The whole area was pretty much new to me, so every climb, descent & view was a treat.
Very busy with work/life so I'd barely checked the route before starting. Approaching it with a "what will be will be" attitude which has always served me well in the past. As always, the best info comes from chatting with the local riders enroute.
I really liked how the two loops were completely different: An MTB course on the first loop and a gravel course on the second. parkysouthlondon came up with "the first loop was 'orrible, the second was arable".
'orrible it certainly wasn't. The star attraction was the sunshine. After months of never-ending rain this felt like a exotic trip to southern Italy (pizza's at the finish - not a freezer->microwave job. A artisan crafted masterpiece from a pizza oven!).
It was interesting to see the clear division between mountain bikes and gravel bikes on the first loop. I was on a hardtail with dropper and 2.6" shoes. I yoyoed back and forth with guys on gravel bikes. They would take the road climbs and I'd sail past them on the descents.
Wasn't easier just on the obvious rocky steep stuff. There were a few long runs with golf ball to tennis ball sized nodules. Very quick and relaxing on my horse, but the gravel bikes were having to take it very slow.
First time I've really used a dropper post in anger as well. I bought one years ago because all the cool kids had them, but didn't find much use for it on my smooth Hampshire hills. On that first loop I hammered that remote.
The figure of eight route took us back to the campsite. It felt a bit like cheating, but I used the opportunity to change all my kit, have a sponge bath and a short nap in the sun.
parkysouthlondon rolled up just as I was getting ready to depart on the second loop, so we headed off into the evening together. Great sunset before dropping into Hathersage for a curry for dinner.
National Trust rangers were patrolling the hills up above Hathersage with search lights. They stopped us for a chat. Was told that they were very happy for us to be spending the night out, but gave a long precautionary lecture about not having a fire (rightly so).
At around midnight we bedded down in the woods just below Cubar Edge. At 2am there was a persistent drone buzzing overhead. I assumed that this was the NT looking for fire starters??
Sunrise up on Cubar Edge. Had the whole place to ourselves ...with the exception of two other TD riders we spotted having a lie in.
Day two was fairly pedestrian with a fair bit on the Pennine Bridleway.
Good to read thenorthwind's plastic free effort. I normally carry enough high calorie fatty/protein stuff to survive unassisted (cheese, sausages, nuts, etc). But when I'm tired and I spot a supermarket old habits die hard.
I like the idea of being completely self sufficient, but that then is a odds with giving some ££ to the local businesses.
How it looked in the sun:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9rKbe3ZmY5rsL71D9
Kudos to Valerio or organising. Put a lot of effort in and it clearly showed.
Maybe for 2025 reverse the route and don't bring people back to the campsite for the second loop?
Thanks Dave. Talking of... when you see reports on the news about water supply problems and bottled water being handed out by the pallet load, it makes worrying about a couple of plastic bottles on a bike ride look a bit silly. Bonkers that a water company with access to tankers and bowsers and pumps and stuff can't think of a better way of distributing water than in 500ml bottles 
), I should point out I drove, on my own, instead of getting the train, which is probably far worse. But the train was going to be expensive, complicated, and unreliable, so I didn't. There's a whole other thread for those rants though.
But the option was there.
