This was a Saturday and not a normal Thursday night ride. After our winter training and Scottish weekend a few of us thought we should try some of our local Lakeland classic rides and High street is one of them, but it is best tackled after dry weather (or when frozen!). As the forecast was good a few texts were sent out, but due to holidays etc only Jamie & CT ventured out, first scrape ice off car windscreen, then we had to pick up a re-built wheel from Wheelbase and then re-grouped near Troutbeck church. Starting time around 10am with the sunshine showing through the early mist, head up road past Limefitt and take the bridleway on the right (see previous blog entry!) head along past Long Green Head, here we passed a group of walkers who would stay behind us until Thornthwaite Be
acon (see photo), where some caught us up as we had our first sandwiches. Basically from the start you can ride for 30 minutes or so and then it's a walk/carry up the fell side, with places to ride until you meet the track from Froswick, ride up to the beacon for 12 noon lunch and shelter from the wind and yes there were still some pockets of snow! (photo of Jamie looking back down to Windermere near the top of the first climb). Now roll down onto High Street and head north past Blea water and the racecourse hill, so named because of the 19th century practice of hosting sports days on the mountains summit! Half way up the Straits of Riggindale turn right and head along High Raise, towards Loadpot hill, here you tee off left and enjoy the descent down Barton Fell, w
here we passed a group of riders heading up hill (the wrong way we think). Now about half way! we rested at the ford junction and had our second sandwich stop before turning left and heading to Ullswater shore ride back. We checked the map and called home, tea on for 6pm so we had ourselves a target time, didn't seem too bad, until you realise that the Ullswater shore route would be full of walkers (where we usually do this on a summer evening when quieter). Drop down the hill side towards Howtown, take a lane and come round to start the shore route, now we were getting tired and would overtake walkers, but then stop for food, so the hare and tortoise game went on with some walking where required either for safety or ju
st to save some legs, knowing we had a few miles to go before the Kirkstone pass as the last hill 
climb!! After a while we headed for the cafe at side farm for tea, coffee, crisps and ice cream. Now just a road ride along the flat lands until the bottom of the col, we had just over an hour to hit our 5pm target time back at the cars. At 10 past 4 we passed Brothers water inn and started the climb for real, my middle chainring was sucking and so I went down to granny which probably helped spin up the climb, albeit it took 45 minutes, but the plateau at the top of Kirkstone was a welcome sight, add on a gillet for down hill wind protection and zip down to the cars. 5pm spot on 7 hours and a great ride, measured off the map afterwards circa 30+ miles. Great weather for a great ride, just add suncream next time!
here we passed a group of riders heading up hill (the wrong way we think). Now about half way! we rested at the ford junction and had our second sandwich stop before turning left and heading to Ullswater shore ride back. We checked the map and called home, tea on for 6pm so we had ourselves a target time, didn't seem too bad, until you realise that the Ullswater shore route would be full of walkers (where we usually do this on a summer evening when quieter). Drop down the hill side towards Howtown, take a lane and come round to start the shore route, now we were getting tired and would overtake walkers, but then stop for food, so the hare and tortoise game went on with some walking where required either for safety or ju
st to save some legs, knowing we had a few miles to go before the Kirkstone pass as the last hill 
climb!! After a while we headed for the cafe at side farm for tea, coffee, crisps and ice cream. Now just a road ride along the flat lands until the bottom of the col, we had just over an hour to hit our 5pm target time back at the cars. At 10 past 4 we passed Brothers water inn and started the climb for real, my middle chainring was sucking and so I went down to granny which probably helped spin up the climb, albeit it took 45 minutes, but the plateau at the top of Kirkstone was a welcome sight, add on a gillet for down hill wind protection and zip down to the cars. 5pm spot on 7 hours and a great ride, measured off the map afterwards circa 30+ miles. Great weather for a great ride, just add suncream next time!
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