Sunday Group Ride

Sunday morning and back to normal after all the holidays etc with the usual group, Richard, Dean, Rob, Dave and Phil. We met at Wildeswood Car park.

The route took us by the iron lamp path towards Two Lads, but we cut off or the mast road before getting to Two Lads. We then went along the edge of the ridge towards Scout Road and Walker Fold, along the road and then up towards Coalpits Road. We diverted off the usual ascent to have a look at the lake (actually a reservoir) that used to supply water to the Barrow Bridge Mill. This lake is not well known and is only really visible as its reached. It’s a nice spot and has fantastic views over Bolton and Manchester. From there up Coalpits to the mast and down the cheeky trail to Belmont. Phil took off down the trail and left us all for dead, arriving a full three minutes before the rest of us!

At the bottom of the cheeky trail we met up with some guys who were out testing Scott carbon bikes, all very impressive, they were with Alan’s Bikes of Wigan.

From Belmont we found a path up by the right hand side of the road, which proved to be a bit wet and muddy, also we had to pass a bull which provided some light relief! Then to the top of the pass, along Belmont Road to Georges Lane, a quick trip up to the Pike and then home.

It was great to be back out with the group after a few solitary rides.

Sports Tracker said 25 miles, see the plot HERE

Yorkshire Dales

Took a drive up to Askrigg which is in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. The route is a circular route that I chose to start at Askrigg. There was nowhere to park in the village, so a small layby had o suffice, a few hundred meters from the village centre. Normally I don't like to drive to ride somewhere, I like to ride right from the door, but anyway it's a nice drive up the M6 via Sedburgh. The whole of the route is ridable, the first leg included a long climb on a green road, and I mean green, a carpet of grass for the most of the way. There is a long easy decent from the top to Thoralby, really nice, with a few technical sections is Aysgarth Falls . There is a cafe and tea room at the falls in the National Park Centre, which is where I had lunch, the weather was excellent around 20 degrees and sunshine all day. From Aysgarth there is a climb up to Bolton Castle, another tea room there!. The next section back to Askrigg is via green roads and stone tracks, all dry and as I say ridable, not last weeks sortie to the Lakes.

See the Sports Tracker route and a few photographs HERE

I knew when I set out that it was going to be a tough day, but I didn't know how tough!

I left Staveley around 09.30 on a figure of eight route. My plan took me from the village, up to the top of Garburn Pass, and down to Kentmere. This first part was fine, good riding, steep ascent, but more or less ridable all the way except for a couple of short pushes. The descent into Kentmere is brilliant, steep and rocky all the way down. Stopped for a sandwich and drink half way down the next section from Kentmere to Sadgill was also fine, a bit muddy and an indistinct trail. The next climb took me up by the side of Buckbarrow Crag, the bridleway is very old and seems to have built by placing massive flat stones on edge, so the effect is really bumpy and where it was very steep not possible to ride. So it was a very long push to the top of the next pass, Gatesgath. From there down to Dudderwick, no respite, the next climb was to the top of Nan Bield Pass, a major undertaking for me, coming after what had come earlier, it ended up a very long push and carry to the top, all 3 miles of it. In some places this trail is almost vertical, climbing up great rock steps. At the top is supposed to be the start of 14 miles of “classic singletrack”, I didn't seem to find it, the first section was very steep, and being so far from the car and on my own I took it very carefully, when it levelled out and it was possible to ride, it seemed that every 20 metres there was a deep stone drain, about 600 mm deep and for me impossible to ride over. The last few miles were easy enough, and through beautiful countryside, but was by now too tired to appreciate it.

Back in Staveley I wanted to have a look at the famous Wilf's Cafe, when I got there there was some kind of beer festival going on outside, there were lots of fatties with big bellies hanging out in the sunshine, I just rode past, back to the car and home. Bought a very large cup of tea at Forton, with lots of sugar!

I used my phone with Sports Tracker, unfortunately the battery went flat, but anyway I was quite impressed with the result. You can have a look HERE

Iron Man

Got up very early, leaving the house at 4.30 to get to the start of the Iron Man Competition at Rivington. The start was 6.00 am, with a 2.4 mile swim, then 112 miles on the bikes and finally a marathon to finish. I think about 1700 took part. At 6.00 am there weren’t very many spectators, a few hundred I suppose. The swimming start was good as it’s a mass start, soon thinned out though, difficult to see much, swimmers too far away.
Rode up to the summit of Belmont Road off road to catch up to the riders as they crested the summit, there were all shapes and sizes and indeed all different ages, there are some over 70’s in the comp. Interesting to see the different bikes, from all carbon to ancient garden shed models!
Watched for a while then got out my stove and pans and cooked my breakfast, it was freezing in the wind at 7.00 am! Rode back along Belmont Road, then to the Pike for a short loop and back home by 10.30.

Ladybower Loop - Again

We tried the Ladybower Loop again today, though in different weather conditions than the last time. Instead of sun and dry trails we had rain and a lot of mud! Just myself and Dean today, parked the car at the Ladybower Visitor Centre and made our way up the trail. Its a great ride no matter what the weather. We had a coffee break at Derwent Visitor Centre before the big forest climb and then decent to the Snake Road. The long downhill into Aston is fantastic, a green path with a few technical bits thrown in. A short stop for a puncture and then back the car, altogether about 18 miles.
Photos show me and Dean crossing the river, which is actually the trail and Dean at the side of Derwent Reservoir.

Sunday 5th July

We arranged to meet later than usual on Sunday, with an idea to ride around Tockholes, though on the way after being caught in a thunderstorm, we decided to stay local around Rivington. After the usual start and riding down to the mast road, Dean hit a water bar on the trail the wrong way, next second he was over the bars and hit the ground just behind me. These water bars are to be treated with respect they are made from granite sets and don’t seem too dangerous, but they are set at an angle to the trail. Anyway that was the end of the ride for Dean, the bike had damaged bars and Dean had multiple minor injuries, so he retired back to Horwich, at least it was downhill!
For the rest of us it was business as usual, around and about Rivington on the trails, up Coalpits,Road down to Belmont Road over the top, across to Leadmines, on to Anglezarke Reservoir, back to Rivington, up the alternative ICR and over to Wallsuches and then home. 30 miles.

Saturday 4th July

Airport Loop
Very early morning start to do a loop around Manchester Airport, not exactly a full loop as to get there and back I have to use the same Route 55 to Monton and back, but at least a circle around the airport, there is an airport orbital loop signposted. Made use of the Bridgewater Canal towpath till Sale Water Park, then part of the Transpennine Trail. The total route is 54 miles, The canal path from Streford to Sale is being upgraded and should be good when it’s finished.
Still experimenting with my semi-camping breakfasts, this time tried macaroni cheese as you can see, still not 100% satisfactory, will try something else next time,
A good ride in great weather and back home by 11.00 am!