Having done no exercise, other than short dog walks, since hurting my back nearly 2 weeks ago I was getting stir crazy so went out on the Arkose gravel bike today.
Once I had struggled to get all my gear on, having got astride, fortunately my back was OK and I managed a chilly but mainly sunny 40 miles and 2'600 feet in 3hrs 11min, the vast majority of it being off road.
A downhill start to Youlgreave and then up to Friden and along the HPT to Longcliffe. Down to Ballidon and up a lovely lane I have not been on before to Roystone Grange which is, or rather was, a medieval monastic sheep and cattle farm. Animal wise all I could see were lots of fancy chickens and three Iron Age pigs, which I think are a cross between Wild Boar and an heritage pig breed. They certainly looked ancient!
A few more miles of gradual uphill on gravelly Cobblersnook and Cardlemere Lanes before dropping down to the Tissington Trail at Biggin. As I was "flying" down the lane I could hear a strange noise which I thought was coming from something stuck in my rear wheel. I dared not look as all my concentration was required on the large grade gravel and water filled potholes. The noise got louder and then I realised that it was the honking of a skein of geese overhead, and as they appeared in front of me I could see that there was at least 200 of them. They were not very high so I assumed that they were on their way back to nearby Carsington Water after a days grazing.
Along the TT to Parsley Hay for a warming Latte and then on to the end of the HPT and the usual run home via Flagg and Monyash.
A lovely day out and surprisingly only 3 other cyclists seen. Shoulders are a bit achy but the back seems OK.
Lets see in the morning!
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