Setting myself a challenge........
Discussion
If only to make sure the bike is set up to fit properly.
FWIW I don't think it's too bad. You'd be sore afterwards but I think most people without any major medical problems would be able to do over 100 miles in a day with the right kit. From memory (I used to live near Matlock) it's not the flattest of routes though.
FWIW I don't think it's too bad. You'd be sore afterwards but I think most people without any major medical problems would be able to do over 100 miles in a day with the right kit. From memory (I used to live near Matlock) it's not the flattest of routes though.
Really fired up for it now....can reasonably easily manage Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Ingleborough etc, (at least I could two years ago) I don't anticipate any problems other than saddle soreness, there's life in the old dog yet.
..I'm allowing myself plenty of time, if I get back at 10pm so be it.
Appreciate the tips though...I'll post some pictures up the day after...
..I'm allowing myself plenty of time, if I get back at 10pm so be it.Appreciate the tips though...I'll post some pictures up the day after...
Hi
For my sins I am the 'long suffering Mrs WR who prefers to be known as Tiggerrr!
I just thought I would update you all in case you are concerned enough to wonder how that mad husband of mine is doing during his challenge.
I'm sure he will give you the accurate details at sometime in the not too distant future but for now I will just say that he left here at 5.30am or so he says, I cannot confirm nor deny this as I was still asleep!
I have been in contact with him every few hours or so and been updating friends and family through my facebook page.
He assures me that he has travelled every inch on foot or bicycle and did indeed make it to Sheffield via the Snake Pass on the outward journey and returning via the Woodhead Pass.
He was 'enjoying' a brief spell of sunbathing around teatime at the start of the Woodhead climb when a couple travelling past in their car stopped to see if he was ok as his bike was strewn on the grass and he was laid down. This couple had thought he was dead!
He's had a pint or two of the old shandy to keep him hydrated but only within the letter of the law and an hour and a half ago he was just approaching the top of Mottram Road and looking forward to a spot of freewheeling down that lovely hill! Lovely only if you are travelling down and not up!
It was at this point that he remembered that as a 'boy' his frequent trips to Sheffield were of course started and finished in Stalybridge and not 50+ miles return further north from that point!
I did offer to pick him up from there as by rights he has more than completed his teenage memory lane trip, but the stubborn much to be admired fool insisted his ambition at this moment in time was to complete the return journey from where he now lives.
It is almost midnight and hopefully he will be home in the next hour or two but as he started the day he shall end it with me fast asleep!
Not because I don't want to wait to welcome him home but my need for my sleep is greater than his need to be patted on the back at around 2am. I'm sure I can do that at some point tomorrow. 
Goodnight folks and thanks for listening.
For my sins I am the 'long suffering Mrs WR who prefers to be known as Tiggerrr!
I just thought I would update you all in case you are concerned enough to wonder how that mad husband of mine is doing during his challenge.
I'm sure he will give you the accurate details at sometime in the not too distant future but for now I will just say that he left here at 5.30am or so he says, I cannot confirm nor deny this as I was still asleep!
I have been in contact with him every few hours or so and been updating friends and family through my facebook page.
He assures me that he has travelled every inch on foot or bicycle and did indeed make it to Sheffield via the Snake Pass on the outward journey and returning via the Woodhead Pass.
He was 'enjoying' a brief spell of sunbathing around teatime at the start of the Woodhead climb when a couple travelling past in their car stopped to see if he was ok as his bike was strewn on the grass and he was laid down. This couple had thought he was dead!
He's had a pint or two of the old shandy to keep him hydrated but only within the letter of the law and an hour and a half ago he was just approaching the top of Mottram Road and looking forward to a spot of freewheeling down that lovely hill! Lovely only if you are travelling down and not up!
It was at this point that he remembered that as a 'boy' his frequent trips to Sheffield were of course started and finished in Stalybridge and not 50+ miles return further north from that point!
I did offer to pick him up from there as by rights he has more than completed his teenage memory lane trip, but the stubborn much to be admired fool insisted his ambition at this moment in time was to complete the return journey from where he now lives.
It is almost midnight and hopefully he will be home in the next hour or two but as he started the day he shall end it with me fast asleep!
Not because I don't want to wait to welcome him home but my need for my sleep is greater than his need to be patted on the back at around 2am. I'm sure I can do that at some point tomorrow. Goodnight folks and thanks for listening.
Oh Rocksteadyeddie please don't be giving him any ideas.... 
although his parting words this morning as he left for work were "I never want to see another bicycle again!"
Good luck with your 170 miles, although I am sure you are much younger and fitter than WR and have been on a push bike a little more recently than 45 years ago!
Thanks everyone.
