Decided to go to the Peak District for a ride on my last day off work.
Parked at Ladybower and planned to go over Whinstone Lee Tor,Thornhill, Aston, Up Hope Brink, Hope X, Rowlee Farm, Lockerbrook and Gores DH to finish before back to Fairholmes. Epic Peak District route.
As i drove there it was sunny and quite pleasant. Got to Ladybower and the heavens opened. Never minded riding in the rain so set off determined to make the most of it and give my new rear shock a good workout.
Enjoyed the slog upto Whinstone Lee Tor and had loads of fun down towards Ladybower Inn. Rear shock (swapped DHX Air for DHX coil) was so much better and the bike felt so planted and smooth now.
Rain really started coming down whilst on the road stretch to Aston but kept plugging away. Got to the top of Hope Brink and enjoyed 30 seconds whilst the rain stopped. Headed down towards Hope X and was planning to have some lunch.
Was heading down at a fair pace through the mut and ruts when got to a section that was quite cut up and slick. Without warning back end just wipped right around to my left and i hit the deck hard on. It happened so quick i never even got my hands off the bars of unclipped my feet. Unfortunately i hit a large rock with the right side of my chest and knocked the wind out of myself. I knew immediately after i managed to breath again that it was fairly serious due to the pain in my ribs. Took 5 mins to compose myself and realised i was still a good 8 miles from the car or so and very much on my own.
Set off riding again and initially thought i might of just bruised my ribs. However after ten minutes or so the adrenaline had worn off and the pain was very real. Worked out the most direct route back to the car was down Hope X descent then see how i was after that so either back down the A57 or up over the moors.
For those of you that know Hope X descent in the Peak it is probably the most technical rough descent in the whole of the Peaks. That with the fact that a small river was running down it made it even more technical. I managed just to get down in agony and had to stop several times. At the bottom i decided i could not face the climb over the moors so took the A57 back to Fairholmes car park.
Struggled to get the bike into the car and get changed then drove the 65 miles home. Wife dispatched me straight back to A&E and the verdict is i have cracked at least three ribs and the doctor said i cant ride my bike for TWO MONTHS until i am properly healed!
Pics from the happy day
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May 24, 2012, 04:17:36 AM
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