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Post by hodgy on Apr 9, 2015 5:52:48 GMT
Thought I would start a new thread ..and keep the "Cumbria " thread for the forum ride in June.
6.45 am ..another 1.15mins before pickup ..beautiful day with not a cloud in the sky ..everything ready to go 'cept me ..still got a visit to the little room to get rid of pre-ride butterflies and a shower ...
We've all got brooms to tie to our backs to make sure the trail is in good condition for the ride in June !
Ride report and pics to follow
...also ..have fun Kirky with Euan & Kev ..tell us what you think of GT later....
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 5:54:54 GMT
Good look mate , can't wait for the pics ride save and have fun  *why am I awake so early on my week off  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 5:57:32 GMT
I'm the same Gaz - still buzzing from yesterday! I am really looking forward to hitting Cumbria - hope I can get a pass and I ain't working.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 6:04:16 GMT
Gorgeous day again Gaz today and tomorrow. Can't go out today as I have a new bog to fit  but deffo hitting the trails tomorrow. |
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Post by glynnsixo on Apr 9, 2015 11:02:38 GMT
our turn to be jealous,bowderdale on a day like today?....phwaaw!...pics please.
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Post by hodgy on Apr 9, 2015 20:20:40 GMT
9.15...just walked through the door ..superb day ..but I'm totally cream crackered..pics and report tomorrow ..sorry!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 6:38:46 GMT
It's tomorrow already, and good grief I've been up more than an hour, are you having a long lie? or... apologies, edited. Well, that was only my first mbr classic singletrack route and it is everything that was promised and more. The weather helped (although I should have slapped some slop on my arms, a bit red today), and the trail was mostly dry and far more technical than I had imagined from reading reports. Worn deep rutty in a few too many places with a steep drop on the right which got my attention a few times too often and jangled my nerve a little (I dress to the right and maybe that's why I fall that way also..). It really has a remote out there feel which I don't think happens in many Lake District trails, once over the Calf we didn't meet another biker and only 2 walkers. The return leg back south is just as good, and I maybe enjoyed it a bit more than the Bowderdale run as it is the kind of trail I am more familiar with. Can't wait to go back and do Bowderdale a lot better next time. |
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Post by hodgy on Apr 10, 2015 7:13:02 GMT
Well the day started off just as you would want it ..clear blue skies but at 7.50am there was still a touch of frost around View from the top of our cul -de-sac ..southern end of Bell City ( Bellingham)  Waiting for Ian ..equipment check...  Not only was he on time ( for a change) ...but 24 mins later we were picking Graham up at a parking spot on the military road ( Roman Wall)   Two and a half hours later and we are unloading in Sedbergh  And so to the ride ..climbing from the off the Tarmac undulates with some steep tugs before the off-road begins at the Height of Winder (190m) ..unless you are truly a machine the next 2hours will see you pushing more than you are riding to The Calf ( 676m) as for every height gain there is a descent ..and a steep one at that A stop just shy of Winder ..it was already hot but hazy ... Graham taking time out to put his Banzai outfit on   The trig point on Winder ...first hill conquered !  The track in the distance is leading over Arrant Haw..out of shot is the drop first ...all of that lovely height gain ..lost in 4 mins of fun!   Having passed over Rowentree Grains, Calders, Bran Rigg Top, we got to the Calf...   What follows after this is 7 km of descent which is like nothing else England has to offer ...the trail down Bowderdale is a thin ribbon of what mountain biking ( to me ) is all about ..if you have never done this but are expecting a fast free flowing whoopy-do ride to the valley floor below ..stay in bed ..this baby is a full body work out which demands your attention for every metre you pass rutted in places ,rocky , wet where you cross over streams that flow across it's path, extremely narrow ..where a wrong line choice will have you tumbling to the right ..and although you are losing height it still undulates with some short sharp tugs upwards to keep you on your toes ..you could be a quivering wreck by the time you reach the bottom ! This pic was taken after the initial steep drop and shows the trail disappearing into the distance ..but there is a lot more around the corner ..this doesn't look that steep ..but don't be fooled !  ..more to follow ..the missus has just got up and I'm making her a cuppa I've just seen Graham's post ..6.15 ..I got up mate .." Long lie in " ..if you think I've got the strength for that after yesterday ..you must be joking ! ..anyway where were we ... By the time we got to Ravenstonedale 3.5 hours riding time had elapsed and we shared a very nice large pot of tea at the Kings Head a terrific country pub which looks as if it has just undergone a recent refurbishment internally ..could have sat outside all afternoon in that sunshine ..but 45mins later it was time to re-mount before the legs got stiff ... The next section involved a very steep road climb for 3.5 km until the turn off for Harter Fell ( some route guides have you going as far as Adamthwaite )..this is the turn off you want and is the start of the "fun section " of the route ..to do it any other way is a criminal offence as not only do you miss the fast rocky drop as this track contours the hillside ..with terrific views to the valley below .. But you also miss the only bit of natural woodland beyond Murthwaite which is a fantastic rooty descent and offers something totally different to the rest of the ride ...I've described this as the fun section as although packed with narrow singletrack ..it has more flow to what has gone before ..as Graham alluded to in his post These pics were taken near to Beckside      Los Endos  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 7:53:19 GMT
Awesome mate can't wait looks like a cracking day and them hills look evil And that's most defo single track ... |
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Post by hodgy on Apr 10, 2015 8:13:25 GMT
..just a little add on which got " lost " from my post
We started at 10.30 ..got back at 5.50 pm total riding time was 5.00 hours ...42km....but we had a few stops ..not least at Ravenstonedale ...
