The storey went something like this...8 folk met up near the church in Winster, another rider was due but he could not find the secret meeting place! To start head south along the lane until the ford at Birks Bridge, cross the ford or take the little stone bridge, you chose? then climb up the steep hill, turn right at Cote Hill and take the lane past the pond, ride on down to high house and the muddy section before the road, here the route went right, past the pub and on to find the bridleway on the left hand side up past Bow Mabble Breast! then take the left lane to the road a right turn and then a quick left onto a lane near Barrow Plantation, back to the cars via the road.
These events were passed on to the blog via various phone conversations, including the fact that there were 2 new riders, James & Co, welcome and do visit again. Next ride 2 November is The Red Lion at Lowick, bring fancy hat illuminations if you are late!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
19th October 2006 - Elterwater, Tilberthwaite
9 Riders set out with charged lights and new pumps (just in case). It was a dark but mild evening and we also welcomed a new face (riding a rigid bike and who is also a mechanic, useful in case Jamie gets bored!) and a TG came along to see if you never forget to ride a bike! After much discussion...
..we set of up the lane for the shortest route to the quarry, it was a bit rocky and steep, so much for the easy warm up. Head past the quarry and up through the wood, drop down through the trees, turn right through the gate and down the track past Dale End to the road. Then take a quick left and right to head for the ford, where shall we go now?... Ian submitted a route with 3 downhills, yells of delight were heard until it was pointed out that there would probably be 3 climbs!
From the ford head left round the track to the farm and take the right hand turn up the hill, head down to hodge close and continue through the new gate heading for the 'play area' after riding downhill over the slate path which sounds like breaking glass combined with a wind chime! Head for High Tilbertwaite and turn right up the tracks, enjoy the rocky testing sections and attack those hills, at the bottom take the right turn, past the houses and watch out for the cleaned out water gullies. Ian held the last gate and we cycled onto the ford for a re-group, there was some delay and TG said I wonder if Ian's caught a pinch flat, later George came along asking for a spare inner tube for Ian! so Jamie lent/hired him one, George said for us to go ahead and they would catch up, but no we all stood firm and said we would wait... or at least that's the official line... at least we would make time for a beer. While waiting someone mentioned cake, a winter night-time tradition, unfortunately no cake was forthcoming, several hints were dropped and some excuses, like I have no kitchen were heard, maybe next week?
In a while Ian & George came along and we headed to high park to go along the route through the NT wood, another testing rocky route spits us out at the road to Elterwater near Colwith, we all headed back to the car park and then a beer. George had to shoot off early and we witnessed a large bounder jumping up and hitting his car and that was before the beer! Back in the pub we discussed medical science, the NHS and which areas of Scotland to visit, 7 Stanes fans watch this space.
Next week its the ride from Winster, park near to the church.
..we set of up the lane for the shortest route to the quarry, it was a bit rocky and steep, so much for the easy warm up. Head past the quarry and up through the wood, drop down through the trees, turn right through the gate and down the track past Dale End to the road. Then take a quick left and right to head for the ford, where shall we go now?... Ian submitted a route with 3 downhills, yells of delight were heard until it was pointed out that there would probably be 3 climbs!
From the ford head left round the track to the farm and take the right hand turn up the hill, head down to hodge close and continue through the new gate heading for the 'play area' after riding downhill over the slate path which sounds like breaking glass combined with a wind chime! Head for High Tilbertwaite and turn right up the tracks, enjoy the rocky testing sections and attack those hills, at the bottom take the right turn, past the houses and watch out for the cleaned out water gullies. Ian held the last gate and we cycled onto the ford for a re-group, there was some delay and TG said I wonder if Ian's caught a pinch flat, later George came along asking for a spare inner tube for Ian! so Jamie lent/hired him one, George said for us to go ahead and they would catch up, but no we all stood firm and said we would wait... or at least that's the official line... at least we would make time for a beer. While waiting someone mentioned cake, a winter night-time tradition, unfortunately no cake was forthcoming, several hints were dropped and some excuses, like I have no kitchen were heard, maybe next week?
In a while Ian & George came along and we headed to high park to go along the route through the NT wood, another testing rocky route spits us out at the road to Elterwater near Colwith, we all headed back to the car park and then a beer. George had to shoot off early and we witnessed a large bounder jumping up and hitting his car and that was before the beer! Back in the pub we discussed medical science, the NHS and which areas of Scotland to visit, 7 Stanes fans watch this space.
Next week its the ride from Winster, park near to the church.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
12th October 2006 - Ings, Garburn Pass
7 of us (Jamie, Grant, George, Ian, Neil, Joel and David) set off from the Watermill Inn at Ings, the usual ride, all up hill and then the downhill to Kentmere Hall. Then we all began the push in the dark to the top of Garburn, it was a warm evening so we stopped to admire the view, the stars were out and the glow of Lancaster and Morecambe at 9pm was an unusual sight.
