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.