60 mile ride starting at 09.30 from Dalston to Gaitsgill, Hesket Newmarket, Bewaldeth & Cockermouth (28 mile) for refreshments. Return to Dalston via Dearham, Blennerhasset & Wigton. Only one stop planned, due to distance spacing of available cafes, but very flexible or byo. Route/map/gpx >> HERE<<
Weather forecast is for rain (surprisingly 😁) but it should be warmish rain 🤔 so no problem & as normal for hardy EV'ers.
Cheers John H
Text or WhatsApp 07855534727
Rosie and myself will lead 2 separate rides from Beacon Edge cemetery lay-by, Penrith, leaving at 9.30. Both rides will go to the coffee stop at Dufton cafe for 11’ses. Rosie is going to return via Appleby and Cliburn, and I will return via Shap and Bampton. Distances about 30 and 45 miles. Rosie 07818241833, Phil 07810751189.
HELP - Campag Rear Mech Problem
The hanger bolt (see pic) for the rear derailleur on my Bob Jackson sheared off yesterday when nearly back from 11's at Morland! No idea why, but been somewhat clunky gear shifts recently. Bent the hnager bracket (part of the frame, not separate like today's bikes), but have straightened with a big adjustable spanner as leverage.
It's an old Campag Racing T / Racing Triple 9 speed mech (seems there were 5 variants) and spares are hard to find.
Slim chance, but if anyone has an old or broken Campag 9 or 10 speed rear mech languishing in a box, I may be able to raid it for spares.
Or suggestions where I could find one.
OK, could change the whole setup for Shimano and far better gear shifts, but that's how the bike came to me from Keith Jowett many years ago and be nice to keep it as was.
Hi All
WEDNESDAY 26 JULY
Meet 9.30am at Shap Car Park
Down Lune gorge to Sedbergh, Far Mill for early lunch. Garsdale Head, down Mallerstang, BYO stop at Pendagon Castle, Tommy Road back to Shap via Orton.
about 55miles. Text David 07810346838
Best wishes David (it was certainly wet on Sunday lets hope for dryer weather)
I have signed in support of re-opening the road to the West of the lake with comment as follows:
'As Campaigns
Officer for Eden Valley Group of Cycling UK I endorse this petition.
We have often used this road to link rides from the Keswick area through to Grasmere
and beyond. It represents a very good option to avoid the A591 where it is
narrow, twisty and undulating – all features of which make for limited sight
lines for motorised drivers.
Using the off road route up to close to the top of Dunmail Raise affords cyclists
access back onto the A591 where it has opened out into a generously wide road.'
I have emailed Avanti and Northern (copying our MP) in the following terms:
'EDEN VALLEY CYCLING UK
REPRESENTATIONS ON THREATENED CLSOURE OF RAILWAY TICKET OFFICES – PENRITH AND APPLEBY JULY 23
I am the Campaigns Officer of Eden Valley Cycling UK Group.
A Background:
1. The prospect of closing Ticket Offices at any railway station threatens the use of rail service and good relationships between cyclists and the railways.
2. There are
many things that might be done to encourage cyclists back into regular use of
the railways; in particular the reinstatement of ‘Guards Vans’ where extensive
space for transporting larger items as well as cycles of all descriptions used to be provided.
As recently as 2018 we were able to take our cycles in such a carriage from
Newcastle to London for the Prudential Ride London. I understand the carriage
was regarded as ‘old’ and accordingly was to be withdrawn from service.
3. As a club we used (before Covid) to travel out of our area for a ‘Club Week’. We are restarting this but are not able to consider rail transport out of our area because of the limitations on numbers of cycles on any train and bookings issues.
4. The railways should be making proper provision for cyclists on a substantial scale.
5. Recently I and three others from our village went on a cycling holiday from Cumbria over to Newcastle and down to Peterborough. We had four ‘road bikes’ with panniers. We came back north as far as Darlington by train. The cycle provision was 4 hooks, 2 in each of the single small compartments either side of the passageway. Our Road Bikes all had ‘drop’ handlebars which are generally less wide than ‘Flat’ bars (the latter often also used on road bikes and generally on Off Road bikes). So cramped are the cycle enclosures there was a substantial risk of damage to the bikes, particularly the gear mechanisms, not to say to those lifting the cycles from awkward positions. The panniers had to be taken off and stored elsewhere thus causing further difficulties for other passengers, as well as ourselves, at the times of loading and taking the bikes off.
6. ‘Cycles
of all descriptions’:
6.1 many cycles are two wheeled
and relatively light; by no means all
bikes are so.
6.2 Cycles of other descriptions include, mountain bikes, upright tricycles,
recumbent bikes (2 wheeled), recumbent trikes (3 wheeled). Up until recently, generally, cycles were not
power assisted (‘eBikes’). In our Club now often half the participants ride
eBikes. The train cycle provision I describe above was wholly unsuitable for
these, incapable of being used.
7. ‘Cyclists ‘ are people who ride. The power driving may be by leg(s) / arm(s), assisted by electric motor or not. They may do more than one sort of the activity.
8 The
activities include:
8.1 ‘Utility cycling’ getting to
work / shopping by ‘green’ transport
8.2 leisure / social – meeting with friends /
companionship riding
8.3 competitive – racing, ‘Audax’,’ Sportives’
8.4 general health - balance,
heart, concentration, low impact exercise (on well set up bikes – pedalling should
not generally hurt joints) – enabling people, even with particular inhibiters.
9. For many, eBikes enable people to start or continue getting out and about in a way they would not but for the electric assistance. There has been a very strong increase of eBike cyclists on and off the road in the last few years. Dimensions of many cycles have increased. Many, many cyclists could not singly lift their bike into and down out of a railway carriage. Many would not be able to store their cycle within the compartments I describe above. It may well be said that the present provision of accommodation for cyclists on many, if not all, railway trains in England discriminates against an increasing sector of the population.
