25th January 2007 - Elterwater - Hodge Close

6 met up at the car park near Britannia Inn, it would have been 8 but Ian forgot to pack his bike and Paul got halfway but forgot his battery!!! From the car park take a left over the river and immediately the first right up the lane, but remember to take the right hand track, cheers Joel, continue on and up to the quarry, ride through and then a quick left and right to take the climbing test through the trees at Sawrey's Wood...CT said wouldn't it be good to try this as a descent and maybe come back this way, but Joel wasn't so sure, he just wanted a quick ride round to the pub! Go up and over and take the right turn through the gate, up the track onto the lane at Little Langdale, we decided to turn right and go round and up and over to High Tilberthwaite. It's a steady climb but not too bad, some technical challenges and some testing rocks on the way down. During the downhill we came across some other riders, Charlie at the back thought that we had turned round! This must be the first time I have seem a group 8-10 of others riders out on a night ride, they were going in the opposite direction and weirdly we met them again between Hodge Close and the ford.
From High Tilberthwaite head along to the playgound/freeride area, there we discussed routes while Ed managed to climb uphill on the freeride! We decided to go round by Hodge Close and back to the ford that way, no takers for the ford crossing so the bridge it was, up the hill take the right hand track back past Dale End at the gate the group split into Joel (I'm not going down that descent) Charlie and Ed (No more lights) then Jamie and the 2 Chris's went back along Sawrey's wood to try the downhill back to the quarry, the tree roots are tricky and do NOT take the right hand line by the wall, tee off left and them it's enjoyable! Back to the car park and the pub, they even served chips after 9pm, another point for the Britannia Inn, Well Done.
Next Thursday, 1st February, it's Gilpin Bridge Inn, Lyth Valley.

Sunday 21st January 2007 - Glentress, Scotland

Climbing to The snow line and shelter at the top.

Climbing the first stage, the dynamic trio at the start.

Some twisty downhill.

How low can you go?

Jamie catching some air...!

4 riders braved the wintry weather for a trip to Glentress, Charlie, Jamie & the two Chris's. The 7 day forecast had snow showers on the weekend, but you can never tell with the weather...the winds in Cumbria meant that there was a power cut in Milnthorpe on Friday and Saturday, for Chris this was not a great prep' for a big ride!! On the ride up past Moffit there was a patch of snow on an untreated road, but it was passable with care. We all met up at the Hub and got the first hot drinks of the day, as the temp' was hovering around 2 deg’C, but it did warm up a bit, especially after the first hill climb, just like a start to a normal RADs ride!!!

For a guide to our route we headed out on the Black Helly Hansen V trail going past the blue freeride area (which we visited later) after the start you head out onto the fells and the long climb up Tower Ride and out to the Kipps Loop where we found the snow (see photos) a quick stop at the shelter for the view and we headed down some sweet single track, then CT got a slow puncture so we changed tube before the Britney Spears downhill, although this was a little diapointing as the trail is fairly cut up and it does not flow well, we thought that the black route was due for a re-build as the other routes have been refurbished, so to speak. Anyway we headed down the Boundary Trail and down to the fire road, after some discussion on the condition of the trail it was decided to leave the black trail and make our way back via the blue route, which was very good and a lot more flowing than the black, we (well two of us) also took a quick sample ride through the blue freeride area landing a few tabletops for a bit of fun! Then we had to sculpture some braches off a fallen tree to make a way through (cheers to Jamie) and then libo under the tree, see photos. Then head down the Falla Brae and take in the black grade option for some drop offs and back to the Hub.

We then had lunch at the Hub cafe, bacon and egg buns with tea and coffee, a quick warm up under the outdoor gas heater and we were heading back up the trail for a circuit of the red route. This of course meant that we had to go back up the climb and we were a little slower and definately needed more energy bars, gel fuel and anything we could get, as we pasted the freeride area we also had a look at the black section, which meant riding some log timber trails and looking at the timber take off ramps....perhaps another time! Onwards and upwards riding through a snow shower which had big enough snow flakes to settle on us and the trail, then to the top of Spookywood singletrack and the best downhill track including some berms and table top jumps, at this time of day i.e. loosing the light there was no one around, earlier in the day and this downhill would have been busier. We carried on and enjoyed the Matrix which is a descent of serious twisting trail where you can see the folks riding just below you as you turn direction at each switchback. Back up the last short and step climb to enjoy the final descent down to the cafe. 5 hours on the trail, time for a jet wash for the bikes, a change into warm clothing and a hot drink at the hub cafe.

