New mountain biking guide for The Peak District and Derbyshire.



T

The Cyclist

Guest
Hi all

Jjust published - a new (updated) guide out for mountain
biking routes in The Peak District and Derbyshire.

"Quality Routes in The Peak District and Derbyshire" by
Mike Pearce.

This is available from cycle shops and also online, post
free from the publishers at www.ernest-press.co.uk

or from Amazon at:

.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0948153741/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/202-
5096025-6205420

Price £8.50

I think this is a really good guide and deserves to become a
best-seller - but then I wrote it so I would wouldn't I ?!

Thanks

Mike
 
Ah yes,

The Peak District. The only place in the UK (other then
Dartmoor) where the local National Park Authority have seen
fit to make it a criminal offence, carrying a fine of up to
£500, for anyone cycling on a path other then a 'green
lane' or bridleway... This covers all 'access' land in the
Peak District.

I tried to find out more about the whys and wherefores of
this bye-law and was consistently fobbed off and lied to by
the Peak Park Authority. Sean Prendergast (the PPA chief
warden) told me no new bye laws had been introduced in the
12 years he had been in office. Balls, it was only
introduced a few years ago and I have press cuttings in
which the PPA warden service state how they intend to use
the new bye-laws. I was then told that the bye law was
brought in to 'control erosion' and that it also affected
horses. Balls, only cyclists were singled out and by far
the biggest cause of erosion in the Peak is walkers! I was
then told the PPA brought in this bye law under pressure
from landowners. However when pressed there seems to be no
documents available to show who requested it (probably
because it was the work of the anti-cycling element of the
PPA). I asked about the wording of this bye law and where
it was in force and was helpfully told by the PPA to 'go
and look for the signs.' The only user group who got
nothing from the Stanage forum were off-road cyclists,
supposedly because seeing a cyclist spoils the 'wilderness
experience' of red socked rambler types who have driven in
to the heart of the Peak District and parked up at the foot
of their favourite bit of 'wilderness' before wandering off
along with all the climbers, paracenders and so on who have
open access.

I am glad there are a few route where the powers that be
condescend to allow off-road cycling (or rather can't ban it
because it uses cycle-legal ROW's), even if there are HUGE
areas in the Peak district without a single cycle route see
http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/offro-
ad/peak.html I also hope your book sells well. However I
don't think the Peak District is at all 'cycle friendly'.
Many would like to see cyclists banned altogether and the
whole area kept as a reserve for the provisional RA. I
understand that the PPA even objected to cyclists having
access to the popular High Peak and Tissington Trails!
 
P.s.

One thing to note is that The National Trust, which owns a
lot of land in the Peak District, did not sign up to the
Peak park Authorities scheme to criminalise cycling on
access land. On all NT land in the UK byelaws already exist
prohibiting cycling away from roads and bridleways. However,
the fine is only £20 and it is a non-criminal offence. These
byelaws are also quite old and the NT is now much more
geared towards leisure management and permitting responsible
usage of the land they hold.
 
Interesting response.

In all the years I've been cycling for fun and for leisure
in The Peak District and Derbyshire I have never had a
probelm with the Peak Park Authority or their wardens.

The few times I have met a warden on the hill they have been
very helpful as they wish to encourage sensible use of the
Park for all. When I've contacted them for information or to
report blocked access to legal routes (a rare occurance)
they have always been helpful and interested.

In addition to that I've never yet met an unfriendly farmer
either. Some unciommunicative ones for sure, but most have
been interested in what I was doing and helful with
information that would help make the rides better and to
avoid any damage to thier land or animals.

I always approach wardens and land owners carefully and in a
friendly way and have received a positive response - even
from large quarry companies!

Thanks for your comments about the book - it continues to
sell well which is very satisfying.

Mike