Hi Derek, we certainly do have some great riding in Yorkshire/Cumbria! Lucky to have it on my doorstep! Not sure what topmark country is though?

Druidh, haha you obviously have no idea how long its taken me to do this so far! 😉 I can ride bikes, but when it comes to all this techno babble I really havent the foggiest. Just wanted to share my pics and rides 🙂 I agree that the title image is far too big, and I have been trying to make it smaller for the past hour! Think I will need to get one of my techy mates to have a gander tomorrow!

Cheers for the link to the other blog, really interesting to read. I agree about the writing/content. If you want to follow my blog, I am hoping to get it looking better/fill it out with more content so should hold some interest to you!

try the nutclough house hotel/b&b.. they are bikers (and have cycle hire etc). i live over the road, and they always seem busy.. a good sign!

Well done, thats a great achievement for a great cause!

the 18” is perfect for me and what i use it for. as i said its my second bike, so doesnt get used that often (saying that, my full sus is an 18” too). from experience, ive had a 20” frame before and it just seemed huge! climbing was easier on it, but i (like most) prefer the descending.. and on an 18 its easier to throw about and get your weight back/lower etc..

hardtail wise, id never go bigger than 18. plus, theres plenty of seat post if you do want to go right up for the long climbs!

is it the five-o or the deluxe they have?

LOL @ Wrecker.. smooooth!

my spare bike is a five-o deluxe.. not ridden it that much, but what i have, it rides pretty sweet. doesnt climb too badly, nice geometry (im 6,1 and ride an 18”), drop the saddle and its great. Have changed the brakes on it to a set of hopes, and put some bigger tyres on. It is a heavy bike though. front heavy with the marz 55’s.. planning on changing them soon (if i use it more) to a pair of rockshoxs.

despite konas fairly average reputation, id say its pretty good for the money. no quarrels with mine.

Well Snowdon is a massive temptation! When does the voluntary ban kick in? may have to speak to the lads and see who fancies it! did you ride from Llanberis up, and down the ranger trail?

Thanks everyone for the lakes suggestions, think thats what i will have to stick with, given its a closer option (drive wise)!

As for what Juan has to say, jealous!

Freeridenick,cheers for the heads up with that,il give it a blast (not on top of the 4 passes, not that fit! and will let you know what i thought to it, if i make it back 😉

Freeridenick, i have faith and trust in your name.. 😉

where is Rosset Ghyll? Is it Ullock or 4 passes ride?

Cheers!

Looking forward to the weekend!

http://www.odg.co.uk/facilities/walkers.cfm?id=4

Lovely pub, camping over the road – beautiful area, not rammed, plenty of hiking and biking around!

NortthCountyBoy, thanks for that, Il plot it on a map and have a look.. roughly how much road?

Dropped you an email PT.. Cheers

Great Gable is looking interesting, just looking for a link to a mp if anyone knows one/can suggest the best route round?

So Borrowdale bash sounds more like a ride for a day after a big ride? Will call into Keswick Bikes, next time im camping up there, soon hoopefully!

Am looking for plenty of singletrack, steep techy and rocky fun 🙂 dont mind a climb/hike-a-bike, just after an EPIC day!

Ive ridden all around, up, down, over etc Skiddaw, fun place, but want more tech!

Great Gable is a good option, will have a look at my maps!

Anyone ridden the Borrowdale Bash? heard good things about it, but cant seem to find a map/know exactly where it is!?

Same with Grisedale pike?

ridden Dollywagon from the top of Helvellyn, its awesome! rode it in Summer in the dry, its fairly gnarly! Also ridden Nan Beild in January, in the snow! mental.. Hoping to find/try somewhere new, but cheers for the suggestions! I will have a look at Ullock Pike though!

The only real suggestion I had for the Dales would have been up and over Buckden/Arncliffe area.. but its not that big, and a massive bog fest (so i hear) at the moment

New rims it is then, and i may even have a blast at building it 🙂 cheers guys!