Comments from the team: "I had a really good time at Glentress and we sampled all the trails that were on offer. The Black and the seriously hard ascent and harsh surface on the decents, Blue and the swoopy smooth section through the woods and the Red which even the timid will be seeing how much air they can get.
The highlight has to be the section from the top of the Red it just puts a smile on your face.
Roll on the next trip to the 7 Stanes."

Next planned weekend trip is to Dalbeattie area over the weekend 24-25th March 2007.

18th January 2007 - Oxen Park

5 riders met up at Oxen Park, some parked at the pub, some down the lane and others next to the village hall, eventually by a process of elimination (& mobile phone) we all met at the village hall. Jamie's chiropractor said best give the ride a miss so Jamie came to chat about arrangements for Sundays Glentress trip. Afterwards 4 of us set off, head west for Bandrake Head and turn right up the steep tarmac lane which once through the farm goes into a bridleway, head north and enjoy the bumpy track, which due to the rain was wet and in places it felt like going down some rapids, but in the dry may seem more normal. At the end of this track is High Ickenthwaite where we turned left and down Corker Lane, head down to Force Forge, where we could have taken the left turn and the testing climb up the bridleway, but after some thought we agreed to carry on along the road and climb on tarmac and then come back down the bridleway, so this is what we did, and it seems a very short descent compared to climbing it! We then turned left on the road and took the right hand bridleway at Force Mills, go past Sawrey Stricely wood and Stricely Intake, where we stopped for a chat, some home made energy bars (recipe to follow) then down the track, which in summer seems very fast but now you have to follow the water course and just try to stay upright! Down at Thwaite Moss we turned right, then right again and left onto the road before a right turn UP the lane over Yew Beck and back to High Ickenthwaite, take the first track on the left through a gate, keep left and head for The Riggs taking care of the washed out gullies along the way, then back to the cars. A quick change and into the pub for a warm up drink. Next week its Britannia Inn, Elterwater.

11th January 2007 - Grizedale from Hawkshead

Can you guess what it is yet.....?

5 riders met up at Hawkshead to brave the windy weather. I begged a lift from Jamie thinking to help 'save the planet' and as an added bonus, if there were any floods we would be OK in his truck, so guess what, he took the Toyota hatchback!! Shout out to Paul for making it all the way from Penrith and Nick who traveled from Ullverston way.

We had a little discussion on route choice, it went something like this...which is closer Grizedale or Claife and which is more sheltered? we figured Grizedale should have better managed trees, so off we went UP the new bridleway out of Hawkshead. It is a bit of a climb, you know, the standard RADs warm up!! We rode round a few fallen branches just to add to the climbing test, there was not much chat at the first gate, just a little pause for recovery. Just a bit further and we reach the North Face trail, 2 hardtails, 2 full sussers and 1 rigid!

We joined the trail and climbed up towards Moor Top, on the way a few hundred yards in and we came across our first fallen tree blocking the trail, what would you do? Whip out your trusty pocket saw and cut it up, exactly! That's what we did, when I say we, I mean Jamie (the woodsman) forget cool tool, use an 8 inch blade...we dragged the log out of the way and set off wondering how many more there may be....? Off down the trail to Moor Top along the fire road and enjoy the downhill route to the visitor cente, but not before another fallen tree, here we go...out with the blade...(see photo), ride over cut log and continue round the North Face trail, thankfully there were no more fallen tree obstacles, just the usual boardwalk to slip up the unwary...if you think you are going to fall off you will, just ask Nick or Jamie! Whereas Paul rode the raised plank log on the final descent (after CT showed 3 ways not to do it).

