Tucker & Dale vs Evil
Bill & Ted!

A little further South in Bedale is this place which has a small soft play centre which we sometimes stop at https://www.bigsheeplittlecow.co.uk
Alternatively if you can push on to Gateshead this place is just off the A1. https://www.thegiantsden.co.uk/home.html Then pop over to the M6 via the A69 and call in here
https://www.walbyfarmpark.co.uk or one of the many places to visit on the wall like The Sill visitor centre.

They email you. Just checked the big winners list and I’m not on it. It’s sooooo unfair.

Pair of Airwalks from sports direct? That’s what I get my kids.

#101.

Thanks for doing this.

Eventually, yes.

Probably not before your car though:

2019-01-29_11-16-35

If you’ve got a camper they let you stay in the upper car park overnight now (cost £10 and they do check) – I was there a couple of weeks ago and the Anglers Arms were advertising free overnight camper parking if you eat in the pub. Worth a call?

But would’ve thought these were being used for the event?

http://www.visitkielder.com/visit/know-before-you-go
https://anglersarms.business.site/

Get on Facebook and search for ‘tyne valley mtb cycling’. They’re heading out on Sunday am from Hexham and are a friendly bunch who’ll be glad to show you around.

A long time ago my wife didn’t believe me when I said what would happen if I ate sprouts. I ate 1. I’ve been banned from ever eating them again which is fine with me as I don’t like them.

May I introduce you to Highfell events?

Welcome to High Fell Events

Based up here in Northumberland. They’re even resurrecting the kielder 100 next year (even if it isn’t a single lap any more it’ll still be a bugger).

Computer says no…

Linky

Another thing to consider is wheel on turbos eat normal tyres. I ended up getting a cheapo spare wheel with the same range cassette and sticking a dedicated turbo tyre (Schwalbe Insider) on it to use.

I’ve got narrow feet and I find Specialized BG shoes really comfy and a good fit.

I spent Friday and Saturday in the lakes demo’ing a Whyte S150C-RS for free after winning a draw from Edinburgh bikes. It’s great going downhill, absolutely bonkers.

Friday was Helvellyn/Sticks Pass loop from MBR (there must be an easier way up than going round Dollywagon Pike…)

Then on Saturday it was also to do a  loop from Staveley (missed you Hodgy!) but I went for a Nan Bield loop that I found on the flattyres-mtb website. Absolute belter, although I was a bit knackered to do the descent to Haweswater and the climb back up so cheekied over the top of Harter Fell. I wasn’t alone, about 12 others did too.

View from the top of Nan Bield descent:

Cracking weekend riding, hi to everyone I met!

But flaming someone about it on a forum is just miserable and pathetic. Have a look at yourselves.

It’s alright chakaping – I was fully expecting it. This is STW after all. Sorry if I sounded smug, I’m just excited to get another dog after finally getting over the death of our old one just over a year ago. He was a rescue dog and he was brilliant.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Still can’t decide. This is harder than naming the kids…

We’ve got a Berghaus Air 6XL. I’m 6’4″ and can stand up in it. Quicker setting up is a godsend when you arrive on site and the kids are hungry. As mentioned before blackout sleeping compartments are fantastic. Also look for built in storage/hanging space. I wouldn’t bother with kids sleeping bags, just get them adult ones. Self inflating mattresses are awesome. Pack your car so the things you need first are the easiest to get out. Insect repellent. Torches for everyone. Games. A portable potty so everyone can have a wee in the middle of the night without going outside – we’ve got some battery operated fake candles so we can see at night and not have to put a torch on.

Oh yeah – make sure the the tent bag will fit in your car/you can lift it.

Helvellyn still has snow on the top. Keep an eye on conditions here: http://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk

Busy this weekend with family commitments but managed to get a ride in yesterday from Ambleside. No photos as in true Lakes style it was lashing down all day. Was great.

Any good?

Thanks everyone. Think we’ll give those Cyclista ones a go.

It’s good for kids/newbies as the trails are fairly flat with no big climbs or features. If your son is still on his balance bike though I’d suggest sticking to the path around the lake. There’s one climb/descent depending which way round you go. If you want to go down instead of up think of a clock with the cafe at 12 then go in a clockwise direction. Lots of chances to feed the ducks too. It can be a bit exposed around the lake though. Cafe is standard type found everywhere: not great but not bad either but it is warm with good views over the playpark and lake. My kids enjoy going  (6 & 3) although when we go round the ‘proper’ trails the youngest comes with me in his weeride.

Bumpity for the morning crew.

There must be some other tall women who ride bikes out there….

Cheers for the reply Esme, it’d just be nice to get her something that is shaped to her body. But that’s the last resort.

http://tweedlove.com/2017-event-info/g-form-enjoyro

look for a link a third of the way down the page…

Whoopee cushion. It’s kept the kids entertained all day…

just a pity that the ground conditions on the Lonesome Pine Trail swallowed a lot of the budget with the woodwork that was needed

Don’t forget the 6 week old jcb. Now lying under 15 metres of finest squelchy peat.

Nah, that just made it a little better to ride, it needed total redevelopment with machinery to make it good. I like the isolation.

Lakeside way twice?

One of my fave routes is the cross border. Start in Kielder, follow the lakeside way for a bit then on to the lonesome pine, over to Newcastleton and back.

There’re options to extend the route as there is now a link to/from Newcastleton village for a cake stop and you could do the full red at Newcastleton too and/or tag on a bit more at Kielder.

If you want to stay local to Kielder do the Deadwater followed by the Osprey blue (great fun). Where that joins the lakeside way turn left and go round that clockwise (food opportunities at tower knowe or leaplish) then on to the lonesome pine and back to Kielder.

When my leg finally stops playing silly buggers you still need to show me that route Neil…

In the hope of getting bonus points 17 is the hyper link at dalbeattie and 22 is skelleys riggin at kielder.

I would do pal but the folks are visiting this weekend so no riding for me until Sunday evening…

6 = spooky wood
7 = cut gate
10 I think is cave dale
15 is the blue/red bit at Dalbeattie
18 is in Grizedale I think
22 coming down from the top of Deadwater Fell at Kielder.

Note to self – ride more places.

I had a delivery off them earlier today. Was a lady in her own car by the looks of it. Wasn’t expecting it until tomorrow and it’s not even damaged. Win.

No help to the OP I know. Moving along now…

Schwalbe little joe. Bit more bite than SB8s but roll really well too. 1.4″ version on my sons bike, originally got the 2″ but they looked ridiculously huge.

Going this fri/sat and rhis has saved me asking.

Holy thread resurrection to bookmark for plans…

Move along now.

The Glen Tilt, Beinn a Ghlo circuit is worth doing – some estate tracks, some hike-a-bike (very little), moorland singletrack.

No. Just no. It’s the most boring day I’ve had on my mtb ever. Remote? Yes. Stunning scenery? Yes. Endless estate roads with only about 1km of fun singletrack? Yes. Everyone I know who has ridden it says they wished they hadn’t.

Nothing to add. Just bookmarking for future reference.

Went into John Lewis today and tried a simba. Strangely comfortable. We too need a new mattress so it has made it onto the shortlist. The kids didn’t like it though as they couldn’t jump as high as they can on our current pocket sprung mattress.

There’s a JL up here in Newcastle don’t you know </bite>. Stick with just springs for greater rebound.

TCB = topcashback

Stupid double post.