22nd July 2010 - Askham for Loadpot Hill

There were dark clouds covering High Street but 5 turned at Askham Swimming pool car park – George, Grant, Neil, Chris M and John. The peleton set off south on the road towards Helton at a comfortable pace. Ride straight past Helton and then turn first right but take the left fork on to the fell road towards Rough Hill. At the start of the fell road Grant made his first move and broke from the group but he wasn’t sure of the way so had to wait. Just before Rough Hill Tarn turn right, not on the Bridleway but up the track to Howe. Just past the farm follow the grass track west towards Low Pot Hill. At this stage, the beginning of the climb up the long limb of Load Pot Hill, Grant made a second move up the grass slopes. Would it be decisive though? Read on.... Although there had been a lot of rain over the past week the going was good and the boggy sections were rideable. It was at this point that John dropped off the group. You don’t get a view of the trig point at the top until you are nearly on it so I couldn’t witness Grant’s victory but I guess he is the current King of the Mountains. You’ll have to turn up next week if want to make a Challenge. Second thoughts I’m not sure about all this ‘Le Tour’ stuff because it means we don’t get any rest stops. As always it was cool on top. Fortunately, for Neil he had a pair of long fingered gloves in his bag but Georges fingers were a whiter shade of pale. Now for a great descent down High Street. The sudden steep drop after a short distance always catches you by surprise! For the best route leave High Street and take the left fork to Arthur’s Pike. Short detour to the top, but always worth it. It’s a good blast down from here except John got his front wheel in a rut and took a tumble - but a soft landing. Met up at about the cockpit to witness the sun set over Blencarthra. ‘Better than staying in and watching Coronation Street’ was Chris’s poetic contribution. Then we took the track up to the plantation on Heughsgar Hill and another down hill all the way to Askham. . It had been a pretty clean ride until a muddy pond right across the track took the wind out of the sails. It was a struggle to get out of in top ring. General consensus was that it had been a superb ride. Next ride is Sedbergh.

8th July 2010 - Elterwater

I did not make it to Elterwater and I am not sure who did, tell you what add your name and a comment and we'll soon have a storey.....

Or read the following from George:
Following a very wet day 7 riders George, Neil, Paul, Jamie, Ian, Grant and Chris M turned up at the car park at Elterwater for dry start. Turning left and right out of the car pack up the tarmac lane and then taking the track on the right leading down to the river then everyone cleared the first climb to the quarry. Then following the bridleway to the very steep technical climb which no one managed to clear but Jamie and Chris making the best efforts. We then procceded over to High Tilberthwaite, then left to the playground, then right Hodge close, now head along the lanes to Iron Keld. Climbing the long rocky track to the junction for High Arnside Grant unfortunately had a fall on the rocky section and we were notsure which hurt most his head or his pride I think it was the former. Making the climb up to High Arnside then to enjoy the great downhill to the Skelwith Bridge to Consiton road. Here we turned right and then took a left in about a mile to join the sustrans 37 route back to the car and the pub just as the rain came down. We had chips but the landlord was not too pleased about us sitting on his chairs in our cycling clothes

Next ride is Askham for a little bit of High Street, enjoy.

8th July 2010 - Keswick - Skiddaw

1 rider (John ) turned up at Briar Rigg about 6:25 pm. No one there but it’s a bit of a drive so didn’t think too much of it. Put some new laces in my cycling shoes. It was now 20 - 2 – 7. Made a little shuttle to swimming pool and back. Got changed - thought process - if others parked somewhere else at least I am the start of the ride. Had a banana. Had a jam sandwich left over from the morning. Had another little shuttle about and returned to Briar Rigg. Set up bike. Played a little Bob Dylan. Oops now 7:10, decision time. So got on the bike and headed down the old railway towards Threlkeld. Thought it was a bit late to include the climb up Lattrigg – good excuse. Noted all the points on the Greta where I had nearly come to grief in the old kayak. Not too keen on the road bit to Threlkald so after consulting map headed to Derwentfold. Track to Blencathra Centre not really visible, too late to turn back, no one about, so took footpath up by the Glender a terra beck. Good track but petered out so had to hack up to the bridleway that we normally take. At the head of the valley head back towards Keswick on Cumbrian Way. Rocks slabs dry so cleared the lot with a few dabs and some second attempts. At the first gate off the fell stopped for drink, took in the vista of St John’s in the Vale and beyond and had a little snooze. Woke up and it was dark. Its ok just a dark cloud passing over. Continue towards Keswick didn’t manage to clear Whit Beck at the bottom of the downhill, had second attempt, no good, must have been washed out since I last rode it. Up the grass slope to top of Latrigg for view of Derwent Water. Took another footpath back down onto the Cumbrian Way, then cruised down back to the car. Not hungry at the time so no chip stop in Keswick but got a vegetable curry from a Chinese in Ulverston. Think needed something to remind me of last weeks treat at Ian’s. Home for Question Time. Hmmm Perhaps I should have gone to Dubai!!

