I’ve always been a bit of a fan of the Cat and Fiddle – aka “The Most Dangerous Road In Britain.” For me, I can’t think of another stretch of road i’ve ridden along in this country that packs such a variety of bends over a relatively short distance. If you don’t go too crazy on the straighter bits, take your time entering the corners and keep concentration levels high it’s a relatively safe place to hone riding skills or scrub in a new set of tyres.

Having said that, i’ve tended to find the best time to go is on a dull summers evening – the weekends become a liability with unskilled riders wobbling around, fast “cat” addicts tearing up and down 25 times a day trying to prove something to everyone else, not to mention the heightened police presence and airborne patrols. It really isn’t worth it.

Since they added the average speed cameras in early 2010 however i’ve only been over a few times. Not because of the speed cameras, but mainly as I haven’t had too much spare time in the evenings of late. Now, i’ve read all the articles about the detour route (no cameras and a different speed limit) which leaves the cat and fiddle road and then rejoins about a mile further along – which combined with a lack of funding and cuts to the various partnerships and councils involved has led to a few teething problems. So i’m now led to believe that these Orwellian eyesores can’t catch me if I forget to stare out the speedo along the entire route – and instead concentrated on the road like any good biker should.

Except I can’t. They’ve kind of done their job, even though I know (for now) they don’t work. That’s because i’m paranoid. I can’t ever be sure if it’s going to be the day they’re switched back on, if you need to pass both the start and finish cameras or just be speeding between two, or if they can measure the stretch from Buxton to the Can and Fiddle pub, or from the pub down the A54 to Congleton. Who knows for sure?

I know some local idiots hang around in the lower lay-bys and then time each other with a round trip race to the pub (which no automated system will be able to catch out unless they start prosecuting via satellite), but for riders like me with more than my fair share of experience and reserve, the threat is enough. I don’t speed on the Cat and Fiddle any more – and what with the 50mph blanket restriction over the entire area in place, it’s now become pretty dull as far as finding some excitement on a bike is concerned. Corners aside, too much of my time has become absorbed with watching the speedo – and i’ve probably upped my risk level as a consequence.

I’ll still pop over from time to time, but it’ll never quite be the same again.