27th October 2005 - Elterwater, Hodge Close area

7 Riders turned up for a warm ride following a blue sky day. Set off just after 7pm going in a clockwise direction of the usual route with some Jim style variations, variety being the spice of life!
Set off south on the youth hostel road past Fletcher's wood and take the right hand turn onto the bridgeway through the wood, uphill to High Park farm, along to Stang End, now turn left heading to Hodge Close, left (now east for a short climb) and Joels puncture stop, green inners and all = more bl**dy air! Then a few yards up the technical test and turn off to a quarry and down some slates paths, sounding like riding over broken china, heading to high Tilberthwaite and up the Knotts for a flap-jack stop. On up the track and a little de-tour to visit some caves (an old hunting ground of Jim's apparently) carry on down to slatter bridge and along to the ford, up the lane to Little Langdale and along to Dale End and the tricky rocky descent back to the road and Elterwater for a drink outside the Britannia Inn, eating toffee apples!!
Sorry No route plan this week, watch this space.
Next week a trip to Loughrigg, park at Pelter Bridge car park.

20th October 2005 - Newbiggin-on-Lune, Crossby Garrett Fell 'somewhere'

6 turned out for Paul's ride, weather classed as slightly intermediate damp. First point to note is that Paul had no shoes, no problem he says, his house is but a small detour...so he reprogrammed his GPS ...We set off from Newbiggin taking an anti-clockwise circuit, heading along disused railway all level and civilized, then a bit of tarmac and we end up at Paul's gaff for tea and cake, no wait a minute a RADs ride with an intermission, all extremely civilized. Cake + diet, no issue just call them buscuits and eat another one, thank you kindly.
Off for the second half up a lane, along a lane, up more lanes, and a big UP onto the bridgeway into that headwind so it ALL felt like uphill, although there must have been some downhill there someplace!
Back to the cars after 11.8 miles and an elapsed time of 2 hrs 27 minutes, max altitude of 1370ft, (small print: all data supplied by Paul's GPS, after the pub stop!)
check out http://rads.philmeades.co.uk/docs/20051020RavFell1.pdf
or an alternative view http://rads.philmeades.co.uk/docs/20051020RavFell2.pdf
Next week: Britannia Inn, Elterwater (Iron Keld & Tilberthwaite)

13th October 2005 - Hawkshead - Claife route

9 riders set off from Hawkshead car park (after a short delay deciding wot to wear!) The route goes something like this: head out of Hawkshead in an anti-clockwise direction taking the off road route called 'Scar House Lane', then after a little discussion head left and right heading through Outgate on the road, then take a right into 'Snake Bite Alley' (yes one puncture) past the tarn and out to the road heading to High Wray.
Then instead of going up to Base Camp, take the lane a little further on and look for a right turn up a track to a stack of logs then up a route through the forrest, around Scab Moss another route discussion took place, something along the lines of when are we heading back, any hills left and my lights are running low....so the extra route to the lake shore for a romantic stroll was cut out... and we headed up to the guide posts, took a left turn down the rocky descent a quick right turn at the bottom and up again, a quick dab at the rock cliffe and up to the fire road. Back round to the guide posts and head west for the downhill into Hawkshead and the quick sprint into the car park, avoiding 4x4's! All in under 2 hours and Ian's lights were still glowing, or was it the moonlight shinning down on us?
A quick 'alf in the pub afterwards and the topic of the week was border crossings!
Next week a ride round Newbigin on Lune, Yes Paul's tour, see you there.

6th October 2005 - Barbon "Hill Climb" route

8 Riders set off up the hill wearing an assortment lights and looking like fire flys dancing in the wind, there was also one glowworn following up at the rear!
The usual route, up the lane, turn right after the cattle grid down the lane until the first bridgeway heads into a vertical climb, always a test and it's currently winning!
Continue along the track out onto the tarmac for another vertical climb, albeit on the road, then trun left at 'helmet on gate post' up the bridgeway to the first view point in the dark! Then continue up into the misty fog (head light no good) and down to the gate, where Grant turned up with a wee scratch on his leg, something about falling off while riding uphill, who knows?? Anyway a spot of A&E was on the cards, although the call was 'eard 'shall we operate now' Grant set off at a pace, slow!
Down the lane towards the rocky technical decent, another test (even in daylight) where we always ask, why do we do it....fun, fun, fun. AT which point Ian glowworms had given up and so he had to keep up with others to ride using their lights, no matter says Ian and promtly overtakes everyone downhill in the dark!!
Down the the river crossing, very tempting, but only one brave warrier, Jim got his feet wet, everyone else went over the bridge. Then chase up and down the leafy bridgeway and race to the end, where Ian overtaking everyone, with NO lights got a puncture, what an end, even Joel turned up at the pub, something about being a mature student!
Late news: Grant had stiches and is grounded for 2 weeks!
Next ride 13th October Hawkshead car park for a ride round Claiffe.