21st June 2012 - Mid-summer ride from Ribblehead

Top O' Craven Wold (500m)

River Dee was very fast flowing

 4 turned up on this mid-summer day, Joel, Grant, Matt and CT, so we had 2 hardtails, a 29er and a 69er. The weather looked promising, i.e. not actually raining at the start, so we thought we would set out on the usual route under the viaduct and up the bridleway and over into Dentdale to see what that would bring. Matt could not remember coming this way before and Joel had not been on this route but had nightmares about the Horton ride a few summers ago, best not mention steep tarmac climbs then :) So head west under Ribblehead viaduct, try to avoid using the newly surfaced footpath as this looks very tempting...head north along the railway along Little Dale nice riverbed crossing over rocks along here (should be able to float over these with a 29er!), turn left over an aqueduct and head north up Slack Head, nice little testing climb, now the rain starts nearly time for Goretex. Up a little way and there is a sign to 'Dent Head' made some of us think about Grant :), best not as the Dr's were on strike today :( So next pause along the way is Seavey Bottom for a re-group, not sure if this is the muddy puddle with Matt's name on, even with 29er wheel he went wheel in and head over bars! Try and enjoy the run along the tops, great views if you've not been this way before...and down the Craven Way to Dentdale, just watch out for the last turn as the braking surface is tricky, eh Joel just burn those brakes. Now turn right and head east along the lanes and check out the amount of water flowing in the river Dee, at one point there was a waterfall a good 6' deep, (see photo) very impressive as usually you can just see limestone and a trickle of water. Due to weather conditions and still being a few miles to get back we head back on the lanes and were back at the cars just before 10pm, maybe save the other offroad for a better evening. Get out of wet clothes, dream of chips and a bath and off home. Next ride is Walna Scar, meet at Hummer lane pull in by the forest entrance. Actualy it changed due to storms making roads flooded, so we went to Staveley and did Garburn.

14th June 2012 - Hawkshead for Grizedale

George, Grant, Jamie, John, Joel and CT met up at the school on this mild but windy evening, forecast for rain 9pm. Jamie was testing his hardtail with a new middle ring, but an old chain and cassette...so off up the bridleway into the forest, this showed us that old cassettes don't always work, anyway Jamie had 5-6th gears and 3 chain rings so should be OK...Onto the north face, down the first section after Moor Top, then tee off left at the bridge, enjoy the singletrack even if there were some v. steep climbs back up, it's a great section of trail. Back along the NF to the visitors centre, up the fire road but ignore the NF trail and keep going to the bottom of the black run, take the left bridleway just before the end of the black and climb, right at the top and along to find the start of the black. Here we put saddles down and took a deep breath, watch out for the first rock steps and jumps, then there is a very sharp turn and v.steep descent, once over this you can roll down with care, no disasters to speak of, re-group at the bottom. Now down the gully route to the centre over the road and up to the Fox, slight pause as Georges rear mech was re-aligned, then enjoy the steady climb up to the fire road and onto the Fox. Here some slight drizzle, all OK for the descent down the eastern trail, hit the lane (newly tarmac'd, loose gravel and smelly) and turn right, climb up to the top, eat some food along the way. 
At the top we re-grouped and did the gravity race thing, Grant took the left route and so started on the clean older tarmac, John ended up on the right (watching out for coming traffic!), 1..2..3..GO! we were off, it's a slow start, Grant ahead, followed by Jamie and CT, Jamie kept the lead, although how John overtook CT I've no idea. Watch out for the bridleway on the left hand side, head over the field and enjoy the singletrack, keep eating, another Gel. This leads to a great downhill, just watch the gap through the wall. As we re-grouped at the bottom lane another group of MTBers caught us up, probably 10 riders, so we pretty much rode back to Hawkshead together, especially as one of their's had ripped a rear mech off and so was being pushed back. A great ride and it didn't rain. Next ride mid-summer from Riddlehead. 

7th June 2012 - Milnthorpe for Farleton

4 met up at Milnthorpe, Charlie, George, Grant and CT, George even cycled over in the rain, yes it was raining, not too hard but enough to need waterproofs. This was a gentle ride, pre San Houghton (even through we were not doing it!). So we cycled out via Holme and get onto Farleton via the farm to the west side, Holme Park Farm and rode up the bridleway onto Holme Park Fell. there is a nice testing climb to start them gentle along by the quarry, now for a circuit round the limestone and back, with Charlie managing to keep her ribs intact! but she did not want to risk the downhill off-road and so de-toured down the lane and met us back on the flat section. Not long after George headed off home and the 3 of us had a curry back in Milnthorpe to round off an easy ride. Next ride is Grizedale from Hawkshead.

