The FC website says the last two sections – the descents – are still shut due to storm damage.
Given than Storm Arwen was 15 months ago one does wonder who hard they are trying to reopen the trail?

We’re actually staying in Grantown. I’ve already explored the bike park in the woods as you come into town
Tomorrow the rest of the party are heading back to Loch Morlich for water sports. I don’t like getting wet so I’ll go on the bike! Which means I can have a drop of around Aviemore or Glenmore

Thanks everyone. Don’t know why Google didn’t find me the previous threads! Now to sit down with the map and all your suggestions

If you’re staying in Bowness then you don’t even need to touch the car or worry about parking!
Get the ferry across Windermere- always satisfying rollling past the queue. Once on the west side of the lake there are loads of options, Claife Heights, Grizedale bridleways, Hawkshead, Iron Keld over towards Tiberthwaite. As long or as short as you want. Could carry on over Loughrigg to Ambleside and cycle way back to ferry

Hope this helps

Am I the only one who saw the thread title and wondered why someone wanted to go wild camping in Queensferry or Connah’s Quay?

So today I did my classic Ladybower loop. Went up Rowlees to the top of the Hagg Farm descent, down it then span along the A57 for half a mile or so (luckily not too busy) and back up Rowlees.

Have to say I loved it! Maybe it’s not enough for the Gods of Awesomeness and Radnes on here but for this middle aged cautious rider it was great fun. Added only half an hour or so on to the ride and another fun descent. What’s not to like

Thanks everyone. Some good suggestions. I will get the OS maps out this weekend and see what I can do

Thanks everyone. Sorry for not replying earlier – working as a doctor is ‘slightly’ busy at the moment!

Sounds like some of the less techy rides in the Dales round Mastilles/Weets might work well – especially with some tarmac options. At least one of the roadie group has ridden mtb before but is currently without a mountain bike

Not after any huge gnarr. I’m massively overbiked on my full suss but I just love being out in the hills and fresh air – which I think is what we’re all after.

Like anything it’s your choice. A sigmoidoscopy only goes up the first part of the bowel and is perfectly doable without sedation – it’s the norm. But a colonoscopy which examines the whole bowel is much more uncomfortable. Most people don’t tolerate it without some sedation or analgesia. Last thing you want is to have to come back again because of an incomplete test.
I had one a few years ago. Whilst it want the greatest day of my life it wasn’t half as bad as I feared. With the sedation is was far less uncomfortable than the examination in clinic. Worst thing was the day of prep beforehand!

Anaesthetist here – it’s a really really bad idea. You’ll basically be riding a bike whilst under the influence. So impaired judgement and so on with the double whammy of not realising it. If you’re not fit to drive then I don’t think you’re fit to ride and definitely not by yourself or in traffic
You’ll probably need someone to stay with you for at least the first few hours or night (depending when it is). It’s usually a criteria of discharge that a responsible adult is collecting you and staying with you. Now I know loads of people probably don’t don’t follow this – but I couldn’t proceed if I knew someone was going home alone. The sedation can have rare effects of breathing and the airway – which is why you shouldn’t be alone in case help is needed

I’m of the view that any bike ride is better than not riding and actually quite enjoy Dalby. But the red run is vs w lot longer than most reds and I can’t help thinking that if they could somehow lose the padding and include the best bits it would make a great 20km red

For me it’s a similar drive to the Peak District or South Lakes. So that’s where I usually go for a day. But in winter it’s lower, sheltered in the woods and well drained it can make a good alternative

I’d definitely avoid the higher fells if the forecast isn’t good. Not only is it not much fun if you are delayed for whatever reason (accident or mechanical) it can get very unpleasant

You’re only thirty min drive from Ambleside – I’d consider sone of the south lakes routes, mixing and matching Loughrigg, Claife Heights, Grizedale, Tilberthwaite etc. You never actually go very high and it’s quite sheltered and wooded. And lots of nice pubs and cafes…,

It will be my only bike so I guess it has to cope with the roughest riding I do (prob round Ladybower and the Lake District) and accept its a bit OTT for the Dales! I am getting a bit older!! So perhaps I am veering towards full suss

To be fair to the LBS it’s not them that’s told me I need a new bike, they’d be happy to service it. But after eight years there’s a few knocks etc, it needs a few new parts and a full service so I was wondering whether it was time to bite the bullet and get a new bike

Budget 2-2.5k ish. But happy to pay less if it does what I need!

Thanks everyone. The last time I rode a hardtail was 2005. It had rim brakes and 100mm suspension! So time to demo some I think. I went up to the lakes last weekend and my mate who’s fairly new to mountain biking was quite happy on his rockhopper. I’m never going to be very fast. Just prefer being out in the hills

I went to BPW for the uplift and whilst the runs were all very fun I couldn’t help feeling I’d rather have been an Afan. Don’t think the raw testosterone on display in the bus helped!!