Nice pint afterwards at the Dalesman Country Inn, Sedbergh, very nice pub with accommodation
The chips from the Haddock Paddock chippy weren't half bad either .....I knew you wouldn't be able to resist Graham & Ian!!
Look forward to the next visit on the forum ride ..whenever that might be .....
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Post by glynnsixo on Apr 10, 2015 9:28:03 GMT
that looks excellent.....id really like to do that one some time  |
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Post by hodgy on Apr 10, 2015 9:44:23 GMT
Keep looking on the "Cumbria " thread Glynn ..and chuck into the mix when you can make it ..there are a few dates being bandied about ..late June /early July ...
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Post by glynnsixo on Apr 10, 2015 10:58:13 GMT
Keep looking on the "Cumbria " thread Glynn ..and chuck into the mix when you can make it ..there are a few dates being bandied about ..late June /early July ... will do. not sure if june/july would be any good for me due to work, i'll just keep an eye on things. I was sort of hoping last weekend in may as iv booked that weekend off for a swaledale ride that got cancelled, but iv left the holiday in just in case owt else comes up.............blah....blah...blah usual life related stuff getting in the way. I might be able to make a decision when a dates been fixed. |
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Post by kirky72 on Apr 10, 2015 11:05:53 GMT
Great write up Hodgy, fantastic views. I cant wait to get up there in the near future.
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Post by hodgy on Apr 10, 2015 11:09:00 GMT
Very rarely do you get a date that suits everyone ..I was thinking that I couldn't make the last weekend in May as it would clash with our Arran trip ..but that's the weekend before .. I'll just go with the majority ..
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Post by steormy on Apr 10, 2015 11:42:49 GMT
Great write up Neil . You definitely got the weather too . I will be doing that ride at some stage , it looks awesome
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Post by hodgy on Apr 10, 2015 11:47:24 GMT
For those who like their facts and figures ...roughly 4,264 ft of climbing in near as damn it 26 miles ...
All I know is that I was goosed at the end !
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Post by hodgy on Apr 10, 2015 11:48:15 GMT
Great write up Neil . You definitely got the weather too . I will be doing that ride at some stage , it looks awesome Are you planning to do it as part of the forum ride as well Ste ? |
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Post by steormy on Apr 10, 2015 11:50:27 GMT
Great write up Neil . You definitely got the weather too . I will be doing that ride at some stage , it looks awesome Are you planning to do it as part of the forum ride as well Ste ? Depends on the date Neil . I'm still hoping for Glentress at the end of July and can't do the June date |
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Post by hodgy on Apr 10, 2015 11:56:18 GMT
Still got Glentress in the diary too...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 18:05:58 GMT
Awesome stuff Hodgy - feckin awesome.
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Post by timbo on Apr 16, 2015 21:20:28 GMT
Been on the cards for a while this, looks good. Did you strava it or anything, would be good to see exactly where it goes?
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Post by hodgy on Apr 16, 2015 23:21:37 GMT
No Tim ...I don't do Strava ( in my case it would be a waste of time!) lol
I think Andy Rutter has a link on the original " Cumbria " thread though ..as well as a vid ..
If you need anything else I can do a route description...
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Post by andyr on Apr 17, 2015 3:18:10 GMT
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Post by kirky72 on Apr 17, 2015 6:09:34 GMT
Cheers that site is very good, nice map and simple directions to go with my Garmin route.
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but deffo hitting the trails tomorrow.
