Rads in Cumbria: 10th August 2017 - Keswick for Borrowdale Bash (ride of attrition)

Saturday, August 12, 2017

10th August 2017 - Keswick for Borrowdale Bash (ride of attrition)

A few turned out for the evening ride, Charlie, Andrew, Jamie M and B, Joel and CT, apparently Neil had been out and done the ride but got caught up in the Ambleside traffic (broken down lorry/coach and rush hour/tourists not helping!) I suggested he could turn round and ride with us, but a cuppa tea was calling. So just the 6 of us, 6.45pm we eased out of town and headed up and over Rakefoot, the usual RADs warm up being straight up! Then head to Ashness bridge, here some trail maintenance to Charlies brakes, don't forget the split-pin:) and hurry up the midges were biting then ease along to Watendlath for the next challenge, being both the climb and descent, although the descent is very nice, just watch for the one drain ditch which seems a bit too large, note the lower section is being worked out, so care required. JP and Charlie had opted to head down slowly and meet us at Grange. So 4 of us descended to the bridge at Rosthwaite, but JB had some trouble with his frame...it had broken and I mean clean through, so he had to head home. So 3 of us for the castle crag section, a bit of a climb at Seatoller, then along to castle crag for the descent, it was getting dark now so lights on and seats down, a bit technical but more uncomfortable than tricky, a full sus' would have been good! Down into Grange and meet up with the others, so now 5 of us, we opted to miss the first climb section along catbells and pick up the second one, still a stiff climb but very nice downhill, then back via the lanes to Keswick, back for 10.45pm, 18.5 odd miles about 5-6 mph! basically climbing going up and tricky coming down, so slow but a good ride in any case, unless you broke your bike!
Next ride Lowick, park near Red Lion