A day to ride between Windermere and Leeds this Sunday - but where?

also should add  - muscle powered bike!

Am i missing somethign obvious

yes

If you've not done anything in the Lakes before, I'd recommend some proper mountains rather than a trail centre. My go to suggestion is starting in Glenridding and doing Helvellyn via Keppel Cove, Dollywagon Pike, Grisedale Tarn.

There's Riding the Wainrights thread here with lots of tales of big days out for further inspiration.

Mark's right. 

When I looked at your list I was trying to convince myself that you meant Grizedale wider area rather than the TC, but the rest of the list does suggest TC.

Anyway, I've been meaning to get back out with new groups/people so would be up for driving up from Manchester to show you around.

Could do some of the excellent bridleways in Grizedale, some 3 passes stuff or some proper gnarr either side of Nan Beild if you want. Or Loughrigg or.....

<Edit to say that Mark's Dollywaggon suggestion is also an excellent one  IF your understanding of techie single-track aligns with his... He is a very skilled rider and that is a proper techie route.>

also should add - muscle powered bike

👍

What's your position on the use of footpaths?

thanks Mark, i've done one weekend in the lakes years ago, but cant remember a thing.  Was trying to avoid going further north from where i am which rules out some of those options, though they do look quite inspiring!

Posted by: thegeneralist

↑

also should add - muscle powered bike

👍

What's your position on the use of footpaths?

Posted by: thegeneralist

↑

Mark's right. 

When I looked at your list I was trying to convince myself that you meant Grizedale wider area rather than the TC, but the rest of the list does suggest TC.

Anyway, I've been meaning to get back out with new groups/people so would be up for driving up from Manchester to show you around.

Could do some of the excellent bridleways in Grizedale, some 3 passes stuff or some proper gnarr either side of Nan Beild if you want. Or Loughrigg or.....

 

<Edit to say that Mark's Dollywaggon suggestion is also an excellent one  IF your understanding of techie single-track aligns with his... He is a very skilled rider and that is a proper techie route.>

I suppose to put into context, im off on a road trip to Canada in Sept to find Remmys trails!! - Would be very open to hooking up if that's on for Sunday?  Will go wherever a guide exists!

Get yourself over to the dales bike centre in Grinton, near Reeth.

There is everything you need and plenty of gpx files and videos to check out. And that's just from me 😁

I don't have access to PMs any more, so not sure how to contact you.

The 3 passes starting from Staveley is hard but a classic. There's definitely a singletrack route guide or two but I've no idea where they are on the site now.

https://lakesmtb.co.uk/routes/staveley-3-passes/

A much easier alternative in the dales would be to start at Hetton, North over Thresfield moor to half way up Mastiles Lane. From there head to Malham tarn before heading over to Arncliffe Cote. Road down to the bottom of Mastiles lane by Kilnsey, up that and across to Weets top before descending back to Hetton. That gives about 40km and 1000m of climbing with a couple of pubs and cafes on the route along with plenty of nice scenery.

Much prefer the abridged version of the 3 passes which cuts out the shit descent down Gatesgarth and replaces it with the awesome descent to Nan Bied....

https://flic.kr/p/2kWcnb1

I would take thegeneralist's kind offer but failing that I'd try and find a Bingley local to show you around. Lots of fun trails in a small area with climbs that work well without an eeb.

@thegeneralist - i have a public profile out in the wild so dont mind my number being up - its 07714203029 can you whatsapp/txt?  👍

Contact!

See you Sunday morning.

If anyone who hasn't been out in the lakes much fancies joining us then shout.

Plan is a mountain ride with a fair bit of gnadgery tech.

I'm not sure I'm capable of gnadgery or tech. I'm not even sure I know what gnadgery is... 

Although a day out in the Lakes sounds good but I have no car at present so I guess it depends on how easy it is for you to give me a lift from Manchester! 

Hey James, long time no see 👍

Usually it would be easy, but my van is borked so I'll be in the (small) car which means two bikes max. Son2 says he might be coming along too possibly but won't decide till tomorrow. I'll know tomorrow and let you know. 

what gnadgery is..

I find it a bit difficult to quantify but the words used earlier were " stuff that you look at and say I'm not going down that" ( but then hopefully do 90% of the time)

There'll defo be a bit of walking up  and the odd stretch of walking down if things go to plan. Basically a very different ride to wot we did in Hayfield all those years ago.

Not quite decided if it'll be this

https://flic.kr/p/2oEBLTP

This

https://flic.kr/p/2oEo3Rr

And that

https://flic.kr/p/2oEqYxE

Or...

https://flic.kr/p/2nU1c9r this

This

https://flic.kr/p/2nU6saV

And that

And that

https://flic.kr/p/2oEqYxE

Or...

https://flic.kr/p/2nU1c9r  

This

https://flic.kr/p/2nU6saV

And that

This

https://flic.kr/p/2nU6saV

1. Fantastic day today out at the Lakes, with a route fabulously put together by thegeneralist, really enjoyed the nadgery exposure.  Weather was good too .  Thank you thegeneralist!

I'm crap a posting pics but I'm sure they'll appear by magic 😜 

Posted by: Sui

↑

I'm crap a posting pics but I'm sure they'll appear by magic 😜 

I've seen some pics and video on his Strava. Looks a nice day out!

It was very good, but I have to admit to having been found utterly wanting.  I've never opened such a small proportion of gates since the first time I rode with Continuity. I walked loads, but at least I walked  without too much faff and the ride seemed to  be pitched at the right level.

Totally makes me want to get back into mountain biking. 

I feel a trip to Torridon might be in order.

How does Yoke, Ill Bell compare to the Harter variation?

1. How does Yoke, Ill Bell compare to the Harter variation?

I was pondering most of that of Saturday...

According to OSApp Yoke is 350m less ascent and 6 km shorter.

I reckon Yoke has more bang for buck. The descent to NB from Harter Fell is brilliant, but relatively short. The mirror descent from Mardale is not quite as good nor hard, but you've also got the insane descent from Ill Bell and the descent from Yoke and Froswick to add as well. Between them they include loads of tricky little sections that make it much more techie overall.

Fair enough you also have the Garburn East descent if you do Harter (2.5 passes as I call it) but..... whilst it is a brilliant descent as  bridleways go it isn't as good as the other stuff.

One thing that got drummed into me again this time is that the descent from Ill Bell has * huge* consequences. It's obvious as you drop in that the path is sketchy, steep and that the ground drops away beneath it; but it's only looking back from the next hill that you see just how close, steep and high the cliffs underneath it are. If you took a high speed tumble here then it has the potential to be very bad.

The picture on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ill_Bell shows it quite well. You can see the path going towards the summit from the right hand side of the frame, but what's not obvious is that it doesn't summit on the right  but rather crosses under the trig point/ cairn and reaches the horizon line to the left. Basically it passes directly above those huge cliffs. Caveat Volvor

Sui styled it no problem:

The chap after him  not so much. Luckily he fell onto the path  but still a scary moment

https://flic.kr/p/2s8xmLH  

https://flic.kr/p/2s8xmLH

Ngggggg