26th & 27th March 2011 - Scotland weekend tour

This is now becoming an annual tour of some of the 7 Stanes around Dalbeattie, 7 of us made it up for a stay in the chalets of Sandyhills at Barend holiday village. The route maps will be listed thanks to Neils HTC data logging, Paul had his as back up and Charlie had her Garmin just to make sure us boys did not go astray. We had no major incidents, but there was a lost wallet (albeit for 5-10 anxious minutes), a broken bike frame (hopefully Grant is getting his beloved Boardman rear triangle replaced under warranty), holes in sidewall of tyres (meaning a quick trip to Halfords for two new tyres) and frozen bacon (so we had it cooked up on the Monday morning and ate it cold later that day).
We did Drumlanrigg on Friday, whilst the area was covered in children doing orienteering, we did about 3 hours in the sun (no cafe or bike shop open until Easter) dry trails very good warm up to the weekend. Evening meal of chilli, v.good. Saturday we set off for Kirroughtree, where there was a British Heart Foundation charity event, we did the red and black runs just over 20 miles, hard but excellent singletrack, very flowing, dry and not busy for a sunny weekend. Evening curries were consumed, hardly any room for cheesecake! Sunday we can ride from base camp into Dalebattie forest trail, another sunny day, Neil managed the Terrible Twins and also the qualifier and The Slab, whilst we also met up with Max and Emily where Max was checking out different lines over some rocks, we just watched, it's amazing what you can do with a little suspension! Later in the afternoon 4 of us nipped over to Mabie to check out the route changes, short and sweet was the answer, although Charlie checked out a BO route and took a tumble over a very mean rock and we found her back at the van getting all tubigripped up, then later icing up the leg, elevation and compression seemed to help. Sunday evening and the traditional cooked breakfast mealk along with left over chilli, curry and anything else, but alas the sasuages and bacon were still frozen, we had enough anyway, so fry up in the morning! Monday clear the chalet and head out to Mabie, more sunshine and a great ride, but no cafe open, so home to recover. Grant bike frame made it through the whole weekend, Charlie leg also survived and we ate loads. Photos to follow.

17th March 2011 - Elterwater for Hodge Close

9 riders turned up, although there was traffic disruption/delays due to the Mad March period of road works and road closures! Anyway Charlie, Chris M, George, Neil, Ian, Jamie, Grant, Joel and CT met up at the temporary car park in the village (while some engineering works has closed the NT car park). To see the route check out http://www.sportstracklive.com/track/map#NeilH/Mountain-Biking/Elterwater/134156/full we set out around 7pm and did nearly 10 miles in 2 hours 10 mins. We took the route over to High Tilberthwaite, it is a good testing climb with boulder rock challenges and a rocky descent to enjoy. Then a little play at the playground and on to Hodge Close and up and over to the NT plantation downhill! The weather held off and actually gave us a very bright moon which added to the visibility. Back at the cars, no pub stop (pity) and some discussion on a route back as the evening road closures meant not easy route back via Ambleside, so it was a de-tour via Hawkshead! No scheduled ride this week the next ride is on 31st March from Hawkshead.

10th March 2011 - Staveley

6 met up at Barley Bridge, George, Paul, Chris M, Grant, Jamie and CT (Charlie was stocking up on Swiss chocolate and Neil was cleaning his keyboard, code for something?!) Any route around Kentmere valley was required and CT was doing an important consumer test on a 29er HT. So up road, right over bridge and tee off up the lane to the short bridleway up the field onto the top lane, work up to Staveley head cross, left and head towards Long Houses for the descent. Down to the road, right to Kendtmere, left before church and up to 3 rivers, only we did 2! Everything was going swimmingly, first river OK and then the downhill section with some narrow ruts, here Grant took a tumble, this is getting habit forming, back on bike gingerly down the hill, through second river and down last section of hammer time, Grant takes left route around the rocks, 29er rolls over smoothly, if only it was the right size! Back along the lanes no hassles. Paul had his tracker talking from his backpack so we'll see if we get a route chart. No pub stop, next ride Elterwater. Thanks to JB for bike preparation 29ers roll!

3rd March 2011 - Sedbergh for Dent

6 turned out, George, Jamie, Neil, Grant, Charlie and CT. The usual route made easier to refer to by following the following: http://www.sportstracklive.com/track/map#NeilH/Mountain-Biking/123194/full
Observations: we rode up 3421 ft and down 3464 ft but started at the same place???
Also we burnt 943 calories = chips, but there were non so crisps in the pub were scoffed, before the pub quiz came on and we left.
I also like the info page with the chart, it looks a nice steady climb and straight off the cliff type descent? well I'm sure it felt like that to Grant who took a tumble down the boulder field, there were some big ravines to fall down and did you spot the holly bush half way down ready to get you, we did so George, CT and JB all dabbed just to make sure of a safe route past. Very good ride, no pub stop but at 4DegC we just kept going to keep warm. Next ride is Staveley, park near Barley Bridge.