Cheers – I found the mast on aore up to date map. Looks very easy to get to the top of Spooky Wood from there. But that seems to miss out some good downhills on the black. Should I stay on the black a bit longer? And then how do I cross over. Looking online I’d like to do Spooky Wood if I can.
Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks again. Just having a look at the trail map i can find – where is this mast everyone is speaking of? How easy is it to find my way from the black to the red?

Thanks everyone. Looks like the general consensus is red/blue.
I’ll climb up with the family to the top car park then leave them for a play whilst I ride on.
They’ll be fine on the blue, we all ride together a lot and MiniJ has done the blues at Llandegla and Whinlatter.

Firstly this is not NHS work so of course they will charge. And because it’s additional non-NHS work they are perfectly entitled to decline it. General Practice in the UK is on its knees due to shortage, underfunding and increased demand. It seems ‘see your GP’ is the default for many organisations- often for issues that have little to do with medicine.

However many doctors will simply not do this. Because so many of these forms are actually trying to deflect the risk, liability and responsibility onto the doctor.so the How can you determine if someone is fit for an event? Especially if you have no experience in the area. To determine if someone is ‘fit’ (whatever that means) takes time and requires an examination l, as well as an understanding of what the event involved. This takes considerable time, before, during and after the consultation – try seeing what a solicitor charges for 30min

Some forms simply ask for a confirmation that you don’t have certain conditions or illnesses, so these can be imported from the notes. Again this requires time to review the notes and complete the form.

It really isn’t as simple as ‘just signing a form’. If an event requires a medical then it ought to supply a list of providers who can do this and not expect the GP to pick it up.

A 29er really brings the trails alive. Canal towpaths will feel like Whistler

I was at Llandegla this week. If anywhere was the spiritual home of E-bikes it should be there – a long slog up followed by mainly down. But I saw very few. Perhaps one or two but most people still pedalling or pushing to the top.

So I don’t think the pedalling is dead yet.

Interesting aside all the E-bikers were male!

Wow – I don’t think I’ve ever inspired anyone before! Glad you enjoyed it. There’s some surprisingly good riding all within a stones throw of the urban areas

If you’re staying in Harrogate and want to maximise riding to driving time I’d look at Nidderdale. The classic tour takes me 3-4hr but I’m a fat slow coach. Basically start at Pateley road to Ramsgill (alt starting point for shorter ride). Tracks to Stean the steep road to Middlesmoor. Good climb and descent to Scar House reservoir. From here you can add onto Coverdale and even round to West Burton. From Scar House tracks lead round the other side of the valley before descending to Ramsgill. Easy track round reservoir to Wath and road to Pateley. Lots of pubs. You can start further up the valley to mix and match or miss bits out

Yockenthwaite to Horsehead Moor is pretty much all a push up for me! But when that takes under an hour. I don’t think there would be many two hour climbs or pushes!

Midweek it will all be quiet. You’ll meet a couple of riders and a few (friendly) walkers at most. I don’t know the moors and not sure how big is a big day out but here are my suggestions.

Near to Harrogate the obvious is the Tour of Nidderdale, round the top of the valley from Pateley Bridge. You can extend it to the east from Masham or Kirby Malezard (or start there) or northwards over to Coverdale.

A bit further afield I like Kilnsey to Settle via Malham Tarn. Some big climbs (but rideable), long descents and nice cruising bits. And lots of pubs and cafes half way round in settle. Another good longish ride is the Tour of Ingleborough, but extended to take in the Oennine Bridleway descent from Cam Head rather than the fire road straight back to Ribblehead.

There’s not a lot of mega technical riding or single track in the Dales but great fun still the same.

Thanks – I took the right hand option today and really enjoyed it. A bit outside my comfort zone, and I walked one short section (rocky chute) but I’ll be back again. I suspect it’s one that needs a bit of speed, and I was too cautious

Or maybe try the left option next time?

Thanks everyone. Looks like some better ideas and more exploring needed! I’ve already started turning off the bridle way over Harden Moor and started to explore.
I wouldn’t mind the Cottingley bit if it was at the start of middle – but I like a ride to end on a high. I usual start at Saltaire because it’s easier to park, get to for me, and ride in along the towpath

Despite being a mighty fine mountain Cadair Idris doesn’t quite meet the magic 3000ft mark. Which is good if you want to do the Welsh 3000 walk!

At the moment I don’t think there are any other legit 3000s other than Snowdon. If/when access laws change I suspect the Carneddau would be the best best – big rounded plateau and less rocky ridges than the others. But huge respect for anyone who can use trials skills to ride to Tryfan!

You all have much more interesting commutes than me if you need lube enroute!!

