Prompted by the 'lost my appetite' thread, I'm in the same boat. Been doing largely road riding and some running this year.
Can anyone suggest a good south lakes route of about 30-40km that isn't that technical but has plenty flow to it? I habitually gravitate to Staveley, Kentmere but fancy something different. Not interested in trail centres, more old school XC routes as my gnarr skills are a bit rusty at the minute.
Stuff around Blawith Common and Torver. Maybe a version of the Tour of Coniston from Pedal North that doesn't go over Walna Scar. About the same level of difficulty as the stuff around Staveley/Longsleddale/Kentmere
As above - Tour of Coniston sounds perfect. Start at High Cross Grizedale, head south to Nibthwaite via Parkamoor, across to Woodland Fell from Blawith, then up to Torver. Then climb to meet Walna Scar halfway before dropping to Coniston (you can miss out the road descent by turning east when you get to the car park and following the BW down (trickier)). Then alongside the 593 towards Tilberthwaite, then across Oxen Fell, Knipe Fold, back to High Cross.
The only technical bits are some short sections on the Nibthwaite descent, but nothing as tricky as Garburn.
About 26 miles in old money.
Thanks Whitestone. Broughton Moor through the Stephenson Ground is exactly the kind of thing I'm thinking of.
Cheers Martin. My only reservation is that I'll get going and decide to do Walna against my better judgement!
I'm a shit rider and managed it OK last weekend!
If you can get down Garburn in one piece you'll get down Walna with no problems.
I last did Walna about 5 years ago - just before the sanitisation of the eastern side I think so would probably be fine. Just a bit rusty.
Parkamoor to Nibthwaite will de-rust you nicely.
So I took your advice. Today was the perfect day for it. Dry trails, cracking weather and no-one about. Did the Tour de Coniston that Martinhutch recommended. Despite having wheels that are too small,gears that are too numerous and bars that are too narrow, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Admittedly I started early but was surprised that over 27 miles of classic lakeland routes I didn't see another MTBer. Plenty roadies looking stoic enough for a Rapha catalogue.
Yours, de-rusted, SP
Nice. Good day for it!