Monday 31 August 2015

Moderate ride Wed 2nd September

Please take notice of the 9-45 start from Greystoke. (This is to allow us to travel from Cockermouth.)

Elevenses will be at Abbotts Lodge not Morland. This will make for a more equidistant route to Appleby for lunch. We can take a tea stop at Stainton on the way back if required.

The overall distance is likely to be about 43miles. All at moderate pace. So hope you can join us.



Club run - Wednesday 2nd September.



The ride starts from Langholm car park at 9am.   The route will be 106 miles and hilly.     The forecast is for dry weather.

From Langholm, the route goes through Bentpath, Corrie and Boreland  and on to Moffat where we will stop for lunch.  (34m)   From there we take the A701 to Tweedsmuir  where we will turn right for the Talla and Megget reservoirs.      At Cappercleugh we turn right onto the A708 for 2 miles and stop for tea at the Glen cafe (63m).   We travel east and turn right at the Gordon Arms Hotel.    At Tushielaw  we  continue up the Ettrick Valley to Langholm where we should arrive by 7pm. 

When we stop for lunch in Moffat, we cannot hang around long.     We are expected at the Glen cafe which will close at 4.30pm.   There are a couple of hills to climb on the way.

The whole area  is remote and sparsely populated .   The two ‘stops’ are the only ones on the route.   There are no facilities elsewhere on the ride – maybe  toilets  at the Samye Ling Centre in Eskdalemuir – but that is all.    Riders will need to carry plenty of food and water and may need to replenish supplies in Moffat. 

Directions to Langholm:    M6 north and leave at Juntion 44.   On the roundabout leave at the 4th exit (signposted A7)     Stay on the A7 all the way to Langholm (18 miles).   In Langholm, continue through the town and you will see the car park on the left by the river.    Parking is free and there are toilets.


Saturday 29 August 2015

Ride Sunday 30th August

Ride as advertised. Hilly, very scenic tour on quiet roads in the Borders. 11's Lockerbie, lunch Thornhill. Suggest you bring some extra food too as it's a desert out there! Weather forecast seems promising....Mileage should be 70 - 75 ish.

Thursday 27 August 2015

Yesterday's lunch stop.

I contacted the café proprietor some weeks ago to arrange for us to have lunch there on the 100 mile ride. I phoned to confirm numbers / ETA on the day as arranged and was informed the café shut at 1.00 p.m. on Wednesdays!
So apologies to those who turned up to find it closed: hope you survived; we went to Hartside instead assisted by a strong tailwind.
Earlier, an even stronger wind on the fellside between Hesket Newmarket and Mosedale nearly separated some of the lighter riders from their machines, but at least 5 of us managed to do at least 100 miles despite the weather.

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Tomorrow's ride, 26th August.

Here’s an outline of the route for Wednesday’s ride for anyone not wishing to do the full distance. I will be asking for numbers on the day for Melmerby and Coral Café  (Coral Café will open specially for us and want to know ETA too), so please bear this in mind if going independently.

 Cotehill, Hesket Newmarket, Mosedale, etc., Pooley Bridge, 34 miles,  11’s

Askham, various lanes to Ousby and  Melmerby,  60 miles, lunch

Renwick, Armathwaite, etc.,  Plumpton,  82 miles, tea

Hutton in the Forest, and lanes circuit back to Cotehill 100 miles

Don’t forget 8.30 a.m. start. Weather forecast currently showing early rain soon clearing for a fine day, so fingers crossed.

 

Sunday 23 August 2015

vietnam Cambodia, Laos

Does anyone know who it was that gave an interesting lecture on this topic a few years ago at Langwathby village hall? Heather and I are going there in November and would love to discuss our plans. Best wishes to all, Peter

Saturday 22 August 2015

Sundays Ride from Newton Rigg

Parking is available by going in the NORTH entrance and turning imm L at the Game Management Centre to the area next to the Toilet Block.

