27th October 2011 - Barbon

The odd shower may have put off some...? but George, Charlie, Jamie, Grant and CT met up in Barbon for the usual route up hill and down dale. So what is the usual RADs start to a ride...yes up hill start just to test the gears, never mind the legs, over the cattle grid, right down the lane and look for the bridleway on the left. Once found select a suitable gear...1st! and attempt the first climb, it was a little damp so very tricky and no clean runs. After the level bridleway up the lane, for a re-group and chat, George took off his rain jacket....so the rain started! take the left bridleway for about 1km uphill, steady away you'll get a rest at the gate and don't forget to switch the lock off the forks, at least I remembered 50 ft from the gate! Next section felt like riding a flat tyre in treacle, then it burned foggy, great for head lamps! Over the downhill section in the fog, I followed George and Charlie and hardly knew which section I was on until the gate. Down the lane to the downhill, damp rocky, watch out for the trenches and try to keep your feet on the peddles, when I shouted to Grant, he said he couldn't talk as he was concentrating. After the right and left 'S' bend, keep on trying, albeit I jumped off at one point (safest option before being thrown off). Re-group at the lane, over the bridge, down through the tree run and out onto Barbon hill climb. Here 3 of us lined up for a gravity race, Grant, Jamie and CT lined up while George and Charlie counted down 3..2..1..GO...!, JB got a jump start so CT had to draught behind his wheel get some speed and overtake, then JB saw a rabbit and slowed down! CT didn't see it with his lights and was back in the lead heading for the corner, but now needed to let JB back to see with his LED light! JB overtook and made the corner whilst CT overshot and ran on the grass, hearing Grant chuckling in the background! All back safely, but no time for the pub. Next ride is Far Sawry, park near the pub and we'll watch out for pre-fireworks.

20th October 2011 - Troutbeck

4 of us gathered in the Troutbeck lay-by, Neil, Grant, Chris M and CT, Grant turned up in a garage Corsa due to being hit by a white van in Blackpool earlier in the week, so don't buy a used Toyota off Grant! Fairly usual route, up lanes along to Garburn, down to road left along road side narrow track, pull thorn out of tyre hearing a hiss of air and hoping the tubeless gunk will work! continue along to the field descent, watch out sheep, over river, up the testing singletrack and pause on road, while CT put some air in tyre. Had a chat with a couple of neighbours and were offered drinks, declined all except Chris M who downed a swift pint (something to do with forgetting his bladder!). Continue route and this time we went down Mirk and up Wain, the downhill was a blast and the climb back up was steady but doable. Up the testing link onto Robin Lane, well done to Chris M and down via the church. Fairly quick and steady ride. Next ride is Barbon.

13th October 2011 - Elterwater - Tilberthwaite

Last week 4 now 3, Jamie, Ian and CT met up on the common and headed over to Dale end via the quarry, then the lane to Bridge end and the climb up and over to High Tilberthwaite, as usual good tests between the gates. There was a slight breeze but it was a very calm night and you got warmed up throughout the ride. Onward to Hodge Close, up the slate porcelain path, where JB did a spot of pruning to clear the path and we watched a tiny brown frog hop around the leaves trying to keep camouflaged. The we headed up to the NT plantation for the quick descent then along the road to pick up the river side track to end the ride. Next ride is Troutbeck, park in layby near church by beck. PS: Picture quiz can you guess what it is yet...?

6th October 2011 - Winster

4 met up for a blustery ride, I'm sure Winnie-the-Pooh would have enjoyed it; is was not too wet in the end it was just showers. Charlie, George, Ian and CT were the all weather folk, Ian and George had long winter trousers, Charlie and CT 3/4 but at least shorts, just needed to remember long gloves, buffs, winter boots, wool socks (just ask Charlie she remembered at least one of these..!) Usual route off down the lane, over the ford, up hill, down to tarn, no deviation tonight straight to the road, here we went straight over and then down the lane before Charlie produced Blondie cake, V.good. As Ian ended up with only one light he headed back to the cars and we carried on to take the bridleway above Crag Lane called Bow Mabble Breast, this one now has a mini-tarn on the right hand side as you get near the top of the hill, with plenty of ducks splashing away! The grassy descent was slippy, but OK and the lane steep and long or so it seemed, these dark nights reminding us of winter...! Up to the lane blast along the top track after some positioning amongst ourselves for who would get to the puddles first and test the depth, George won. Hammer down the track and back along the road, back by 8.30pm, the moon was out but where was everyone else...? Next ride is Elterwater, park on the common.

29th September 2011 - Selside for Borrowdale

7 made it to the A6 rendezvous point, some confusion to the exact spot but we all made it in the end, Charlie, George, Grant, Chris M, Joel, Jamie and CT. There was a little discussion on exact route but in the end it was the anti-clockwise route, incorporating the tarmac climb to the Whinfell mast and back through Borrowdale valley. We started by dropping down the bridleway opposite Forest Hall, with George doing a great navigation job to get us across the beck and onto the lane, now a nice warm up ride before the mast ascent! We managed to get up the climb without lights; a break-away group went out in front with a little in-fighting, Granto trying to foul CT at a cattle grid, but 5 stayed away until the top. At the top it was decidedly gloomy and time for food, but where was JP, as he did not have his lights on we could not see that he had fallen behind, but he did emerge from the darkness, just a little shocked by the 10+ minute first gear climb! After a re-group now it was time for lights, the bridleway off the fell was fairly wet and muddy in places, ride lightly to keep those wheels turning, all made it down, turn left onto the track and along the valley bottom, approaching Low Borrowdale and Chris M had a slow puncture, which turned into a slow tyre change, was it a thorn or a pinch, Murphy's law says you'll only find out AFTER you have put your spare tube back in!! At the farmhouse there were a few folk having a party, we continued on past High Borrowdale and while stopped at a gate, we all turned our lights off to revel in the darkness, in this valley there are no visible artificial lights, the stars were clear along with the aircraft, this is a wonderful spot on a barmy summer-esk evening. Back on bikes riding through puddles, last hill to the road, take first left and blast down the track, only to find a group of ponies trying to get to the gate at the same time as us, probably thought we were UFOs, navigate though the wild-life, right onto the track, up the lane fighting off the night fire-fly trying to eat us and cross over to another bridleway below jungle cafe caravan place and ride back to the cars. Overall a warm mud splattered evening ride. Next ride is Winster, park near the church.