26th January 2017 - Haverthwaite

It was a tad chilly this evening, Charlie had new lights so she was happy, Jamie was wearing all his clothes so nearly warm, CT was making up the numbers;
Data:

• 24.1km
  Distance
 
• 2:28:56
   Moving Time
 
• 600m
  Elevation

• 
  

Usual route-ish, slight detour through the woods, then warm up on the tarmac climb, Charlie had her winter gloves but needed Georges battery pack! Then across the top boggy section, but it was around -3 Deg C so maybe the ground might be OK...so parts were muddy but not too bad, really depended on how you landed in the muddy bits;) we made it over the top and half way down met a group of about 10 MTBers coming up, nice to see folk out enjoying an evening out. Next section on the 4x4 track was a tad muddy, careful where you put your feet, doh! down to the road and knock some of the mud off, over the main road and up into the forest for a lap of simpson ground area, nice and frosty at the top, steady away and back down the field which was fast and grippy this time :), back along the road to Newby Bridge and then return the same was we came, so back up and over the hill, by now the mud was freezing (OK it had been for a while) so we knocked some off our bikes, but icy mud is grippy stuff! A slight de-tour through the trees and back to the cars, a pretty good ride, nice and cold, not wet, a tad muddy.
Next ride Levens, park near Gilpin

Muddy-ish;)

Just enough clearance

Watch where you step!

Yes cold, but not damp so it was OK, no really a good ride out!

Above the snow line...OK it was Sunday :)

19th January 2017 - Grasmere - Elterwater - Little Langdale

It was warm enough for some mud but that did not stop one fat bike from turning up;) Joel, Jamie, Charlie and CT met up at Grasmere. It was a still night and warmish, how do we know it was warm... 'cause JP was down to his T-shirt in no time;) We headed south on the road for a warm up then crossed over and through the trees to the bridge, right and over the beach then up the bank for the route up along red bank, then round the back of hammerscar plantation, which gives a nice testing climb and then a sweet descent onto Elterwater common. Through the village around to the slate quarry, up the hill and over to the ford, over the bridge, turn left and past Stang End, down through the plantation and back to Elterwater, up the tarmac climb and pause for some slated cashews, thanks Charlie! Back down the bank and over to white moss, keeping and eye out for shipwrecks! Then up onto the coffin route and back to Grasmere, just over 12 miles, no snow, all good:) 
Next ride Haverthwaite (park near Anglers Arms)

It wasn't quite sea worthy

Nearly there!

12th January 2017 - Ings

So a hint of snow in the air and where were the fat bikes...it wasn't even that cold, OK -2 deg C to start, ice on the road but it warmed up, useful to go up hill first ;) Charlie, Jamie, Grant and CT made it out, Charlie had a dodgy light cable and was cussing! Up Dubbs to start then left at Garburn down to the road, left along to the river crossing, but wait has the bridge been fixed... well no! but over we went you just need some care;) So how do you risk assess a bridge on it's side...carefully...no really just send the big lads heavy weights over first, compared to us featherweights at the back;) nice and steady. Then up hill for more warm up, keep left for wain and mirk, down the second one up the first, a little mud and some channels formed by water and we met a few MTBers whilst going up they were heading down, laddo at the front was a bit keen to keep going the others waited for us slow ones. Through Troutbeck, reverse Sam, above Limefitt and onto Garburn for the last climb and look for some snow, back via Dubbs and along the road, back 9-ish, no real dramas, some iffy lights, great flapjack, cheers JB!
Next ride from Grasmere

5th January 2017 - Satterthwaite for Grizedale in the crisp cold

Seems everyone was either recovering from festive excess (aka colds and flu ;) or such other excuses...it was a cold start -2 below, the water running down Moor Lane had frozen. A car turned up with a solo rider, quick chat then he went off on his own. So I started up Bogle Crag (how to pronounce Bogle, different to that 80's word game Boggle?) steady climb keep right, keep right again, feels all wrong...but it is correct, had a play at the top junction then downhill to the statues, puddles of ice in places and crisp frost, bloomin' freezing so plenty of layers, spare batteries and everything, (NB: lone biking protocol = JB as phone buddy, works fine as long as signal and the cold does not effect mobile battery as it did the other day! so kept it warm in pocket and had a spare!).

OK so not this ride by BH Monday, nice and clear and just as cold

In the forest

The man statues!

A little creepy in a dark wood on your own......

Final gate on Moor Lane with new levers for lazing MTBers ;)

a close up

Work my way through the wood and come out back on the fire road, decided to stay on it and winch my way back up, past the zip slides and did the descent to the VC. The up the NF, steady climb to the top, bit of fire road, more NF did the first boardwalk, but walked the second due to ice risk. Then onward and climb the singletrack, then road past the tank tracks and back via Moor lane, top descents all OK some ice and ridable, more ice along bottom section. Back at car 9.15pm all good a nice chilled ride, probably around zero temp now with pockets of colder air.
This week it's Ings for Garburn (hint of snow....maybe)