23rd May 2013 - Haverthwaite

5 riders met up near the pub in Haverthwaite, Joel, Ian, Grant, George and Jamie, it was the usual route (anti-clockwise) down by the river, up tarmac climb across fell, down across main road, up forest and find a route back! with the extra loop in the woods around Simpson Ground and relatively dry. Next ride is Troutbeck. 
Then the next few rides in June being 6th Broughton forest off Hummer lane; 13th Hartsop; 20thKeswick (park on road down from swimming pool); 27th Sedbergh (the calf!)

16th May 2013 - Ings + meal

Well 8 turned out for the meal at the Watermill, Ings. 5 went on a short ride around 3 rivers, 2 met them half way but avoided the rivers (toooooo wet ;)) and one rode out via Barbon! roll call; Charlie, George, Ian, Joel, Neil, Grant, Jamie and CT. Apparently it did not rain on the short ride, but it did rain on the road ride, given that it started at 5pm and there were many puddles forming on the roads road spray was in evidence. Looking at JPs bike there was mud on the short ride! see photo for evening light looking over Kendal.

The lakes bathed in evening sunlight, or has it just rained!

It was a busy night at the pub, there was a meeting in the other dining area so everyone was crammed in, we negotiated some smaller tables and joined them together. A couple had salmon starter and it was excellent, the main courses were scoffed down in usual manner of hungry cyclists! 
Prior to the grub Neil had heard about CT's plan for a mini-tour de Pyrenees in June and not one to miss out on Inspirational guidance offered a small gift, see photo! It must be said that Charlie is also heading to the Pyrenees a week or so later and aims to do the coast to coast, but she has a triple on her bike, easy ride then ;)

OK, so we have the socks now just to get the T-shirt!

Next ride is Haverthwaite, enjoy.

9th May 2013 - Lowick for Grizedale

4 met up near the red Lion at Lowick on this damp evening, George, Grant, Jamie and CT; as CT wanted a change from the traditional RADs  warm up, we headed north along the east shore of Coniston, past Ian's (who was not there anyway) and onwards  after a while the drizzle stopped and someone suggested we take our waterproofs off, you know one for all and all for one....! of course this would not bring on more rain, positive thinking and all that...we kept going past Brantwood (cafe closed ;( and then picked up the next bridleway on the right which leads us onto Lawson park, now about 7.30pm, then uphill test through the trees, left along the fire road, down the rocky route to meet up at the bottom of the black run, turn right and climb. Then head over to Park Crags and along to Parksmoor, now it was mizzle so coats on for the descent...once we get to it...now just the downhill (and uphill bits) back to Ian's, no time for coffee, lights on for road section, back to cars for 9.30 a little damp, but a good ride. Next week it's Ings short ride 6.30 meal from 8pm at the Watermill, see you there.

2nd May 2013 - Ribblehead for a ride in the Yorkshire Dales

A beautiful May evening awaited us and so Jamie, Grant, George, Neil, Charlie and CT met up just past the viaduct for a sunny ride out. Head out north east on the Blea Moor road until you past the dales way on the right go about 1km further and look for a track on the left hand side, which is Black Rake road, head up past a few strange sounding places, dike head, mossy bottom, I kid thee not refer to OS map! then head east down the road and cross over to start the climb up the Ribble way to meet the Cam High road. We re-grouped at the top and ate flap-jack, whilst Charlie fished in her new bag for a half eaten high 5 bar and George had forgotten his water and borrowed Chris's spare bladder with a few oz of h20 left in the bottom for emergencies, not sure if George dared to drink any...! Now it's the Dales way all the way back to the road and we noticed earlier that the powers that be were surfacing some sections, seemingly as an access road for forestry so some of the bottom track was surfaced in stone, but still had big dips and double dips to watch out for especially at speed, you have been warned. It was basically a dry ride and dusty at the end with all the stone. We left the top gate around 8pm-ish and were back at the cars by 8.30-ish covered in dust. A shortish blast ride back for an early bath. Next ride is Lowick. Additional photos by Neil Lichfield:)

Chewing flap-jack

we came this way>

nice view!

heading back