25th April 2013 - Sedbergh to Dent

Jamie, Neil, George, Grant and CT made it out on this sunny evening, but it had been wet earlier and a little breezy, so what to wear...start up and over Millthrop, down and over ford, or at least the bridge, built in 1999, some folk remember the days before the bridge when we used to try to ride through the ford, it seems very deep this time, so bridge it was. Now steady along the road for a ways, until we stopped to put more air into JBs rear tubeless set-up (not much gunk, so air spilling out;) whilst stopped a farmer stopped by on his quad after attending to his sheep and chatted about head lamps and how some riders were less considerate with night riding and blinding motorists, I think he was taking time to chat and raise local issues, great Polizia jacket in green by the way:) onwards and upwards for Gawthrop hill, not before being chased by a terrier dog. Grant was on fire using middle ring and racing ahead, we paced ourselves up and re-grouped near South Lord's land for a snack before the green lane to High Moss and the rocky descent, on the way just watch out for frogs born in the puddles, no tails yet so fairly recent, so survival of the fittest with quads and mtb going through the puddles! Now lower seats for the downhill and enjoy, then back along the lanes, around 15-16 miles in all, very nice. Next ride is Ribblehead, but do not worry it's not the whole circuit, probably the last half of fun.

Suns rays in evening light

"gate view"

'riders!'

Future frogs!

18th April 2013 - Satterthwaite

Ian turned up in his van, well his sons (who is travelling home from the other side of the world and wants his van back!) so will we see Ian again....George, Grant, Jamie and CT also made it out. It was threatening a bit of rain but we never really needed goretex just to keep riding along. Out to village and up the first hill (usual RADs warm up!), so up Breasty Haw and try out the rock step a few times just to get the best line, or any line...! there were a few puddles after the recent rain, but nice to get out, all the way down and up to the fox, where they are logging so the fox is not visible from the fire road, but it is there if you know here to look. Down to moor top, passing some MTBers packing up! over the road and down and across Jack Gap plantation and along to take in the down to lawson park, but also the tricky climb back out, now it is damp and tree rooty but sections are actually ridable if you commit and go for it and very pleasing when it works OK:) Grant was lamenting about not going for a beer after rides ;(, but them said he wanted an early bath.... so we headed down Moor Lane and back to the cars, not before we had two punctures, JB and CT luckily within the last 100 yds, just watch those water bars when chasing down hill! getting dark later but great to be out. Next ride is Sedbergh.

11th April 2013 - Elterwater

Charlie, George, Jamie, Steve and CT turned out with a bit o'rain for a ride round Little Langdale, up and over to high tilberthwaite, on the way there is a section of rock slab and after trying the steep side, which was a tad slippy, the best route is up the left shoulder, narrow but doable. Charlie was sporting a sparkly re-cycled front fork, nice and smooth, 'er even built it up by 'er fair hand;). Enjoy descent down to the playground, but no play as it was inhabited by a load of sheep,  so a little de-tour and game of follow my leader by JB! then off up Hodge Close and over high oxen fell and onwards to iron keld, time for lights on and Charlie, it helps to connect the cables together....! down the road and a puncture for JB (don't forget to fix the inner that we neatly put back into the inner tube box:)) and back via the river route then cake at the cars. Next ride is Satterthwaite.

4th April 2013 - Staveley

Maybe it was having more time to ride in daylight, for the first ride after the  hour changed, that caused some indecision (mud-dled thinking) at  the start of the ride . Anyway, after some discussion, one  rider set off from the start at Barley Bridge, and  the rest of us  followed, which is how Jamie, Charlie, Grant, Steve and Neil found themselves riding  up towards Browfoot, and  for a change down the little used bridle way, just beyond the track to the farm, which joins the farm track further along the  the river and so onto another difficult decision at Ullthwaite Bridge. Eventually it was decided to go  up the good decent,  over two rivers, on the way up we were passed at speed by some mountain bikers going down, maybe they spent more time planning a route? After the second river crossing we had a slight pause as Steve sorted out a broken chain. This  gave Charlie time for quick test on Neil's (now a 29er convert) new Santa Cruz, , which was out on it's first RADS outing.  Chain  fixed and off we went, not wanting  to hang around too long because the the higher  we got,  the more noticeable the strong and cold wind felt. The quick decent to Kentmere Hall was quickly followed by the climb up the road to Green Quarter, and during  the climb up the fell side the light started to fade. 

After a brief stop to refuel whilst sheltering behind a wall out of the wind, and then onto tackle the last section to climb up Green Quarter Fell, into the wind and towards the old ruined barn. As the remaining daylight quickly disappeared, lights got switched on to see the way down into the wind, and then the turn to get the wind on our backs. The twisty decent saw Jamie have a very rare emergency dismount, from a problem with a very deep rut, in what in normally a very deep puddle section. Resulting in  Jamie doing some  precision re-alignment of the bars with the forks, this delay meant a first for Charlie as  she got to the next gate first! Down through HP and the previous clear line through the rocky section, we had seen last time we went down  HP, was no more and it was more of the usual challenge, all got down  OK though. Unfortunately Chris was unable to make the ride, something about rabbits Easter and being egg bound on the way to Coniston;) Cheers Neil,

Next week Elterwater.

A little mud.

Bank Holiday Monday 1st April 2013 - Road ride out to Hawes

JB and CT ventured out for some road miles, now it was a B/H Monday so a few folk on the road, but not too many pedal cycles, except motorcyclists and the police with their speed devices, they clocked us through Cowan Bridge at 13mph! did I mention the wind, it was mostly an Easterly and wind chill COLD, which direction were we headed yes East so cold and slow. We also stopped at the bike shop, Escape bikes, where they let us use some oil to get rid of the chain mouse ;) see here http://www.escapebikeshop.com/, they also have an electric MTB, more like a motocross bike, around 48-52kg, yes KG in weight, see photo, if you have to ask the price you can't afford it! Onward through Ingleton and onto Ribblehead for a coffee to keep us going into that HEAD WIND, eventually 3 hrs in we arrive at Hawes for lunch and a rest. A couple in the cafe said they had come over the back lanes and there was still snow on the roads, where as the main roads were clear of snow. We set off back via Sedbergh and the road was better mainly due to the wind direction, see photo for a ace picture of the straight road in front of you, through Sedbergh up the road to Killington and home back Endmoor, 65 miles just under 5 hours riding. Cuppa tea, food and hot shower very welcome.

Electric bike.

Ingleton to Ribblehead road, east

Ingleton to Ribblehead road, west

The road ahead!