26th July 2012 - Ribblehead (take 2)

So it's still summer albeit one month on from mid-summer, so let's see if we can do more of the Ribblehead ride; 4 turned up initially (i.e. on time!) Charlie, George, Jamie and CT and set off north west under the viaduct and then turn north for the Blue Clay Ridge bridleway running along the railway tracks, take a left over the viaduct and start up Craven Wold climb. Half way up here a 5th rider joined us, Grant, keep heading to Dentdale and enjoy the descent, try to keep some brake pads for later ;) Once in Dentdale head east along the river Dee, go past Cowgill and head up the Arten Gill bridleway, another first gear climb to start and then it eases off to second gear; try not to get sheep's wool snagged around your jockey wheel as this does not help the gear changes! Remembering that it is a warm and humid evening so the climb at over a mile means some sweat is produced which attracts midges, glad there was some breeze at the top. There is currently some work to make a new track to link onto Swineley Cowm, work still in progress and very claggy mud in places hence very muddy bikes and lots of grinding noises. The reward is to hammer down  to Newby Head gate and it's an excellent descent, just remember the last corner before the gate!Unfortunately not enough light to fully enjoy the last section off Cam High road (relief for some) and so we head back via Black Rake road bridleway and the last bit by road, where it was much darker, Jamie was first down the road with charlie chasing, George followed, CT adjusted his seat post and chased down George whilst Grant came back from the rear and we all raced back into the head wind, god knows how Cav' gets his power for any sprint finish! Good ride, must remember midge repellent next time, next ride Yewbarrow / Witherslack from Milnthorpe.

19th July 2012 - Walna Scar

5 riders met up near Broughton forest off hummer lane, Joel, Neil, Jamie, George and CT; with a bit of a dark cloud over the tops we set off. The usual route down into the forest, which was a little overgrown hence some bramble attacks resulted in leg scratches, plus tree roots and mud made for a testing first section, then up and over a small wooded section and finally onto the forest track for the climb up, up, up, steady away is the only way. Through gate and over bridge over stream, no good if over 700mm wide handlebars;( at the plateau we tried the left hand side, still some bog but some ride-able sections, pause at the old ruined stone huts and watch a sheep scrambling over the slate piles with a vulture circling above, (OK some sort of hawk). A quick jelly-baby and onward up into the mist, you forget but there is a short sharp section just to get to the gravel bit of the Walna Scar road, then once on the main track just select first gear and climb for the next 12 minutes or so, at least that was the plan, there is a extra steep section about 2/3rds up and also the top corner is tricky, i.e. I didn't clean it, this time. Re-group at the top, no scenic views this time just cold fog, so waterproofs on and head downhill. Although the descent has been 'worked on' it is still a good one and testing as the speed comes fast and there are no berms to ride, enjoy:) re-group at the bridge and then at the pond, take a later bridleway to the road, slippy in places due to the damp but interesting. A quick road ride back to the cars.
No pics as my phone camera failed to save them again, so here is one from the weekend..  :)
Next ride maybe a re-run of Ribblehead. (photos courtesy of Steep hill. tv)

Great Britain at Le Tour de France, come on....!

 

12th July 2012 - Troutbeck

View up High St. valley from Garburn

Start up Garburn

View from Robins Lane Seat

5 riders met up at the layby parking next to the river near the church, Ian, Paul, John, Jamie and CT. Fairly usual circuit up past Limefit, down the alley and do the loop which is part of the Sam, to end up above Limefit, then start up Garburn, these sections had not been effected by the recent rains, so the previous reinstatement works had done the trick, albeit sanitised the trails a bit, take the right turn down Dubbs, after JB and CT had checked out some lines in the woods :) Down Dubbs, 2 punctures so John must have been enjoying the descent, right on the road and back to get to Garburn for the last descent to the road, next puncture to JB, front tyre on hardtail :( Usual route along lane, down field, past MiL house, up Robin lane, admire view, down track, along road, down Mirk and up Wain lanes. Seemingly Charlie is not keeping up the hedge trimming up while doing her lunchtime runs as the overgrowth is overtaking...! Now final climb back up to Robin lane and descend back to cars, no pub, no meal, so Ian went off in a huff :) (actually went home early due to mechanicals. Cheers to Paul for the pics, my phone camera did not actually save any of my pictures, Arrh! Next ride maybe Walna Scar.

