Our North Wales plans have been scuppered by man flu so need to come up with a trip to Lakes from Jan 2-6.
Any tips on: places to stay, big rides to do, and where to hire bikes (I'm assuming our 100 mm full sus x-country bikes would be a little overwhelmed??)
Thanks for any help.
Alan
Nowt wrong with your bikes.
Depends on what sort of riding you're after, there's loads of natural trails and a couple of decent trail centres (especially Whinlatter)
Both trail centres have bike hire and there are other shops in the Lakes that hire should you need it.
Lots of good routes from Ambleside, Biketreks do route cards.
Don't worry about the bikes, the hills are the same hills that we all rode before any suspension at all.
Bikes are fine, ambleside is fairly central.
Bikes will be fine unless or perhaps ideal, depending on what you end up doing. Although Bike Treks has demo bikes I don't think anyone has a FS hire fleet
Routes
I have done the Borrowdale Bash (although as part of other rides) and would recomend it. I was on a 80mm travel hard tail and I'm certain the week link was me
Locate yourselves centralish. Keswick or Ambleside
The shops or a book will provide all the advice you need
We'll be up there that week too. I go prepared for everything from winter climbing to mtb trail centre pootling, as you never know what the weather will be like. Whinlatter in the snow is good fun.
Keswick is great at that time of year, busy, but very festive.
Borrowdale Bash doesnt climb up too high, so should be OK. If you're in Keswick, then there are good routes around Skiddaw that will be perfect for your bikes (and you can ride up to Whinlatter leaving the cars behind).
Grizedale forest trail centre gives you really good man made and off piste options if you're prepared to look around a bit.
Big mountains could be out of bounds if the snow and/or wind comes like it has the last few years, but you'll have a great time whatever you do.