4th June 2012 - Bank Holiday Monday - High Street ride

It was a Sunny Bank Holiday Monday in the Lakes and the High Street route (Roman Road) was calling. So fuelled by porridge and toast, Charlie and CT drove to Askham to do an anti-clockwise route, including Ullswater shore, Kirkstone pass, then hit the High St. and head north to finish back at Askham. Doing Ullswater shore early meant fewer walkers on the rocky sections and also a tail wind over Kirkstone. Jamie decided it was too good to miss and turned up just in time. Askham swimming pool not yet open we set off about 8.40am heading west to the cockpit then onto Martindale via Howtown, this is a great bit of singletrack and we passed a jogger once, then she overttok us at a gate, until we re-took her later, she was also out enjoying the early morning peace. This links through via a little road to Sandwick and joins the bridleway along Ullswater. Now for some technical sections, watch out for rocks and sheep, Charlie managed to miss the sheep but fell, bashed her ribs and blooded her knee. Still breathing so all is OK, if a little sore taking a breath, should be fine to carry on after all a full susser should iron out the bumps!

Whilst stopped for 1st aid; eat banana and start on bacon butty. Continue along the shore, we pass a couple of bikers who have full touring panniers, not sure they will ride much of the rocky stuff. Continue to side farm cafe for a cuppa of tea, unfortunately there were no ice packs for Charlie’s ribs so she had to make do with cake.

Now onto the road for a few miles up Kirkstone pass, over the top and we stopped for a rest and more food, bacon butty made with hot bacon, tomato and salad hits the spot on this ride. This gave time for some rear mech’ repair to Charlie’s bike to make sure she can get round the whole route, don’t want any excuses bruised ribs or mechanicals! Blast down the other side and manage 42 mph, tee off left at Town Head to Ing Lane, JB had his one and only puncture here (getting better!), cross Ing bridge and to join the bridleway heading north up Hagg Gill and the start of the climb up High Street, once you get towards Park Fell the route is a bit of a walk (about 1 mile), but take it steady on this sunny day and it’s steep but manageable. Half way up second butty and pork pie, get to the top and ride a little, walk, ride some more, over top of High Street some great views of Hayeswater (see photos) then down to Riggindale and tee right for High Raise now stop for remainder of butty.

Now it’s just a matter of heading north to Loadpot Hill and take the right tracks, there are some great fast descents just watch out for rabbit holes and worse. Back to Askham for an ice cream to cool off at about 4.20pm, 37 miles, loads of calories burnt, max altitude about 2,700 ft (also the height of the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai), total height gain 5,900 ft. An excellent day out especially for a BH Monday, home to enjoy the Queens Diamond Jubilee concert on TV.

Hayeswater

Ullswater

High Street from the south, near Troutbeck

View from Park Fell looking back to the High Street route stretching to Windermere, nice top!

Fixing stuff on Kirkstone pass overlooking Windermere

Riding up High Street!

31st May 2012 - Elterwater

New Alien species...?

Puncture no.3

 Little Langdale

How to ride a 29er...that's toooooo large!

6 turned up on the common (shown as Walthwaite Bottom), Joel, Charlie, John, Neil, Jamie and CT for a warm evening after some rain earlier in the day. We headed west with an idea to head for Tarn Hows, just an idea mind, Neil was with us and last time we ended up in Grizedale! This time we headed NW past Chapel Stile and took a bridleway west then south past Oak Howe and past the Gt. Landale campsite, not too bad but not a rocky as last time. Back to little landale and round past fell foot bridge, keeping low and back to the ford, on the last section Jamie had his 1st puncture and we also waited for Joel, who also had a puncture, but his tyre had split at the casing rim juncture, much harder to fix, luckily a biking friend only lives up the road, so Charlie headed off in search of a spare tyre. We had a go at a repair using an old toothpaste tube, but the split was about 2 inches and so it was proving tricky, fortunately Sir Charlie the gallant returned with a spare tyre and we could fit that, cheers to Brian:) We now headed round Hodge Close and to High Tilberthwaite (not going to tarn hows tonight). Up and over and back to the ford, groundhog day, another puncture, well a rim malfunction = sealant leak due to high corner speeds, well it was Jamie! so another inner tube. Now up to the plantation for the run through the trees and guess what puncture no.4, guess who....Jamie, now run out of 29er tubes so had to squeeze on a 26 tube and yes it does work, just make sure the tyre rim is seated correctly before adding lots of air pressure. At the last pit stop Joel found a small lizard, no idea what type, but at least there is wildelife in the woods. All back at the cars for nearly 10pm, no pub back home as the midges were coming out for supper. Next ride from Milnthorpe, Farleton if not too wet.