25th October 2012 - Ribblehead for Newby Head and Cam High Road

Well 5 turned up at Ribblehead junction just as the weather/wind chill turned cold... the starry sky may have been a clue! George, Charlie, Grant, Jamie and CT set off with lots of wind proof layers with a view perhaps that a top layer may come off once warmed up, but the head wind saw that this did not happen and shorts (or short finger gloves!) were pretty cold. Head north along the road for a few km warm up, or at least try and chain gang together and make progress into the head wind, then tee off left onto part of the dale way and Black Rake Road (which is a track) battle with the wind and tussocks up to the road, turn right down to Newby Head Gate and over the main road to head up the Ribble way onto the Cam High Road, now it was sleet/rain/mist, my bloody glasses were useless visibility was suffering. Now it is steady climb up, just watch the off rocky bit and the wind factor, at one point Charlie followed the 29er gang and I followed Charlie and then caught her as she fell off due to wind rock interference! Eventually re-group at the top gate and stop for one of Charlie excellent ginger cookies, well done! Now zip up all the clothes and start the descent, which is about 3 miles in total and mostly downhill, just watch out for gullies and cobbles which are interesting at any speed. Charlie also had to deal with a dying rear mech which had lost it's spring, as she really had to keep peddling to keep tension. Gayle beck at the bottom was dry and so we could ride through, then onto the road for a little wind assisted ride back to the cars. It was an introduction to winter but a great ride, Grant even wanted to do it again....another day, I think last time we did it was at the end of a long summer ride and this short route kept you fresh. No pub but home for a warm up. Next ride Troutbeck, park in lay-by near church.