Looking out of the window here on the fringes of the Peak, you wouldn’t think it was autumn; it’s unseasonably warm, there are blue skies overhead and there’s still a bit of purple in the heather. But there’s no escaping the fact that summer is behind us and winter is on the way. Those of us who ride pre- or post- work will be well accustomed to charging lights up and packing the long sleeved tops, while everyone will have started seeing the tell tale signs of the change of seasons – the weather.

And that’s why it’s important to get your updates in to @KoftheP. It’s about making sure that you can still get out and get a good ride in without wading through knee high bogs, hike-a-biking over 10 fallen trees on an otherwise brilliant descent, or avoiding a stem-depth flood on your regular loop. Who knows? You may also discover some new places to ride from your fellow KoftheP-ers. Staffordshire??!? WHERE?!

But of course it’s about more than that. The Peak District is a fragile place, both under the tyres when the weather turns bad and also politically. If we think about where we ride, then not only will we play our part in protecting the trails we love, but we’ll also enhance the growing reputation we have for being a responsible and important voice in the area.

That can only be a good thing.

So, keep following, keep tweeting and stay involved.

See you on the hills.

KoftheP