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......