21st January 2010 - Hawkshead for Claife

8 turned up in Hawkshead; Charlie, Jamie, Neil, Joel, Chris M, Grant, George & CT, Claife was decided and to spice up the route we'll try it in reserve, sort of...but we shall still start with snake-bite alley, head towards Colthouse and tee off left onto Scar House lane, still a bit of ice/snow on the ground to test our eye sight! now we re-grouped at the end of the lane and when we headed off half the group went right and half left, so much for co-ordination!, anyway we all got to snake alley and bingo we all made it down with no punctures, so look out next time! Now the usual route to to head for basecamp, but went left along the shore line and kept going, here some of the climbs mean a walk so we opted to try and go up the descent from Far Sawrey, interesting decision, but actually ridable, until the rocks and the top section, anyway always good to have a change, being nearly as good as a rest! At the top gate we sampled some flapjack, not sure what was in it but still good. Head on past Sawrey and head right and up past the tarns, lots of water running off the fells here. Once back into Hollin Band plantation we went over the junction for the extra loop and met up at the guide posts. Here it is a blast down to the road and back to Hawkshead, only Joel took a tumble, listening to the joker laughing in the background as he went down! Back to the cars and 3 made it into an empty pub for beer & crisps. Next ride Haverthwaite.

14th January 2010 - Gilpin bridge

This ride was schedule for Oxen Park, but re-arranged for Gilpin to all an easy introduction to the snow and better access via the roads. the weather was warming up and the snow melting, still now it was exposing the ice beneath....6 Turned up, George, Grant, Joel, Chris M, Jamie (by bike again!) and CT, we had a word with the landlord who said he would have the chip machine fired up whatever time we turned up! Usual route along the side of the main dual carriageway over the new bridge and head to the farm at Raven's lodge then up the bridleway, patchy snow but rideable, down into the village and turn right heading through Beck Head and onto the road to Witherslack hall school, turn left and onto the bridleway for Yewbarrow, more snow, now down the descent to Church Road, turn right approx 1 mile then take the right turn up the testing bridleway, enjoy the snow! back to the top and enjoy the descent again, back to Church road and head back via return route. Back to cars 9pm-ish but still chips were on offer, well done the Gilpin bridge! stayed for chat then off for a warm, next ride Hawkshead (main car park).

7th January 2010 - Ings

4 met up at the Watermill, Ings, Grant, Joel, Jamie (who came by bike) and CT, the temp' gauge in the cars said minus something, but the powder snow from the previous days added more grip to the ice!We set off south and under the railway line, ignore the first footpath on the right hand side, which we didn't until we realised our mistake, so we had a little attempt at riding in 3" snow, very hard, so back to the route a little further on and the bridleway is on the RHS, ride through the gate and through the trees, watch the mud, but generally rideable conditions, head onto the lane and past Black Moss, over the railway and carefully cross the main A591 head for Heaning and Mislet, watch the tracks and keep the pedalling smooth, continue onto the Moorhowe road. Here we turned left and headed up Dubbs lane, tricky in places abit like slippy mud, but keep riding straight ahead and it's not too bad. Past the reservoir and at the first gate we stopped for JBs flapjack and to do some star gazing, a crisp and clear night. Although it was sub-zero we had mostly warmed up by now and so we carried on to Garburn, here we went left, again the snow was giving grip...in places, left at the caravan junction and take the Longmire track back to Moorhowe road and back to Ings, now the cars said -9C. Into the pub for beer and crisps! Next ride scheduled as Oxen Park, watch the snow forecast!