It was a warm and dry evening as we met up at the National Trust car park in Elterwater. The last thing on our minds was a ride out as an alternative evening was already there in front of us, ‘The Britannia offers a sanctuary away from hectic daily life with ales and foods to satisfy all tastes’, ahhh… not my words, the Britannia’s (http://www.britinn.co.uk/).
Eventually 9 of us (Fred, John, George, Paul, Jamie, Grant, Ian, Neil and Joel) set off using Ian’s alternative route, riding towards Chapel Stile, past the camp site and then taking a right across the field towards Oak Howe, following the track to Baysbrow at the back of the campsite. (I’ve had to consult the map, it’s all new to me!)
Ian mentioned the Langdale slab, and we all stopped to play on the slab of rock around the bridleway that passes Spoutcrag Quarry before heading on towards Little Langdale and the ford, a few of us attempted the crossing, it was still a warm evening and in the barmy warm weather a few of us had more than wet feet in the attempt but we soon dried off.
At the ford we headed right which caused much discussion, this meant that a long climb was inevitable, and rather than this being the descent later on this was now the climb! We headed up past the climbing huts towards High Tilberthwaite, doubling back on the bridleway and turning off at the playground (hopping off the tree roots) and then on to High Oxen Fell or was it Low Oxen Fell? some of us missed the turning and we all regrouped at the entrance to Tongue Intake plantation for rollercoaster downhill fun and the last descent of the evening, another technical/puncture free evening and we all ended up in the Britannia for a well deserved drink, some of us even managed to get chips and Jamie managed to obtain soup of the day.
Next week: meet at 6.30, Askham: Swimming pool car pk, behind Queen's Head for Loadpot Hill and long descent from High Street.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
20th July 2006 - Torver - Walna Scar
Six turned out for the ride over Walna Scar, everyone was relieved to see Jim for his assistance with directions and his van for the return leg of the journey. We set off through the forest and on advice chose the fire road rather than the technical climb from Stephenson Ground. With little rain it was almost dry across the boggy section described on the map as Yaud Mire! At this point it almost starts to flatten off, but as we rode past the disused quarries and rounded the corner the rest of the climb unfolded in front of us, Walna Scar road stretched ahead into the clouds.
Rod took it in his stride to push to the top and offered a commentary as his did so, while some of us enthusiastically attempted the climb. We all regrouped at the top of the climb to admire the view, probably one of the best on a RADs ride.Then there's the descent which is probably one of most challenging, frightening, and longest of the Lakes rides but worth all the previous pushing and climbing. We all passed the place that George did his flying impression last year without incident, and I do recall crossing myself at this point after the scary descent of Walna (some kindly said I was floating, but I just recall a total lack of control!!). We finally dropped down to the road in Torver without a single puncture (a relief after last weeks 9 puncture record!), and luckily Jim 'van man' was there to ferry us back up Hummer Lane and then it was off to the pub in Torver for a cool beer...Next week Elterwater
Rod took it in his stride to push to the top and offered a commentary as his did so, while some of us enthusiastically attempted the climb. We all regrouped at the top of the climb to admire the view, probably one of the best on a RADs ride.Then there's the descent which is probably one of most challenging, frightening, and longest of the Lakes rides but worth all the previous pushing and climbing. We all passed the place that George did his flying impression last year without incident, and I do recall crossing myself at this point after the scary descent of Walna (some kindly said I was floating, but I just recall a total lack of control!!). We finally dropped down to the road in Torver without a single puncture (a relief after last weeks 9 puncture record!), and luckily Jim 'van man' was there to ferry us back up Hummer Lane and then it was off to the pub in Torver for a cool beer...Next week Elterwater
Friday, July 14, 2006
13th July 2006 - Hawshead - Claiffe
10 riders ventured out, some travelling by train and automobile just to get out to ride, it was the 13th but not a Friday, so we set out. Head to Colthouse and take Scar House Lane for a little bit of overgrown off road, then go up the road to Outgate to turn right down Spicka Coppice, known as 'snake bite alley'! We had our first THREE punctures, Rod even got his patches and glue out which gave Jamie a laugh... we ride on to find Harry also had a flat FOUR (that's Paul's trick, wait by the gate and then find a puncture). We then made about 300m to the other end of the tarn and Jamie made it FIVE, now we were nervous. We then set off again and got to the lane ,BUT one more made it SIX!
We made it past High Wray and to base camp headed up the fire road to the guide posts, where the first 4 riders turned right and head on, the others regrouped at the guide posts thinking we had more time for at least some off-road, if not the whole of Claiffe, so I phoned Jamie and the 4 came back, but Rod & co set off for an alternative route (thinking they may get a pub in!). The 8 remaining took the left route from the posts down the rocky descent to the bottom where Jamie had No. SEVEN, we then climbed up the tester, right at the top and back to the guide posts, then left and head back to Hawkshead down the rocky route.
We bombed down the hill enjoying a little too much and I had No. EIGHT, then at the bottom we found Harry mending No. NINE, and I was running out of fingers to count the snake bites. A quick blast back to the cars and meet up with Rod, who luckily had not had any more flats! A few beers helped restore calm, must pump those tyres up for next week!
Next week its Torver (possibly with the van shuttle).
