me & couple of pals are wanting to do lady bower,any one got any routes starting points etc?

I did this route http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/ladybower-loop last year and it’s one of the best biking days I’ve ever had. Was pretty hard work but can’t wait to have another go!!

I find that riding around the reservoir itself to be wonderful,very picturesque and thoroughly enjoyable.

How hard/easy is the lake ride time/distance etc?

If you just do the reservoirs north of the A57 it’s 15 miles and fairly easy going. see link
http://www.peakdistrictinformation.com/outdoors/cycle0.php

However, there is so much good riding around here it would be a shame not to pack in some nice downhill xc riding while your there..

Have a look in this thread I started last week, some good suggestions:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/peaks-routes

I’ve only ridden this with the family, but we’ve done it many times. Around the upper reservoirs from Fairholmes (the visitor centre signposted off the A57) is easy, we usually eat pies at the kiosk, and then ride partway around the lower reservoir, cutting back across the a57. It’s a little under 20 easy miles. Adding a bit more is going right around the lower reservoir, but this does mean a short ride back along the A57.

I’ve always wanted to do some of the more technical trails as well, I’ve walked most of them. You can ride up to Lockerbrook from the Bridge end carpark,on the road (west) side of the Derwent valley, lovely views down to the lake, and not too difficult looking a trail. On the east side you can ride up the field to Whinstone Tor – easy to miss the bridleway, it starts beside a gate at the top of a small climb – and down to the Ladybower Inn.

Lots of this can be muddy, and if you are aiming to go on a nice day in a weekend, parking can be difficult after 11 am

I expect the conditions around hope to be really good at the moment

This is a good map covering Ladybower http://www.bikemaps.co.uk/ladybower.htm

or this but ride it clockwise http://sillygrin.co.uk/routes/LadybowerClassicFig8.pdf