The Coral Cafe has Sunday Lunches after Midday and people can have roast meat in a bun if they are staying on for lunch. Anyone wanting sandwiches must pre-book by Saturday by text or phone to 07765423826

Dallas and Ian


Tuesday 18 August 2015

Tour of Britain

Alison is trying to keep our village (Melmerby) respectable.  Some of our yellow bikes are riderless for want of suitable attire. There is worry that the riders will lose patience and mount up inadequately dressed (not that you need a helmet to go out on the bike).
If you have any old helmets or cycle clothing clogging your drawers, especially if coloured yellow, would you pass them on to Alison please.
I worry about Alison sometimes.
Nigel L

Friday 14 August 2015

Club Run - Wednesday 19th August



Apologies details not on Runs List when issued, they should be now!

66 miles
Start APPLEBY Cloisters normal 9.30.
Burrels, Whyghyll Head to Orton for 11's. Then via Newbiggin & Ravenstonedale to Sedbergh for lunch or BYO. Back via Fair Mile to Tebay, Orton (again), steep up to Orton Scar and back to Appleby.

Did consider starting here at Ousby but adds 12 miles each way so beyond my current level of unfitness!

Thursday 13 August 2015

Club run - Sunday 16th August

The route will be as indicated in the runs list but for one amendment.   The 'stop' at Nenthead will be for 11's rather than for lunch.   Lunch will be BYO.    Dick has kindly offered hospitality at his home for our morning refs.  

Article about blind spots and road safety - READ IT

Click the Link
http://www.slobc.org/safety/documents/road-survival-guide.pdf
 Thanks Sarah and Martin for bringing this to our attention!

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Eat Sleep Cycle

In 2011 Anna Hughes cycled 4000 miles solo around the coast of Britain - a ten-week adventure that took in the highs and lows of Britain and everything in between. Her book, Eat, Sleep, Cycle: a bike ride around the coast of Britain, telling the story of the journey, was published in March this year. In September she will tour her book from Land’s End to John O’ Groats, visiting cycle clubs, bookshops and cafes at various points along the 1000 mile route, to give talks, readings and signings. And of course, she’ll be pedaling each mile as she peddles her wares!

Anna will be speaking at Saddleback Café, Keswick on Thursday 17th September.  Entry is £3, redeemable against a copy of the book.

Monday 10 August 2015

Longer ride on Wednesday 12th August

Having been on a ride on Sunday when only two of us turned up I am endeavouring to encourage others on Wednesday. So.......

The weather looks to be good and despite the start in Dalston it should be a lovely scenic ride!(joke)

The ride length will be slightly less than posted (72 instead of 80+) - so we can get back for tea.

Otherwise details are the same - coffee in Alston BYO lunch at Lambley - and of course tea at Dallas' on return to Dalston!

Here is  a gpx file of the route

Thursday 6 August 2015

The drawbacks of going to watch the TdeF

Many of you will know Martin Y who with Dianne had gone for a holiday in France recently hoping to watch some of the sections of the Tour. Unfortunately on descending the Madelaine (col de) on his bike he had a collision with an unobservant car driver who crossed infront of him. The result was that he went through the windscreen of the car and sustained numerous fractures including rib arm and clavicle. Consequently he spent several days in a French Hospital being put back together.
Not wishing to dwell on the bad side of things he is improving and now recuperating at home having had a skin graft on his elbow.
When I spoke to him today he was cheerful and looking forward to a full recovery and getting back on the rock (and his bicycle). Not for a while yet though I fear.
His telephone no. is on the address list and I'm sure he would appreciate a call!


Birthday Rides

If you have helped in any way towards the Birthday Rides at Newton Rigg OR if you intend to represent the club in assisting visitors and giving advice about suitable rides etc during the week (Contact Geoff if you would like to do this.) You will be most welcome at the evening events which include films/ slide shows and a Ceilidh.
The dates are  19th to 25th August 2015

Tuesday 4 August 2015

Club Ride Wednesday 5th August.

The ride starts at 9.30am from the church gates in Sedbergh.
The route is along Dentdale and over to Newby Head before dropping to Ribblehead and on to Horton in Ribblesdale for 11's. There then follows a low level ride to Malham (lunch) via Settle, Rathmel and Hellifield.
After lunch we return over Malham Tarn to Stainforth, Clapham and Ingleton. Returning back into Dentdale via Kingsdale. The total distance is about 75 miles.
If the weather is bad in the Dales there is the option of heading down towards the coast from Horton.
Ernest.