In the Ashby area, the surrounding hills create "shaded corridors"—roads that never see direct sunlight in the winter months (such as the lane through Gelsmoor or the descent into Staunton Harold). While the main road is dry, these shaded corners remain at -2°C. You will feel optimistic, you will accelerate, and then you will hit the "shadow ice." Always assume the shady corner is frozen until you roll through it and feel the traction. Every year on the Saturday closest to the Winter Solstice, a loose group of 20 to 30 riders gathers at the Bath Yard in Ashby. They call themselves the "The Descender's Guild." There are no jerseys, no sponsorship, just a shared understanding.
The most notorious routes—the run down from the Cloud Trail, the sweeping bends of Ticknall, and the notorious straight-line plunge into Moira—are not alpine passes. They are British B-roads. This means they come with a unique set of winter hazards: gravel washed across the tarmac by rain, patches of black ice hidden in the shade of ancient hedgerows, and the ever-present film of wet leaves that turns a 45mph straightaway into a skating rink. ashby winter descending
So next time the forecast says "wintry showers" and the wind blows from the north, do not hang up the bike. Zip up, light your lights, and head for the high ground. The descent is waiting. In the Ashby area, the surrounding hills create
Because climbing is work, but descending is the reward. And in an Ashby winter, that reward is hard-won. It requires respect for the weather, discipline with the brakes, and the courage to let go. Every year on the Saturday closest to the