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