Tuesday, May 27, 2008
22nd May 2008 - Broughton Mills
I gave Jamie a lift in my car just to make sure I was not alone, but actually 5 turned out, John, Ian, Neil, Jamie & I, as usual there was some route discussion, what with being a democracy and all that! We decided that although last years route was good, if a little wet we would head out in the other direction, so we headed up the road in a east-northern direction, past Hobkin Ground, up Ling End and take a left at the fork, tee of right into the Forest and look for a left fork going uphill, this heads towards Stephenson Ground but via the valley, so head for Natty Bridge, come back down the valley, enjoy and watch out for punctures (only Jamie this time!). Follow the bridleway heading up Long Mire, but take a left after a gate to cross the valley floor, it's tricky in places, then climb up past Jackson Ground, right round Raven's Crag this is great scenery, here we were running out of time (i.e. chips were calling) and the options were too many, we really need a whole day to do this area justice, so another time maybe. We headed down to the road which follows Dunnerdale Beck, a quick blast down hill to the pub. We were in time for Cumberland sausage , chips & a salad, very civilised! We discussed life, how to not ride a 24 hour race (i.e. we would enjoy the camping, BBQ & beers) and who was up for the Sam Houghton Mountain Bike Challenge on Saturday 9th June. Next week it's Satterthwaite for Grisedale.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
15th May 2008 - Barley Bridge, Staveley for Longsleddale
7 turned up for a pleasant evenings ride from Barley Bridge, In order of appearance (or should that be earliest to arrive?) - Charlie (now known as 'silent but deadly'), Joel, John, Grant, Chris M, David, and Phil.
There was a split from the off, one group deciding to go over the river and up the road past Scroggs farm, and the others lead by Phil went up and over Elfhowe, we regrouped on Staveley Head Fell before we headed up and out and into the wilds of Birk Rigg and then the right fork past Skeggles Water, and over to Longsleddale.
Grant was in training for something because he made a break for it across the tops, and Charlie crept up and overtook so stealthily that she is now to be know as 'silent but deadly'...
David had a new bouncy full susser as well as a new camelbak which took some time to work out how to open so we took in the evening air and admired the views from the top of the fells above Wad's Howe; once David was fully watered, it was every man (and women) for themselves as we headed down to the valley floor.
From the valley bottom it was getting a little chilly, we were now in the valley of shadowy freshness and the midges were out too. But it was summer now and so we continued in short impractical clothing up the valley to Sadgill where it gets a little technical, the loose ground is steep and rocky which leads up to a gate where it gives way to a track that is even steeper and rockier, from the top it was time to regroup and put on more clothes as it wasn't really summer yet!
From the summit the descent is a rollercoaster of a journey through Stile End and back towards Kentmere, once back on the road it was right and then left onto the bridleway that loops down towards the river and then dumps you back on to the road around Green Quarter. From here it was a blast of a downhill on the road back to the cars... where we came across a lost looking Jamie who had arrived a little late and went out from Ings thinking he would catch us up and finally realised he was on the wrong ride when he got back to Ings and didn't recognise anyone's car!
No chips but we did get a few questions right in the Eagle and Childs pub quiz!
Note to interested parties, 4 of us did this ride in reverse on the sunday after which was a worthy alternative for future reference and goes something like this: barley bridge, past scroggs, staveley head to long houses, road to stile end, up and over to Tom's Howe before the full descent to Longsleddale, over Cocklaw Fell - bit boggy!, over Green Quarter and down HP.
Next ride: 22nd May 2008 - 6.30 Blacksmiths Arms, Broughton Mills, Ian’s route??? Come on Ian, nobody else knows the route!
There was a split from the off, one group deciding to go over the river and up the road past Scroggs farm, and the others lead by Phil went up and over Elfhowe, we regrouped on Staveley Head Fell before we headed up and out and into the wilds of Birk Rigg and then the right fork past Skeggles Water, and over to Longsleddale.
Grant was in training for something because he made a break for it across the tops, and Charlie crept up and overtook so stealthily that she is now to be know as 'silent but deadly'...
David had a new bouncy full susser as well as a new camelbak which took some time to work out how to open so we took in the evening air and admired the views from the top of the fells above Wad's Howe; once David was fully watered, it was every man (and women) for themselves as we headed down to the valley floor.
From the valley bottom it was getting a little chilly, we were now in the valley of shadowy freshness and the midges were out too. But it was summer now and so we continued in short impractical clothing up the valley to Sadgill where it gets a little technical, the loose ground is steep and rocky which leads up to a gate where it gives way to a track that is even steeper and rockier, from the top it was time to regroup and put on more clothes as it wasn't really summer yet!
From the summit the descent is a rollercoaster of a journey through Stile End and back towards Kentmere, once back on the road it was right and then left onto the bridleway that loops down towards the river and then dumps you back on to the road around Green Quarter. From here it was a blast of a downhill on the road back to the cars... where we came across a lost looking Jamie who had arrived a little late and went out from Ings thinking he would catch us up and finally realised he was on the wrong ride when he got back to Ings and didn't recognise anyone's car!
No chips but we did get a few questions right in the Eagle and Childs pub quiz!
Note to interested parties, 4 of us did this ride in reverse on the sunday after which was a worthy alternative for future reference and goes something like this: barley bridge, past scroggs, staveley head to long houses, road to stile end, up and over to Tom's Howe before the full descent to Longsleddale, over Cocklaw Fell - bit boggy!, over Green Quarter and down HP.
Next ride: 22nd May 2008 - 6.30 Blacksmiths Arms, Broughton Mills, Ian’s route??? Come on Ian, nobody else knows the route!
