Last weekend turned out to be a bit action-packed, leaving me thoroughly exhausted after 14 miles cross-country on a downhill bike, and far too long spent grovelling around in a grubby cave at Harborough.
On Saturday I finally managed two things which I have wanted to do for ages: ride the new bike properly, and visit Cannock Chase trails. A timely invitation from G to join his band of adventurers found us tackling the Follow the Dog and Monkey XC trails. I took the LTS-DH, hoping to hit the DH trails, but fate had a different plan in store. Not far into Follow the Dog, my seatpost clamp snapped in two, forcing me to ride the (longer than anticipated) rest of the trails on a bike with 5" of saggy travel, and with the saddle touching the top of the seat tube.
Rest stop, halfway around the Monkey Trail. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010
Nevertheless, the excellent company kept it enjoyable and the downhill bits were great fun on the new bike. The front end is amazing when pointing in the right direction, despite feeling ridiculous when riding along tarmac. I was worried that having spent four months building it, I might have created some kind of awful monster, but it seems all my deliberation and decision making has been vindicated. It was helped along by G's nina-style brake bleeding skills, undertaken with a home-made bleed kit in the car park – good work!
Finally, the LTS-DH gets into it's home environment. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010
By the end of the loop I was pretty much shafted, and not really able to make the best of the downhills after the effort of hauling / pushing the bike up the uphill sections. An awesome sandwich / cake combo* at the cafe finished the day off nicely though, and I can't wait to get out again soon for some proper DH action.
Yesterday I met up with James at Harborough Rocks for his first taste of Peak District single-pitch cragging. Not having rock boots, he chose to climb in his B2/3 winter boots and as per usual showed me up anyway. I ticked off some routes I'd wanted to do, took James up Trident Arete as I think it's the "must-do" route of the crag, and then foolishly mentioned that I wouldn't mind a look at the routes in the cave.
Things start getting a bit funky on Skylight Chimney (VDiff). Copyright Haydn Williams 2010
I've looked at the two routes before, and they've always looked grotty and horrible. I can now confirm that close up they are indeed grotty and horrible. I started on Cave Chimney (VDiff), and quickly got coated in filth while squirming my way up the first bit. Assuming the worst is past, you launch sideways and upwards towards the hole in the roof, only to find more grime waiting for you further up. Still, it was fun in a weird kind of way.
Pleased my current position doesn't require any digging. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010
Having finished Skylight Chimney I returned to the guidebook at the bottom of the crag, only to realise shortly after that James was eyeing-up the other route in the cave, Cave Chimney (HVD). Sure enough, I soon found myself wedged in another grotty crack, desperately wishing I had a spade to dig out some kind of hold on the flat muddy shelf I was confronted with at shoulder height. With a lack of gear I wimped out, and James soon found himself in the same position. Possessing a sense of ingenuity I had wholly failed to display, he cunningly threw a hex into a crack a good four feet above his high point and, with that clipped, proceeded to launch himself onto the aforementioned ledge.
James gets to grips with the top half of Cave Chimney (HVD). Copyright Haydn Williams 2010
From there more squirming (and a load of bad language) led to the top. Definitely worth it's zero stars! After these subterranean adventures we returned to the glaring sunlight and knocked off a couple more routes to end the day. I'm now safe in the knowledge that I need never venture into the cave again, and James enjoyed himself despite all the grovelling around in the dark.
Another filthy chimney route ticked off the list. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010
I left him to travel home in a newly souped-up Uan (new alloys, new signwriting and a hammock!), while I made my way back to Leicestershire dreaming of a hot shower.
* – BBQ chicken baguette followed by a chocolate-topped caramel rice crispie cake, since you asked.
