23rd October 2014 - Clappersgate

4 riders met up, Charlie, George, Jamie and CT; Charlie was already worrying about gear issues (possibly cable issues), JB had bought the cross bike and George wondered if he needed a waterproof....so from Clappersgate by the river head south and onto the cycle path route which runs mostly alongside the road, as a couple of places you need to cross over the road and also nip along the actual road, but it better than having to cycle along with all the cars. If you keep with it you end up near Low Wray camp-site entrance, then just have to head up the road. At Wray castle entrance we chatted about route choice and decided to head down the lake shore, then up the detour past base camp-ish, at this point it started to rain...so George was right to question the coat, hard enough to stop and put jackets on, then once off-road we took then off again as the rain had eased. Remember this bit the other Jamie had punctured a few weeks ago, but Jamie crosser just forgot to lift his rear tyre over a water bar and ooops puncture #1, quick change and off. Still raining so up the left fork and re-group at the top, now right and up to the guide posts, then left and down to Colthouse, coats on again, more rain and puncture #2. At the bottom decided to head back, first via the lanes (watch that spray from the rear tyres) then back onto the cycle past route and back to the cars, the rain had stopped no not too bad. 11 odd miles, just double figures and bikes still working and JB still had spare tubes in his pack :) Next ride Troutbeck

16th October 2014 - Ings for a local loop

The three amigos being Grant, new Jamie & CT made it out, so hardtail 29ers rule OK! Firstly CT forgot some light cables so was short of a headlamp, if you take cables off, put them somewhere useful like kit bag, lesson learnt #1. 
We crossed over the road and rode up the tarmac warm up climb, passed by an owl, nice, then onto the bridleway. BTW Grant had a new rear brake lever so now was able to pull cool kids rear skids:) Onwards to 3 rivers then down to Kentmere, half way down CTs light flickered off during the descent, so 2nd helmet lights are really useful (if you have them)! CT rigged up a short temp cable from the back pack, but it pulled the helmet over and kinked the neck over! but enough light to get down the hill, at the bottom, Jamie had a spare lamp so CT used this for the rest of the ride, Thanks to Jamie:) lesson learnt #2. 
Now over to Long Houses, here it started to drizzle, but not heavy and it eased, but the ground conditions were now wetter. The climb was a test, as usual, always worth the challenge;), we navigated carefully (dark nights take a little adjustment) then across to Staveley Head,  it was a little marshy and a sign of the winter weather to come, turn right and head down HP, carefully. All down OK.
Now head left on the road then right and left to head up the tarmac climb and onto the last track down to the old farm ginnel. Along the first track it is double track and inviting to go faster...so Grant speeded off, followed by Jamie...CT keeping at the back...then Grant got snagged by a thick bramble and was thrown off course, Jamie braked hard to avoid hitting Grants head (cause as we know it is made of glass), but they both went down heavily, Jamie lay winded but in one piece and Grant was a bit saw having scrapped along the rocks. We paused and slowly assessed that we were all alive and generally in one piece. So dust down and eat some fudge, assess damage, loads of lost skin (don't look too hard) Grants HID light broken off mount, Jamie's helmet did it's job (a bit of a bruise the next day) new helmet time. lesson learnt #3 ride carefully folks...
Back on bikes and carefully roll down to the farmers narrow rock strewn singletrack, always a funny ride, Grant and Jamie took it very carefully...i.e. walking. Back to cars and home for a shower and to feel that tingling skin sensation! Next ride Clappersgate

2nd October 2014 - Staveley for Longsleddale

This time we went the other way round to the normal route...Jamie, Grant, George, Joel, Jamie (2) and CT turned out for the last summer ride, at least in terms of it was not raining, but it would get dark! We had decided on the Longsleddale ride, but perhaps make it different, so do it in reverse...you never know...Ride up to Staveley Head Fell, but keep left for the Green Quarter route down, on the way down it was dark and JP fell off, as in we saw a light go down and stay down, but he got up in the end. Down to Green Quarter then north up the lane and tee off left for the bonus loop, then back up for Stile End, here JP decided enough for his first ride after his holiday so he headed back, which left 5 for the hill climb;), steady as you go, it's not that bad and you soon arrive at the top gate. Now for some well earned downhill, just watch out for the new corner, it's sharp and steep, JB was distracted by a traffic cone and mis-timed his braking into the corner, so guess what...he was off, luckily just a bit of gravel rash ;( now carefully down through the gates and round by Sadgill, back along the lane and into the field to pass the sheep. At Wad's Howe you start the climb, the first bit to the gate is tricky! then the next stretch is a bit of work, just concentrate and keep peddling! A few made it to the top gate, then only a few more gates across the top fell and this does involve a bit of effort and it looks different doing it in reverse and in the dark! Final section across Staveley Head and into HP then back down the lane, back around 9.30pm, over 14 miles and over 2,000 ft climbing! Next ride TBA, we actually missed a Thursday because no one was out! So next ride is Thursday 16th from Ings.