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/snobby-cyclists-not-minding-their-own-business-working-class-rant/page/2?replies=47#post-3581443

think this is your mate 😉

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/picking-flowers-in-the-countryside-middle-class-rant/page/5

got a feeling this is a load of crap.. or your both on here ranting!!

it does say you can go to their warehouse… anyone going to indonesia??

you can have it serviced at any reputable and VAT registered garage aslong as they dollow manufacturer guidelines and use apporved parts.. Any warranty work HAS to be carried out by authorised fiat dealers only 🙂

not sure Yunki.. what about this 😉

well not the shariah law (dont think the daily mail came up with that)

think theyre all uneducated idiots that base their ideals on uter crap that 99% of comes from the media..

think someone needs to get laid….

Awesome vid.. these trails are pretty crazy and gnarly steep.. that first rider down Stanni’s was fairly slick! Wonder why my Alpine cant get down there that fast lol 😉 keep up the inspirational vids! love it 🙂

http://www.allthegearnoidea.net/

🙂

thats what mine did last year. take it back to the shop, who can send it back to mojo under warranty!

well my mission for 2012 is to ride it then 🙂 new years resolution sorted 🙂

hahah 🙂 well done stoney, medals in the post! no disrespect, but id have to see it to believe it!

also, what bike were you on to do it? ive seen a few cyclo-cross guys attempt it.. which is no doubt a damn side easier than my orange alpine! lol

haha – no problems, im sure the pace will be nice and relaxed! maybe not so much on the downs tho 😉 i will be in touch when i know whats confirmed 🙂

Sorry, im referring to Skiddaw round and up(the link i put up) as un-technical.

Not ridden ullock, but if its VERY tech, i certainly look forward to it come spring!

Cheers for the route description!

Lowey – thats a long ride?! Do you have a map/route you can share??

haha im sure if you can climb 6000m, you will be fine with Skiddaw, its actually a really good ride, not technical at all and pretty easy, bar the climb to the summit. Worth doing all in one, you will be disappointed if you dont! 😉

😉

ive ridden skiddaw twice this year, most recently in October – and it was very cold and windy at the top (more so than usual (of that altitude/open-ness).

http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/skiddaw-circuit-and-summit

this is the trail we followed. Pretty good and IMO the best route to take at this time of year. It runs around Skiddaw to the YH, then theres a sweet descent singletrack following the contours (be careful, its slippy and very steep-edged!) round to Latrigg carpark – then its at least an hour push up to the summit – if anyones ridden this, they deserve a medal… for the best bullsh1tter award!

great ride, and the descent from the top is well worth the pain of getting there!

enjoy 🙂

morning mate, not sure the group plan on starting that early (bearing in mind we are coming from calderdale/york/sheffield/leeds ways. We are looking at a 9.30-10am start (…i know, id usually be up there at 7am, but its difficult to arrange/tempt people in this weather etc)

I will drop you an email with our plans, its looking like a Kentmere loop we plotted on a map. will be using GPS. round about a 16 mile, predicted about 3-5 hours.

otherwise, looking forward to riding your route come spring/summer!

well?!? did you?? LOL

wait it out mate, dont make it worse.. give it a few days, and if you recover from the ‘sniffles’, you will feel great and be ready for festive rides-galore! 🙂

i run sunline V1’s – theyre pretty good to be honest.

grippy and have lasted a while! no grumbles 🙂

Andy that sounds immense. Walna Scar is great, not ridden that since Easter, so couldnt tell you what its like now!

the 4 passes sounds like a good option, given the weather and daylight hours it would need to be an early start and a fast pace! We are doing it in a large group (so the pace may not be too quick)..

dont suppose its mapped anywhere is it?

if any one wants to join us.. your more than welcome! on the 29th.

right ok, so the general feeling is not to bother until spring/wait til it freezes.

Anyone got any suggestions for ‘big mountain’ rides in the lakes that would be more suited to current conditions?

cheers

yea, been looking at the weather – not looking promising. However im used to lakeland winters and know what to expect weatherwise. I was thinking Loughrigg as a lower valley option. Or Skiddaw, for the epic-ness yet still on gravel/stone/rock ground…

Just dont know high Street so wanted to see what people thought to it etc.

Thanks for all your input. I am hoping to try get into a bit of snow, fingers crossed – its not just bog up there.

I’ll have a look at the links cheers, does anyone know if theres any ‘dolleywagon/helvellyn-esq’ on high street?

http://www.amazon.com/Punk-Rock-Xmas-Various-Artists/dp/B0000033NG