25th June 2015 - Ribblehead for Dentdale ride 'Mid-Summer Ride'

A few of us met up at Ribblehead for our traditional mid-summer ride, parking in the lay-by just down from the Station Inn, George and Paul, Jamie M & JB, Charlie, Grant and CT, there were also the local sheep terrorising the OAPs parked up in cars;) note start level at about 300m on the contour map. It was mild, warm and damp but no rain.

Scavenging sheep

We headed out going north under the viaduct following the bridleway around to Winterscales, then along Little Dale and left up the Dales High Way, it starts to get challenging going up hill! There are a load of stone steps but it is a long slog, involving some walking. Keep heading over the Great Wold (about 540m at top) and enjoy the technical descent, watch out for the marbles when braking towards the end!
Past Rigg End and now head along the lanes heading east towards Cowgill for a steady couple of miles, at Cowgill the peleton re-grouped and had a feed stop, jelly babies, thanks Jamie, we also listened to Charlie's option for a slight route change, i.e. go up the road for a tarmac climb and along the next bridleway to get us to Artengill Back, this being instead of the off-road steep climb, so we thought why not try out a new route? Well the route starts with a steep climb and carrys on...and on...Grant decided to start strong and try for the KoM (or QoM...) but the climb keeps going well past the station and Grant was caught and passed, the road keep climbing and the top junction where we turn off for the bridleway is called Monkeybeck Gains, more like a monkey on your back, not only was the climb tough but the midges were out in force, especially whilst we re-grouped at the junction eating our supplies and getting eaten ourselves (note for future: pack more chemical warfare!) whilst riding up the climb we were going slow enough for the midges to be able to form their own swarm cloud  around the bikes!! Now we headed along the bridleway and joy to be riding fast enough to avoid midges. Topping out at about 540m again along Dent Fell and down to the other BW junction, re-group as Paul's legs had apparently gone somewhere else! Now around Wold Fell to take the great bridleway descent going south as speed:) just watch out for the corners as they come up fast.
It was getting late, too many midges and Paul had no legs so we saved  the last option of Cam Road for another day and went south over Gayle Moor, back to the road and home. 
20 miles total and loads of climbing = downhill:)

first real climb

George made it

Paul with legs still working

JB's artistic shot entitled 'old fireplace'

View back towards Kingsdale

A wee rest before more down

Cows!

Next ride is Borrowdale Bash, from Keswick

18th June 2015 - Lowick for the commons

Jamie & Jo, Joel, Jamie and CT met up by the Red Lion in Lowick and headed west for a ride around the commons, it was approaching mid-summer so long sleeve jerseys were required to start! Head out Kiln and Tottlebank then we headed north to pick up the Torver Low Common byway past a tarn with no name (OK so it's a reservoir:) then up to Torver turn left and back along the lanes for a climb back up Yew Bank and a flapjack-allsort reward:) Then head off into the bracken to find the route up and over and along to Green Moor, round the bonus loop, one last real climb, down the singletrack with puddles to Cockenskell and back via the lanes, all good back at cars 10.15 and roughly 17 miles:)
Next ride the traditional mid-summer Ribblehead

Sheep kingdom

Entering middle-earth

Storm clouds developing

Hobbit country 

Could it be the fires of Mordor in the distance

Don't panic

11th June 2015 - Grizedale from High Cross, Hawkshead Hill

In the end 8 met up at High Cross, Jamie & Jo, Grant & Rory, George, Joel, Jamie and CT on a very sunny evening. Jo had already been out on a KDC ride (with Neil) that was also a dry ride:) We started out heading south along the fire roads for a bit of a warm up, follow tracks to the right hand turn off down to Lawson Park, enjoy this descent, fast and dry! before the bottom take the left turn for the technical challenge of rooty wood actually much better in the dry and a good testing climb back up to the fire road and then onto Parkamoor section and views over Coniston.

Coniston

See the 'serpent' in the water 

More views

Spot the profile?

Then continue down to the cottage and then left and up the track trying to keep feet dry with the puddles! Now into the forest for the descent (seven wells) good fun:)
Down towards the visitor centre but turn off before and climb up to join the NF then continue up and enjoy the dry dusty trail conditions. Thanks to George for the jelly babies! Now work our way back via the NF, enjoy the Lawson park technical roots in reverse (easier this way:) then back via the fire roads and NF sections to the cars. A few midges were coming out so quick dash home. 
Next ride Lowick

JP mastering a climb!

Sun going down at the end of the ride

Charlie had an excuse for missing the ride: her first Gold! 
Team GB trains with RADs ;)

4th June 2015 - Farleton

5 met up in Milnthorpe, Jamie M, Joel, Grant, Rory and CT and we rendezvous with George just off the canal east of Holme and head up past the farm for the first climb. It was a dry and warm evening but there were still puddles on the track near the gate, then through the gate and start the first climb challenge  to clean this section, not too bad but you do need to concentrate:) Now on the flat part next to the quarry edge, head along the bridleway through some gates, cross a field onto a quad track go left and work up onto the next track, enjoy any section of rocks. We were passed by one other bike by this stage and he had more squeaks than Georges' bike! We then met a couple of other riders near the top section and stopped for a wee chat, Grant even knew one chap, then we saw another 2 and later on there was a young couple but only one bike (he was apparently showing her how to ride section by section walking in between). We rolled down to the end enjoying the warmth back on the tarmac, George tee'd off at the canal and the rest rode into the sunset!  No curry or beer stop this time...next ride High Cross, Hawkshead Hill

Mountains in distance

Sunshine

Some colour:)