Eroica Britannia Hero bike ride (100 Miles)

Stats: 

• 100 MILES
• 7,565ft ascent

After seeing numerous promotional posters all over the Peak District for this event, I began to analyse the route on their website. The Eroica Britannia is a 3 day festival that hosts three popular routes on one of the days; Tourist (30 mile short route), Sportsman (60 mile medium route) and the Hero (100 mile long route). However, this a unique event as the ride has to be completed on a pre 1987 bike with all of the vintage attire too (e.g. cotton clothing, wool jumpers, toe straps).

After some research, I asked sam if he would be up for the Hero route, he reluctantly said yes due to the unpleasant long distance ride I took him on a few months previous to this (very wet, hilly and thick fog meant no views). But after reassurance that this would be awesome with brilliant weather and a few nudges of persuasion that it would prepare him for our LEJOG ride in the summer, he agreed.

Fortunately the GPX file was on their website which meant little planning was required. This is a a true challenge for a modern gravel bike never mind a vintage bike, it covered the very best of the Peak District National Park that incorporated a few offroad gravel sections which was a massive pull factor for us both and some great hills which was just a pull factor for myself. Due to my shrewd nature, I won’t pay for any sportive events so we undertook this route a few weeks before the proper event. 

Cromford Canal to Thorpe (along the High Peak and Tissington Trail)

We started at Cromford and got straight into the big climb up sheep pasture. This is a common off road hill that I regularly take Sam up, but it definitely shocked our legs as it was a solid mile up hill that averaged 12.5% with a few sharp parts in sections. It's a strange feeling as you begin to doubt yourself when you struggle up the hill when you know you still have 100 miles to go, but after we reached the top, it was a steady ride along the High Peak Trail with the sound of the crunching gravel and slipping tyres on the stone. We then got over taken by a 70 year old bloke who resisted to laugh as he zoomed past us on his Electric bike. We refrained from trying to keep up with him as we had only just begun the ride, but it was a humorous moment that we won’t forget. We then took a sharp left just before Parsely Hay that led us down the Tissington trail all the way to Thorpe which was a lovely gradual descent that allowed us to get a few miles under our belt. 

Thorpe to Sheen (Via Manifold Valley)

Manifold valley

We got off the trail and quickly descended down the twisty roads overlooking the stunning landscape over to Thorpe Cloud and Bunster hill, but as we got to Ilam, I knew we had a sharp climb to get us back out of the valley. I sped off ahead to set my camera up to try and capture some of his grimaces, but mostly, I captured some awkward smiles with the attempt that he was enjoying the hills. We sociably climbed out of the Manifold Valley and cycled through some lovely villages; Alstonfield, Hulme End and Sheen

Sheen to Goyt valley

Goyt valley descent 

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Our strengths against gravity began to put us to the test as it became a long climb against the wind. But soon we reached the highest village in England called ‘Flash’ at 1518ft above see level. We then had to put our head down along the A53 on the Leek road which eventually led to Axe Edge. We came off the busy road and took a sweeping descent to Errwood and Fernilee reservoirs in Goyt valley. This was our second off road section which was slightly more bumpy, but the barking dog that decided to chase me sped us up along this section. This was a truly stunning section which we will definitely have to wild camp.

Goyt valley to Edale

After a brilliant section through Goyt valley, we peddled through Chapel En Le Frith, refuelled at Morrissons and took the arduous climb out towards Mam Nick (Sheffield Road). I developed quite a big lead over Sam so I decided to pull in, take a few photos and regroup. He was at quite a low point and began to doubt his ability, the hill was long and we still had the sharp climb to get us up towards Mam Tor. But with his perseverance and the incentive of a cafe stop in Edale he made his way up. 

Sheffield road climb

All we had to do now was the awesome twisty decent down Mam Nick to get us to our cafe stop. (Favourite descent in the Peak District). This is a must go to area, its a great climb and an even better descent. The surrounding peaks and panoramic views are just impressive and totally worth the painful climb to get to it.

Mam Nick descent towards Edale

Edale to Monsal Head

After a vital refuel of a toasted sandwich and a milkshake at the National Trust cafe in Edale we set off. Sam was familiar with this road as we had done it a few months previous on our bike packing trip, he began to get demoralised as he was fully aware of the gentle climb to get us out of the valley. But unfortunaltey for him, the climb out wasn’t the gentle one we were used to, my Satmap directed us onto a different road outside of Bradwell called 'Outlands road'. This was incredibly steep, but thankfully it was fairly short. We put our heads down and went up at our own pace. Fortunately for me, I have a crazy obsession for hills and took the normal approach of 110% effort and try and hang on for as long as possible. Luckily, I could hang on as it wasn’t too long. I got my camera out, ate a few jelly babies (rocket fuel) and we carried on cycling. The sweets gave Sam a much needed moral boost and he was back into his positive mental state again. We really appreciated this section, the scenery and the weather was just perfect.

In the 'granny gear' 

We then had some rolling terrain and respite through the charming villages of; Litton, Tideswell, Cressbrook and Great longstone. However, this all changed when we we began to see signs for Monsal Head. Sam jokingly said 'shall we go up the Monsal hill climb’ much to his despair, we were going up that climb and he just didn't realise (maybe he should look at the route I plan next time). I enthusiastically said 'yes’ with the prior knowledge that we were going up it anyway but unfortunately for Sam he would soon realise it wasn’t a choice if we would go up it or not. The "Monsal Hill Climb" is a a lung busting 617 metre ascent which is deemed to be the most popular hill climb event in the UK calendar due to the picturesque setting of Monsal Dale, which attracts a huge crowd (we must visit the race). I steadily led the way up the climb, as I got near to the summit there were a crowd of walkers cheering me on which made the climb brilliant.

Monsal Head hill climb

Monsal Head to Chatsworth

After we arrived to the summit, we became instantly disappointed when the cafe shut about 30 seconds ago and they wouldn’t reopen for us. Therefore, we got back on the bike and kept cycling until we hit the Monsal trail. As usual, the trail was densely populated with all sorts of people from Cyclists, to horse riders. We averaged a decent speed but I made sure we saved something in the tank, as the ride was not over yet and from undertaking the medium route a few weeks before, I knew there was a steep twisting road out of Bakewell. We got to the end and made our way up Handley lane which is adjacent to Manners Wood (this looked great for Mountain biking). We got to the top and had a steady freewheel into Chatsworth. We only had one major hill left which would be Beeley moor, this isn’t a super steep climb but it is definitely one that you need to get your pacing right as its nearly 4 miles long!

Chatsworth to Crich

Crich stand

We took it steady up Beeley, had an ice cream, a vital snack to keep us going for the last section and we set off once again. Moral was high for us, we were nearly finished! Sam was grinning due to it was his first 100 mile ride nearly complete and it wasn’t an easy one due to the hills and trails. This is a great section that goes over some quiet traffic free rolling hills towards Crich which meant all of the hard hills was now over...but I wanted to get one more hill in so I guided Sam up to Crich stand, took a few photos and that was it we had finished! 

The route was brilliant, it would be super hard on a vintage bike to undertake, especially grinding your way up Sheep Pasture, Ilam and Beeley Moor. But overall it was pretty easy, displaying how 100 mile rides are becoming a comfortable day out on the bike for me. It's amazing how far bicycle equipment has advanced. 

Well done to Samuel for completing his first 100 miler, especially how we both ride with 38mm tyres with heavy gravel bikes compared to the majority of cyclists on full lightweight carbon bashing road bikes.  Bring on our next ride together and hopefully he will develop a love for hills as much as me!