23rd June 2016 - Keswick for Whinlatter

One brave soul (JB) ventured out from Burnside, Keswick for a lap of Whinlatter Forest plus a descent to Thornthwaite via Closed Green Lane, erosion big enough to lose a car in! A great ride but no one to talk to...
No pictures as JB was airborne most of the time!

Next ride: 6.30 - Barley Bridge, Staveley

16th June 2016 - Clappersgate for Claiffe

Joel, Grant, Jamie, Ian and CT met up this evening, yes you read that correctly Ian came out to play :) Nice and easy route into Claiffe along the cycle paths and around Wray, up base camp drive, passed 3 other guys at the gate, then a test up the single track past the base camp huts, dry but ride-able. Head up past Scab Moss and onto the second testing climb, up to the Hollin Band plantation (now mostly chopped down) for the third testing climb! then back to the fire road and off to the view point, only a little detour in search of single-track and met a couple of local riders, quick chat and back down the other way ;) then downhill to the shore, here Ian decided to head back at his own pace, so south along the shore then UP the downhill, yes I know but sometimes it has to be done, again actually OK (a little walking for some) then we met the two locals again before they shot off and we headed back into the forest and found our way back to the Belle Grange descent and yes it is rocky, especially for us hardtails and rigid boys! back north along the shore and cycle path for the last leg. Must have been over 10 mile, at least felt like it, back around 10pm-ish:)
Next ride TBA

JP

Proof it was Ian :) 

The view at the top of the third technical climb;)

9th June 2016 - Askham for Loadpot Hill

6 met up at Askham for the route up Loadpot Hill. It was a warm evening although the weather was threatening rain that luckily failed to arrive! Paul, George, Lee, JP, Jamie, and Grant set off from the village via Riddingleys Top, then left at the crossroads until meeting the track to Scales Farm. After the farm there was a bit of discussion about the correct route, and we appear to have taken an alternative track up. It was more UP although the ground was very dry and while riding on grass proved energy sapping we all commented that we had previously ridden this in worse conditions! We took an alternative, more direct route up Hart Hill and finally took advantage to have a rest at the summit. From the top we headed down for the rewarding descent but not before taking a look over Ullswater and to take a few pictures. Then it was a fast descent back to Askham before the weather changed.

George shows us the way home!

Almost following the bridleway

Next ride: Brathay bridge, Clappersgate for either north or south?

2nd June 2016 - Tebay to Bretherdale

There was a lot of planning for this trip, people were away, and so 3 adventurers (George, Paul, JP) decided it was time to go it alone, there were uncharted fells out there! George had suggested some routes,"how about Borrowdale shap road, Sedbergh for Dent, Sedbergh for the Howgills, Ravenstonedale or even Ullswater". And then it was (almost) decided, and after a lot more emails, we (almost) had a plan... Should we meet shap road near selside hall or at Tebay next to the entrance to Borrowdale, it was confusing, some hadn't ventured that far beyond the M6 corridor before. Eventually we met at the old schoolhouse in Tebay, and (almost) followed this route that someone (JP) had found online,
http://pedalnorth.com/content/breasthigh-road, except it looks like we actually did it the other way round which wasn't too bad in the end. We set out from Tebay, over the river, under the M6, and then followed the lane towards Bretherdale where the climb began, it was loose stone for a couple of miles, bits were rideable and on other sections it was a bit of a push. From the top there was a techical steep descent towards the road (Derby Spur road) and then over the river where we looped back along the valley floor towards Rough Gill and on to the farm. At the farm we head up, along what looks like a dry river bed, which leads to the top of the fell. From the top, it was a fast grassy descent. I stopped to take a picture of Paul and George descending, but when I got back on the bike, they had gone and so had the trail. I eventually found them waiting for me on the track. The last section of trail was fast, back to Roundthwaite, under the M6 and into Tebay.

Spot Paul and George and win a prize!

Total ride, just over 15k, further details and pics on Paul's Strava account, https://www.strava.com/activities/596520150

Next ride: Ullswater, park at Askam swimming pool - meet at 6.30.