THE BUZZ RIDES
Five of our best descents of all time. The ups might drag, but the payback’s worth it
HAWCOMBE HEAD, EXMOOR 37.2km (23.1 miles)
The Hawcombe Head bridleway is a masterclass in flowy singletrack, and although there are some other cracking descents on this big loop, it’s definitely the head chef. You’ll start on open heathland, but the skinny singletrack, occasional tree, and ravine to your right-hand side will keep your speed in check. Not for long, though. The further you go, the faster it gets, purple heather flashing by before following the river back down to the road. Top tip: wear gloves as the gorse comes at you from both sides.
GPS download bit.ly/HawcombeHead
STICKS PASS, HELVELLYN 19.67km (12.1 miles)
We love this ride. Helvellyn is a big, brutal mountain that challenges your strength and skill, but it’s also beautiful and features the best mountain descent in England: Sticks Pass. To get there you’ll need to hike-a-bike and grind up 1,000 metres and descend techie and exposed trails, but that makes it all the better. Sticks starts smooth and fast, but don’t go nuts because there’s a blind right-hander early on that’s spat off many a rider. After that, look up, pump and enjoy the rocky, jumbly flow.
GPS download bit.ly/SticksPass
BOWDERDALE, HOWGILL FELLS 37.7km (23.5 miles)
Bowderdale is amazing because it’s almost completely empty, being on the wrong side of the tracks and fenced off from the Lakes by the M6. Better yet, once you reach the top of the Calf, you get almost 10km of non-stop singletrack contouring down the valley. It’s mostly tight, sometimes fast and the views are good enough to be distracting. It’s pretty mellow and flat, so you have to pump and pedal to make it work, but when it does it’s a zinger.
GPS download bit.
