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Post by hodgy on Feb 24, 2016 17:19:48 GMT
Got a txt from Colin on the way to the ride to say he was going to be late..and would try to catch us further in to it.. unfortunately that didn't happen ..but he still managed a route himself and we caught up at the end for coffee & cake! In the meantime Ian , Graham , Russell , Dave & myself set off initially along the Lakeside Way to cut off at Lewisburn onto the Lonesome Pine trail ..highlight of which was the newly maintained section ( Oliver's Oscar ) where Ian &Russell had been cracking on and have produced a trail that just runs so sweet now ..well done fellas ! Once at the end of this Russell called it a day ..between splitting his time trailbuilding and dry stone walling on his farm ...the bloke was just totally knackered and proved that he is human after all ..the remaining four of us did some of Deadwater before heading back to Ian's shop where we met up with Russell & Colin . Dave & myself took the sensible option of joining Colin & Russell over in the Castle cafe ..while Ian & Graham decided on doing a section of the Osprey trail ... Great little ride, great company ..only 15 miles ...but it feels longer ! The lads ..just prior to turning off the Lakeside Way onto the Lonesome Pine Trail  Russell on the LP  Dave T ..looking happy ..Graham waiting for his turn  Wating for the boys atop of Skyspace ..I went a different way to see which was quicker ..first time in my life that I arrived somewhere first !  A view of Kielder Water over the treetops  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2016 17:24:16 GMT
Looks like you had a good one - and a damn sight drier that our mudfest!
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Post by glynnsixo on Feb 24, 2016 18:03:33 GMT
beautiful day for a ride today, not for me iv been in bed half the day. the slop and bog is drying out again, and further dry weather is forecast..........yesssss!
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Post by gramish on Feb 24, 2016 22:20:36 GMT
Dave & myself took the sensible option of joining Colin & Russell over in the Castle cafe ..while Ian & Graham decided on doing a section of the Osprey trail ... Part timers... but thanks for your company on some of it...  And t'was such a glorious day, seemed a shame to waste any of it  And it seems to be looking dry for Ae on Saturday.. so your weather forecast could be off to a good start Glynn.. are you auditioning for Springwatch?  |
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Post by cbm on Feb 24, 2016 23:13:30 GMT
What's a lost hour between friends! Big discussion as to how we did not meet around 11 30 at Skyspace - well turns out your 11:30 should have read 12:30 - by which time I had had my sleep in the sun - in Feb in Northumberland - not kidding! and went on my lonesome way waving goodbye to the trail of the same name Did the down to Keilder then the green to tackle the horrendous climb from the road to 3 dog climb new trails then top of Deadwater Had forgotten just how fantastic the down from there to Kielder was Getting to be a bit of a habit chaps that pints are being replaced by coffee and food - must be part of growing old!
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Post by hodgy on Feb 25, 2016 4:24:02 GMT
Where it all went wrong was in the fact that there is no phone signal in vast swathes of Kielder..and that instead of parking your car at the shop ( where Kevin would have told you what time we had actually set off ) ..you parked at the observatory car park at the bottom of that hill ... So our eta was doomed from the start ...
Still we did meet up for the important bit at the end ! Haha
Hope you can still make Ae ...let me know if you want that lift ...
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Post by davet on Feb 25, 2016 8:30:26 GMT
It was good to get out again but I fear my bike fitness has diminished over the winter, suppose only having done 30 miles in the last 3 months can't be too surprised.
Kielder really is a trail centre that is improving with all the recent maintenance. And being rather remote is definitely far from the crowds, were so lucky up here in Northumberland.
Good to see everyone, hope you can make Ae Colin. Meet at the car park by the cafe.
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Post by gramish on Feb 25, 2016 9:05:12 GMT
I was feeling like that until the start of February. I can say that for me missing two weeks completely is enough to set me way back, and the only way I really feel like I'm making progress is getting out more than once a week. I'm perfectly happy to just spin out for 8 or 10 miles from my back door on the roads, which are plenty steep enough to be useful. I can get changed, whip round Fallowfield, Codlaw, Hangmans Hill, Fawcetthill, Oakwood etc in any order I fancy (adding in one or two BW's if dryish) and be back and changed in hour and a half. The day rides still hurt more than they were before winter, but I know it's coming back. And the evenings are about to get much lighter soon.. yesss!
You'll soon get fitness back Dave, but I think it'll be much longer 'til I'll be able to rail those tight bermy bits as fast and smoothly as you were yesterday. I was close to your wheel on the peddally bits but you shot away from me when it got tight and steep.
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Post by Marmite on Feb 25, 2016 11:26:30 GMT
Looks like you had fun |
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Post by barffy on Feb 25, 2016 12:16:52 GMT
That rock garden looks good!
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Post by hodgy on Feb 25, 2016 12:46:23 GMT
Barfy ..I was reading that thinking rock garden ..what rock garden !?
Then I had a look at the pics again ..if it's what I think you mean ..then sorry to disappoint but that is just the entrance to Skyspace ..an " art work " on the way up to the observatory ...I have never seen anyone attempt riding that although I'm sure there will be riders out there who can ..
If on the other hand if you mean that very minimalist rock garden that Russel is getting a bit of "air "on ( one rock ) ..then big LOL...but there are some decent examples at Kielder
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Post by barffy on Feb 25, 2016 13:06:52 GMT
The pic that the bike is leaning up a huge pile? Someone must have tried it! I disappointed now I thought it was some mega feature!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 13:15:49 GMT
I thought the same - I was picturing what line you'd take to get down it and then I thought - you've been MTB'ing too long. 5 years ago that would just have been 'a wall' - now it's a 'Black Rock garden feature'  |
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Post by Jimbo on Feb 25, 2016 13:21:57 GMT
can't wait to ride around kielder
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Post by gramish on Feb 25, 2016 19:34:41 GMT
The pic that the bike is leaning up a huge pile? Someone must have tried it! I disappointed now I thought it was some mega feature! Don't worry mate, I've only been riding Kielder for 3 years or so but I saw that photo and thought the same.. or more like "where the feck is that, i'm sure I've not ridden that".. but now it seems like the challenge has been opened. Better keep it quiet from the VisitKielder artscape project tho'. |
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