I'm sure he will be along before too long to tell you his tale of woe erm I mean achievement for himself. He'll have a shock to see I have been in here as well! 
although his parting words this morning as he left for work were "I never want to see another bicycle again!" Good luck with your 170 miles, although I am sure you are much younger and fitter than WR and have been on a push bike a little more recently than 45 years ago!
Thanks everyone.
I'm sure he will be along before too long to tell you his tale of woe erm I mean achievement for himself. He'll have a shock to see I have been in here as well! OK folks, update from my original post:-
So, decided to get on and do it, rather than thinking about it, the weather was set fair for Tuesday (yesterday) so my mind was made up.
Some basic comments, before I add the photos:-
Total mileage covered was approx 120 miles, over SIXTY miles of these were spent walking along pushing the bike as I was in complete agony with aching limbs and severe saddle soreness. I KNEW after one mile I'd made a big mistake, but was DETERMINED to carry on and finish the job, also wanted to prove my doubters wrong...
I set off at O5.40 Tueday and arrived back at 04.15 Wednesday, nearly 24 hours later without a break, (other than refreshments)
A special mention for "The knights of the road", HGV drivers, they ALL gave me a very wide berth..., so fair play to them as they thundered past in their 44 ton trucks.
Anyway, here's a photographic record...remember, I had not sat on a bike since 1969, and had no training whatsoever, not even half a mile..wore ordinary clothes and shoes, and borrowed my son's bike.
Would I do it again?...No way. I don't want to sit on another bike as long as I live.
Was I foolhardy and stupid...Certainly, yes of course.
Have I any regrets?.....Definitely not.
Start of journey....05:40 Tuesday 04/05/2013
Rochdale town centre, early morning:-
Rochdale town centre...note the time....by now I just wanted to give up, I was aching all over and saddle sore....
Passing under the M62 motorway at Milnrow, near Rochdale...in serious trouble by now.
Between Oldham and Ashton under Lyne with Hartshead pike in the background.
On Lees road, approaching Ashton under Lyne
At the summit of Mottram Road, Stalybrige, after pushing it up the long two mile drag.
At Mottram-in-Longendale
Glossop town centre.
The bottom of the three mile drag up The Snake Pass...(There was no way I could have ridden up here like I used to do forty odd years ago, so I pushed the bike up all the way)
On the long long drag up The Snake pass
Prospect of Manchester city centre in the far distance from halfway up the Snake pass with Glossop in the foreground.
The summit of the Snake pass...(1680 ft above sea level)
On the descent towards Sheffield, one mile from the summit on the Yorkshire side.
Pretty little waterfall on The snake pass...(woodlands valley)
Refreshment stop (Giant burger with lots of fried onions...yummy..
Approaching the Ladybower reservoir.
The Derwent reservoir....(seen in the 1955 Dambusters film, with "The Dam" just out of shot around the corner.
The Ladybower reservoir looking towards Bamford/Hathersage.
Oustside the Ladybower Inn (Note the time, I wanted to be In Sheffield for 1pm, but it was a long fifteen miles away...seriously worried now.....)
On the outskirts of Sheffield, with a further eight miles to go to the City centre.
Parts of Sheffield in the distance
Hillsborough shopping centre
Hillsborough main street...(Note the tramtracks, which I got stuck in sending me over the handlebars ripping all my clothing...lol!
Finally heading home...(on the way to Stocksbridge...by this time I was in severe pain and ended up pushing the bike the remaining forty miles home.....
A well earned refreshment stop approaching the summit of The Woodhead Pass.....( I was concerned now as I expected to be home by 6pm...it was now around 8pm...I had thirty five miles to go and no lights on the bike.
The summit of The Woodhead pass looking towards Lancashire.
Longendale reservoir on the descent westwards.....
Longendale Reservoir looking backwards towards Yorkshire.
Going dark now, around 9.30 with 25 miles still to go, and aching all over.....
On the long drag out of Rochdale, at Norden around 3am, pitch black with no lights on my bike.
In the middle of the "Ow'd Betts" moors with the sun about to rise....(still pitch black)
Rawtenstall town centre...deserted, just starting to go light.
Finally home 04:15, after nearly 23 hours, by this time I was halucinating with lack of sleep, had blisters on blisters and literally couldn't have walked another step having virtually walked home from Sheffield, other than about ten miles...(give or take)
So, decided to get on and do it, rather than thinking about it, the weather was set fair for Tuesday (yesterday) so my mind was made up.
Some basic comments, before I add the photos:-
Total mileage covered was approx 120 miles, over SIXTY miles of these were spent walking along pushing the bike as I was in complete agony with aching limbs and severe saddle soreness. I KNEW after one mile I'd made a big mistake, but was DETERMINED to carry on and finish the job, also wanted to prove my doubters wrong...