8th May 2008 - Hawkshead for Claiffe heights
6 Turned out (Charlie, John, Grant, Paul, Jamie and Joel) for another loop from Hawkshead with Claife in our sights once more. The mistakes of the last ride on the 27th March was still fresh in our minds where we took a right turn instead of a left and so we set off in the right direction this time. Charlie took the lead and suggesting that we could take in a loop down to the shore on Windermere if we 'rode with a sense of purpose' (or something to that effect), I think this meant that we should stop chatting and ride.
We all set off towards Colthouse, along Scar House Lane, through Outgate, past the pub and taking the bridleway to the right, locally and affectionately known as snakebite alley, tonight was no exception with 3 punctures already. We stopped to regroup and repair and then headed out past Bletham Tarn and the after hitting the road we headed towards High Wray and then Base Camp.
At Base camp we headed left off the main track and up a technical rocky section of a climb, this took us parallel to the forest track past the scout huts to Nor Moss but this time rather than switching a tight 180 degrees and back up the fire road we continued along until Long Height where we continued to climb (with purpose) and then headed out of the forest for the first proper descent to Moss Eccles Tarn and on to Far Sawrey. From Sawrey we took the track that climbs up behind the pub and heads out towards Belt Ash Coppice, an excellent technical descent follows down to the shoreline of Windermere where 2 more punctures were sustained, the victims were Paul and Jamie who made the total '5', Charlie was currently the only one to escape the pinch flats this evening!
From the shoreline we continued along the rough track to Belle Grange until we reached the pitched bridleway for the walk that leads uphill and back towards Long Height, then Guide Posts for the final climb and then the long descent back to the road with Hawshead in our sights. Jamie puncturing again on this descent and with only his last 29'er tube to get him home he was lucky Hawkshead was twinkling in the distance.
It was 9.45 by the time we got back to the cars, no chips and only a half before bedtime!
Next ride: 15th May 2008 - 6.30 Barley Bridge, Staveley for Longsleddale
We all set off towards Colthouse, along Scar House Lane, through Outgate, past the pub and taking the bridleway to the right, locally and affectionately known as snakebite alley, tonight was no exception with 3 punctures already. We stopped to regroup and repair and then headed out past Bletham Tarn and the after hitting the road we headed towards High Wray and then Base Camp.
At Base camp we headed left off the main track and up a technical rocky section of a climb, this took us parallel to the forest track past the scout huts to Nor Moss but this time rather than switching a tight 180 degrees and back up the fire road we continued along until Long Height where we continued to climb (with purpose) and then headed out of the forest for the first proper descent to Moss Eccles Tarn and on to Far Sawrey. From Sawrey we took the track that climbs up behind the pub and heads out towards Belt Ash Coppice, an excellent technical descent follows down to the shoreline of Windermere where 2 more punctures were sustained, the victims were Paul and Jamie who made the total '5', Charlie was currently the only one to escape the pinch flats this evening!
From the shoreline we continued along the rough track to Belle Grange until we reached the pitched bridleway for the walk that leads uphill and back towards Long Height, then Guide Posts for the final climb and then the long descent back to the road with Hawshead in our sights. Jamie puncturing again on this descent and with only his last 29'er tube to get him home he was lucky Hawkshead was twinkling in the distance.
It was 9.45 by the time we got back to the cars, no chips and only a half before bedtime!
Next ride: 15th May 2008 - 6.30 Barley Bridge, Staveley for Longsleddale
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
1st May 2008 - Lowick common
After checking out the Rads mention in this months mountain biking magazine, Joel, Grant, Jamie, John, Paul and Charlie made up the group departing from the Red Lion at Lowick. We set off to the south west going past the Church and the village hall where the amount of traffic was explained by the polling station signs. A right onto the road skirting Park Wood and followed this until we got onto the open fell at Kiln Bank. The grassy track contours round the hill touching a road briefly at Tottlebank and continuing on round under Blawith Knott. We then crossed another road and had a fun descent down to Low Heathwaite Gate.
A certain amount of discussion followed here as to what was the best way round to do this ride so that we did not do the down hill on the road. So we descended down the road to Yeat House where we turned onto the bridleway that goes past Spunham and then starts a mighty fine climb across Woodland Fell. We then dropped down to Green Moor and through the woods to the road. Up the road, taking the bridleway just before Hawes. We then wondered across the moor heading generally south and missed out Johns' favourite descent – he went over the handlebars on the previous 2 occasions.
We crossed a couple of streams before again heading up Woodland Fell. There is then a fantastic descent down to the road near Appletree Holme. It does not descend all the way, but the there is a test of nerves to see if you keep your speed up round some blind corners in case there is a small rise on the other side– fun! We just had a road section down to Blawith and then a couple of kms along the main road back to the pub. Too late for chips but some well balanced meals of crisps and peanuts to go with our drinks.
Next ride is Hawkshead for Claiffe
A certain amount of discussion followed here as to what was the best way round to do this ride so that we did not do the down hill on the road. So we descended down the road to Yeat House where we turned onto the bridleway that goes past Spunham and then starts a mighty fine climb across Woodland Fell. We then dropped down to Green Moor and through the woods to the road. Up the road, taking the bridleway just before Hawes. We then wondered across the moor heading generally south and missed out Johns' favourite descent – he went over the handlebars on the previous 2 occasions.
We crossed a couple of streams before again heading up Woodland Fell. There is then a fantastic descent down to the road near Appletree Holme. It does not descend all the way, but the there is a test of nerves to see if you keep your speed up round some blind corners in case there is a small rise on the other side– fun! We just had a road section down to Blawith and then a couple of kms along the main road back to the pub. Too late for chips but some well balanced meals of crisps and peanuts to go with our drinks.
Next ride is Hawkshead for Claiffe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)