Ed's note, OK I do not have a photo of the ride, but the picture is of Thirlmere, so keep an eye out now the hosepipe ban is in force! Next ride is Elterwater, nice it's by the pub.

1st July 2010 - Lowick

6 riders George, Paul, Charlie, Ian ,Neil and John turned out on this very wet evening and set off at 6.50pm. Ian had cycled from home and provided the bad news that the barbecue was off but the good news that food was available inside his nice warm kitchen. We took the usual route, cross main road, over bridge turn left and warm up along the road, up the first hill (tarmac). Charlie made to to the top first and opened the gate and started a flood of gate jokes after saying she had waited so long that she had time to go to the woods for a pee before anyone else arrived. We then crossed the road to get onto the first downhill to Ickenthwaite usual puddles and more because of the heavy rain, where we met a moto-cross boy and guy riding a quad who were having a chat and blocking the track Then we went along the lane until we detoured left to meet up with the fire road more gate jokes. We set off along the fire road until we came to a fork where Ian tried to telphone home to get his chef to put the food in the oven. Unfortunately there was no signal so Ian took the left fork so that he could go home to do the cooking before the rest of us arrived. Sterling chap that Ian. We took the right fork and proceeded towards Parkamoor and enjoyed the ups and downs of this track. The views were not so good due to the driving rain. We then joined the track for High Nibthwaite for some real action whatever John was on it certainly gave him some adrenalin as it was impossible to keep up with him. George managed to clear this section with only one little dab for the first time ever. At the bottom of the hill we stopped off for a food at Ians, a superb spread prepared in a short time. Thanks to Ian for the beer, chips, sausages, chicken, sauces, pizza, buns and fresh salad! this was a great way to end a summers evening ride in the rain. Great we must do this again. Next ride Keswick

24th June 2010 - Ribblehead - Mid-summer ride

7 riders (Grant, Chris M, Neil, Charlie, Jamie, John and George) turned out amongst all the photographers waiting to capture the spectacle of the steam train crossing the viaduct. We all donned windproofs as despite it being warm everywhere else it was really cold at Ribblehead and were ready to set off at 6.40pm . As Paul had not arrived George said he would wait and catch up later. Chris m suggested that if George and Paul took the track to the right of the viaduct they could easily catch up with the group. When Paul and George arrived at the track they could not see the rest of the group so they headed back down to meet them coming up but unfortunately the group had got past this point so the pair had wasted another 15 minutes. The problem was neither Paul or George had completed this route before fortunately George spotted a group on the creast of the hill in front but when they had climbed the steep ascent they discovered the group they had spotted were girls completing their D of E award. However the girls informed them that the group was only 5 minutes away. So it was after 8pm when Paul and George re joined the group for the fantastic Downhill. By now the sun was shinning and everyone had removed their wind proofs. We headed down to Wearnside and keep going on up the steady climb, now it was warm but great to get to the top and head around the hill and start heading down towards Dent, watch out for the rocks, but it was a blast, a bit sketchy at times on the corners but enjoyable. Head all the way down to Dyke Hall lane, then right along the road next to the river Dee, which was almost dry. Easy ride along the lanes, ready for the climb to come. Look out for Artengill viaduct and head up Arten Gill bridleway, this is steep and steady to start and goes on and up, if you get to a gate first you can have a breather! At the top of Arten Gill moss windproofs back on as the air was starting to cool. From here we enjoyed the fast downhill to the road. Following a group discussion it was decided that it was too late to take the route via the Cam road and John got out his map which showed a bridleway that lead down to the main road. So the group turned right on the road and after about half a mile took the bridleway on the left. Here we arrived at a farm gate which had a sign NO F---ing Bikers so realising we had gone the wrong way we turned around and took the next gate on the left and rejoined the bridleway back to the main road for about a mile and half ride back to the car at 9.50pm with a few of the riders meeting at the pub. This was an absolutley superb ride in what turned out to be an excellent evening from that cold start. GT. Next ride is Lowick.