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Post by hodgy on Oct 24, 2016 15:34:36 GMT
In case you are wondering where this is ...it's a North Lakeland ride accessed from the A66 after turning off the M6 at Penrith travelling towards Keswick ..it's in the shadow of Blencathra .
The other thing you should know is that it's a ride to tempt my northeastern biking buddies back onto their bikes if they have recovered from their colds / flu..and as such could be a fairly short ride .
The first 5km is a there and back to Bowscale Tarn ..what happens after that is dependent on how folks are faring and how naughty they wish to be and has a large dose of exploration attached on tracks that bikes aren't supposed to be on ..but having researched them on the Geograph website they look good to excellent ..but hell I've been wrong before (lol!).
So no guarantees ...but I may well check some of this out prior to Saturday.
The other reason for getting out this weekend is that we start losing daylight hours with the clocks going back ..
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Post by kirky72 on Oct 24, 2016 18:22:54 GMT
So close to keswick it's a shame not to do ants bowderdale bash. Cracking ride that is. I'd be tempted up for that again but not too sure about an experimental route.
I hope it turns into a good one so you can show us another time when it's tried and tested.
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Post by hodgy on Oct 24, 2016 19:31:33 GMT
I'm hoping it works out too John...and if so would definitely get you lads up to do it ...
There are a few different options so it may take one or two visits to piece together the best route ..but discovering new stuff through exploration is something I really like doing ..especially when it's very naughty!
I will let you know !
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Post by windysurfer on Oct 24, 2016 19:39:04 GMT
Quite fancy this, wife's on nights and I've never ridden round this area of the Lakes so may join you.
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Post by hodgy on Oct 24, 2016 19:41:10 GMT
Good stuff Gaz...I will keep in touch as things pan out over the week .
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Post by hodgy on Oct 26, 2016 8:15:05 GMT
Just heard from Dave & Jean ..and although Dave is still suffering from a cold it's on the mend so they are hoping to make the ride ...
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Post by hodgy on Oct 27, 2016 20:21:29 GMT
Please meet to start the ride by 10.00 ..so between 9.30 & 9.45
Grid ref NY 357 319.
Thats the bridge on the outskirts of Mosedale.
Ta.
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Post by windysurfer on Oct 27, 2016 20:31:18 GMT
Be rude not too, see you then  |
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Post by hodgy on Oct 29, 2016 4:16:45 GMT
I know that this might be a bit late in the day ...but ..I meant to say that having " scouted " part of this ride the other day with Russell & Colin ..there are parts of the trail where the floods of last year have caused major erosion particularly on the first part of the ride where it has disappeared completely into the river..wet feet are inevitable as we have to cross the river twice ..if you have them please wear sealskin socks or similar ..and pack a spare pair or two anyway to change into on the ride if things get cold.
The short diversions on these sections are also a bit squelchy and unrideable with a bike push to get over them .
The climbing on this first loop is rewarded with a 20-30 min descent the last part of which is on the trail we came up on (so wet feet again) ..but worth it !
Doing both loops gives a 20 mile ride approx..with a fair bit of height gain ( and loss!) on both loops ..you will know you have had a ride despite the relatively short distance..but it's good !
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Post by kirky72 on Oct 29, 2016 7:41:14 GMT
You are an early bird again.
Sounds like a follow up to my wife's favourite Monday night rom com, is wet feet instead of cold feet.
Also reminds me that I still have a pair of gazs (marmites) sealskins.
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Post by hodgy on Oct 29, 2016 17:52:22 GMT
That was fantastic ...love it when you take a stab in the dark ..and things work out ..will write some more tomorrow and add some pics ..but for now many thanks to Dave,Jean and Gaz ...the latter especially so for the apres ride drink..
For now though I've just got in to be reminded that we are going to a 60th birthday commiseration..all I want to do is lie down !
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Post by windysurfer on Oct 29, 2016 18:32:12 GMT
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Post by davet on Oct 29, 2016 19:40:51 GMT
What a great day, probably one of the best days on a bike for a long time. As Gaz said a little bit of everything but a lot of sublime trails so much fun. Many thanks to Neil, Gaz and Jean. Cheers for the drink afterwards Gaz and the nuts, still feel guilty about those!!!!
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Post by glynnsixo on Oct 29, 2016 20:01:40 GMT
Niiice!
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Post by hodgy on Oct 30, 2016 9:38:15 GMT
"Don't be fooled by the stats ..it was a tough ride "..says Gaz. It was that and then some ..! There was a time on the second ( un-scouted) part of the ride where I was in full apology mode as the bridleway was so rough it had probably never seen a horse in it's entire creation ..and although I knew there was going to be a lengthy descent and the pics I had seen looked good ..major doubts were creeping in ! I needn't have worried though because it turned out to be an absolute belter and almost dispelled the pain of getting there ! No pics of this section as all agreed that if you want to see just how good you are going to have to get there yourselves..but it was so long that Windy called a halt half way down to cool his brakes ... We also picked up a ghost rider who appeared out of nowhere at warp speed and gave no warning of his presence ..didn't see it myself but Dave & Gaz said he nearly came to grief passing them and landing a jump all wrong ..the idiot! Definitely a ride that will be revisited as a top Lakeland ride ..but maybe not before winter has passed ..we will see.. Some pics..      This is the start of the "off road " on the second part of the ride..starts off well enough on some distressed tarmac ..but lulls you in to a false sense of comfort....we are aiming for that blip on the horizon which is the bothy hut on Lingy Hill  It soon turns into an utter slog following Grainsgill Beck     Eventually though the track joins something that is rideable again and the hut is reached ..as bothy's go though it's bleak inside ..  Looking back down to Mosedale ..with Penrith in the far distance..  And that my friends is where the story ends ..to find the mountain bike descent you have been missing all of your life ..you will just have to get there yourself ! |
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Post by windysurfer on Oct 30, 2016 19:17:03 GMT
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Post by glynnsixo on Oct 30, 2016 19:39:48 GMT
excellent. seems like its been a good summer for lakes riding
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Post by hodgy on Oct 30, 2016 20:24:39 GMT
Very clever tool that Gaz ...
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Post by hodgy on Oct 31, 2016 6:51:40 GMT
Just a trivial thought but it just occurred to me ..there was something bothering me about that bothy hut that I couldn't quite work out at the time ..
It was bolted from the outside ..with no access to them from the inside..so anyone passing could lock you in there if they so desired ...
I wondered why there was so many bones lying around....
N.B...most bothy huts have a sliding mechanism accessed from both sides..
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