29th September 2005 - Grizedale 'North Face' route

So our first ride of the season and Ian said let's try the North Face ride, in theory if we did it early in the season we get to sample some of the route in daylight. Of course someone went to work without his bike and so was a tad late, but it's a winter ride so just get those lights turned on.
We started from Moor Top car park and at 10 past 7 we set off in the chill evening air, someone mentioned rain was due at any time. Head into the forrest taking the left fork and down following the 'red arrows' onto single track and a little mud in places, then timber boardwalk through trees and over streams, one such angled boardwalk caught me a cropper and sent me over the side and down the muddy bank, fortunately I stopped before the stream, although the water would have washed all the mud off!
Trying the route for the first time, at night, in the dark and wet was fun, no really you just have to try it! It's a little technical in places but a great ride, we got back at 9pm all in one piece with the rain pelting down, so off to the pub at Hawkshead for a beer.
Next week, 6 October, back to Barbon for a short & steep nite ride.

22nd Septmber 2005 - Staveley 'The Last Summer Ride'

6 riders made it for the last summer ride of 2005, taking the usual horseshoe circuit of the valley & fells, including some night-time illumination at the end of the ride just to sample a winter night ride.
A few made it to the pub to catch up with me, Ed, to plan the winter ride series! We did make one amendment to the first winter ride, sorry if anyone went to Haverthwaite after reading the provision ride list!
The list will be put on the RADS web site once Phil returns from his holidays.
So get lights (beg, borrow or steel!) and come and have some fun.

Sunday 18th September 2005 - GMBC event

GMBC stands for 'Grizedale Mountain Bike Challenge' and a challenge it was. 30 miles of mountain bike tracks, all round Grizedale forrest and mostly uphill or so everyone will tell you. The charity event has been going for 5 years and a number of intrepid RADS riders applied and ventured out to test their metal!
The car parks were a sight, full of polished cherished steeds; rigid, hardtail and full suspension and some single speeds!!! But by the end mud covered all riders and bikes. 400 riders entered including teenagers and retired folk.
The ride meant for me at least, eating 2 bananas, malt loaf, half an energy bar and numerous jelly babies, SIS drink and water. The whole thing took me 4 hours but at least I survived, for more results check out www.gmbc.co.uk.
For the record the RADS riders were Jamie (hardtail next time), Christina (not too bad), Trevor, Harry, Joel (even with man-flu), Grant & myself. Ian turned up at the finish for a post ride drink, well a cuppa tea at least, cheers Ian!
Well we are nearly into the night ride season, so eat those carrots and see you out there.

15th September 2005 - Ings - Kentmere loop

I know that it rained all day, that some of you are tapering your 'training' down for the assault on the Grizedale Challenge, and some of you have man-flu, but you still missed a fantastic evening loop round the western side of Kentmere.
Six o'clock saw the last of the rain clear and the temperature fall (plummet) down to 'refreshing' on the car thermometer, so I revved myself upand was ready to go. But there's no one else here; even for RADS it seemed a bit slovenly. I had to phone Jim to check it was 'Ings at 6' this week.Then after 15 minutes George pulls up a little surprised to be the token bloke accompanying the usual token girly.
We headed up the lane and track opposite, and as we reached to top we began to realise what an evening everyone was missing. So there were puddles on the track in places but the sun was coming out and casting long evening shadows over the fells. Over the ford at the top and turned right down the grass track through the 3 fords on the descent ­ none of which were too deep after the days rain. George thankfully has moderated his descending speed but we were soon down. Up the technical climb past the Morris 1000 van, the climb on the road before the last descent down the tracks.
The sun was setting and the sky was full of orange and pinks. Surprised 2 horse riders on the last track who kindly held the gate open. All there was left to do was to eat George's excellent Date and Walnut cake that he had carelessly left in the car. Charlie (token travelling correspondant)
Next week is the last 'daylight' ride of the season 6pm Staveley, Barley Bridge, so be there and see you at the pub afterwards.

8th September 2005 - Barbon (hill climb) ride

9 riders ventured out wondering how much daylight was left to ride, "we'll be riding the last bit in the dark" was heard said...2 carried lights and someone else had battery & light but not the wired connection bit to make the other 2 parts work!! Someone else forgot their lid, although they were offered a forestry hard hat complete with ear defenders, they braved on without.
The usual route up the lane, bottom gear to start, turn right down the side of the hill and then left UP the bridgeway trying not to dab, always a challenge!... continue along the lane to the road and prepare for another steep road climb. While we waited at the road Fred continued up the lane, John never turned up, so 2 of us went back and met hime half way along, apparently his gears had crashed into the wheel and broken the rear mech' jockey wheel, so John turned back to wait at the pub for Fred. We continued up the lane and at the left turn onto the bridgeway Joel noticed a helmet left on the wall by a gate, he took it as a sign and continued up the rocky way with his head protected.
We all made it to the top of the bridgeway and after talking with Fred realised that he had left his helmet down on the wall! and so had to break the news to Joel, who kindly gave the helmet back to Fred for the remainder of the ride. We continued up the way over the hill and down the other side , along the lane and onto the tricky grass/rocky descent into Barbondale and then through the ford (3 of us at least + 2 wet feet!) and down to the woods in the dark! but we all made it back and the pub kindly prepared bread & butter with the chips.
Next week Ings for 6pm.

1st September 2005 - Cartmel, Round the racecourse ride

10 riders turned up for on a beautiful evening. Paul managed to have a puncture on arrival which delayed the start until 6.35pm. Fred, John and Peter decided to set of to get a head start. The remainder of the group caught them up at Spring bank farm. The tracks were extremely dry and fast and apart from one more puncture Jamie but being Jamie it only took seconds to fix it. Phil managed the ride on his single speed again, I don’t know why he’s punishing himself? We managed to cover both sides of the valley which ended in a very dark trip down the hill into the woods before a final sprint along the road round the race course and back to the car park. We finished at 8.30pm and were joined by a late rider who turned up just to go to the pub. He did have a doctor’s note though. Chips were available.

Riders present George, Paul, Jamie, Peter, Neil, John, Fred, Charlotte, Phil, Grant and Ian at the pub! Next week Barbon.
(Thanks to George for the on the spot report, Ed)