Can Rich still hack it?
Until today, I hadn’t ridden a bike for ages. Busy working some of the time, the rest being lazy, procrastinating, and drinking red wine.
I’d planned to go out earlier in the week, but it just didn’t happen. Anyway today I did it. I went out for a ride.
I could have just gone for an easy pootle, but that wouldn’t have given me the buzz I’d been missing. Plus I really wanted to know how fit I was, and if I’d still got control of a bike when the going gets tricky.
I opted for the mountain bike classic loop, Hayfield, Rushup, Edale, Jacob’s Ladder, and then back home. 2hours 15 minutes on a mountain bike when I’m fit. Let’s make it a bit more challenging and take the Cyclo-Cross bike though.
Through the village plan A was to gain height quickly and take Highgate Road though this of course would have been the easy option. Instead down Valley Road towards Elle Bank. Once the road ends, the track starts to kick up. Muddy, a little loose under tyre and some rocks. That’s more like it. I’d like to say that I made it all the way to the top, but it’s years since I’ve done that. A bit of pushing, but no more than usual. One photo taken heading towards Mount Famine before the battery died. So no excuses other than to just ride.
Onwards towards South Head. From there a loose descent down towards the Roych. In the distance I see some mountain bikers. This of course means that I must catch and overtake them. It’s in the rules.
By the Roych I’d caught them all. Next comes a steep little climb, tricky to get up what ever the bike. The mountain bike riders let me go first. I set off. Tyres were slipping but the bike was finding it’s way. Then my cleat unclips from the pedal. I hear a “ooh”. It seems I have an audience. Still I have some momentum, so foot back on the pedal. A couple of seconds later I’ve made it up the hard bit. Yeah success. Err no, the front wheel gets deflected of a rock and I’m off. From the river below I hear clapping, a round of applause. That made me smile. I hope they had more luck than me.
Back on the bike again I ride to and then along Rushup Edge. As I ride along, a crazy idea comes into my head. Crazy, in a could end up seriously hurt in hospital sort of way. No, bad idea, it’s not even possible I think. Chapel Gate on my Santa Cruz Blur with 6 inches of suspension didn’t save me from going over the bars on at least two occasions. Chapel Gate on a cyclo-cross bike would just be stupid.
So at the junction I do the right thing. I turn left towards Chapel Gate. Flat at first on a wide smooth track, it all looks so easy. Very slowly the trail dips downwards and loose stones appear. As it steepens so the stones get bigger. Small drop downs, big drop downs, water mud, and then massive boulders. It’s steep now I need speed to get through this rough terrain, though speed and a crash down here will mean hospital food. This track is always changing, through erosion.There is no definite line. At least I knew that. Every time I ride it it’s like a new trail. The ultimate test. It passes quickly I put my foot down 4 or 5 times on the way down. Twice I nearly lost it. But wow, I made it. Buzzing.
Down to Edale for Coffee and the skinniest slice of cake I have ever seen. Then onwards to Jacobs Ladder. At the bridge at it’s foot I made the sensible choice. I chucked the bike over my shoulder and walked up hill. From the top is nearly all downhill to Hayfield. Not an easy descent though. I’ve seen a few come off down there. My hands are now sore. I concentrate.
I meet some riders fixing a chain half way down. I stop to check they have everything they need. One lad says “Good practice for the Three Peaks“. I say “Yes, probably the last time I rode this bike”.
I must have passed 20 riders today, no one passed me. 2 hours 15 minutes less the cake stop.
I did OK. 
If you don’t know Chapel Gate, have a look at the YouTube video below.
