25 September 2008 - Barley Bridge, Staveley

Neil, Jamie, Chris M, Grant, George, Paul, Joel, Charlie and Ian turned up for what was the 1st night ride of the season. The ride began in daylight with a jaunt up over the river and through Scroggs Farm, briefly back on to the road we all climbed up to Elfhowe where some managed to ride the grass track along the river and up to the road but this is always a tough climb and it was reasuring to see others pushing up to the road.
The road then continues on to Park House where the bridleway begins. Forestry machinery had been here and the muddy track and a large log pile were evident, luckily it was dry because in a few weeks it will be slippy! Turning left towards HP plantation the conversation turned to the new route, rather than taking the rocky track of HP some were tempted by the grassy alternative that runs parallel to the descent. For some the preference was to take the traditional challenge of HP with it's rocky rollercoaster, for the others the speed of the grassy descent took on another challenge... and before we knew it we were back at the road, climbing up past Browfoot, at the top of the road climb we all regrouped to admire the view and the autumnal sunset. Turning right we were back off road and heading for the famous 3 river challenge, to begin with it's past Mickle Moss and onto the first river crossing, turning right and heading towards the second crossing, it was now twilight and getting difficult to judge the landscape, with lights now on it was all downhill through the fast paced rocky descent towards Croft Head, the final challenge was the rocky track that has been overgrown with bracken where it gets rockier until the drop offs in the dark! Phew! With everyone safely back at the road it was a sprint back to Barley Bridge with Grant providing the race commentary.
No chips but a lucky few managed a drink at the Duke in the village.

Next week: Elterwater at 6.30 for a 6.45 departure.

SUNDAY 21st September 2008 GMBC

Here is a little update on Sundays ride out around Grizedale, also known as Grizedale Mountain Bike Challenge, it's not a race, but it's a challenge. A few RADs riders had entered, namely Chris, Grant, Jamie and young Harry, now these 4 could have made up a team and gone in for the prize money, except the first two were doing it for personal achievement...and in actual fact Harry and Jamie had their own sponsors, rumour was it if RADs got a sponsor it was going to be by a lighting company...! But the course closed at 4pm so we had to get back. I include Harry due to the fact that he has been trained by RADs, not sure what his current trainer would say,eh Trevor??? anyway he came second in the under 18 class so well done, just 1 min 56 secs ahead of Jamie (over 40 class!), now these two were a few minutes ahead of Grant and CT. In summary there were 519 starters and at least 144 people behind me!!!
For some photos try this http://www.mountain-bike-cumbria.co.uk/articles.php?id=gmbc2008 scroll down to the bottom for the muddy photo. Or www.GMBC.co.uk for the results.
Watch out for more events, you never know we may even get a team entered...!

18th September 2008 -Gilpin bridge

This is basically a quick ride around the scar, before a group meal at the Gilpin Bridge Inn. Ian was waiting with a beer, Jim turned up on his road bike and he wasn't going to ride off-road, Phil rode up on his MTB and he was. Grant, Ian, John, Chris M & T, Jamie, Neil, George and finally Charlie all made it out for the end of summer ride. Usual circuit, including the muddy climb (not so muddy) and the downhills. All finished and back for a meal at 8pm, Paul wasn't there and no one went for the mixed grille! Although Charlie went for posh fish & chips, all good scoff.
The winter ride list is still in post-production, but the next ride will be Staveley, Barley Bridge for 6.30pm.

11th September 2008 - Elterwater for Loughrigg

6 turned up at Elterwater, on time (parking near Britannia Inn), Grant, Chris, Ian, John, Neil, Chris M, we were all ready to go, so some did start off early, but as we were making some last minute fine tuning adjustments to Grants bike, i.e. fitting some brake pads! Jamie turned up, just in time. Basically it's up the hill to the youth hostel, down the Loughrigg terrace watch out for the dog walkers, enjoy the descent and look out for the right hand turn off for the caves, Grant missed it and carried on along the lake, we all met up at the gate. Climb the little track and head down the lane, past the car park and onto the under Loughrigg road, here Chris M decided to try the jumpy berm into the car park, but.... it was a muddy hole and he came a cropper, all OK in the end, more padding next time! Ride along the road, join the others and start UP the lane which leads onto the track up and over the hill, just over the top we met up with a larger MTB group going the other way, it's not often we bump into larger groups. At the bottom ride round the tarn and onto the road, lights on, ride past the youth hostel and down the bridleway across the common, enjoy the little wooden bridge and technical section, then back to the pub for a glass of refreshment. Next ride is Gilpin and a meal.

4th September 2008 - Barbon

5 turned out after a damp day (Jamie, Neil, John, Grant and CT), but with some blue sky showing through the clouds. The usual route went something like this; set off up the lane passing the church on the left, follow the lane heading over the cattle grid, turn right and take the steady road down to the trees, a few hundred yards into the trees take a deep breath for the first off road hill test...get to the top after a little walk to stretch the legs! catch your breath, through the gate head along the bridleway, watch those rocks and come out onto the lane, get ready for the hill climb, it's just a bit of tarmac, Grant led the way as if on a mission, we all followed, at the turn off we seemed to carry on, more UP but steady away. We had a rest at the top gate but it was starting to rain (only a shower). Head off to the gate and a bit of mud plugging on the down hill, through the clay, I managed to do an endo in some mud but stayed upright there were a few laughs from behind! Back onto tarmac for a brief section, rolling down the hill, turn left and enjoy the rocky, 'which way now' route down to the road, watch out for the wet rocks especially at the 'S' bend, I fell down the rocky corner section, Oooouch! Now just a river crossing, but with quite a bit of water, even Jamies 29er was up past the bottom bracket so we took the bridge, race down through the trees, a little dark and sketchy in the wet conditions and back down the Barbon hill climb to get to the cars just after 8.30pm! time for chips and a beer, how civilised. Next ride is Elterwater, the week after is the Gilpin short ride followed by end of summer meal, watch out for the winter ride list coming sooon.