Tuesday 29 May 2018

Ride from Kirkby Stephen tomorrow 30 May

Hoping the weather remains warm but maybe not as hot as the weekend! Certainly no sign of rain yet. The planned ride goes over Tan Hill down to Keld and along to Gunnerside/Low Row for coffee followed by the short hill/cut up Turf Moor and over the famous water splash (beware it bites!) to Arkengarthdale and the Stang. Lunch at Cross Lanes Farm cafe on the A66 (Barnard Castle). Then we come home via Cotherstone Baldersdale and the reservoirs with alternatives possible as we approach Brough. (110km(68mi) and 1812m(6000ft) ascent)
Hope to see some of you 0930 in KS at the cloisters on the square

Sunday 20 May 2018

Thank you...

... to the 14 multi-ability riders who made leading today's ride a joy! A great day out.

Saturday 19 May 2018

A good day for a picnic...

Tomorrow's two-bike ride will follow the format of previous years, leaving from Appleby cloisters at 9.30. There is parking around the back - I can't remember if you pay for the car park on a Sunday. The idea of the source to sea route of the River Eden is that you cycle out one side of the river and back the other, but the roads don't always co-operate (or exist!) so tomorrow we head out from Appleby south of the river with a river crossing to visit Warcop stopping at Kirkby Stephen for coffee. There are two cafes opposite each other; the Mulberry Tree and the Pink Geranium - we will be in the one which has room for us -  if joining us there, peer through the windows to see if you can see anyone! From Kirkby Stephen we head south following the river until we get as close to the source as the road goes, just before the County Border for a picnic - what a forecast! I don't think we can guarantee any steam trains though - sorry! The return trip has much more downhill and is usually much quicker but I would still intend to offer a tea stop at Kirkby Stephen. Checking the mileage from last May's trip, I think it is just over 40 with about 1650 feet of climbing. I hope to see some of you tomorrow.

Thursday 17 May 2018

Post Easter Trip 2019

The story so far ....

In case you ain't heard, I sort of got volunteered to take over Dallas's role organising the trip - lucky me!

At Hopton, we took a poll of areas of interest for next year. Fife 8 votes, Northumberland, N. Wales (Denbighshire) and Shropshire 5, Pickering or Shilbottle again 3. Plus quite a range of single votes - including South Africa, Croatia and Mallorca!!!!

So Rachel's been busy looking for suitable accommodation in Fife, N. Wales & Shropshire. In parallel the Trubys are encouraging us to sample Norfolk, 'cos it really has got hills in the coastal areas!

Here's the gist of where we're at:

Fife does not seem to have a good network of minor roads or many hills, though a fair chunk of cycle paths. We discounted accom at Brideg of Earn (east) as very limited road options to get away from there. Other option is near the east coast / St Andrews but that limits ride directions - sea! Have emailed Fife Cycle UK branch - but no response yet. Few of us not convinced it's a sufficiently versatile cycling area.

N. Wales / Denbighshire struggling to find accommodation that's not verging on Snowdonia so 200 miles away.

Shropshire is quite large north to south. It's an area we haven't been as a group. Church Stretton area an option but again a long drive. Rachel has unearthed Hoseasons lodges accom near Ellesmere which she's keen on and looks good base and road network.  Here is their response to my initial enquiry plus the website for you to have a look at (sadly no big lodges) - but cost seems high at £150 ish  although I haven't yet retaliated asking for quantity discount - but will if we pursue!

Our breaks commence on either Monday or Friday and we have 11 lodges in total, 9 with hot tubs, which vary in size from 4 berth to 8 berth and total capacity is 58 guests.  If you were to book all 11 lodges the cost would be £8349 which works out at £144 per person at full capacity.  For further information please use the following link


Norfolk  Should we consider Truby-land one year, though a 250 mile drive. Maybe discuss it during the year with a view to viability for 2020?

Northumberland again? Pam's recommended this place https://www.beaconhill.co.uk/index.cfm

Any thoughts or votes gratefully (probably) received! Dunno whether works to blog reply, but in any case please email me even if you do blog too  - lesanduth@gmail.com

At the end of the day a consortium of me, Rachel, Alison and thankfully input from Dallas (years of experience at sorting out you mob) will decide.


Tuesday 15 May 2018

Alternative Club Ride Wednesday 16 May

Hopefully exactly as runs list information.
Route out will be Ousby, Skirwith, Blencarn, Milburn, Dufton, Murton if anyone wants to meet us on the fellside road before 11's in Appleby.

