As training for the Tuscany Trail in June, the Peak200 ITT was (I thought) perfect - the right distance, a bit of climbing, and a big day in the saddle. Two months prior to the Tuscany Trail was also ideal - good test of the bike, the kit, and me.
Parking in Baslow, I figured that this would not give me the opportunity to bail, as plenty of others have started in Edale on the inner loop and a bit too close to the outer loop, and the finish rate for this has been quite low (2 out of 10-20?). I also figured that this gets the inner loop finished before getting too knackered, and the west side of the ride was relatively easy (bollocks was it!).
Up at 4 to a freezing foggy morning, I was fed, dressed and ready to go for 5am. Should be finished by about 10 pm I thought.........
Climbing up Baslow Edge, the fog was only in the valleys, so it became a little clearer (still dark though), and across Froggatt Edge I disturbed 3 herds of roe deer, this was not a bad start to the day. The sun rose with a pink tinge and it soon became clear this was going to be a stunner of a morning. Across Totley Moor I started to step the pace up a bit, only to go over the bars in a peat hole. No harm done, I thought better of stepping the pace up, and across Burbage Moor a couple of early walkers were clearly enjoying the blue skies and morning freshness.
Whinstone Lee Tor was a bit more cut up than I remember, but still fun, Still feeling good, it was up to Hope Cross (up The Beast - it all looks rideable if you're coming down - going up is a definite push). Up Dirtlow Rake, then down Cavedale (still haven't ridden down this - it looks OK from the top, but my nerve always gets the better of me). I slipped while walking down and ended up sitting in the stream with the Camelback straps caught on the saddle - I couldn't stand up with the bike attached to me - my shorts are definitely waterproof though!
Reaching the bottom of Cavedale I had a thought. Cavedale isn't on the route. I checked the map (I was relying on the GPS to now), and my thoughts were correct - Cavedale isn't on the route. Checking the GPS I had loaded "PeakITT" instead of "Peak ITT 2015". I was following the previous route - hence I rode round Totley Moor and missed Houndkirk Moor. Plus I missed a section of the inner loop. Bollocks.
Thinking logically (a strange logic, as I've now done a bastardised PeakITT), I selected the 2015 route and carried on, up Winnats Pass to get to Mam Tor, which was back on route. Passed a couple of roadies on the way up, which always feels good. Hollins Cross came and went, then into Edale toilets for a water refill, and a feed (jam sandwiches take some beating!).
Halfway (100k) was Cut Gate - this was a bit of a push. The jam sandwiches were letting me down as my legs were now feeling the climbs, and my hands were starting to ache (I am sure my forks only absorb the big hits - the small stuff goes straight through to my wrists). Mickleden Edge was fun, it's been paved since I last rode it, but it hasn't been sanitised it too much, then the old railway line was a real relief, especially as the wind was picking up and was now behind me. The trail down to Salters Brook is a place with atmosphere for me - there used to be an inn for travellers there - nothing left of that except the odd piles of stones, but it's interesting how places change through the years. Then down the Woodhead reservoir trail, with a quick stop off for water at the toilets by Torside reservoir (this water is not for drinking it says, and it did taste a bit). Decided to top up with clean water in Glossop.
Lantern Pike is another favourite, probably as it's quite early on the Pennine Bridleway so is done first thing in the morning - which is a good time to ride it. Was getting knackered now though, counting the kilometres, and constantly calculating " 90 to go, in 10 that's 80 to go - that's 50 miles - that's easy". Then the devil inside says "50 miles, that's a days ride in itself, it's still a flipping long way!". I think the climb (push) out off Birch Vale finished me off. From then it was the little gears an awful lot, with constant feeding trying to get the legs back. And it was a cold sidewind that made riding in ruts tricky. Lots of pushing now.
The climb up Mount Famine, and across the Roych came and went - it was now around 5pm, I'd been going 12 hours and the walkers and bikers had all gone home.
I still thought I would be finishing around 10pm, maybe 11pm (18 hours was the target time). I was thinking that it wasn't far now, trying to remember which bit linked to which other bit. Then realising that I had missed a hill out. Then it was lights on at Wormhill - this was around the 180km mark, so was nearly done (only 40km to go - with no hills! Yippee! (twit!)).
Spinning down the Tissington trail was great - I had been expecting a strong headwind but it wasn't too bad, not far to go now; Long Dale wasn't the boggy mess I had heard about from last year - I was thankfull for this - little did I know what was coming. Gratton Dale. Why does it even exist? 2km of unrideable boulder strewn muddy mess. But there is a stream at the end to clean the bike and shoes (you have no choice in this matter). Now the anticipated finish time was creeping backwards. 11pm was still possible I thought, maybe 11.30. Really knackered now, and if someone had offered me a lift now I would probably have taken it. More food just to try to stop the dreaded bonk.
Haddon Hall climb was all ridden , but the woody climb up towards Chatsworth was a slow push - a bit too muddy to ride anyway (I love excuses). Then descending to Chatsworth was the most welcome descent of the whole ride. 220km done, and only a bit of road to the finish. A slow slog back to Baslow, and finished. 225km, 5700m of climbing. Total time 19hours 20 minutes, and around 7500 calories. 2 bananas (well mashed after the OTB bit), 14 energy bars, a bag of cranberries, 4 rounds of jam sandwiches, a pot of rice pudding and a couple of gels - and I was still hungry.
So, have I done the Peak ITT? I did the first half of the 2014 version, and the second half of the 2015 version. I think it's a bit longer and more climbing with my version, but I'll let others judge.
It is a cracking route - but tough. There are a lot of trails that are stoney, so either fattish tyres or good forks would help absorb the bumps. The hills are quite relentless, and there is plenty of opportunity to challenge yourself on the descents (potato alley!!), but this adds to the fun. A light, short travel full suss bike would be ideal, but a 29er hardtail worked fine for me. Ian has put together a real corker and more people should have a go (there's a lot of bivvy spots also if a 2 dayer appeals).
Stuff that worked and stuff that didn't:
food was good, a chippy would have been ideal for Sunday tea (Ian - can you organise this?). Bike was good (except the forks - they're just not plush). Clothing was good, and my kit was good (small Wildcat Ocelot - this is ideal for sandwiches as they don't get mashed, and with careful packing quite a few of the little bits can fit in; fuel pod, and small Camelback with a 2 litre bladder). Dynamo light worked fine, but the battery pack was crap (it's a "Rav power" that is meant to allow pass through charging, it might, but the Garmin still throws a "Power Lost" message every time the dynamo reduces output. It also only powered the GPS for about 10 hours - and it is meant to be 5200mAh which is clearly rubbish). I'll be going back to the "PortaPow" battery that I've had for years. Fitness was good, just need to remember that an 18 hour ride is quite a long day. And don't forget the Sudacrem.
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). First time my shortcut ended up via Pym Chair which at the time I thought was me going through Kinder Scout. Lovely riding regardless and I'll be back for another go when I'm able 