To a degree the best start depends on where you’re coming from. I’m from Leeds area so always start at Langsett as it’s an easy drive off the M1.
Getting to Ladybower involves going through centre of Sheffield and adds a good 30min to the journey

My lad is in school on Otley 8:45 to 3:15. Rides I know I can do in a day (and I always make sure I’m allowing plenty of time include:

Basildon Moor, Shipley Glen, Buck Woods – can do this from home
Bingley Bash
Oxenhope Ogden Water
Round of Nidderdale
Grassington,Mastiles, Weets Top
Barden Moor and Bolton Abbey
Gisburn (only time for one lap + Hope Line)

The thought of what his mother would say if I was late for pick up doesn’t bare thinking about!

If he’s got an after school club till 4:30 or 5 then there’s loads more.

Yup – those are exactly the bits I lost my confidence on. All I could focus on was rock and root and how they’d fling me off – and is be left alone in the woods to die! I was just too cautious and hesitant before any of them. Yet I’ve ridden all of these before (except the staircase on Homebaked, I always take the chicken run.

As an aside Gisburn was great! Not been there this year so was great to see the new log rides and boardwalk on Sheep Hill reopened. Because of my issues I avoided HG and took Long Way Down for the first time. It was great fun, and dare I say I enjoyed it more than HG! Thanks to all the volunteers and trail builders

I could have happily done Terrys Belly all day over and over again!

Id consider myself a solid red rider at trail centres and I was very happy with the blues. I found the reds a bit of a step up and much harder than any other red I’ve done. Mainly because some of the obstacles were mandatory drops or jumps – you couldn’t roll everything.

One think I hadn’t expected was how much harder it was mentally. For a start I’d rarely be out on the bike from 9-5. Then all the riding was technical singletrack. No forest roads or easy trails to relax and look at the views

I’ve only ever been up in spring and summer but to me the defining feature of the bog of doom is that it’s utterly unavoidable! It’s not that big, you can see the other side but there’s just no way round! It just spreads either side of the trail in every direction blocking all progress!!

The consensus is generally that even in good weather CutGate/Doctors Gate isn’t the best route in the area. It’s very long with two huge stretches of road riding, on unpleasant A-roads. Cut Gate is awesome and well worth a ride in its own right (both ways are different and good) but Doctors Gate is very technical and unless you have great trials skills you’ll end up walking a lot.

Far better to do Cut Gate both ways with as much or as little as you want added on to the Ladybower end

If you wanted a trail centre ride (and some people do – let’s not open that can of worms) and don’t want to move the van then Whinlatter fits the bill. Ride up the road to the pass, do all three loops (don’t miss the blue it’s great fun) then when you’ve had enough there’s a bridleway through the woods to Thorneythwaite, then road back to Keswick. There’s even a cycle path alongside the A66, a road that wouldn’t be my first choice to cycle!

And the pub in Braithwaite is rather nice!

So for those of you who’ve been here’s my million dollar question. Would you drive 20min to Bingley to do the Bingley Bash (or similar) or 35min to the bike park?

Well I’ve only ever Cutgate as an out and bag and I love it both ways. Totally different experience but both good.

I always start it from Langsett as it’s easier to reach from the M1. If I want a shortish day I turn round at Slippery Stones, which makes it about 25km and for a full day I head off to Ladybower and add a loop there, either WLT or Gores Farm.

North to South you’ve got a climb that’s almost all rideable then a fast steep descent. Other way the climb is a push for me but then an amazing long singletrack down that goes on for ages. Never feels like I’m repeating myself. And I love the top bit that’s neither up nor down but not flat!!

Personally I’d rather do an out and back loop on Cutgate than miles of road riding and a descent down Doctor’s Gate that’s too hard for me.

I ended up in Merthyr A&E dept after an off! I can’t speak highly enough of the staff, they were so helpful and friendly. Bring a medical man myself I ended up chatting to the staff and it turns out they really don’t mind the mountain bikers. It’s more rewarding for them to treat polite people with obvious injuries that are easily sorted and diagnosed than drunks with complex problems.

I came off on an easy bit of trail after being so pleased I landed a jump. No idea what happend – survived the jump and the found myself heading towards the hillside on a flat bit of trail!

i did think there was a big jump from the blues to the reds. As a solid trail rider happy with Glentress/Coed Y Brenin etc reds I loved the blues but the reds were much harder.

The chevin would be the obvious choice. Lots of bridleways and a bit of singletrack- more if you do some cheeky exploring.

Or head up to Guisley and then either into Esholt woods or down Hawksworth golf course and up onto Baildon Moor and Shipley Glen.

Ive no idea what is suitable for a cross bike I’m afraid – but there’s a lot of non technical stuff. I wouldn’t try the free ride stuff in Esholt Woods…..