In this event the Marple Explorers make an extremely good fist of cycling 28 Kilometres. Mostly offroad in hot temperatures and including the category one climb : Col de Mount Famine, Hayfield.
Once again we start out at the Marple HQ : Soon to be recognised as the spiritual home of all scouting adventures.
Having begun with naming bike parts while we awaited our full complement, we soon numbered 4 and once Callum had arrived on a borrowed bike, and The Wardster had pumped his tyres up, we could strap the Heart rate monitor to Hoggy and begin praying that Jacko’s bike would hold together for the ride of a lifetime! Helmets on, eyes down, look in!
Everyone has ridden down to the Roman Lakes at some point in their life, and recognised the trickyness of the climb up to Linnet Clough. This day was no different and some limited success was achieved. I did try to help explaining bicycle theory but I’m not sure if it mattered. We continued climbing up massive horse steps (Hoggy managed 2) before Callum leant on a gate that then started opening. A final scrambly testing climb was made worse by the fresh rubble laid in the potholes by the local land manager. Everyone put their foot down at least once before we reached the top. Thankfully a rest here, and a drink. It was hot. Too hot some say.
But downhill now, generating our own cooling breeze till the king of Pests, a horserider appeared! Momentum lost and speed curtailed we continued down the stony track until the steep, twisty, tarmac road descent and up the otherside. I clocked 46kph.
Once again the peloton regathered for the granny ring climb to Wethercotes, past Hoggy’s alleged country retreat. Then a zippy descent to Hayfield by road, everyone managing to avoid the cars. Now the monster! 2 km of steep then grinding uphill and there was no racing here as explorers adhered to my advice to take it easy. Sadly too painful for Wardy, he admirably walked and pushed his bike up but could not face getting passed by a roadie at the end. A true Die hard!
Finally it was here. One of the best local offroad descents complete with drainage ditches. Over the track we zoomed and flew one by one, gliding and speeding, until Wardy took a dive. “Man’s alright” came the call and there was just enough time for me to get a puncture! Action stations! Plus time was running out.
Back in the game a more technical, tight, zigzag, stony descent was mastered by all complete with show off moves at the bottom but for Callum the ride then turns into the film “Speed”. He’d be Sandra bullock : If he fails to pedal the rear freewheel crunches badly so he is now forced to never stop turning the cranks all the way home! The journey going awry it’s time to take the flat Sett Valley Trail home where our team pursuit time trial aerodynamics are pitiful, but we keep the pace up along the leafy, monotonous. Corridor. Dull but necessary.
Nearly losing Callum at New Mills we stumble on to the canal for half four. We’re going to be late! Swizzels, Disley, and Strines all come and go along with some hissing geese. The team are clinging on. Romper pointed out, bridge to Hawk Green, two big arcs and we’re nearly there. Keep turning the pedals! Up the cobbled turning and we arrive shattered at the Marple Scout Hut at 4.53pm. Enough.
Congratulations all round and the epic is over. We finish with a slice of delight as we reaslise we’ve burnt 2200 calories and are now happily entitled to eat any number of cakes without consequences! Good job.
Hoggy’s Heart Results in full (Maximum 203 beats per minute)
Date : 6/2/11 Time : 1.28pm Duration : 3.25.38hrs
Calories Burnt : 2201 Percentage of Fat calories burnt : 45%
Heart rate Average : 135 bpm / 66% of Maximum
Heart Rate High : 187 bpm / 92% of Maximum
Get the photos here! 22MB in a .zip download