Cycling therapy by Lee Craigie!

Watch this inspiring short Sustrans video, sent to me by Andy Staines, about champion Scottish MTB rider Lee Craigie and the therapeutic value of cycling. Click here to watch it. It made me want to immediately charge up to the Scottish Highlands and start pedalling! What breathtaking scenery! What wonderful commitment Lee shows! Anyone care to ride the Caledonia Way (NCR78)? 

Public rides for 2017

After our discussions on Thursday evening I hope that you will also consider further what format our programme of rides for 2017 should take. We originally agreed we would aim for one a month, but I may look to supplement this with a few shorter, evening rides along the Monsal Trail. Is this too ambitious a programme?

The question is.... do we look to establish a regular group for whom we can establish greater levels of competence and confidence over the summer months OR do we just hold each months' ride in a different location around the area as a way of trying to introduce the cycle network to as many people as possible?

Anyway, I will circulate separately the draft "2017 Programme of led rides" document (not sure how to include it here), which is indicative of what the programme will look like, once I have all your feedback and comments. It has embedded documents which include example risk assessments and communication briefs to use to drum up attendances.

The programme will only be successful if we can all make some commitment to it, so its important that we set out something that we are all happy with, and which is not too ambitious in this first year.

Please let me have your suggestions for rides, thoughts and other comments by end of February, at which point I will send an updated draft for us all to consider.

Had a great meeting last night with all the White Peak rangers.

Great to welcome Jane, the new Group Coordinator. I'm feeling very excited about all you're going to achieve this year to promote cycling and walking in the Peak District.

~Dan

Mount Teide, Tenerife

Last night’s meeting has spurred me into action!  Ruth and I haven’t done any exciting rides recently – apart from island hopping along the Dalmatian coast in Croatia, where we failed to take any photos!  So I thought I’d tell you about the ascent of Mt Teide, Tenerife in 2003.  This is one of the very few places in the world where you can cycle and walk from sea level to 12,000 ft and back in one day – at least that was the plan.  We’d hire bikes and cycle up from the coast to 7,700 ft then walk the rest.  

We hired nice Scott bikes and set off early but soon found that, though the bikes were good, the saddles were torture so we had to keep getting off and walking for a while until the pain subsided!  So we were late setting off on the walking part and, by the time we reached a mountain refuge at 10,700 ft, we realised we had to stop there for the night.

The next morning we set off at 6 a.m. in the dark and managed to be on the summit for the sunrise at 7:30 – 24 hours after we set off. 

So we did manage the ascent in “one day” but will have to go back sometime to do up and down in a day.  See all the pictures at www.prwatson.co.uk/trekking.htm and click on the link “Mount Teide ascent 2003".

PS – No, we didn’t do it in pirates fancy dress - Ruth’s eye patch was because she was having trouble with her corneal graft at the time.

Ride in darkest Staffordshire, the Xmas social, award and retirement

That’s a lot to catch up on, isn’t it! 

The last post publicized a 22-mile ride in Staffordshire. This was a great trip ably led by Catherine and David, up and down some pretty steep hills (they weren’t kidding about that!), and beautifully sunny if cold weather. We stopped for lunch at Flash, the highest village in Britain. So high were we in places that the wind sometimes prevented us from riding in a straight line! I find the scenery in this part of the Peak stunning, with great expanses of moorland and wonderful views from the hills of the surrounding countryside. We saw the guanacos and also dropped in at Longnor church.

Catherine and David put on a great spread at their house, an excellent venue for the first White Peak Rangers Xmas social. They presented me with this amazing pint mug (see below) which I look forward to filling with Hartington IPA! Thanks are due also to Dan and Sustrans for their support, and for the Certificate of Appreciation which I accept on behalf of all members of the group for all your hard work.

Although I am standing down as group coordinator, I want to continue as a volunteer ranger, working as and when I can on our great routes in the Peak District. I appreciate all the help you've given me over the last 4 years, and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year. Have a wonderful time over the festive season!

And now, some pictures! Alas, I failed to take any at the social. If anyone else did, feel free to post them.

November ride Thursday 24 November 2016

Catherine and David have suggested a 22-mile jaunt in the Peak round Warslow. This will be a circular ride starting from Warslow, with lunch at Flash Bar Stores. Kick off from D&C's place with coffee at 10:15 - ride departs some time before 10:45. There will be a bit of climbing - please wait for me at the tops of the hills! - and the ride will include a field of Guanacos to see!

Should be good!

See you all there!

Revised date for White Peak Rangers' first Xmas Social

It has been decided to change the date of our Christmas do These are the details now:

Catherine and David cordially invite you to the
White Peak Rangers Rendevous Saturday 10 December at 12:30 
The Barn, Old Vicarage, Warslow, SK17 0JJ
Home made pies, salads, and cakes plus a barrel of local brewery's Whim Hartington IPA 
£5.00/head to help cover costs
Bring a bottle/partner or both plus any info about cycling holidays to share
RSVP to catherine@rookespottery.co.uk
Directions from C&D: "In the village ignore satnav and go on the B5053 towards Onecote – our drive is where the 30mph limit ends"

See you all there!