Cold but good - Glossop to Wakefield today

[Gerard C]

Just a quick write up on a ride out today with Alan.

I had to make a visit on business to Prestbury Nr, Manchester and the appointment was for 9.00am. Rather than sit in the Car on the M62 or at Mottran, I thought I’d go on the bike. Despite the chilly forecast Mad Alan decided to come with me for the ride.

We met up at 6.45 and fuelled up. Going down the M1 from Wakefield the cold started to bite early, (this was despite the heated grips, heated seat and a Givi Screen)! Leaving the M1 onto the A648 towards Penistone we then started to climb up over the Woodhead Pass. The visibility wasn’t too bad and surprisingly the traffic was reasonable. Alan the Super Filterer making short work of any that tried to delay us.

Going over the tops the sun was rising giving some very nice views - that could be appreciated if you could control the shivering. Minus 2 at one point.

Taking the unavoidable Motorways we made our way around Manchester through a lot of very slow moving traffic. Great filtering stuff eventually leaving the Motorways and taking to the A roads to Prestbury.

I did the business and after a very expensive but extremely good quality breakfast Bap and Coffee at a Tea Rooms in Prestbury Village, where strangely we were the only ones in the Cafe in Biker Gear, we then set off for home. In case you fancy a visit to the Tearooms I can’t remember the name but there’s a shop selling stuff from Tibet opposite so it won’t be hard to find.

We decided to make for Glossop. By now the Sun was up and the temperature had risen to a balmy 8 degrees. As the temperature rose so did our speed and we made good time to Glossop where we had a brew at a more reasonable price. (Cafe in the Centre - next to the Pub).

Alan led off east over the Snake Pass. One of the best crossings for me. Not a lot of traffic, good dry roads and great scenery. It could do with a 60 limit though.

Diverting off over the Strines, which for those of you that don’t know is a minor road that heads north from the Snake towards Penistone - which for those of you that don’t know is a disappointment.

The Strines is a rollercoaster of a road, very exposed and can be bleak. Not today though as the Sun made things look good. It even glinted on the piles of snow at the side of the road and on the patches of ice handily located at corners. Some careful observation needed.

Passing through Penistone back onto the M1 and up to Wakefield we had been out for 6 hours including brief stops. A really good day out, bloody freezing at times early doors, but more than pleasant on the way back.

The run to and from Glossop is one of the area’s best, can’t wait to do it in Spring.

[pikey]

Too much writing no photos

[Gerard C]

Ha OK No more from me then sorry.

[pikey]

Fair enough just being constuctive muppets love photos

[horobags]

Use your imagination julian, your still reading books with pictures then?????????

[pikey]

Yes picture paints a thousand words as they say .I dont want an expensive bacon bap explained I want to see it

[Bluebottle]

I was doing it in the opposite direction at the same time Manchester-Sheffield but came back via Holmfirth instead of Woodhead.
Quite a few bikes out, nice and sunny, some really bad new potholes including a horrendous trench

Great fun, fantastic views over Dovestones and was out of the seat more than once

[pikey]

If anyone needs help posting photos just ask for help its easy once youve done it once .If that was the case I apoligise for my comment

[Gerard C]

Hi I didn't take offence at Pikey. As it happens pics werent really an option on the way out. Too much pressure to get there for the appointment and on the way back it didn't really occur to me.
But actually I have tried to post pics before and failed. Some seem to be able to include them in their posts and I would be glad to do the same if some one can tell me in simple terms how its done. I seem to recall that I had problems with the file size or something. Solo's good at this sort of thing and its correct a pic is worth a lot of words.

[maxine500]

Same here with the pix. I only use tapatalk with mobile would love to know how to post pix. But I DID read the ride. Was good!