2nd November 2006 - Lowick Bridge

5 riders met on a frosty clear and moon lit night for a most excellent adventure. As this was Ian's backyard he was to lead out, he decided to head north east just for a change. It went something like this...we left the Red Lion and crossed over the main road, take the first left over the bridge head north to Nibthwaite Grange where we turned right into Bletherbarrow lane, Ian slowed down because of gear trouble, but he kept going up the lane. A short while later we noticed that one side link to Ian's chain had actually broken and shouted for him to stop, thereafter we (i.e. Jamie) mended the chain with some gold SRAM connectors, we had to get Ian back on the bike as he was guiding us! Then we were off up the tarmac lane, which seemed to go on and on, but Ian said you need some climbing pain to enjoy the downhills later. After a while you come to a track and head on to meet the route we take from Oxen Park, this then leads to a fast downhill section to High Ickenthwaite, turn left onto Corker Lane. Continue down the lane and turn left at the next road junction, Force Forge Farm, after a few hundred meters look for a bridleway on the left, this is testing short cut to Satterthwaite, you need to commit to the climbs and rocky sections, but it's rewarding!
Then carrying on up the main road to just before Satterthwaite bridge and take the bridleway on your left, being Moor Lane, which also happens to go UP, this section is an even bigger test, but we were eventually rewarded with chocolate covered caramel buscuits, cheers Charlie! We were now headed west to Parkamoor but first had to navigate through the forrest and a few more rocky sections, great training for Scotland! Now we came out onto Parkamoor where there are a few muddy puddles and while Charlie managed to detour around one puddle Ian's front wheel took a nose dive into the mud and thus muddy feet were a reward!
Now we were to take the track south west to High nibthwaite, this descent Ian promised was a treat and the reward for all the climbing, he did warn of a few rocky drop offs to lookout for! Jamie and Ian took off first, but this track turned out to be Four Star, it easily made you appreciate all the effort to get there, especially on this moon lit frosty night, where the near full moon did allow some peripheral vision and a glimpse of Coniston water. We rode back along the road and back to the pub to get cold toes warmed up by the fire and to agree that we must do that again!! Next week meet at The Sawrey Hotel, Far Sawrey for Lakeshore and Claife Heights.