23rd July 2015 - Ings for Green Quarter and HP

Andrew, Charlie, George, Rory, Jamie B, Grant, and JP turned up for a dry summer ride from Ings to Kentmere. We set off up Moor Howe Road, up Longmire and onto Garburn. There was a sigh of relief as we turned at the junction and descended to Dubbs as the alternative was an even longer climb. After the first descent of the evening we gathered back on the road we had climbed previously. It was pointed out that we could be in time for chips but Jamie put a stop to that by running ahead and directing all traffic down Borrans Lane. Stopping at the junction above High House, Charlie treated us all to a chip substitute. This was healthy and date filled, well thats what Charlie called it (see picture below), although there seemed to be a lot of similar treats already stuck to our tyres.

Date filled healthiness

Puzzled faces, still grazing.

On the way to Kentmere Hall

After filling up on healthiness, we crossed the river and headed down to Kentmere Hall, then Long Houses, over Green Quarter and down HP where there was a split in the group, Charlie, JP and Rory turned right on the grassy track, while the rest went left down the original descent which is beginning to grass over too.  Rejoining the road Jamie and Andrew headed home while the rest of the peloton carried on through Browfoot, up the hill, turning right, then left, looping back down to Grassgarth. Finally back to the cars for 9.45 and a pint in the pub garden.

Next week: Barbon, park opposite the church, just past the pub.

16th July 2015 - Torver for Walna Scar

It had been dry all day, with a reasonable forecast but the wind was picking up, never-the-less Jamie M & B, Andrew and CT met up along Hummer Lane at the forest entrance, splash some midge de toilette on and off we go. Down the fire road and tee off right straight into some mud, climb through thick undergrowth along the forest floor, out at the next fire road and straight down the forest again, out to the next fire road after passing under a large fallen tree suspended on it's side with just enough room to ride under (too big for a hand saw!), onward to the next forest section, climb, descend and ..... puncture, Jamie M front tyre lost its gunk, so we stopped to add a tube, unfortunately so did a load of horse flies, so now we know what it's like to be a cow but without the swishy tail! New tube in and off we go down to the bottom fire road and here we usually head right and the steady climb up, but no lets go over the track and down through the woods, out onto the tarmac and climb up to take the track on the other side of the stream for an alternative route up. This is a bit more interesting way up and meets just past the bridge, there is a section of prepared path before the boggy section.
Here we chose different routes Jamie M and Andrew went left, less bog, JB and CT went right for more climb and headed towards the quarry, and we all met up at the old slate shacks for a rest before the ascent!

It was also windy so no midges but it did not help the climb up (head wind I am sure;), the first section goes from the larger quarry buildings to the next disused and we were blown off course, no one cleaned even that section, but we did manage to get into some kind of groove and make it up about half-way (I blame the wind) in my dreams sometime in the future I will make the whole hill...maybe. It was quite windy at the top so we paused a little way over the shoulder and looked the the view, see photos:)

180 deg panorama

Then downhill to enjoy, a little windy at the top but fine as we went down, watch out for the drainage ditches, rocky and technical but fun, or take the path;), also be warned about the large drainage ditch half way down, tricky so keep your eyes open! Then tee off to the right for the descent past the quarries, look out for sheep and sheep dog, then down the lanes back to the road and ride back up to the cars, OK there is a hill but at least you are warmed up.

Next ride is from Ings, park near The Watermill Inn

Seathwaite side

Still on the approach road

Heading to the disused quarry shacks

Hope!

Where we had come from

and going up!

Sea glimpses and Coniston:)

9th July 2015 - Troutbeck

5 of us met up at the bottom of Green Gate lane in Troutbeck, just near the church on the Kirkstone road, Grant, George, Jamie, Jo and CT. We headed to Limefitt and up the track to Garburn, then down to the road for a quick bit of speed, then left along the road where we saw a deer crossing the road, eye up a 4' metal rail fence and spring over it fairly easily, a bit like a perfect bunny hop...we wish;) now take the right gate through the field, cross the water and up onto the lanes and back into Troutbeck centre for Robin Lane and climb up to the seat viewpoint. Take a rest chat about route choice, but keep it simple after last week late ride, so down the fast track onto Holbeck lane and right to head down Wain lane, so George and Grant could enjoy the fast descent! pretty good, bouldery and overgrown at the bottom. Turn right on the road and back up the testing climb that is Mirk lane, but it was dry and actually climbable, just! then steady back to the lane and back up onto Robins lane, down through the village and take the track through Town End to get onto Ing Lane to pick up the Sam route to add a leg, now back to Limefitt and repeat the Garburn section down to the bottom and back to the cars nice and early, back home for Le Tour on catch up TV:)
Next ride is Walna Scar from Hummer lane, west of Torver.

View from the seat on Robin Lane

Two gates!

Someones been left waiting...

Rest time

2nd July 2015 - Keswick for Borrowdale Bash

Neil, Andrew, George, Jamie and CT met up in Keswick near the bottom of Spoony Green Lane to ride the Borrowdale Bash, JB had been working locally so for a warm up rode the Blencathra loop and end of Latrigg descent :) We had some rain to start but it was only light and a short sleeve top (with optional gillet) was fine as it would improve later. 
To start head south past swimming pool, cross over the lights and head up the lane and onto Walla Crag, steep to start but a great view of Keswick from the top, by this time the clouds had moved and the sun was shining through - see photos below - now head along to Ashness bridge and up the lane to the next view point, always worth a stop, until the midges start and then onwards to Watendlath. The next section is a challenge but worth a go, nice and dry, but you may run out of legs or breath or both! Enjoy the downhill all the way to Rosthwaite, maybe try a few rock sections a 2nd or 3rd time just to be sure. Neil seemed to be going slower than usual, he was on his spare bike with little wheels so it was taking a bit of getting used to;) Also just watch those water bars on the way down some are quite large, so get used to practising those jumps. 
Now along the road to Seatoller, start the road climb a little bit them head right for an offroad climb to get onto the bridleway heading to Castle crag, a bit up and down, but at least there was a breeze to get rid of the midges, we snacked on jelly babies, allsorts, treacle tart and flapjack and anything else we could find as this is about half way and it was past 9-ish. Enjoy the descent to Grange and head past all the campers, head along the lanes to Manesty and then left up a bridleway for the last climb of the day, it's steep mind;) then you can work your way along under Cat Bells and enjoy, oh and the moon started to make an appearance just peaking out behind the mountains to the east. On the way back just watch out about half-way along as there is a post to avoid and a steep climb back up the hill. At the end cross over the road down into Hawes End and into the woods for a little bit (lights useful here). Now head back via Portinscale and back to the cars for 11pm:)
The weather worked out and this is a grand ride out.
Next ride is Troutbeck.

View back to Skiddaw 

View towards Borrowdale

Neil getting to grips with an old bike

A great kayak area

See the sun was out

A great view back towards Keswick

Castle Crag, the start of the downhill!

About 10.30 on a clear night is Grand

Guestimate of route to give an idea of scale

I can't just see the logo but 'trained with RADs' should be there somewhere:)
Charlie on the way to a medal or two......