22nd August 2013 - Pelter Bridge, Nr Ambleside

7 riders met up at Pelter Bridge car park (see photo of the gang), note it's free after 5pm  :), good turn out maybe something to do with the good weather or was it just new bike fest, Charlie had her new 29er hardtail plastic bike, Jamie had his new XXL long travel machine, Joel had a new frame = colour on trend;)  George, Grant and Neil brought their old bikes and CT turned up after a few months 'resting'! so 5 x 29ers including 4 x hardtails a right old mix. To warm up we went south along the river and then headed UP the climb onto Loughrigg fell, we met another biker on the way and encouraged him to keep going and do the clockwise loop, not sure what route he took but hope he found his way home! At the top there were hordes of flying ants, albeit on the ground, this warm balmy weather bringing then out. Once dropped down to Loughrigg tarn we discussed routes and settled on heading back via red bank to drop Charlie off at the cars then a lap of the coffin road. Then we set off for a slightly confused route but it was great, as well as seeing JB pushing his new bike to the limit of the rear fender! Great views from the top of the terrace (see photos) down and up to the caves for some fun jumps, back to the cars, drop Charlie off and head back into the evening dusk. The coffin route has some testing rocky/rooty steps then drops into white moss, along the water to the beach watch out for the campers dog and the bats flying around the water, Joel got spooked by some strange creature of the night (that will be Grant them:)) onward and back via the lake splash  George had a flat, so slight delay, lights needed at the end. A great summer ride, stats link below:
Next ride is Lowick, near Red lion

Link to Garmin ride data, only 11 miles....

The crazy gang...

Spot the new bike competition...

Just a normal evening ride in the lakes :)

Big wheels good

15th August - Hawkshead

The Lakeland summer had returned with a vengeance! Even the Met office radar image wasn't looking good, just overhead for the evening was a block of ominous green while the rest of the country confidently missed out!

Charlie, George, Grant, Ian, and Joel (Neil was busy with cake and balloons somewhere warm and dry) set off from Hawkshead school car park towards Colthouse, along the lane to Outgate and down snake bite alley where Ian punctured. Then more rain was followed with even bigger rain. Once we were off again we headed to Low Wray via Basecamp, taking the left fork rather than the fire road then up via scab moss. At Guideposts the conversation turned to a discussion on what was the easiest way home, the weather was that bad! Rather than taking the technical route back to Colthouse it was decided to take the easier descent via Moss Eccles Tarn and then down to Near Sawrey. Then it was a sprint finish back to the cars as fast as possible!

Next week: Elterwater for Hodge Close via Iron Keld Ed edit: CHANGE that was last week, this week it's Loughrigg @ 6.30 (somewhere that holds up if it's still wet on the ground) - Bring lights if you want?

Thanks to JP for the words & photoshop pic!

8th August – Elterwater

For a change the ride went up the road through Chapel Stile and onto the track to cross Great Langdale Beck, what a great name, and onto Oak Howe, Baysbrown and into Sawrey Woods. 

 

It was a very pleasant summers evening that saw four, Charlie, Grant, Ian and Neil on the ride, it had been early June since RADS had had such a good turnout. Charlie had been excited at the start with news of her new race bike, due to arrive soon –a top of the range, Santa Cruz High Ball – the result of a very, very special offer from Santa Cruz; and the outcome of an extremely imaginative letter that Charlie had sent to Santa Cruz –that and her numerous World Championships proved very effective in getting a generous deal from them.

Back on the ride and Ian was shown the easier way to get up through Sawrey Woods, soon passing the ford at Little Langdale onto Stang End then south towards Hodge Close and High Oxon Fell to cross the A593 to go on the mountain road behind Tarn Hows. Onto the Iron Keld track meant an exciting decent with stunning views as dusk approached, the quick downhill on the A593 was followed by the return to Elterwater on Sustrans national cycle route 37 past Elter Water, which allowed us to take in and enjoy the lovely views up  Great Langdale valley. 

Link to GarminGPS route details
Link to Flickr and a few more photos 

Next week Hawkeshead at 6.30, maybe for Claife - park at the School, who's going - will it be more than four?

1st August 2013 - Staveley

On an extremely hot night  Neil, George and Jamie met at Barley Bridge Staveley for a tour of Kentmere.  The three set off and crossed Barley Bridge and turned left passing the bridleway to Scroggs and proceeded up the tarmac lane to the bridleway that leads to HP.  Taking the bridleway and crossing Staveley Head to the gate at the top of HP.  Here Jamie decided to take the left hand harder route and Neil and George opted for the easier right hand route down the grassy bank.  At the bottom of HP we turned left and then right and proceeded up the climb to 3 rivers the two rivers we crossed were both very deep from the recent rain.  From here we took the bridleway over to Kentmere Hall  here our group increased to 14 as we joined a group lead by Graham who did our skills training together with Jamie's friend Freddie. From here we cycled past Kentmere Church and headed down the valley taking the second left to head up towards green quarter.  Taking the bridleway on the right over green quarter.  Here the Rads group made it to the top of the hill first where we waited to regroup before proceeding over the hill to take the bridleway off to the right which goes back down to join Old Hall lane.  The twisting descent down to the gate was superb.  At the gate it was decided to go down HP again.  This time all 3 riders took the easier right hand track as Jamie said he had done the hard one once.  Neil had an over the handle bars moment at the tricky bit just before the tracks fork for the the grassy bank, from the bottom of HP we proceeded back to the cars arriving at 9.15am.  Next ride Elterwater.