I'd forgotten to charge my lights so was having to ride by others lights, and then cross my fingers and switch on when it got a bit tricky!
Then we began the descent of Garburn, which certainly made up for all the pushing in the dark. Jamie punctured about half way down so we all gathered at the gate and waited for him and David. David had lost light power so was feeling his way back and we could make out the faint glow of the remains of his lights in the distance. We all decided to escort him back as the only solution as it was getting late.
We took the left fork towards Dubbs with David at the center of the group, and then he punctured. This was a little unfortunate as he was the only one with Shrader valves and as no one else had a shrader pump except him, we all watched and gave encouragement (?) as we discussed whether the pub would still be open on our return.
It was around 10.20 when we finally got back for last orders, alas no chips but we were lucky to find it still open!
A top tip for next week: REMEMBER TO CHARGE YOUR LIGHTS!
Next Week 19th October: Britannia Inn, Elterwater for Iron Keld and Tilberthwaite
I'd forgotten to charge my lights so was having to ride by others lights, and then cross my fingers and switch on when it got a bit tricky!
Then we began the descent of Garburn, which certainly made up for all the pushing in the dark. Jamie punctured about half way down so we all gathered at the gate and waited for him and David. David had lost light power so was feeling his way back and we could make out the faint glow of the remains of his lights in the distance. We all decided to escort him back as the only solution as it was getting late.
We took the left fork towards Dubbs with David at the center of the group, and then he punctured. This was a little unfortunate as he was the only one with Shrader valves and as no one else had a shrader pump except him, we all watched and gave encouragement (?) as we discussed whether the pub would still be open on our return.
It was around 10.20 when we finally got back for last orders, alas no chips but we were lucky to find it still open!
A top tip for next week: REMEMBER TO CHARGE YOUR LIGHTS!
Next Week 19th October: Britannia Inn, Elterwater for Iron Keld and Tilberthwaite
Friday, October 06, 2006
5th October 2006 - Barbon Inn, Barbon
Where is everyone? Grant thought he'd made a location error!
It was a dark, wet night, the wind was howling as 2 brave riders ventured out onto the Barbon fell (I think the big girls blouse can now be passed on... maybe to George 'It's raining outside so I'm not going' Tyson).
It was the usual routine, up the hill, along the terrace (trying to avoid the migrating frogs) and then the left turn up the bridleway and then back to the road for the up hill towards Brownthwaite, it was wet under foot, and there was a strange sensation of hearing a roaring torrent of water before you saw it, all the small trickles of the summer months were now rivers a foot deep! To add to this, our lights were now light saber's cutting through the thick mist.
We finally left the mist behind at Bullpot Farm where we scared (?) a couple parked up at the junction, they probably saw 2 sets of headlights heading straight for them as we emerged through the mist before the sharp left turn off road.
There was again a lot of water as we took the final rocky decent back to the road at Barbon Beck, riding the stream seemed to be the easiest route as the grass was boggy.
Looking at the river it was too deep and fast moving to even attempt the crossing, it was brown and choppy, so rather than being swept away we crossed using the bridge and then set off for the final descent through the woods which was surprisingly dry.
On arriving back at the church around 9pm Ian turned up with his new set of lights, apparently he would have come out but his lights only arrived that morning so it was off to the pub for a drink!
Next week: 6:45 Watermill at Ings - Garburn Pass before it get (too) icy. Let's just hope it's not raining!!
It was a dark, wet night, the wind was howling as 2 brave riders ventured out onto the Barbon fell (I think the big girls blouse can now be passed on... maybe to George 'It's raining outside so I'm not going' Tyson).
It was the usual routine, up the hill, along the terrace (trying to avoid the migrating frogs) and then the left turn up the bridleway and then back to the road for the up hill towards Brownthwaite, it was wet under foot, and there was a strange sensation of hearing a roaring torrent of water before you saw it, all the small trickles of the summer months were now rivers a foot deep! To add to this, our lights were now light saber's cutting through the thick mist.
We finally left the mist behind at Bullpot Farm where we scared (?) a couple parked up at the junction, they probably saw 2 sets of headlights heading straight for them as we emerged through the mist before the sharp left turn off road.
There was again a lot of water as we took the final rocky decent back to the road at Barbon Beck, riding the stream seemed to be the easiest route as the grass was boggy.
Looking at the river it was too deep and fast moving to even attempt the crossing, it was brown and choppy, so rather than being swept away we crossed using the bridge and then set off for the final descent through the woods which was surprisingly dry.
On arriving back at the church around 9pm Ian turned up with his new set of lights, apparently he would have come out but his lights only arrived that morning so it was off to the pub for a drink!
Next week: 6:45 Watermill at Ings - Garburn Pass before it get (too) icy. Let's just hope it's not raining!!
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