Monday 14 May 2018

Club Ride Wednesday 16 May

Wednesday's ride will set off from Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale at 0930. There is ample free parking either side of the bridge.
The ride will take us over Barbondale to Dent and over Dentdale to Horton in Ribblesdale for 11's. From here we will head for Wray via Clapham for lunch before heading back to Kirkby. The total distance will be approx. 60 miles, with the pre 11's leg being hilly.
On our return you may wish to venture into Kirkby Market Square as Hollywood is in town on Wed and Thurs filming the remake of Dr Doolittle starting Robert Downey Jr, Emma Thompson and Antonio Banderas amongst others.
The forecast is looking very good, so hopefully I will see some of you there.
Keith G

Saturday 12 May 2018

Club Ride Sunday 13th May

As a gentle alternative to the Fred Whitton (and best of luck to those participating) I am proposing a moderate 41 mile ride with only 2000 ft of ascent and at a very moderate pace. Meet at Wetheral green at 9.30 then 16 miles to coffee at Birdoswald, then through Lanercost and Naworth to Talkin for lunch (10 miles). Lunch will either be at Talkin village or at the Tarn. Let me know if any of you are cycling out independently hoping to meet just for lunch. Another 14 miles via Armathwaite brings us back to Wetheral.

Thursday 10 May 2018

Note for your diary

Arragons Penrith announce...

an AFTERNOON with EBIKES and HYBRIDS

Thursday 21st June 2018


We‘ve organised to test the Ridgeback test fleets  of eBikes and a number of hybrids for the afternoon.


This will be a nice steady ride from the shop, meeting at 2pm for a cycle to The Pot Place for a nice brew and maybe a scone!


You will have chance to test our the super smooth pedal assist of the eBike, or maybe give one of the hybrids a run out.


You'll really see benefits of a lightweight, smooth and well put together range of dream machines.


There'll be plenty of opportunity to swap between the bikes, but booking is essential.



Tuesday 8 May 2018

Wed 9 May RIDE

Hi
The pre-lunch ride is quite long and the route is twisty so be prepared for a late lunch at Dobie's.
Weather looks to be cooler but we should miss the rain.
David

9 May - cycle to coffee

In case anyone wants a sociable ride, a few of us (the usual suspects) will be leaving Langwathby at 9.30 to cycle to Mill Yard café at Morland, returning by lunchtime. Anyone who wishes is welcome to join us.

Thanks to/for the Eden Valley 'Chicks'

One of the strange occurences on the week away was the amazing number of gorgeous chicks to be seen around at Hopton Hall! And no I am not referring to the women members (good looking and fair though they may be!) but to bright yellow knitted chicks which were being manufactured in great numbers.
The chick challenge was a fund raising idea for Birmingham StMary's Hospice where Pam's daughter? works

So here is a thank you from Birmingham.........

Dear Geoff,

Just a quick note to say a huge thank you to the group for all the knitting which is hugely appreciated by the hospice. Please see attached letter from the fundraising team which I'd be grateful if you could share with the group.

Yours,


Christina Radcliffe
Consultant in Palliative Medicine


click on the image below to read the letter of thanks....





Roadworks on A66 west of Penrith - for information as it may affect cycle lanes

Information from Highways England

A66 Dacre Junction to Hutton Junction Resurfacing
Highways England is resurfacing the A66 westbound carriageway between the Dacre junction and Hutton junction. The works will also include improvements to the crossover east of the Dacre junction and replacement of the existing gullies with drainage kerbs.
The works will start on Monday 14 May for approximately 10 weeks.

Phase 1

Improvements to the existing crossover will be carried out using 24 hour lane closures.

Phase 2

Following completion of the upgrade to the existing crossover a contraflow will be installed to allow the resurfacing and associated works to be carried out between the Dacre and Hutton junctions.

If you require any further details regarding the scheme please contact the Highways England customer contact centre by e-mail to info@highwaysengland.co.uk or phone 0300 123 5000.

Thank you!!

 
Chicks making chicks???

A big 'thank you' for all the 90 (yes, ninety) chicks that were made while we were away at Hopton Hall in Derbyshire to help Birmingham St Marys Hospice in their fund-raising.

Monday 7 May 2018

Lowther Castle sportive


A quick reminder if anyone from Eden Valley might want to enter.

The Castle Sportive is on Sunday 3rd June starting and finishing from Lowther Castle, near Penrith.  There is a 100km and 50km route to choose from and also a discounted group entry price for 5 or more people (£25 for 100km or £20 for 50km) just let us know and we can send you a promotional code to use.  

You can enter the event here http://bit.ly/EnterSportive
Full details can be found here http://bit.ly/LowtherSportive

Please let me know if you need any other info and we hope some of your cycling club members can join us at Lowther Castle for a great day of cycling.
 
It was good fun last year and not too serious at all.......

Friday 4 May 2018

2 bike ride Sunday May 6th

This ride will leave the Beacon Edge cemetary, Penrith at 9.30, and go to Morland for a coffee stop then through Appleby for a lunch stop at Dufton. Total distance about 35 miles. Hope to see some of you at the start, or at the coffee stop at 11ish.