23rd June 2005 - Horton in Ribblesdale

It was a balmy summers day and six turned out for Jim's epic route in the Yorkshire Dales, round Cam fell and back down the Cam High Road. The route starts at the new inn in Horton and runs north up the Pennine Way, through the forrest and down by Green Field Beck, then UP the Oughtershaw Road (this is where you use all the gears on a bike and it's good for the body & soul !) we rested at the top for the views and ate 'Cashew nuts with Allsorts' as a snack! then down the hill, turn left and the homeward leg which got a little rocky and a few midges came out to eat us! just keep moving!! It was so rocky that us hardtails wished for F/S and Joel had 2 punctures to prove how rocky it was, George's timing was superb and he saved his blow-out for the last 100yds! and we all celebrated with a drink at the pub after enjoying the last of the orange/purple sunset.
Next week Grizedale, meet at Moor Top.

16th June 2005 - Ullwater ride from Hartsop

It was new starting point for the Ullswater ride, from the car park in Hartsop, to enable a little more warm up than usual. 6 turned up in the car park, unfortunately Paul left one of his brake pads at home and so had to go back, that left 5.
Head off out of Hartsop back towards the road turn right down the bridleway which runs parallel to the main road, through a gate and stream crossing and continue until the right turn UP the hill. This is where we have often carried on up and done the anti-clockwise route, but tonite we had other ideas, so we headed part way up the hill and looked for a route part way along to Crookabeck, along to Rooking to Ullswater but taking the higher bridleway to Silver Crag. Rocky in places but always worth a go.
Then continue round Birk Fell, stopping for Inge's fantastic 'just the job' flap-jacks, carry on over the rocky route, riding over the occasional boulder! round to Sandwick to pick up the lane back south through Boredale, along Boredale Beck joining the bridleway at Boredale Head, on up the hill-climb to Boredale Hause; discussing the formation of grassy boulders in the valley floor along the way. Once through the cutting (involving a little bike carrying), the down-hill started, note that this is a little steep to start, so just hang off the back of the saddle and enjoy the ride down and back to the cars.
No major mechanicals and the 5 riders; Jamie, Jim, Fred, John and myself managed a leisurley circuit of 3 hours and still had time to discuss next weeks epic ride out in Horton in Ribbledale, Jim's planned a stormer of a ride.

Thursday 9th June 2005 - Keswick Latrigg ride

7 riders met near the pencil factory and then Ian turned up, but decided to miss out the first uphill and meet us on the old railway line, which he duly did. The route is the anti-clockwise one, head for Brair Rigg then over the dual carridgeway and up the cumbria way climb to the car park at the top of Latrigg. Then traverse the hill and head down to the old railway, along the track and road to Threlkeld and up the lane past the Blencathra centra. Head north to go round the disused mine and head back on the opposite side of the valley over Lonscale Crags (beware of the edge!) Then back down the best downhill bit to enjoy chips in Keswick.
Next weeks ride is Ullswater from Hartsop Patterdale.

Thursday 2nd June 2005 - Staveley-Longsleddale ride

7 riders started out, although there was a slight delay while Grant's headset was adjusted, as it turned out the lower race bearings were not held in the cage and there were 4 missing all together!!! anyway it was patched up (so that he had No excuse) and off we went. The usual anti-clockwise route, dropping into Longsleddale along the valley and up the steep-ish hill back into Kentdale valley. Only one slightly soft tyre on George's bike, the anti-flat gloop still seems to be working.
Next ride at Keswick for the great downhill.