We made it past High Wray and to base camp headed up the fire road to the guide posts, where the first 4 riders turned right and head on, the others regrouped at the guide posts thinking we had more time for at least some off-road, if not the whole of Claiffe, so I phoned Jamie and the 4 came back, but Rod & co set off for an alternative route (thinking they may get a pub in!). The 8 remaining took the left route from the posts down the rocky descent to the bottom where Jamie had No. SEVEN, we then climbed up the tester, right at the top and back to the guide posts, then left and head back to Hawkshead down the rocky route.
We bombed down the hill enjoying a little too much and I had No. EIGHT, then at the bottom we found Harry mending No. NINE, and I was running out of fingers to count the snake bites. A quick blast back to the cars and meet up with Rod, who luckily had not had any more flats! A few beers helped restore calm, must pump those tyres up for next week!
Next week its Torver (possibly with the van shuttle).
Monday, July 10, 2006
6th July 2006 - Sedbergh to Dent ride
7 riders met up in the free car park in Sedbergh, all willing to ride to Dent down a beer, maybe some chips and take the scenic route back over Frostrow Fells. So it went something like this...head south on the Dales Way route over the River Rawthey take the first left turn into Millthrop and then a quick right hand turn (which we missed first time round!) but Fred had gone on ahead and found the turn no problem.
Head out on the bridleway, through Gap Wood and down past Gate Manor, cross over the road and head down to the ford, choose the beck crossing or the bridge (built in 1999, so before that we all got wet feet!) we chose the bridge. Head on up the lane following the Dales Way route east to Gawthrop turn right and head UP a steep road climb for about 1 mile, then take the left hand bridleway, its a green lane along South Lord's Land, after another mile of stony track, turn left for an enjoyable rocky descent down into Dent. Check your tyre pressure, 'cause Paul had another flat on the way down and everyone said 'it's basically rideable now!'
We nipped into the Sun Inn for a few chips, soup and some beer, Fred set off early again to get a head start, saying he knew the way. We set off a few minutes later and went round the back of Dent to take the back lanes to Barth Bridge take this lane up Hining Hill go left past the cottage and through some gates between some stone walls, follow these stone walls, its basically an old track up to the moor top, beware of some boggy bits!
At the top, we were sheltering from some heavy mist (that's rain to somefolk) and turned left along the wall,you then have to make your way feeling for the bridleway route and by this point we had not caught Fred up or he had not caught us up! We pressed on thinking that he had missed the turn and headed back on the road. You basically follow the bridleway by taking a north west direction to get to Side farm, High Hollins, it may have been easier to navigate in better daylight... back down the lanes, turn left through Millthrop and back to the cars, but no Fred, was he down the pub? John had no spare keys so eventually Paul set off down the road looking for Fred, after a while Jamie volunteered to drive back to the bridleway route, at this point Fred turned up, asking where we had got to? He had in fact taken the bridleway route and enjoyed the ride!
Next week its meet at Hawkshead for a ride round Claiffe.
Head out on the bridleway, through Gap Wood and down past Gate Manor, cross over the road and head down to the ford, choose the beck crossing or the bridge (built in 1999, so before that we all got wet feet!) we chose the bridge. Head on up the lane following the Dales Way route east to Gawthrop turn right and head UP a steep road climb for about 1 mile, then take the left hand bridleway, its a green lane along South Lord's Land, after another mile of stony track, turn left for an enjoyable rocky descent down into Dent. Check your tyre pressure, 'cause Paul had another flat on the way down and everyone said 'it's basically rideable now!'
We nipped into the Sun Inn for a few chips, soup and some beer, Fred set off early again to get a head start, saying he knew the way. We set off a few minutes later and went round the back of Dent to take the back lanes to Barth Bridge take this lane up Hining Hill go left past the cottage and through some gates between some stone walls, follow these stone walls, its basically an old track up to the moor top, beware of some boggy bits!
At the top, we were sheltering from some heavy mist (that's rain to somefolk) and turned left along the wall,you then have to make your way feeling for the bridleway route and by this point we had not caught Fred up or he had not caught us up! We pressed on thinking that he had missed the turn and headed back on the road. You basically follow the bridleway by taking a north west direction to get to Side farm, High Hollins, it may have been easier to navigate in better daylight... back down the lanes, turn left through Millthrop and back to the cars, but no Fred, was he down the pub? John had no spare keys so eventually Paul set off down the road looking for Fred, after a while Jamie volunteered to drive back to the bridleway route, at this point Fred turned up, asking where we had got to? He had in fact taken the bridleway route and enjoyed the ride!
Next week its meet at Hawkshead for a ride round Claiffe.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
29th June 2006 - Grizedale bridleways
9 riders started from a lay-by 300m south of Satterthwaite at the bottom of Moor Lane bridleway, which would be the last route back. We set off throught Satterthwaite village and onto the steep testing track up Breasty Haw, on through the forrest to enjoy a great technical downhill to come out at the lane. We then went approx 300m up the road to take the bridleway on the left up into the forrest, more testing track, then a right hand turn onto a fire road, some single track, a broken chain (Jamie on a hard tail 'cause the susser had broken, what next!) then a right heading for the 'Fox' then right and onto Moor Top car park, where we were going to head down the North face route to the visitor centre. At this point there were mutterings about midges and have we got time for chips, so we headed down the trails by Hall Wood to meet up with Moor Lane and a final descent to the cars.
Next week meet at Sedburgh centre car park, for possibly a Dent ride out.
Next week meet at Sedburgh centre car park, for possibly a Dent ride out.
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