Sorry for the delay in uploading this, it went to drafts instead of publishing. I checked it had posted before I logged off but it seams to have then decided it was a draft.
What a glorious day!! I spoke to the school last week and the parting comment was basically ” the weather’s been rubbish, so good luck!”
For once it looks like we have bought the good weather with us as I’ve been climbing hill in a river of sweat today ( probably should have taken the windproof gillet off!) and the forecast is for much of the same this weekend 
We’ve put the sportive out today and, as usual, I got to do the long loop. We’ve changed the route about this year and put the long loop towards the start as it’s pretty hard and you’ll be doing it on fresh legs, rather than shaky, jelly like ones that you’d get if we put it at the end. There’s some pretty big climbs in there and one that gives “The Wall” on King of the Downs a good run for that name. After a fantastic descent you cross a reservoir, ride around a bend and then the road just goes straight up, sometimes it’s best not to be able to see the top!!
We then take you up to Rushup Edge, into the Hope Valley and onto the long climb to Snakes Pass, a fantastic descent into Glossop, one small pass and it’s all over. ( We have taken the little “sting” out of the end of route for this year)
A few things:-
This is not a race and the roads are not closed. There Will be other road users on the roads so please ride responsibly, especially on the descents. Always keep your bike under control and speed down, You never know what’s around the corner!!!
GPX routes:-
No MTB Long
Garmin users – please use these instructions or run routes through Bikeroutetoaster.com
And remember – it’s a grade 4 out of 4!
Ta
Dean
A map would be nice…..
OMG. Dean you are an evil genius. This was a really tough route, and I WILL hold you responsible for the headwind which cunningly seemed to be full on no matter which way we rode. This was a beautiful ride, I am proud to have made it round the long loop.
Hi Gary.
Sorry for the late reply. We don’t actually publish maps because we don’t confirm the routes until a couple of days before the event, after the route has physically been put out. I then need to make the maps and print them all out for the event. If you put the gpx routes into Google maps you can see them that way.
Sporty – The Peaks is only one of two 4 out of 4 graded routes that we do, the other being the Lakes, so it was always going to be a tough day! Mike, who starts you all, also collects most of our courses behind you all. He reckons this was our best course yet
The is no truth in the rumour that we installed 200 wind turbines on Snakes Pass…………
Dean
Hi Very good route! (depending on your perspective of course!) . . .
However othe srportives i have done offer a ‘Route Profile’ they are very helpful for those of us who dont have GPS, its nice to know how we need to ‘measure out our efforts’ we were riding totally blind so to speak, if youre not from the area . . . .
Hi Music matt
As we don’t actually confirm the route until a few days before the event there are a lot of last minute things to be done once we do. Unfortunately uploading route profiles is quite low down on that list.
As we travel the country we don’t have the luxury of riding routes a week in advance and posting all the info sooner, like local organisers do.
I’m the only full time member of staff at the moment but we are taking someone else on so we will hopefully be able to provide more info in the future.
Ta
Dean