It was a windy ride but with no rain and well worth the effort, at least after the warm up. Next week it's Oxen Park, just north of Haverthwaite beyond Bouth.

4th January 2007 - Ings

8 souls met up at the Watermill, Ings for a start along a new route, 2 even cycled out from Kendal (new years resolutions???). So we headed south west down the lane away from the parking layby at Ings (near the Watermill) going under the railway bridge and taking the first bridleway on the right hand side towards Whssdike, it was muddy and wet, but gave a good test of riding skills, then take the lane past Blackmoss (and all the gates) and meet the main A591, cross over heading past Heaning farm, at Mislet turn left for a few yards then take the right turn up Dubbs Road. Keep heading up the lane through the initial muddles, you just have to guess which side to take the large puddles that cross the whole lane? at the top junction with Garburn turn left for a quick descent then tee off right for the ride through Limefitt Park and down to the road (A592) turn left and ride to take the left turn along the Moorhouse Road, but tee off back up Longmire track, climb back up part of Garburn! and take the right to enjoy the downhill back down Dubbs Road, still trying to avoid the puddles, keep left, keep right, it's still a lottery! Back along the lane to Ings and a beer for some. Next week its Hawkshead.

1st January 2007 - Kentmere

For the New Years Day ride we met up in Staveley for 10.45am, we had to wait for someone who was still having their bacon & eggs and so we sampled a coffee at Wilf's while we waited, first Jamie had some cake, then Ed bought some for later and finally Ian had to have some as well! Anyway after some route discussion, which way round Garburn...? (...@**~ly hell, Oh no not Garburn) 6 of us set off at 11.30-ish...up Browfoot Lane and the tarmac climb, over the top to get the downhill into Kentmere Hall and then the climb up Garburn, seeing how many times we had to get off and walk..., each of us trying to out do the others, it's a bloody good test not just of leg muscles but also the brain, back, arms, 6 pack....etc,etc, so we walked half of it. At the top we rested behind a wall protecting us from the wind, so when we got back on the bikes, we had to pedal downhill. Over the top of Garburn the downhill is an enjoyable reward for all the climbing, we met a couple of young lads on bike going down and they shouted "it's a bit technical this is" dead right they were too. So we all made it down, Ian and Jamie racing at the front the rest trying to keep up. We took the left turn down Dubbs Road and enjoyed the puddles at the bottom, Ed took the deepest route and was nearly lost!
Take the left lane for a short while and then turn left down Borrans Lane, past the buildings and left at the gate for the test ride through the muddy field... at some point you have to get off and push, on through the gates to the junction and turn left to take the route to 3 rivers and down the fells past meadowplatts plantation. While racing down the rock downhill section we came across some walkers, they partially witnesses Jamie, heading head over heels under his bike after missing a corner, they later said it was comical just seeing a bike with no rider, anyway Jamie was well ahead so we all missed it, but he was OK and we headed on to get back to Wilf's for some grub and a warm up. We got back at 3pm and it was a great way to see in the first day of the new year. Next Thursday it's Ings, see you there.

28th December 2006 - Lowick Bridge

5 of us ventured out between Christmas and New Years Day, we set off from the Red Lion and went north heading for Low Nibthwaite and turning right up Bletherbarrow lane, to take the bridleway over Bethecar, heading to High Ickenthwaite, where we took the road left along Corker Lane to a bridleway at Force Forge, turn left for this little tester of a climb, then back to the road to Satterthwaite bridge and the bridleway on the left, called Moor Lane, into Grizedale forrest, we did stop for a moment to partake in some chocolate orange (cheers George). You then climb up the rock route and basically head west crossing a few fire roads until you get to High Parkamoor, watch out for the bogs and head south for the final downhill, enjoy the rock garden on the way down and then head for High Nibthwaite and back along the road, which by the time we got there was very foggy, so much so that my head lamp was no use at all and even with Jamie's HID lamp we could still only just see the side of the road, let alone 10 feet in front, so we carefully rode back. Have a good new year.