Fireworks!

The usual Thursday night ride was a special one this week. Out of the 6 of us setting off from Fairholmes, 2 were carrying a payload of rockets. Others were carrying chocolate and parkin. It was our Bonfire nightride.

The skies were clear and starry, the moon was almost full and the temperature was a sharp -2C. We climbed up through the woods at Lockerbrook, pinballed our way down past Hagg farm, crossed the Snake set off along the side of the reservoir. Derek was suffering with the cold having ridden over from Chesterfield wearing one layer of clothes and some fancy thin Rapha leather gloves. He couldn't feel his fingers, which can be a problem when you've got bars to grip and brake levers to pull. As a result, the first descent was done in a kind of grim slow motion with a deathgrip on the bars. We swapped gloves so he could have some warmth and ward off hypothermia.

Crossing the A57 again, we stomped our way up onto the lovely climb to the back of Whinstonelee Tor. This is one of my favourite climbs in the Peak, it has that rare mix of interesting and tough, steep and rocky sections, an awkward stream crossing, narrow singletrack and beautiful flowing moorland climbing. It is the long steady climb that is the jewel though. The climb is easy, but matches a fast singlespeed cadence perfectly, there are plenty of rocks and dips to keep you alert especially at night, and it tops out at a perfect knoll with a view over the Derwent valley. It’s impossible to ride this climb on a one geared bike without hammering it.

This time though, the silence of the rocky knoll was split by the sound of rockets, followed by cheers and giggling. We sent them arcing up and over the valley, the finest backdrop to fireworks I have ever seen. A couple of the rockets were pushed a bit far into the ground, so they just flared madly then exploded, showering us in colourful sparks.

Still laughing, we chased each other down the front of the Tor to the valley. I took a place near the back, letting the other guys test out the depth of the bogholes and mud pits on the way. Great ride.