21st May 2009 - Broughton Mills for Dunnerdale Fells

8 riders met up at the Blacksmiths Arms; Charlie, George, Ian, Neil, Doug, Jamie, John & CT. Ian and John debated the route and whether clockwise or anti? So we set off down the lane (north) and left at the first junction towards Green Bank, then take a right turn up a bridleway, this is a bit of a lung buster so early in the ride (typical warm up!) it involved a few dabs along the way, take a slight left turn at a wall and run along a section called 'The Nursery' keep going under Great Stickle, moving west, enjoy the downhill single track past Black Stones and onto the road. Head north to Ulpha and just before the main road go right onto the bridleway, after a few hundred meters we ignored the track on the right and kept going through Birks Wood, then along parallel with the river Duddon, at Kiln bank take the road right and steadily ride uphill for a while. At the top we waited for Ian and Neil, who seemed to take an age, we thought they may have had gear trouble, but no they knew a shortcut and beat us to the cross roads of bridleways east of Kiln Bank Cross, here we headed south east under Raven's Crag, although this section was uphill it was a steady ride and good views, go round the crag at the southern end and work east past Carter ground, here you can take the lane or continue on the bridleway, we took the bridleway, around Jackson ground is a little boggy in places so watch out. Once at Stephenson ground we did a little section of wood and headed back along the lanes to the pub, 8.45 just time for some chips. Next ride is Satterthwaite for Grizedale.

14th May 2009 - Staveley for Longsleddale

Grant, Paul, Chris M, Jamie, Ian, John and CT set off up Hall Lane and then along past Scroggs Farm and Elfhowe to take the testing little climb back to Hall lane! Carry on up to Staveley head and keep going looking for the bridleway on the RHS, at this point the wind was getting up (nothing like the Walna scar ride but still windy) half way over we sheltered by a wall for a chat then continued down for the rocky descent, all safe now along the bottom of the valley, just negotiating sheep and lambs, everywhere, including one lamb playing rodeo on mummy sheep's back! Now approaching Sadgill get ready for the next climb, Chris M got the first gate, but there are 2 more, so a couple of dabs then re-group at the gate, shelter behind the wall, chat, eat and rest before the next rocky climb, some didn't even attempt the climb, fair play to those that did and even CT surprised himself by getting round 2 corners, one up for the hardtail! Get up over the top and re-group before the downhill, I'm sure Paul was taking it easy! Down at the bottom turn right, then come left and back along Low Lane where Chris M sighted a badger and a few of us saw it running away, quite fast considering it's bulk, it looked an older one due to colouring. Now it was only early but some folk had homes to go to, so we heaed back on the road a nice steady warm down. Next ride at Broughton Mills.

7th May 2009 - Hawkshead for Claiffe

8 riders turned up at Hawkshead, John, George, Grant, Charlie, Neil, Ian, Jamie and CT; we set off for the usual start towards Colthouse and early left turn down the lane to the road opposite the camp site, where one forlorn tent was just managing to stay up in the wild winds. Turn right and up the road until the bridleway on the RHS and the start to snakebite alley! and yes we had one puncture by the bottom, so we had a chat while Neil changed a tube. Then onwards towards Wray, only this time we went left along the lake shore and then right up the lane and the climb up to the forest track at the guide posts, here we thought we had time to go straight on and up the tester climb near Hollin Band Plantation, only Grant broke his chain (so we lost time!) on down the bridleway past Moss Eccles tarn and out at Far Sawrey, past the pub and climb up the bridleway for the great descent down Belt Ash Coppice to the lake shore, very enjoyable say all. Now head along the shore route to Fleming Wood and take the rock sets up to Scab Moss, here we went up the link route to the guide posts which meant pushing somewhat, over at the guide posts and now the downhill to Colthouse, now it's getting darker, so take it easy, all down safely and back to the cars. Over 10 miles and 2.5 hours another good ride. Next time it's Staveley, Barley Bridge for Longsleddale.

30th April 2009 - Lowick Common

9 turned up at the Red Lion, Lowick Bridge to what turned out to be a bright sunny evening, we set off with only 8 helmets GA just had his buff for protection! We headed west, south west past Lowick Hall turn right and keep going until a track called Long Lane to Kiln Bank, turn right at the farm and take the bridleway round Subberthwaite Bank to meet up on a tarmac lane heading for Tottlebank continue along the bridleway until the road usually it's straight over, but we saw one lone MTBer (white Tee shirt on a pink bike) and he carried on up the road, so we thought we would head up the hill with vague ideas about another bridleway route, Charlie mentioned looking at a map, but no need, just yet...onward and upward, we could not find the ideal bridleway and so to the dismay of Ian, who had just made it up the climb, we headed back down, we took a slightly different route down to the usual bridleway and continued on (looking at the map (after the event, Ed)there is another bridleway, but it was not easily seen on the ground, and it was shorter so stick to the usual). Then we went right and enjoyed the road downhill until Yeat House, where you turn right and take a deep breath for the climb, but at the top we go left heading for Green Moor and this is a really GREAT descent on singletrack, big smiles abounded! Now through Green Moor wood right at the lane and head on up for another climb, where we were looking for a right turn, but it is actually near to the top so more climbing then turn right back towards woodland fell and enjoy the singletrack and rocky testing routes, back via 2 fords to Subberthwaite and back on the lanes. It's a great route with a mix of singletrack, climbing and descending, a quick beer and chocolate crisps for some and home. Next ride is Hawkshead for Claiffe.