet grass and slippery muddy ruts, hard going and yet more walking in places... This is where I discovered my second mistake, I'd forgotten to pack extra food. Out with the emergency energy gel, one of Dani's cast offs, she hates gels, especially banana flavoured ones. On reaching a gate the track changes character, becoming hardpack and heading downhill and back to the Landy, with some very entertaining rock steps along the way.
All in all, a good ride, although it felt more like going walking with a bike in tow at times...
22 kilometres, 3 hours 50 minutes, 4 good helpfull people, 2 silly mistakes, lots of mud and rocks, an earlobe covered in tree sap (no idea how but it smelt nice!), and 1 hot bath!

Paul.