8th November 2012 - Staveley for Garburn

4 turned out for the start, George, Jamie, Joel and CT; Joel showing us his updated near wheel improvements to stop his sliding drop-outs from ...sliding! All down to Jim's extra bolts (subsidiary company to Jim's boat design, Jim's workshop, Jim's cafe...available at a store near you!), what could possibly go wrong...so it was a nice night with a few stars out, approx 8-9 deg C at the cars. So head up Browfoot lane to go over Mickle Moss and one river to Kentmere then on and over Garburn, after the tarmac climb JP had some problem which turned out to be a broken rear derailleur pulley plates guide section, so we started to look at bodging up a repair, whilst looking at this we found a twisted link in the chain, so pliers out and straighten this first (notice when I say 'we' I mean JB ;)) now with chain straight Joel gives it another go and makes it a few hundred meters before throwing in the towel so to speak, so now we are down to 3, what is it with RADs these days folks 'n bikes not making the whole ride or was it 'cause JP did not fancy Garburn? 
Anyhow we continued on, down Kentmere where we passed 3 other mtbers (maybe they started as a four?) and then onto Garburn with a little walking. There was some wind in places but it did not seem cold, some water on the ground but generally a great night to be out, the first section of bridleway out of Kentmere heading up Crabtree Brow was actually rideable even with a 4x4 taking most of the track up! So upwards steady away, stop at the top gate and again no real wind (around 5 deg C but felt fine) so time for Jamie's real flapjack muesli bar thingie with treacle, very good grub, top marks! 
Over the top and now for the descent just WATCH OUT for the gullies formed by the rain, as sometimes with the bike lights these appear as shadows and you may think they are just pools of dark water where as in some case they are ravines, but on the plus side these changing environments make for interesting riding to hone your skills;). So back down Dubbs blast and the back via High Borrans and 3 rivers just to try and get some mud off, back to cars for 10pm, so 3 off hours out very good ride, so good Jamie's head light had decided to 'rest' but then he had ridden out from Kendal. Next ride is from Rydal, park at Pelter Bridge car park