I set off at O5.40 Tueday and arrived back at 04.15 Wednesday, nearly 24 hours later without a break, (other than refreshments)
A special mention for "The knights of the road", HGV drivers, they ALL gave me a very wide berth...
, so fair play to them as they thundered past in their 44 ton trucks.Anyway, here's a photographic record...remember, I had not sat on a bike since 1969, and had no training whatsoever, not even half a mile..wore ordinary clothes and shoes, and borrowed my son's bike.
Would I do it again?...No way. I don't want to sit on another bike as long as I live.
Was I foolhardy and stupid...Certainly, yes of course.
Have I any regrets?.....Definitely not.
Start of journey....05:40 Tuesday 04/05/2013
Rochdale town centre, early morning:-
Rochdale town centre...note the time....by now I just wanted to give up, I was aching all over and saddle sore....
Passing under the M62 motorway at Milnrow, near Rochdale...in serious trouble by now.
Between Oldham and Ashton under Lyne with Hartshead pike in the background.
On Lees road, approaching Ashton under Lyne
At the summit of Mottram Road, Stalybrige, after pushing it up the long two mile drag.
At Mottram-in-Longendale
Glossop town centre.
The bottom of the three mile drag up The Snake Pass...(There was no way I could have ridden up here like I used to do forty odd years ago, so I pushed the bike up all the way)
On the long long drag up The Snake pass
Prospect of Manchester city centre in the far distance from halfway up the Snake pass with Glossop in the foreground.
The summit of the Snake pass...(1680 ft above sea level)
On the descent towards Sheffield, one mile from the summit on the Yorkshire side.
Pretty little waterfall on The snake pass...(woodlands valley)
Refreshment stop (Giant burger with lots of fried onions...yummy..
Approaching the Ladybower reservoir.
The Derwent reservoir....(seen in the 1955 Dambusters film, with "The Dam" just out of shot around the corner.
The Ladybower reservoir looking towards Bamford/Hathersage.
Oustside the Ladybower Inn (Note the time, I wanted to be In Sheffield for 1pm, but it was a long fifteen miles away...seriously worried now.....)
On the outskirts of Sheffield, with a further eight miles to go to the City centre.
Parts of Sheffield in the distance
Hillsborough shopping centre
Hillsborough main street...(Note the tramtracks, which I got stuck in sending me over the handlebars ripping all my clothing...lol!
Finally heading home...(on the way to Stocksbridge...by this time I was in severe pain and ended up pushing the bike the remaining forty miles home.....
A well earned refreshment stop approaching the summit of The Woodhead Pass.....( I was concerned now as I expected to be home by 6pm...it was now around 8pm...I had thirty five miles to go and no lights on the bike.
The summit of The Woodhead pass looking towards Lancashire.
Longendale reservoir on the descent westwards.....
Longendale Reservoir looking backwards towards Yorkshire.
Going dark now, around 9.30 with 25 miles still to go, and aching all over.....
On the long drag out of Rochdale, at Norden around 3am, pitch black with no lights on my bike.
In the middle of the "Ow'd Betts" moors with the sun about to rise....(still pitch black)
Rawtenstall town centre...deserted, just starting to go light.
Finally home 04:15, after nearly 23 hours, by this time I was halucinating with lack of sleep, had blisters on blisters and literally couldn't have walked another step having virtually walked home from Sheffield, other than about ten miles...(give or take)
Edited by Wacky Racer on Wednesday 5th June 22:54
Edited by Wacky Racer on Wednesday 5th June 23:43
Edited by Wacky Racer on Monday 8th August 20:30
Edited by Wacky Racer on Sunday 3rd June 10:14
Rocksteadyeddie said:
Sounds a challenge. You'll be fine. Forget the neigh sayers and get on with it. Big difference riding 120 miles in 6 hours and doing it in 10. I rode that way as a warm up for my longest ride ever the following day when I rode from Sheffield to Newcastle. 170 miles on my own.
Maximum respect....I'm not the only mad fool on here then.....
Insane. Presumably you walked up the hills and freewheeled down? Why didn't you just get a train home?
Tram tracks are lethal. They must have had them 40 years ago?
You'd have got up a lot more hills - and more than a mile - if you'd just done two or three practice rides first.
You're lucky you weren't killed on that road in the dark.
I'm sorry, I'm in awe of the effort and the sheer bloody-mindedness, but you're quite mad.
Good photos mind.
Tram tracks are lethal. They must have had them 40 years ago?
You'd have got up a lot more hills - and more than a mile - if you'd just done two or three practice rides first.
You're lucky you weren't killed on that road in the dark.
I'm sorry, I'm in awe of the effort and the sheer bloody-mindedness, but you're quite mad.
Good photos mind.
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