24th February 2011 - Troutbeck

Report to follow, check out this link for a data log from Pauls GPS, see if you can work out which direction they all went...? OR all you have to do is press play button on the following link!

http://www.sportstracklive.com/track/map#Pmtyson/Mountain-Biking/Troutbeck/Rads/118244/start

interesting data, you can see Pauls top speed, the fact that it was 8 degC and 100% humidity (was it raining?). More to follow from an on the spot reporter soon...I've now heard that there were some mechanical issues, chain break, gear hanger, sounds eventfull...

here is the ride report:

The forecast had said it would get damp and wet later during the night, but the Windermere area had had not heard the forecast as the slight drizzle in the air at the start of the ride, became a bit heavier as the ride continued. Nevertheless eight riders arrived to ride – Jamie, Charlie, George, Chris M, Joel, Grant, Neil and Paul who, back from holiday and possibly still suffering from jet lag, had taken special measures to make sure he knew where he was and where he’d been on the ride. (See above link to Sports Track Live; try selecting fast forward when playing.)

We set off riding briefly on the road and then over the new bridge to go through Limefitt Park, then the usual right turn above Limefitt, the climb to the gate and then a left turn, for a change. Paul’s backpack kept talking - telling him how fast or otherwise he was going, it turned out this was his phone sat nav. Since the repairs to this section, going up to the Garburn track, it is possible to ride more of the track or for some to ride all of it, especially Grant who enjoyed the chance to test out his new SRAM 34 tooth block. The fast descent down Dubbs Road, and a right turn took us onto Moor Howe Road; next another right onto Longmire Road, through the gate onto the track that took us just about back to the junction at the gate we’d left about 35 minutes earlier. A sharp left turn, the descent behind The Howe, the steeper descent down to the road was a bit washed out and more challenging than usual.

The track alongside the A592 got us to the gate, and the grassy descent (I think everyone managed most of it without using their brakes, hard to tell in the dark though) down to the gate and the two bridges crossing Trout Beck. Then the short, sharp climb took us onto the road towards Troutbeck, and to Robin Lane. Previously going up Robin Lane was quite a challenge, but recent repairs of a surface of consolidated chippings have made it into just a steady climb. Fortunately the descent, after the left turn at the seat, remains unrepaired and as testing as ever.

A short road bit, and soon we had more fun on the descent of Mirk Lane, after the short tarmac section past Wood Farm things got a bit more difficult on the last off road track going to the A591, very heavy mud in places bringing bikes to a rapid virtual standstill, some got caught in the wrong gear, and required some determined effort to keep moving. The ascent of Wain Lane was damp, but the track seemed to have bedded down lately, Neil had a broken chain, no doubt as a result of an emergency gear change in the earlier mud on Mirk Lane, a joining link courtesy of Chris M soon had the chain repaired.

Troutbeck beckoned and the final splendid off road descent to bring us down to the church. Paul had a major mechanical issue, near the bottom of the descent, just after the tricky little bridge, his gear hanger broke off, but he was able to freewheel just about back down. Note to Grant -If you are going to break off your gear hanger, that’s the time to do it.

Next ride Sedbergh