Here we go again, 5 turned up at the car park... but only 4 set off cycling! a little disappointing especially as someone in the group was hoping to celebrate a 'significant event' with a few friends, in the end said person had to settle with us.
Why you ask were there only 4 bikers, one person forgot their SPD's, was it Paul hear you all shout... actually no, Paul did not risk forgetting anything and stayed at home, it was Jamie, that's 2 weeks in a row he has turned up and not come riding, reputations are made this way!!
So 4 of us set off down the road to near Sawrey and took a left up past Moss Eccles Tarn, through the wood, where we stopped for refreshment (check out http://rads-pics.blogspot.com/ for a photo competition) and down the rocky descent, a quick left then right turn and we ended up near base camp for the up-hill ride back to the marker posts and the greeeeeat downhill back to Hawshead.
Back to the pub for a beer & crisps to warm up.
Next ride Thursday 2 March, 6.45pm Pelter Bridge, (between Rydal & Ambleside).
Monday, February 27, 2006
Saturday, February 18, 2006
16th February 2005 - Tewitfield
7 turned out, 6 with bikes, 5 with lights....shall I go on? or let someone else say a few words...
"Somehow George knew the week before...Jamie knew the moment he arrived...Grant and Joel quickly realised after the first 30 mins...So why did the other four persevere?... Stupidity? Stubbornness? Neither sense nor feeling? Or did they appreciate it's impossible to feel warmth without cold, to taste sweetness without sour, to feel joy without pain, to wizz downhill without climbing!!....So now for those four, every other ride from now on, however mediocre, however nondescript, however chaotic, will always be a joy, because they did the last ever RADS night ride from Tewitfield"
If you want details ask the fab four, it involved getting a tad wet, spotting a fox & deer, eating flatjack (cheers Ed), someone mentioned Burmuda, when 2 went missing without trace, not even a text! we ploughed on, literally through muddy fields - cows still can't read. We survived and returned to the pub to find Joel waiting with a story of woe, only one pint and it was karoake night! The rest of us were too wet and just wanted home and a hot bath.
Next week Hawkshead car park for the real MTB experience.
"Somehow George knew the week before...Jamie knew the moment he arrived...Grant and Joel quickly realised after the first 30 mins...So why did the other four persevere?... Stupidity? Stubbornness? Neither sense nor feeling? Or did they appreciate it's impossible to feel warmth without cold, to taste sweetness without sour, to feel joy without pain, to wizz downhill without climbing!!....So now for those four, every other ride from now on, however mediocre, however nondescript, however chaotic, will always be a joy, because they did the last ever RADS night ride from Tewitfield"
If you want details ask the fab four, it involved getting a tad wet, spotting a fox & deer, eating flatjack (cheers Ed), someone mentioned Burmuda, when 2 went missing without trace, not even a text! we ploughed on, literally through muddy fields - cows still can't read. We survived and returned to the pub to find Joel waiting with a story of woe, only one pint and it was karoake night! The rest of us were too wet and just wanted home and a hot bath.
Next week Hawkshead car park for the real MTB experience.
Friday, February 10, 2006
9th February 2006 - Grisedale
8 for eight, 8 riders eventually turned up and we nearly set off at 8pm!! mainly due to someone (no names, who else Paul) forgetting their bike, some story about a garage and courtesy car... and then while we waited in sub-zero temperatures (except those sheltering in Jim's heated motor home!) he even tried his last excuse 'my quick release skewer has broken', so a quick delve into the boot of a car and out comes a spare quick release to save the day....no more excuses and we set off...a slight pause while Ed realised he had left his van door wide open and keys in the ignition!!!
The usual questions on route choice but as 3 members of the group had not done the North Face, we set off up the trail to sample the delights of north shore-style timber trail in freezing cold weather, so not too much mud and it was a clear star twinkling night to enjoy the ride.
The North Face trail takes under 2 hours and we did stop for George's hesitant freezing freewheel and a puncture! So all in all a good ride and everyone was happy! A few of us ended up at Satterthwaite for drinks at the local pub.
Next week ride is from Tewitfield canel, park by The Longlands
The usual questions on route choice but as 3 members of the group had not done the North Face, we set off up the trail to sample the delights of north shore-style timber trail in freezing cold weather, so not too much mud and it was a clear star twinkling night to enjoy the ride.
