27th May 2010 - Satterthwaite for Grizedale

7 met up at the bottom of Moor Lane; Neil, Ian, John, Charlie, Chris M, Jamie & CT. After a little tweaking and route ideas, we set off through the village of Satterthwaite and up Beasty Haw, this turns into a great section of singletrack, but after the first section a stone jumped up and knobbled Charlie shin, so we had to stop for first aid, how come the shim always seems to bleed more! After a clean up and one plaster we move on, another few sweet sections and Charlies applies another plaster, just to make sure and keep the mud out of the wound. Down to the road, turn left for a while and climb through the forest and head for Moor top, here we head down the first section of North Face, onto a fire road and tee off left for another single track section, here Ian's chain broke and John offered his chain link, but alas it was 8 speed and apparently does not fit, so John came to borrow Charlies spare 9 speed link and take it back to Ian. Mean while we had flapjack (donated by CT, but carried by Chris M), now it started to rain, then Ian turned up and we head up onto the fire road and looked for a different route, so we went down the fire road and found a right hand turn onto a rocky route, this is quite a test but even in the rain there seemed to be grip. Then we came out on a top fire road and headed to the Park, where we took the little detour partway down to Lawson park, but took the left route though the trees and roots, tricky but testing, well done JB, take it slow and steady. Now head for the top of Moor Lane and enjoy the descent back to the cars. With the rain, this was an unusual ride and it seemed darker, but was still enjoyable. Next ride if Keswick, park at Briar Rigg.

20th May 2010 - Broughton Mills - Dunnerdale Fells

8 made it too the Blacksmiths Arms, Broughton Mills, John, Chris M, Charlie, George, Ian, Neil, Jamie and CT (albeit some used just in time technology!) The route leaves the pub and heads north west and picks up a bridleway climb, a nice opening tester through the trees and then continues to test on the fell, continue past Hovel Knott, south of Great Stickle and keep going west to enjoy the downhill to the road. Here we rested while Ian fixed a puncture, then up the road, north, to pick up the bridleway running north east along the Duddon, enjoy this uphill the road climb up Kiln bank. At the cross roads (intersection with bridleways) go left and head south past Raven's Crag, at this point climbing up some nice singletrack John was tee boned by a Rock slab which hit his rear mech into the spokes and caused mayhem which broke the rear mech hanger!Thanks to modern communications Charlie texted Jim for help...could he text a new hanger, he replied with the singlespeed option; so a little mechanic's was performed and John was underway, only he could not back peddle or it may jamb at any second!! At least it mostly downhill to the road. We carried on round to Jackson Ground where John headed back to the car, Chris M also headed home as he had run out of water. We now headed round to meet Long Mire and go south east to Stephenson Ground, along the way Jamie took a higher alternative route looking for another trail, he was silhouetted on the skyline with CT viewed from below and the moon in the evening sky; CT speeded up and JB then headed back down to the lower trail and the race was on, don't you just love those trail battles....it looked like a collision course, but no CT on a Santa Cruz aced it!!! Now we head up the valley and crossed over by the bridge and went back down through the forest and enjoyed the final off-road run to Hawk Bridge, here Charlie gallantly waited for Ian and Neil.....but they had already gone on...! We all met up back at the pub, too late for chips, so beer & crisps. Thanks must go out to Neil for supplying the spare bike, Cheers. Next ride is Satterthwaite for Grizedale.

13th May 2010 - Sedbergh for Dent

10 turned up , George, Paul, John, Ian, Neil, Jamie, Grant, Charlie, CT and Joel! After a sunny day the wind turned and it felt a little colder, but folk put warmer tops on and we carried on. Basically the traditional ride: we set off south on the Millthrop road, go over the river Rawthey and take the 1st left, then right in the hamlet to take a lane up onto the fell. This is the first bit of off-road and a little tester, once over the first rocky section it is plain sailing, except watch out for the cows! At the first gate time for a breather and take a look at the view back over the Howgills and which route we could take in the future....?Carry on over the fell, through the trees, past the farm, down the track, once onto the road, take the first right after 20 yards, heading down to the ford crossing, but since the bridge was built in 1999 most folk just take the bridge! Cross up onto the road which is the Dales Way and head for Gawthrop, now attack the first climb up Barbondale road (it's only 1km of hill, really) test those legs, get to South Lord's land take the first bridleway on the left and have a rest. Head along Green lane to meet up with the bridleway at the top, turn left and enjoy the descent into Dent, The Sun was busy and after a wee wait we thought we should head to the other local, so Ian & CY went there, whilst the publican must of thought punters were leaving so offered the others chips in double quick time! Ian & CT had a beer and crisps in front of a real fire the others started on mega chips sitting outside. When Ian and CT returned to the Sun there were plenty of chips to go round (folk were either thinking of their waist lines OR the big hill on the way back!). Once the refreshments had been consumed and the midges came out, we headed off, some asking which direction; we were to head for Frostrow Fells, the first lane is fairly easy to find, then it always gets tricky, ignore the first footpath on the RHS carry on and go past the 90 degree right hand bend carry on up and keep left past the front of the farmhouse and around the LHS, watch out for chickens and sheep, through the double gates and up the walled route, mind out for the holly bush and low branches! Follow the wall up and watch out for the shake holes (it's a bit boggy) once at the top head north west all the way back. Back at the cars before it got too dark, next ride is Broughton Mills.