5th July 2012 - Bowness for Ferry ride

7 of us started out from Neils place somewhere in uptown Bowness or is it downtown Windermere...no one ever knows, we eventually all met up at the ferry, it was a little damp, but it had been a good day without the downpours of a week earlier. We had the ferry crossing all to ourselves (this takes a lot of planning, but it helped that it was in the summer!) and then straight up the road climb then first right in Sawrey for the up and over to the singletrack down to the lake shore, this was a tad slippy in the damp conditions, it seems that wet weather after a dry spell equals slippiness? So take care downhill, re-group at the bottom full of smiles. Left along the shore route, where they are doing 'works' as so mud was a-plenty, we heard engines behind us and stopped to allow what we thought were some motorbikes, but turned out to be a Honda 90 bouncing his way home, looked like a pizza delivery bike! Onward to the base camp and up, but not the fire road, take the left hand bridleway as this is a test, in the wet, and it turns through the forest and joins up with the alternative route and brings us back onto the fire road at the bottom of the guide post extra loop. Now for the testing climb up into the forest, always worth a go :( anyway get to the top for a break. What happened next in the works of Neil " As I managed to 'clean' ride up through the little track through the trees to the top of Claife I was feeling pleased with my efforts –then as I came out of the trees, and the icing on the cake, a super surprise greeted me - Chris stood holding a birthday cake (with icing) and complete with candles, which seemed a bit surreal." (see photo to prove it).

Powered by Cake and candles !

Ferry all our own:)

How many bikers does it take to fix a bike.....?

The ferry gang

So now powered by cake we set off back to Sawrey, at the village it was about 9.15pm, still time for another circuit for the single track down to the shore, Ian was not keen and headed off down the road to the ferry, the rest kept going. Still damp and dark sky's threatening and thunder sounds kept us on our toes, but it only started to rain once we got to the bottom shore. Some folk donned water proofs, but we had 10 mins to get the next ferry so promptly set off along the shore, this section is deceptive as you think it's only a few hundred metres but it took 5-6 mins to make the ferry, Ian was not around and so must have made the earlier ferry. Again we had the ferry all to ourselves (I love it when a plan comes together!) The ferry chap stayed in his wheelhouse, nice finishing touch to the ride; off the ferry and now just the small matter of navigating back to Neils; Neils stayed back to make sure Paul found his way back, a small breakaway formed at the front...but we made it. Just a little rain but very mild. Sue, (Neils wife) came out and invited us in as she had made some nosh, something to do with someones Birthday, so we sorted the bikes into cars and changed for supper. Neil and Paul made it back, Neil mentioned putting the kettle on, it was a bit of a shock to find the table full of a spread, chilli, rice, baked 'tatoes...and more...and so a few of us ended the evening very well, Oh and there was some cake too, top marks to Sue!! Next ride Troutbeck, park near church/river layby, anyone got a birthday coming up...?

28th June 2012 - Staveley for Garburn

Top o' Garburn, blue sky appearing

Riders make high point

Blue sky evening

Getting ready for the downhill

Watch the washed out rocks..!

Look what water can do = testing technical descent!

What happened was the weather, well a few folk were away or not going to make Coniston and along with the thunder and lightning and flooded roads, it was going to be hard going. As it happened the A6 was flooded around Milnthorpe and the dual carriageway into Kendal was flooded across all lanes of the road (and was still flooded at 10.30pm), so I think keeping a local ride made sense and we'll re-arrange Walna Scar for another day.
So Jamie, Neil, John, Joel, George and CT met up at Barley Bridge to see a very high river; which route tonight, perhaps keep to the rocky side so lets do Garburn, up the tarmac climb past 3 rivers and down to Kentmere was the plan. The only down side was that along the top, where the track has been repaired it was flooded, so we had to work a way round and the top river crossing was tricky with large boulders! A fairly wet descent down to Kentmere then the climb up Garburn but at least a blue sky was making an appearance, steady away walk a bit, ride a bit, keep going up, eat at the rest stop near the top just where the wind was getting up. Over the top and watch the descent as the water will have and did cut up some of the trail, which made the riding a bit more technical! Down to Dubbs, one puncture to a hardtail (29er guess who) ride light we say, Oh and did we mention 4 hardtails v's 2 full sus' what is going on...:) Back via Borrans lane and back into Staveley, where plenty of water means mudguards make sense, bit you still get a wet face;( after 10pm still some light, good ride. Next ride: plan to park Bowness side and take the ferry to the other side for more riding.