29th March 2012 - Hawkshead for Grizedale

Joel, Ian, Neil, George, Paul and CT met up at the school on a nice evening for a ride, some discussion about routes but folk just wanted to ride, so we set off up the track to meet the NF, headed down to Moor Top and checked the map to see if we could get to the new black route for a look see. Luckily this involved some nice rocky routes which were dry, albeit the last one before the black the light was fading in the trees, then the lights were on, we thought we would leave the black run to another evening when it would have bedded in and we would have more time. Grisedale on a clear dry night has ace trails, we set off down to the visitor centre and took the rocky route watch out for those gullies and there was some water to be found. At the visitors centre cross over the road and head up the track to the fox, this is fairly rocky and you need some momentum to keep going, until your legs run out! But dry and plenty of grip. At the fox there was some discussion as some folk wanted to do the skills course run down the beck, but CT also wanted to get the extra bridleway through Slack wood, Ian luckily guided us down past Tarn Intake and then go right at the road for 200 yds, take left bridleway and a little testing climb before the descent, down through the wall keep going, great! Re-group and back along the road, getting cooler but still shorts and short sleeves. Just over 10 miles grand, next time we'll come back and include the black run and skills gully route. Next ride is Staveley, Barley Bridge, 6.30 bring lights just in case.

22nd March 2012 - Elterwater for Hodge Close

'twas a fine summer evening .... until it got dark, then it was a starry eve' 6 made it out, Chris M, Ian, Neil, George, Joel and CT. Slight delay to the start when Ian realised his SPD cleat had stuck and he could not get his foot out of the peddle, so we had to get Ian's foot out of shoe and found that one bolt had come out and so the cleat was spinning round, but managed to rip it off, brute force and all that. Luckily Ian has platform peddles so he just took off the cleat and carried on riding, so check your cleats people. Usual route along road and up quarry, nice warm up..Now the little testing section through the woods was testing, but they have cut down some trees, we should try the descent some time..:).
Turn right at Little Langdale past bridge end and up and over to High Tilberthwaite, flapjack at the top (thanks to Kiera, again!) while listening to the sounds of a helicopter. Now enjoy the downhill, left at the farm and along to the play area, right to Hodge Close, then up and over (enjoy the drop off) near high oxen fell and on to the NT descent, joy. Right up the road and along the river track, watch out for frogs. Back at the cars to watch the stars. Next ride is Hawkshead, park in school.

15th March 2012 - Ings

4 of us (Jamie, Joel, Ian and CT) made it out for a ride and a 5th (Neil) met us at the pub for grub:) Up to this time the weather had been good, this evening it started with drizzle. We did a shortish lap of the 3 rivers circuit; but it was damp under foot and the mist was no good for helmet lights, but we mostly kept our feet dry as you could walk over the rivers, very low for time of year. We were caught up by some MTBers, it's strange being caught by a number of lights and not knowing how many riders there are, it turned out to look like UFOs but actually only 2 riders. Slippy in places on the wet grass and the final lane back to Ings was very sh**ty. Anyhow back to the Inn for food as the Burgers were calling us by name. Scoff scoff and discuss the recent events, what no Grant tonight! Next ride Elterwater 22nd March.

Scotland photos

Here are a selection of photos from Scotland weekender;

Team chalet 52

Team vehicles unload at Kirroughtree

Team formation riding at Mabie

Chris M and Jamie burm riding at Mabie skills course

Panorama at Dalbeattie

Neil dropping down the Slab, Dalbeattie

Grant in traditional pose, cooking!

Makeshift repairs

Grant at Dalbeattie

A great weekend, unfortunately on the last section of the last ride at Mabie, Grant took a spill, hit his head and to be on the safe side was taken by air ambulance to hospital.


HeliMed at Mabie taking Grant to Hospital, purely routine they said, Grants brother was heard to say that the safest place to land was...on his head!
He was out of hospital a few days later, just needing a new helmet and a new ward-robe.

9th - 12th March 2012 - Scotland weekend (with added action...)

6 of us ventured up to Dumfrieshire for a 7 Stanes weekend, taking in Mabie, Kirroughtree, Glentrool, Dalbeattie over the 4 days, various folk rode each trail centre. Grant, Jamie, Chris M, Neil, Joel and CT enjoyed a dry weekend around Dalbeattie staying at Barend chalet No.52, Sandyhills. I will post various photos in due course (see next post), but it was a busy weekend, covering over 120km at least for some. Involving the usual coordination of food preparation and consumption, use of the swimming pool and sauna (purely for muscle recuperation you understand, as no time to relax!), we barely had time to read the Sunday ipapers :) Congratulations go to the chefs, especially for the lemon meringue and sticky toffee puds, let alone top chilli and suberb tray bakes, well done the cooks.

The weekend was fairly normal, biking, eating, sleeping, more eating, biking......until the last day, on Monday we pack up and travel home, on the way taking in Mabie for a final ride on route out of Scotland. All normal until Grant took a tumble on the Elevator section on the side of Marthrown Hill, unfortunately he knocked himself out and we had to do a bit of 1st aid, call 999; as he banged his head they also sent the 'HeliMed', Scotland's NHS air ambulance. So just to be on the safe side they took Grant to Glasgow hospital for observation. A few nights in hospital eating hospital food should see him right, although I am not so sure they will serve porridge with whipped cream and sticky toffee sauce!
So the trauma 1st aid traing we did last Thursday night came in very handy!

Next ride is Ings 15th (slight change swapped with Elterwater 22nd) for a gentle ride to ease up back after Scotland and back to pub for grub.

1st March 2012 - Haverthwaite

Paul, Grant, Chris M, Jamie and CT met up near the Anglers Arms for pretty much the usual route, so it was a tad muddy over the first fell hill and it seems to stick like clay! Cross over the road and along Grubbins Wood to start the fire road climb up the hill, around Simpson reservoir there were many frogs playing 'chicken' in front of our bike lights! Once back heading down the hill managed a little attack position on the descent, but the wet grass was slippy and quick. Back to the road, along the lake and back via New Close Wood. It worked out at 15 miles over 3 hours and sticky mud which needed two washes to make a difference. No ride next Thursdays as it's the 'Basic life support training for cyclists' - Thursday evening 8th March at Windermere. The week after it's Elterwater.*** Update*** change to Ings for 15th March.