More questions about the Borrowdale Bash…

Whatever happened about the Manesty Bridleway issues?[/url] Is it still ok riding on there?

Also, what’s a “good” total time to get all the way round?

Oh, and where’s best to park in Keswick at 6am on a Sunday?

Swimming pool road or in the old railway siding area nearby.

red tyres?

red tyres??

ffs. No wonder they’re trying to keep cyclists off.

Keswick parking, around Fitz Park/swimming pool IIRC.

Whatever happened about the Manesty Bridleway issues?

There was a public meeting a few months ago where ‘both sides’ presented their arguments for and against a change in designation. The chap from the Park Authority was particularly good in the ‘for’ camp, whilst the objectors came across as fairly angry and irrational. Not heard anything since.

I’d not let it stop you anyway – it’s a foolish historical anomaly and needs to be ignored 🙂

The issue’s are only in one persons head really, everyone still rides it.

Time wise, depends if you include the extra bits. But with all the extra stuff takes us a couple of hours on a night ride with nee stops.

We always park by the portinscale suspension bridge as its free and never busy in the morning or evening.

Thanks.

By “extra bits” anc, do you mean Walla Crags and the trail up the side of Watendlath Beck?
2 hours sounds pretty fast!

Yep. Its our default ride living just down the road, once you know all the lines you can wiz through it. 😉

Its a few years since I’ve done the loop. After spending last wednesday over there doing the 4-pass ride, I can’t wait for another chance (its my birthday so my missus has given me a morning’s worth of free brownie points to go riding!)

Last time it took us about 5 hours in total, including at least one big crash and several pinch punctures…

Enjoy you should have it practically to yourself as its the Whinlatter challenge this sunday so every man(lady 😳 ) and his dog will be up there standing in a queue.

Yep. Its our default ride living just down the road

is jealous

Varies depending on weather and the group. I’ve done it on my own in 90 minutes, equally I’ve had rides round there that have taken all day!

Must do that route again soon, it’s one of my favourites.

It got one of my favorite technical rocky descents somewhere round it.

Standing in a queue @ Whinlatter on Sun, with Mon off work for this… know which I’m looking forward to more 🙂

Ha! I did the Whinlatter challenge last year. It was sh!t.

Supposed to be up there this weekend for my birthday (and I love the Borrowdale Bash) but now recovering from a broken collarbone, which I think I could probably ride with, but not fall off on.

Ir Bandito – what didn’t you like about the Whinlatter Challenge? Was it the fact that you forgot to put your lights on your bike? If it takes you five hours to do the Borrowdale Bash, you’ll have been lucky to finish the Challenge in daylight, were you not?

16 miles of the Borrowdale bash in 90 mins is pretty impressive….

Solo, with walla crags minus watendlath path under 3 hrs

The problem with the Whinlatter Challenge is I was expecting something along the lines of the Dyfi Enduro, but potentially better due to a higher entry fee. Unfortunately, it wasn’t anywhere near as good. I challenge you to find anyone who’s done both to disagree with me.

As for the time, I say 5 hours. It could have been 3, it could have 7. It was in a previous life and my mind has been addled with sleep depravation, nappies and cbeebies since then.

Standing in a queue @ Whinlatter

If you are faster up the first climb you don’t have to queue!

If you are faster up the first climb you don’t have to queue!

I meant for the jet wash after lap 3 😉

thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.

Spent a very sunny morning riding round the Bash today and grinning from ear to ear 😀

Included Walla Crags, Watendlath Beck, cleaning the descent off Puddingstone Bank for the first time, Frith Wood (although ended up coming down the black dotted track according to my GPS, not the bridleway), found the permissive bike path up from Seatoller, embarrassing fall-off above Scaleclose due to fiddling with afore-mentioned GPS, only a couple of dabs on the climb up from Manesty, surprisingly few people on Catbells Terrace and finishing with the mega-cheek through Fawe Park.

’twas brilliant. Everyone we met was happy to be out (except the grumpy buggers nearer to Keswick)

Happy days….

Do you fancy sticking the gps track up

Will do. I’ll get it on my PC in the next day or 2.

There’s a slight gap where it froze and stopped recording, but its fairly obvious.

Saw a big group with nice bikes pushing up from the road at Manesty while I was picnicking with the kids yesterday. I told my kids that they were all being lazy and the section was easily rideable…obviously now I understand they were just conscientiously sticking to the ROW… 😳

That next little section climbing above the woods looks tough to do cleanly with all those rooty steps.

What a day though. Surprised I didn’t see more riders out.

Martin – there was just 2 of us, we got overtaken by a bunch of 3 when we were heading up the Watendlath track and they were on the road. Bumped into them again above Seatoller as they came down from Honister. Fast guys, but kneepads and lycra is NOT a good look!

I know the Hexham Bike Shop guys were over there later in the day, so it could have been them you saw. They were aiming for 10am start from Keswick, so that would match up with lunch time. perhaps.

As for the Manesty trail, I dabbed going up the first big step, and had to carry over 2 of the steps behind the wall (the last big root and the one after) but otherwise was really impressed with myself. 🙂

I noticed aswell, there’s a permitted bike path down through the woods here, at Manesty Park which will avoid the footpath issue. Where does it come out?

I noticed aswell, there’s a permitted bike path down through the woods here, at Manesty Park which will avoid the footpath issue. Where does it come out?

Just a little up the road from where you turned off at the pink houses ir_bandito. It’s National Trust land…not as good a climb or descent as the more popular route.

One other alternative for the future – instead of turning right and taking the bridleway around the terrace at Catbells, head straight up onto Hause Gate. There’s an easy but fun descent down the Little Town side, but the better option is to turn around and head back down the way you came. One of the best descents around Keswick.

I’ve walked down there parkedtiger, lots of steps at the top.
Think I’ll save it for a much quieter time than 11am on a sunny saturday…

philfive – email me for the gps

track image:

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Borrowdale Bash[/url] by ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr