The first batch of our new Kinesis RANGE e-bikes had been delivered just after Christmas, while Jen and I were still layed-up with COVID. We had an agonising wait while they sat in boxes until we were recovered enough to have a go. Luckily we were back on our feet again before the next snow arrived. It was Jen and the kids who actually got the first go, on a little loop around Back-of-Ecton. With a little more snow forecast on higher ground a couple of days later, I planned an evening ride up to Axe Edge.
It turned out to be snowing heavily even in lower areas when I set off. Riding north, I had the roads over Grindon and Butterton Moor to myself. The covering of fresh snow was perfect for the 45 mm tyres – no trouble with steering or grip, and a lovely powdery soft ride! And, with the FAZUA system set on green (which they call ‘breeze’), the extra effort of pushing through the snow is neutralised.
But am I cheating by riding an e-bike? So long as I don’t pretend I’m not, then I think no. I am planning to ride through the snow up some big hills, on an evening, without wanting to make it a survival expedition and spend the next two days recovering from it. I’m quite happy to use the e-bike to make that possible.
The ‘secret’ road I take up towards the higher moors is a steep one for which I decide blue lights are needed (FAZUA ‘river’ mode). The strong headwind means that a fox on the road ahead of me continues in a nonchalant trot for some time before it senses my presence. Its fur is covered in snow so I can imagine it is an arctic fox. I then hit red (‘rocket’) for the vicious turns towards the top. We (me and the bike) absolutely romp up this brute of a climb (definitely cheating!). A brief stop at the top for the obligatory snow selfies gives me a moment to reflect that it is becoming rather more wintery than I intended and I may have to shorten the route.
The snow soon stops and I continue along the rolling ridgeline towards Axe Edge. I leave the blue lights on, which levels out the rises and makes me feel like a legend. On the slightly larger road there are some harder-packed tracks where a few vehicles have passed. Here I can get up above the 15 mph limiter under my own steam. I get a really good barn owl sighting not long before crossing the main Buxton-Leek road. It is rare not to see a barn owl in this area on an evening ride, but it is still a special moment.
I take the backroads to Flash. The weather is looking rather angry over The Roaches but better towards Axe Edge. It is clearly colder up there though and the snow becomes deeper and more powdery as I turn up the highest road in Derbyshire. There’s actually no elevation point marked on the OS map but, from the contours it seems to be around 523 to 524 metres. Holme Moss is 524 metres but is on the border with Yorkshire. A Suzuki in a ditch didn’t make it over in these conditions. I take heed and unclip a foot for the sketchy bend on the way back down.
So far I’ve been riding in the Dark Peak (administratively it’s the South West Peak but to me, Dark and White really refer to gritstone and limestone, which gives the landscape its character). Now I’m heading down into the White Peak, past the stunning Chrome Hill, which is like a Suilven of the South. There are patches of compacted icy snow where a few cars have ventured and I pass another car in a ditch (this one is being towed out). The trick is not to brake or steer unless you’re in fresh snow. The snow is drifting a bit above 400 metres but, as I descend down into The Dales and through Longnor, it becomes wetter. The bike feels great when descending. The extra few kilograms of motor and battery aren’t noticeable. The farmyard slush is!
I’m glad when it starts snowing again as I climb back up onto Butterton Moor. There is no sign of the headless horseman tonight. The photo may look grim but it was majestic easing along back home over Grindon Moor in ‘breeze’ mode.
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