6th May 2010 - Hawkshead for Claife

9 came out to Hawkshead, Chris M, George, Grant, John, Ian, Neil, Jamie, Charlie and CT. This ride was very much like the winter ride we did in January 21st, so for a route check a summary below; start with snake-bite alley, head towards Colthouse and tee off left onto Scar House lane, 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! Head on past Sawrey (polling station still open for business and no queues) 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. Now back to the pub for beer and crisps and to bet of the big race, what race says Ian, only the general election!! We left just before 10 and Hawkshead polling station was still serving! next ride is Sedburgh town centre and Ian like the ride to Dent as it involves a pub stop half way round!

Bank Holiday Monday 3 May 2010 - Classic: Gatescarth & Nan Bield Passes

Continuing our Classic rides in Cumbria 3 of us, Grant, Jamie and CT looked at Gatescarth and Nan Bield. Again the weather had been dry and the forecast was good, so sandwiches were packed and gears oiled. We set off from Barley bridge in Staveley and headed up Staveley Head fell and into Longsleddale where Grant had his first puncture, good training for the Sam next month. Continue north to Sadgill, where you start the track up to Gatescarth pass, the climbing is not too bad to start but obviously gets steeper. The river Sprint runs down the fell on the left hand side and when viewed it looked really clear, with some great water falls and rock pools. The track got steeper so less chat and more work, then in places it was a walk, but it's a good challenge, not technical just steep, we stopped at the top gate (near Brownhowe Bottom) for a snack behind a wall as the wind was a cold one from the north and there would be little shelter at the top. We rode on and in places it was very steep, again a good challenge to try to ride, then we hit the top and could ride over and continue DOWN all the way to Mardale Head, Haweswater. The descent is technical, but do-able as long as your brakes last! We past 2 guys on downhill bikes as they were pushing up and aiming for Nan Bield. At the bottom check out all the cars at the car park then head west to small water, now this route is narrow and technical, rideable in places but still much walking. After a while we made it to Small Water and stopped for lunch, looking at the map the distance from here to the nan biel pass does not seem too bad, but you can not make out the track when looking up the fell side and it took a good long time carrying the bikes. At the top is was very windy so we sheltered behind the stone wall, 'cause the north wind was cold! Now from here you can see the descent down to Kentmere, but first there is some more technical riding and very steep and narrow in places, I would rate this a solid BLACK run, so we walked some at the start, JB just waited halfway down! We met a couple of walkers and their 2 whippets at the top of nan bield and somehow they had made it down before we had! Now continue down and along Hollow Bank Quarter, past Overend and low lane to Green Quarter, here we headed back along the lanes, but not before guess who had another puncture! 5hrs and 30mins total time, 2 big climbs and 2 great descents and no rain on a B/H Monday!
Check out a video my Mojo, of Nan Bield the other way, with Danny Macaskill, Rowan Sorrell, Aimee Dix and Ed Oxley : http://www.singletrackworld.com/2010/05/video-mojo-trail-diaries-part-2/

29th April 2010 - Lowick Tottlebank

7 met up by the Red Lion at Lowick Bridge, Charlie, John, George, Ian, Grant, Jamie and CT. We set off south west down the lane go right after Lowick Hall, continue over cattle grid and tee off left on Long lane, right turn at Kiln bank, watch the spaniel running around enjoying the evening freedom. Now up Subberthwaite bank to see if Grants legs still worked! Down the other side and pick up the lane, heading left up and over Tottlebank, onto the fell and along to Giant's Grabe and watch out for the muddy puddle, especially if you have new shoes...eh Charlie? Now straight over the lane, albeit after a little route discussion, enjoy the fell track and down to the lane, now right and roll down the tarmac, after a mile tee off right and onto the bridleway, but not all the way up, take the left fork to Green moor, a very nice section of singletrack. Now down and around green moor wood, then up the steep climb, but look out for the bridleway on your RHS, here we take a break for Charlie's caramel shortbread, very good indeed, so much so an extra piece was consumed but some folk (no names...yet!) Now we head back around Woodland Fell and enjoy the singletrack, there was to be one hill climb at the end which was very hard, great gripping dry conditions, but too steep, especially after all that cake, otherwise CT & JB would have cleaned it...!! Now descend to the lanes and head back past Kiln bank and back to the cars in time for dusk. A great ride finished with a few drinks in the pub. Next ride Hawkshead.