23rd January 2014 - Ings for Garburn

Neil, Charlie, George, Jamie and CT turned out on this cold night, getting down to freezing and the stars were bright, should be a good ride, just keep moving to keep warm, you can tell its cold 'cause Charlie had her winter boots on! So from Ings cross over the road and up the tarmac section, then upwards to 2 rivers, passing sheep and fell runners on the way down into Kentmere, that's a great descent:) then over to start Garburn and we passed some MTBers, it was a nice night to be out.
Up and over Garburn, nice firm ground, some snow and ice around, Jamie's Pope cake half way round, v'good and we now have a recipe for cheesecake made with condensed milk, or at least Charlie does! Down Garburn, pause at Limefitt, discuss route, carry on down, puncture near bottom, back round Limefit and home via the lanes, which were icy!
Next ride is Elterwater.

Data:
Distance:12.31 miles
Time:1:38:44 (moving time) total time 2:58
Avg Speed:7.5 mph (would sound better in km;)
Max speed: 25.7mp (nice 'n easy)
Elevation Gain:2,113 ft
Calories:779 C (is that all....calories consumed  -->  Pope cake!)
Avg Temperature:31.6 °F

Sunday 19th January 2014 - Orton Fell

3 of us made a plan to look around Orton and the Roman roads, but when we met up on Sunday morning we felt it may be less muddy on Orton scar than the old roman road, were we wrong....? read on ...Jamie, Neil and CT met up at those M6 services before de-camping to Orton for the start. We headed north east out of Orton and climbed to head over Gt Asby Scar, it was a little muddy in many places, over the top there is plenty of limestone pavement, but still loads of mud, good to test bike handling skills, you have to look on the positive side ;) Over the top along the lanes a little then right and back over MuddyGill Plain, I guess this gives you a hint on the mud-fest...we had a few navigation options here and we took them all! but eventually found our way to Sunbiggin...where it rained a bit whilst we ate our supplies, onward to keep ahead of a walking group, but no, missed the gate and went round a field before having to overtake said walkers in muddy fields and a large muddy puddle, up scarside and up and over past the thunder stone (we didn't see it) and back to the road, last road climb and drop back into Orton.

Some info here http://www.strava.com/activities/107709405
and here http://connect.garmin.com/activity/433000685
We were out over 5 hours, nearly 15 miles, but 2000 ft climbing, there does not appear to be a mud stat'!

After the ride Neil and Jamie went to the silveryard cafe in Orton and said it was v.good:)

Neil's NEW shoes!

Checking the map, again

A guide post!

Downhill, but still peddling

Last descent into Orton

16th January 2014 - Troutbeck

3 made it out George, Jamie and CT, not a bad night in the end, Jamie and CT cycled out from Staveley, but on the way some aspect of CT's brakes fell out...and that slowed down progress:) Put in new pads and a new pin and off again. Usual start off to Limefitt but head further along the road and tee of at Town Head and go round the extra tongue, down the first singletrack off the main road and CT hits a rock, "it was looking at me..." so puncture time, new tube and off again...round to Limefitt, down Garburn, along the road and cross the river, climb the singetrack...usual route, up Robin, down Fell Lane and along to go DOWN Mirk (it was muddy at the end section) and back UP Wain. Now just for the record Jamie nicked a tyre and added some air which lasted until we got to the bus stop, new inner tube required. Ride back and Jamie had a slow puncture but he managed to get back to the cars. So a few mechanicals in one ride hopefully that should last for a few rides! Off to order some more brake pads, have you got your spares? Next Thursday night ride is Ings.

Sunday 12th January 2014 - Staveley round to Claiffe via Ambleside

So a couple of us Jamie and CT set off from Staveley just after 9 to see where we could get in the decent weather window. First head out Browfoot lane and up the tarmac for the warm up! then along to high borrans, up Dubbs road and then down Garburn bottom section to the road, up to Robin lane in Troutbeck (see photo) and along to Jenkins Crag and down to Ambleside for coffee and a Bath bun! Say hello to Keith at Biketreks! The round to Clappersgate to head into Claiffe, along the way we noticed some NEW gravel road side trails between Pull Garth wood and low wray, worth using to get off the tarmac sections, take note. We then turned off up to basecamp, but instead of taking the fire road up choose the technical bit and this gets you along to Nor Moss and then Scab Moss, after this we experimented and ended up crossing a bridge (see photo, it needs concentration;) we looped round to High moss and picked up the Moss Eccles bridleway to Far Sawrey and then enjoyed the climb! and descent:) to the shore and then back for the ferry, we could see that the ferry was in and rode quickly to the ferry....it had left a few secons before we could get there....BUT the driver kindly came back (the ferry was maybe 12 feet away, too big a gap to jump!!!) and we got on, along with two other cars, so they doubled their takings! Over the ferry and just ride up the hill into Windermere and back along the cycle route back to Staveley, arrive back around 3.15pm for a coffee and food at the bakery, NICE:)

View from Robin Lane

Riding the plank!

9th January 2014 - Gisburn

First Thursday night ride and we are at Gisburn, Neil, Grant, George, Charlie, Jamie and CT turned out. It had been raining earlier but was dry and cool for the ride. Now at this is a trail centre the route is the route :) so just follow it, it is pretty good, some puddles and as we were doing this in the dark so trails needs some thought as the puddles obscured the single-track through the woods, but generally OK, maybe need bigger light! There were a few other groups but plenty of space. We stopped at the high point to look at the stars, but no northern lights to be seen. We also met a couple of guys from Lancaster doing the night route for the first time, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. The wooden board-walk is bit tricky in places, i.e. where it narrows and changes direction and it was damp, so just keep going and do not STOP. At the end there is section of berms which are great as they blend into one another at the right speed. So a great ride to start the new year. Next ride is Troutbeck.

Sunday 5th January 2014 - Borrowdale bash

So had to start the New Years riding some how, so a blast round the Borrowdale Bash before the bad weather arrived. Just a couple of us, nice and hilly, just needed some cafes to be open :(  ,a couple of phone pics attached, there was a kayaker in the river (not easy to spot in the photo, actually impossible but it was there) and also a dusting of snow on the tops, but became obscured by the misty cloud cover. 

Cat bells over the water, waiting for us later..

Castle Crags, you climb up to enjoy the downs:)