Tuesday 29 March 2016

Tushielaw Inn & Gordon Arms Hotel

To those who enjoy cycling in the Scottish Borders:   I have just read on the CTC forum, that the Tushielaw Inn in the Ettrick Valley closed for 3 years, has re-opened under new management.  The Gordon Arms Hotel near St Mary's Loch,  partly destroyed in a fire a couple of years ago, has also re-opened.  At least the bar and dining room has re-opened.

30th March ride


The route follows back lanes through Chapelknowe and Solwaybank to 11's at Langholm.

Then there's  a gradual climb north for 7 miles on the A7 (usually fairly quiet) to Fiddleton, where  we  turn right along the Carewood Burn Valley, over Carewood Rigg (300m above sea level and the boundary between the Dumfries & Galloway and Borders Regions) and down to the gloomily romantic Hermitage Castle and on to Newcastleton. Ride may be extended by returning via Burrowstown Moss (click here)

A polite reminder that this is a touring pace ride.

Tuesday 22 March 2016

Moderate Ride Wednesday 23rd March

Claire's ride will leave Greystoke at 9.30 and head for Hesket Newmarket for elevenses. The route is then northwards to Dalston and Dallas will have tea and coffee available. The Country Kitchen is available should you want to purchase lunch. A polite reminder that this is a moderate ride.

Pooley Bridge

Pooley Bridge is now open to traffic;  Eamont Bridge opens at midnight tonight.

Monday 21 March 2016

Club Ride Wednesday 23 March

The ride will officially start at 0930 from the church in Burneside and pass through Bowston, Staveley and Troutbeck before climbing Kirkstone and descending The Struggle. Morning coffee will be at The Pier Cafe at Waterhead. From here we will head for Hawkshead via Red Bank, Blea Tarn, Coniston and Hawkshead Hill.

After lunch in Hawkshead, the return leg will be via Ambleside and Holbeck Lane and the total distance will be 56 miles over hilly terrain with some climbs of 25% gradient.

As usual there will be parking for a few cars on our drive in Bowston, but as the road between The A6 and Burneside is closed due to bridge damage you will need to carry on as if going into Kendal and at the first roundabout at the County Hotel and Kendal Railway Station take the right exit for Windermere and get in the right hand lane, turning right at Evans Cycles. From here take the first right signposted Burneside.

Post ride refreshments will be available at Bowston.

Hope to see you Wednesday.

Keith G.

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Ride Wednesday 16th March - to the seaside!

As per runs list meeting at Catterlen Lane ends (see map /click to enlarge) There is hard standing on either side of the main road or just N on the old road opp Woodhead Farm or on the Road into the village.
Route is hillier in the morning up to coffee at Maes Ulldale then easier and likely to be around 70mi(117km) but possible to modify depending on how we feel.
Likely to be quite cold if the cloud does not lift (around 7°C)
Hoping to see you there!
Oh I forgot ...don't forget your spades

Saturday 12 March 2016

Ride Sunday 13th


Langwathby to Brampton for 11’s then backtrack to Castle Carrock for the ride to Wetheral via the railway viaduct  for lunch.  I am unsure about the availability of cafes in Wetheral so best to take some spare food unless someone knows a cafe that will be open.  Then it’s across the M6 at J42, not quite to Dalston, and return via CJ County and Plumpton to Langwathby.  See you there!
Peter

Friday 11 March 2016

Langwathby Bridge:  riding towards Penrith today I fell off my bike.  This was just before entering the bridge;  I rode on the left, the steeper side, as I did not want to run wide, as I usually do, as I had a car quite close behind and I did not want him to slip inside me;  fortunately the car managed to stop in good time as I toppled.
It is not unusual for there to be diesel here, so please be careful.
Incidentally, I was going to have my hair cut;  instead I had a close shave.
Regards to all.

Migrating South

Joan & I have decided to re-locate to Eastbourne. We'll be leaving here on Tuesday 15th March. E-mail address will stay the same as on the Member's List for anyone who wants to get in touch.
All the best to you all, John & Joan.

Monday 7 March 2016

Club run - Wednesday 9th March

The route on Wednesday will be to Cockermouth via Bassenthwaite village and Ouse Bridge.   11's will be in the Cafe/bookshop on the main street.  (I do not know the name of the cafe.)   The route will then be Eaglesfield, Greysouthern, Brantwood, Lamplugh and the Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater for lunch.    After lunch the route to Keswick will be via Whinlatter.   Total distance approx 50 miles.   Hope to see some of you at the start which will be behind Keswick swimming pool.

Friday 4 March 2016

Rides on Sunday 6th March

Mike's Ride Elevenses at the former Methodist Chapel (near Port Carlisle), serve yourself (donation box), coffee/tea available but bring your own nibbles. Then ride around Anthorn peninsula (forecast is for only a light wind) and onto lunch at Cups and Saucers at Seaville. Return to Dalston where some tea and cakes will be available. 50+ miles.
Claire's Ride Straight to Cups and Saucers without an elevenses stop. Bring a flask if you want. Tea and cakes at Dalston at finish. Under 40 miles.

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Main Ride 2 nd March - Round Skiddaw

Depending on weather conditions the proposed route of 44 miles starting at 09:30 is as follows : -

1. Start to 11's
 Greystoke to Caldbeck via Johnby, Thanet Well, Millhouse and Hesket Newmarket = 11 miles

2. 11's to Lunch
 Caldbeck to Keswick via Uldale Common and Bassenthwaite village = 16 miles

3. Lunch to Finish
 Keswick to Greystoke via Brunholme Woods, Threlkeld, Scales, gated road to Mungrisdale, Berrier and Whitbarrow = 17 miles

If the roads are icy or it is raining heavily cutting out Brunholme Woods and going via Burns to Threlkeld the distances are similar at 3.8 miles, but the Burns route is less hilly and at a lower level. Cutting out the gated road to Mungrisdale followed by Berrier and going via Scales to Witbarrow would cut out about 2.5 miles and the gate openings & closures.