Been out on average about once a week this winter and the mud & puddles (ponds and lakes in most places) have been great fun. However it has taken its toll on my Stumpjumper, new rear hub bearings and the same for the bottom bracket, both seized after particularly wet rides and now my shocks need some attention! After Thursday;s torrential rain I went out yesterday with a mate to the Isle of Portland (Dorset), he lives in Weymouth, in what looked like iffy weather, but we were rewarded with clearing skies, sunshine, stunning views (the previous days rain had cleared the air) and we both felt refreshed and reinvigorated, albeit with tired legs. Sitting outside a café in the sunshine with americanos and brownies we reflected on how lucky we are to live here in Dorset and to have the opportunity to get out and ride its stunningly beautiful landscapes. Food for the soul? Definitely. 🙂 It takes a bit more effort, but riding thru the winter months has its rewards.

There is a very good pamphlet called Mining Trails which covers the whole area that you were riding, a friend of mine who lives in Redruth gave it to me last year. I had put it on the shelf with the rest of my route maps. However having read your article in the magazine I took it down for a second look and definitely will try and get there to visit him and ride some trails. The pamphlet unfolds to A3 size with a detailed map, all the routes (colour coded) and lots of info on what to see while riding the area. All the info is also at this website – https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/countryside/cycle-routes-and-trails/the-mineral-tramways/

Try All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Ramarque for a German perspective of WW1. There is also a very good film which was made in 1930 so it is not tainted by post WW2 views.
I would also highly recommend Into The Silence (The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest) by Wade Davis. As the title suggests it is about the attempted climbing of Everest in the 1920’s, but there is a lot of background on the war experience’s of all those who took part in the expeditions culminating in the “did they, didn’t they” get to the summit of Mallory and Irving in 1924. A hefty tome, but well worth the effort as it also gives a huge amount of commentary on Britain and it’s empire before the break up after WW2.

Get the bike out today, good forecast here in Dorset. Tomorrow …. light the log burner, have a beer and plenty of sport on TV, rugby, football, cricket, shame the NFL season is over!

The welding has worked, although I haven’t ridden the bike in “anger” yet. the rear wheel now sits almost perfectly in the middle of the frame. I did have to add some shims to the brake to get the disc in the middle. Looking forward to the first ride tomorrow, fingers crossed 🙂

thanks for the suggestions guys. I have a friend in an engineering firm who does deal with welded aluminium and will have a chat with him about “rebuilding” the drop outs.

A group of us did High Street in 2010, definitely don’t under estimate what you are taking on. We went from Pooley Bridge down the eastern side of Ullswater by going up to High Street then hanging a right (at the Cockpit) and following the bridleway to Martindale. From there we followed the edge of lake past Rooking and Bridgend to Hartsop. All of this section was great fun fast and relatively flat, all the fun stopped after we had climbed up to Hayeswater. From there you put your bike on your back and yomp up the top (the Knott) with a few false horizons! The views at the top are amazing and you will have plenty of time to take them in while you get your breath back. High Street itself isn’t a great biking track (in my opinion) but you do get great views. Hang a left at Loadpot Hill and from there it’s the best bit of the track and mostly downhill back to Pooley bridge. That ride was 25 miles and over 5000ft of climbing, what you’re doing is obviously a lot longer and harder. I took a 3L camelback and a 1L bottle, it was hot June day. and we had all used all our fluids not long after going past Loadpot Hill. I have never been so thirsty in my life or so glad to get to Pooley Bridge. Once you are on High Street there is no backing out and taking a short cut to a local corner shop. We should have replenished our supplies before leaving Hartsop. Hopefully this is of some help in deciding on your route.