Ticket sales:
10. With the railway system in England being in the ownership of several structured bodies (from Private Enterprise to wholly Publicly owned) booking even for solo pedestrians, can be fraught. It is possible to book a reservation for a person who is then unable to book a cycle onto the same train. A friend recently had such an experience at our local station when he booked himself on a train expecting to take his bike with him on that train. A Ticket person on duty at the Penrith Station helped him when this was not possible, booking his cycle on a later train on the same day with another railway company (including dealing with the funding issues consequent on it).
11. The ease of making bookings for some trains depends on the train company, some are more accessible than others. Making a booking for a single bike is generally easier than for a group; for some it is easier to book the bikes first and passengers second!
12.
Having proper levels of staffing on platforms is
essential (e.g. for eBikes). Having no
Ticket Office leaves potential passengers with no option but to seek assistance
of staff who would otherwise be on platforms which would leave demand for
increased personel!
13. Although many aspects of life are open to access by the internet we are not universally intellectually, academically or monetarily able to use the internet effectively. Many, faced with trying to book their travel on a train through a computer / phone are not going to catch a train. Loss of ticketed persons through closure of Ticket Offices may represent a small loss in percentage of passengers in the short term. In number terms It is likely there will be a substantial loss of people not accessing rail services even when it is a better integrated / serviced.
14. Train travel should be a first thought for people if we are to achieve reductions in our pollutions. Closing ticket offices represent a backward step in encouraging and achieving conversion to rail transport. Indeed it is likely the closures would reduce travel by rail thereby also increasing the cost of provision of the rail service.
Nigel Longworth.'
Please sign this petition to save / open the road round the West side of Thirlmere URGENT!!
Hi
Meet at the Sands, Brampton 9.30. Wed 19th July
Churnside Lodge, short stop BYO.. then a proper stop at Greenside cafe. Down towards Alston (not all the way)via Haltwhistle then back to Brampton on the A689. about 55miles
Txt 07810346838. David H
With no ride on the Runs List, I'm going to cycle up to Melmerby from home in Raughton Head leaving 9:30ish for coffee. If anyone would care to join me for the ride they would be most welcome. >Route< will be via Calthwaite, Plumpton, Lazonby, Glassonby etc. Let me know either by text or WhatsApp so I don't leave without you.
Cheers,
Bill
07921 297 045
I'm going to rename it 'The Committee Ride' as we were only missing Mike B and CJ! A first ascent of Hartside for Eileen (and possibly Tony S), a new cafe to some and a reminder to some of the rest of us that we can do Hartside - it isn't too hard!
Thanks to everyone for their cheerful company despite conditions. No-one managed the challenge of climbing to the top more slowly than me, but that wasn't really what the day was about. And it was good to meet 4 x 3 x bike riders at the cafe. Great turnout!
This is a bit of a challenge ride - can anyone get up Hartside more slowly than I can? It's several years since I tried but I've visited the Nook Farm cafe and I know it's worth the climb.
We are starting inside the Village Bakery at 9 am for coffee and breakfast rolls for anyone needing a bit of extra fortification before visiting the Roman fortifications.
At 9.30 we depart outside the Bakery and will head along the fellside through Gamblesby and Renwick, eta at the turning up the hill just before Renwick around 10 am. I know the Renwick route is a steep one - it was chosen for the Sustrans C2C route so it's bound to be - but the advantage is that it keeps you away from the A686 for longer and there are fewer people to see me get off my bike and push. And once you actually join the A686 you have broken the back of the hill... it's just the bit in between.
According to Google it's just under 16 miles to the cafe but they will be slow ones.
Don't forget that the return downhill from Hartside could be cold so bring enough clothes.
I hope this mad plan appeals to some... Nigel says he's joining me!
Nothing on the 'runs list' for tomorrow so I'm taking a nice & easy 46 mile ride, starting at Armathwaite at 09.30 tomorrow, to the EV coffee stop at Acorn Bank NT property (22 mile). Route/map/gpx file >> HERE <<
Weather forecast looks good & should be a good ride out on a familiar route. If anyone wants to join me that would be great. All welcome.
Text or WhatsApp 07855534727
Cheers John H
For details of the holiday, please see the blog of 9 May. The idea is that anyone wanting to come books themselves in but lets me know if they want to join the meal out on the Thursday night.
I've just rung the YHA to find out what accommodation is still available; there are no rooms left for 2 people. There are 5 beds available in the single gender dorms, one private room for 4 without an en suite, 4 x 4 bedded rooms with an en suite and 1 x 4 bedded room with en suite which includes a double bed.
We will have fun however many there are, but the more the merrier!
Alison
The statement below was supplied by David's daughters Karen and Jan
Dad was diagnosed with alzheimers some years ago. He was supported to remain in his own home until January of this year by his daughter Jan and local carers and friends.
Dad was in a care home near Jan when his health deteriorated late in June. Daughters Karen, Jan and Dad’s partner of 25 years Maria, were all able to be with him shortly before he slipped away peacefully in his sleep early on 28 June.
Dad bequeathed his body to medical science, and despite being very nearly 90, his wish was gratefully accepted by Leeds University. Family and close friends will join together and celebrate David's life later this year.
Text supplied by Les
3 Bike Ride on Wednesday 5th July 9.30am
From Glendale, Cotehill going to Lanercost for coffee and on to Haltwhistle for lunch, returning via Lambley, Talkin, Gt Corby. Hope to have some company, all welcome. Total distance approx 60miles.
Please note the route includes a section on the Pennine cycleway which isn't tarmaced.
James 07802415607