21st February – Ings 3 x 3 rivers.

OK it was cold, but it was a fine night with frozen puddles, and the plan was a short ride from Ings to cross 3 rivers. Grant, George and Neil turned up so 3 set off up the road to Grassgarth for 3 rivers, the ground was frozen and hard so the main uncertainty was how deep the puddles were across Mickle Moss when the ice was broken. It was not really the best of nights to hang around chatting at gates, so it was a brisk crossing of the 3 rivers, and down towards Ullthwaite Bridge and through Browfoot and the last climb up the road. The final challenge was the last decent after Hugill Hall, and the rocky section before joining the road back to Ings, and as Grant said that left him with some unfinished business – but that would be seen to by Grant and Neil early on Saturday morning.

Next ride is Elterwater.

14th February 2013 - Sedbergh or not?

So Sedbergh was the scheduled ride but due to various forces some folk had other plans... now it was February 14th what could it be...but it is a Thursday night ride so the show must go on, after all we may get to see belly dancing, who, what, why...more news later ;) Charlie nabbed some cake from work (enough for 6!) and sped off to the rendezvous spot, but it was particularly quiet (she had unfortunately missed the text update from CT), following a game of text tennis we re-grouped south of the county and cycled out of Milnthorpe for a tour of South Lakes beauty spots. Down the lanes to Holme and onto a towing path ;) this was a tad slippery on wet grass with a camber either to the water of the canal or the other side is a steep embankment with big drop, so don't slide off! tee off near Cinderbarrow and down A6 then left onto a bridleway down to the M6 and use the underpass then along to Tewitfield, around various lanes and muddy tracks until pine lake, the mud was sticky as ..#! and once back on the tarmac CT had a puncture, it's a pain changing a tube covered in mud! Next head across A6 and into Warton by bridleway (option of a Warton hose-down mid-ride, but no (leave jim in peace) so we carried on, the extra mud weight means more training!) Now up the coach road and onto the bridleway over Warton Crag, the first part of the hill is steep and you need to keep momentum, once you stop you are walking...over the top and enjoy the descent, down the bottom and head towards Silverdale (coffee at Grants perhaps...?) time ticking by 9pm+ at this point, keep going, Waterslack, Hazelslack, Storth, Sandside where we found a new lane for Charlie and back to Milnthorpe. Passing by an old stone house with scaffold outside and Charlie wondered what was going on, it was Joels house and the lights were on so she tapped on the window to find a surprised JP (hard working student!) and he came out for a chat, explaining about his recent hospital operation and that he had 3 scars, hence the belly dance show!!!!! Back to the cars, nearly 20 miles so I ate half the cake! We hosed down the bikes and called it a night, "happy valentines everyone". Next ride is Ings

7th February 2013 - Winster

Warning sign on gate (after we had come through field!)

After ride food, choco cake with cream from Merry Berry recipe!

6 folk turned out on this cold winters eve; George, Neil (after his day training ride!), Grant, Jamie, Charlie and CT, fairly normal route clockwise, down the hill right over ford (bridge) UP hill *to warm up* then along a bit and down off-road, through some mud, up track, through puddles, across lane, up track, down to road, cue change of brake pads! snack, down more road (to bed in brakes pads) up slippery slope watch that ice and just keep riding steady and enjoy those new tyres....anyone? down slippery slope over road onto mud track slow down! back to cars, chat. Various discussions on driving safety on unlit country roads, holiday travel and pitfalls of! where to ride on a Saturday in the Lakes. Next week it is February 14th and apparently some folk have prior engagements (if their other half's are reading this, no they don't:)) Next Thursday ride is Sedbergh if you are free.

31st January 2013 - Hawkshead

Jamie, Neil, Grant and CT met up in the school car park, there were a few cars arriving as they had a school meeting but plenty of space for all, when speaking with the head teacher she could not quite fathom why we were there at night, until I explained about night riding:).So which direction? Off up the hill onto the NF route and down towards the visitor centre, then we thought about up to the Fox but the track was closed for drainage works so we headed off down to Boggle for the fire road route into the forest, here the route becomes interesting...Jamie was not feeling his best, apparently he had not had his usual porridge! where as Grant had had sushi, very healthy until you factor in the addition of a sub! CT had had bacon and egg bun, carbo! Anyway we worked our way back to Hawkshead via fire roads until we came out at the Fox then did the 'Fox' descent and met a few other bikers sessioning the same route but now heading back up! Then back to the cars via the road. No pub, next ride Winster park by church.