The North Face trail takes under 2 hours and we did stop for George's hesitant freezing freewheel and a puncture! So all in all a good ride and everyone was happy! A few of us ended up at Satterthwaite for drinks at the local pub.
Next week ride is from Tewitfield canel, park by The Longlands
Monday, February 06, 2006
2nd February 2006 - Whitbarrow Scar
9 riders set off from the Gilpin Bridge Inn on a cold but still evening, George has his old Proflex and Simon had his only Proflex! Head off down the Lyth Valley for 150 yds then left turn down a lane towards the old road, past Raven's Lodge and up the wooded bridleway, down to the village and right past Beck Head continuing to the road and Witherslack Hall, take the left for 20 yds and then we discussed routes....we headed down Lawns Wood to Low Low Wood, stopped at the gate, turned round and headed back up the track the way we had come...thus missing all the road bits and heading to the reward, Yewbarrow to Witherslack bridleway down the side of the wood ending at Church Road, a great downhill.. if your brakes are working.
We headed past Town End back to Buckhouse Wood for the return descent under White Scar, only George has jockey wheel trouble and for the second time on this route started to walk back along the old road. The remainder enjoyed the downhill and head back to the cars, where we waited for George, as we had no luck phoning him, 'cause his battery had run out while chatting to this wife!
Beers and chips in the Gilpin at 9pm well done them.
Next ride, 9th February in Grisedale and we plan to meet at the visitors centre car park and incorporate some of the North Face ride, depending on weather?
We headed past Town End back to Buckhouse Wood for the return descent under White Scar, only George has jockey wheel trouble and for the second time on this route started to walk back along the old road. The remainder enjoyed the downhill and head back to the cars, where we waited for George, as we had no luck phoning him, 'cause his battery had run out while chatting to this wife!
Beers and chips in the Gilpin at 9pm well done them.
Next ride, 9th February in Grisedale and we plan to meet at the visitors centre car park and incorporate some of the North Face ride, depending on weather?
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
26th January 2006 - Cartmel
Jim says "Another excellent turnout with nine there for the ride. If Chris and Jamie had been there as usual, I think it would have been a winter record.
We are clearly in the 'Pre Club Annual Awards Silly Season' with the usual suspects making a concerted effort to walk away with the prizes. Paul obviously has his heart set on the 'What will I be like when I'm old?' award by forgetting his light battery. When added to his other efforts in forgetting parts of his brakes and his mtb shoes, it all makes for a very strong challenge. But will it be enough to snatch victory away from Grant who showed up at Elterwater a few months ago without his whole bike? Only the judges can decide.
As for the riding, well, the Cartmel area is definitely 'agricultural'. Why they alllow cows to use bridleways I have no idea. It was also good to see the locals taking an interest in what we were doing from time to time. Perhaps they will get a bike and come out and join us instead of just curtain twitching. Thank goodness George had organised for it to be dry fora week before hand and partially frozen on the night, but I still have plenty of 'spin-off's from the rural economy all over my frame."
Cheers Jim and I believe the score is: punctures 1 Jim 0, role on the next ride, Thursday 2 February at Gilpin Bridge Inn for 6.45pm.
We are clearly in the 'Pre Club Annual Awards Silly Season' with the usual suspects making a concerted effort to walk away with the prizes. Paul obviously has his heart set on the 'What will I be like when I'm old?' award by forgetting his light battery. When added to his other efforts in forgetting parts of his brakes and his mtb shoes, it all makes for a very strong challenge. But will it be enough to snatch victory away from Grant who showed up at Elterwater a few months ago without his whole bike? Only the judges can decide.
As for the riding, well, the Cartmel area is definitely 'agricultural'. Why they alllow cows to use bridleways I have no idea. It was also good to see the locals taking an interest in what we were doing from time to time. Perhaps they will get a bike and come out and join us instead of just curtain twitching. Thank goodness George had organised for it to be dry fora week before hand and partially frozen on the night, but I still have plenty of 'spin-off's from the rural economy all over my frame."
Cheers Jim and I believe the score is: punctures 1 Jim 0, role on the next ride, Thursday 2 February at Gilpin Bridge Inn for 6.45pm.
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