Lead Rider - John (The Wheel)
Group - Swiss Tony (yam wr), Andy Physco (yam wr), Roger (suzuki drz), Danny (yam wr), Paul (honda xr), John Nic (honda xr), PC Dave (yam wr), Chris (husaberg)
Date - Sunday 18th November 2007

We met at the lakes at 10am, but unfortunately didn't set off until about 11, due to Chris not being able to get his bike running, after many attempts by a couple of the lads to cure the problem, Chris decided it was best to trailer his bike home.

The weather was a bit fresh, but at least it was dry, we had noticed a few cars on the way up which were covered in snow, so we knew we would be in for an interesting day's ride.

We made our way up to Taxel, where we stopped at the far side of the stream for a quick break. Coming down the path from the roadside was a fairly big guy on one of those tiny pit bike thingy's? Complete with lights and a number plate. He scooted over the bridge and up the path on the other side. Then his mate came along and started chatting to us about his 90 mph go anywhere dwarf mobile, seemed like a nice man!

As we went across the lane that goes over the top near Coombs, the surrounding hillside was white with snow. It wasn't long before we had to start reducing our speed, as the snow was quite thick. We made our way down into Buxton, where we stopped at the usual cafe, which was heaving with pansy road bikers trying to keep warm (lol), once we had filled up with tea and bacon butties, we fuelled up and headed up to Monsall dale on the road

By this time it was bitter cold and visibility was a problem with the snow and sleet lashing in our faces, it seemed to ease off a bit as we got to the top of Monsall head, so we went on the lanes up to Baslow. Paul's XR started cutting out so we had to stop and see what the problem was, a quick squirt of John's WD40 seemed to do the trick, so we set off again trying to make up a bit of lost time, only to run into another problem as Andy got a puncture as we rode up through the quarry. Then Paul's bike started missing again (thought Honda's were supposed to be reliable!) Paul decided to cut the day short and ride home on the road, Danny going with him just in case.

Andy pumped up his tyre again and we carried on to Baslow then up and over Wellingtons monument at the end of the lane, Andy started to change his tube with the help of Swiss, while the rest of us stood around freezing to death!

A long road section over to Totley was torture as blinding sleet made it difficult to see the bends in the road. Dave's fingers were numb as we made our way on to the beginning of the lane, so Swiss borrowed him a spare pair of gloves (a fee will be required, no doubt). Totley was fun in the snow and probably easier to ride on than in normal conditions, next stop was the good old fox house inn for a swift half (and to use their radiators to dry our now soaking gloves!)

As we had started off late and also had a few issues with dodgy Honda's, dodgy Husaberg's and cheap taiwanese inner tubes, we though it best to head back to Marple on the roads as conditions were not getting any better, and the light was fading fast.

We finally made it back about six and went our separate ways, apart from all the mishaps, it turned out to be a good day's ride.

I must remember to take a couple of pairs of spare gloves on the next run or maybe fit some heated grips!