A large group gathered in the Market place to watch Mr Daly inspect the blocked paving more closely. A very comical moment for the traders to, as I couldn’t get from under the bike. Dave Mag lent a hand.
After the laughter abated we set off fir Monyash via Mini Thorncliffe, Longnor, Glutton Bridge, where 4 continued onwards for a further distance. The rest continued on to the Smithy. Food and coffee consumed and a little warmer, we ventured back out where we soon realised it was going to be a headwind back via Hartington, Hulme End, Reaps Moor, Mermaid, Thorncliffe and back into Leek.
Good ride, Ho ho ho

Quite a large gathering in the market place for this mornings rides, with a general direction of monyash and chatsworth being mentioned.
The groups stayed together til glutton bridge, where the b team headed off for earl sterndale, hurdlow and monyash, while the keener riders carried on to Brierlow Bar, before heading through chelmorton, and Taddington, and the descent down the a6 to ashford.
Climbing off the main road, we skirted the Bakewell bookshop, and across to chatsworth, where we headed for the Edensor cafe.
Turned out it was rather busy, so we grabbed a table outside. Quick service brought our coffees and butties, so we weren’t out waiting for too long, before heading back on our way to Rowsley, then Alport and Youlgreave, where we began to feel the “benefits” of the negative tailwind all the way home.
Over long rake to parsley hay, and then to avoid retracing over our way out, we decided Hartington was our favoured route home, and over the tops after warslow and thorncliffe.
A nice steady 50 something miles and quite a bit of elevation gain.