The Uber ride.

Uber - meaning = "above", "over" or "across"

Well I think this ride captures the meaning of the word, 'over' Cumbria, 'across' most of the hardest passes and 'above' everything else, right in the middle of the ride.

But I can't be blamed for thinking up this epic, for that I must thank (curse) James. Who not only thought it up but also dragged me along for good measure!

A 150 mile loop with 14000ft of climbing, and this was just a training ride for more stupidity later in the year.

Early light over Crummock water

And no cars!



The start of Gt Dunn fell climb, held up by the sheep.



About 3.5 miles up the climb.

About 75 miles down only another 75 to go!

James at the top

Gt Langdale, home's over there!

11 hours of riding, no punctures, one bag of Jelly Babies, numerous munchies bars and a bowl of soup later - I was ready for a cuppa tea!

2013 Jersey

 

Here is the design (front and back) of this years Jersey. We are taking orders, If I get 10 orders they are £40 each including delivery.

 

 

If your interested leave a comment, or drop me an email. paul57jude@aol.com

The nameless ride recce

Those who were in the Ratty Arms one Wednesday evening a few weeks ago will understand the video below more than most.

Needless to say - riding off road with road tyres is.....interesting.

Who's the April fool

Filmed in 720p

Hardknott - still snow bound.

We had a walk up Hardknott today.

A week after the snow and the pass is still well and truly closed. There are a few drifts on the first section up to the fort which will probably only last a couple more days. However the last section has significant drifting with the road pretty much lost in the snow. Unless it rains I can't see the pass being open for another couple of weeks.



Park just behind that ice burge.

 

I think they're trying to tell us something

Ellie holding back the snow.

 

Looking down towards the fort

 

End of the road



The hairpin on the last section above the fort

Right I've eaten all of the grass and the braken and I'm sick of eating snow!

Harter Fell, pretty alpine even at low level.

 

George's new bike

I'm not sure what it is about farmers, either good genetics or to much time outside. However they seem to excel at anything physical!. Here's a bike we're developing to try and slow them down a bit!

 

 

 

 

A break from road bike training.

Last weekend saw winter return with a vengeance! So for a nice change and to avoid the inevitable pain of peddling into rain at 1 deg C Andy and I headed to Whinlatter for a spot of Mountain biking.

I'm also in the middle of a challenge ('Strava' driven) to ride for 31 hours 51 mins in 16 days. So a nice easy day was the plan and to get a few miles/hours in. We did all the dedicated mountain bike trails (about 15 miles) before lunch (soup in the cafe) then headed up and over on the fire track to the West side of Whinlatter for another 5 mile loop.

Whinlatter has 2 man made mountain Bike trails, the red route that is split in two - North and South side, plus the blue route. All are really good riding, the red route has some serious climbing on both sides. There are also miles of Forest tracks to ride, I still don't think I've done them all!

Andy then left me to it to ride for another 3 hours while I tried to ride everything I could off road in Whinlatter, including the track up and onto Lords Seat. 40 miles later and a good few hours in the saddle I'd had enough!

The top of Lords Seat, mud now frozen to the bike!

I think it snowed lightly all day (well at least when it wasn't raining) we were however very lucky with the wind as we managed to be in the shelter most of the day.

I got back to the car as it was getting dark to see the Whinlatter Head Torch race set of from the other side of the Valley. It was very impressive seeing 40+ lights head up the fell at various different speeds.

Winter training with Andy 2013 2

Winter Training

With several challenges planned this year on the bike, its time to get fit ready for the spring.

Unfortunately this means riding, regardless of the weather, road conditions or temperature!

Winter training can be a lonely place, even when your riding with other people, when you have a bad day on a bad day you know about it!

Three things make this all worth while:

1) A bowl of soup at the cafe stop, after 50 miles at 0.5 deg C there is no gastronomical delight better than a warm bowl of soup or beans on toast or even better......... both.
2) Getting home and soaking in the bath while your fingers & toes thaw out.
3) When the temperature finally allows, leaving the training bike and all the lbs of added winter baggage behind for the first time and flying (relatively to the preceding few months) on your best road bike up that first climb. Its like being released from the clutches of an ice breathing dragon and pushed on your way all at the same time.

Heading to Port Carlisle

Duddon Estuary from Corney Fell

Honister pass.

West side of Thirlmere



Wasdale

There is actually one other thing that makes riding in the winter very satisfying, its not the quiet roads free from tourists, or the great views as the air at this time of year can be very dry giving great visability. It's not the feeling of getting fitter or the knowledge that next week (or maybe the week after...) it will get a little warmer, or even the colours of the snow and the dead bracken as the snowdrops start to appear. No its the fact that everyone else, who stay at home nice and warm, think your bloody bonkers!!! Which of couse...............you are.



Baptism of ice and water

On the road to Grasmere.

 

The snow hadn't all quite melted on the west side of Thirlmere today.

 

What had melted was creating large puddles with ice burgs floating on them!

 

 

 

The dogs... taking a rest.