Quote Originally Posted by MarkClayton View Post
Does everyone take the route around Howden Edge? Am curious (as don’t know the area very well), looking at the map, seems like you could potentially drop from Outer Edge trig towards Oaken Bank and then head towards Swains Head via Humber Knolls. I appreciate this will add extra climb and the overall distance doesn’t look that different (maybe even fractionally longer according to Tracklogs), but maybe the ground conditions are better?
I agree with Yiannis that the route up the Derwent is not in the spirit but it is a point to point race and lets you decide. I know many teams have reccied it in the past, mine included but only as a foul weather route as it's more sheltered. I know of teams who have been that way in the race and there is zero benefit on time and then only if you get it just right, make a mistake dropping down or on the climb up(easy to do) and you will lose out.