Lakes this weekend..

The Northern Monkey
The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
edited January 2010 in Routes
Any chance of anywhere being ridable this weekend? :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CTPLUcQAjk
Santa Cruz Butcher
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Comments

  • trailpuppet
    trailpuppet Posts: 381
    http://www.itv.com/border/weather/?intcmp=NAV_LOOKAROU0_WEATHER2
    With difficulty. Best calling Biketreks, Wheelbase or KMB
    http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/hawksehead-claife-heights-hodge-close-nice-conditions-today-pics#post-1012616
  • tightbarsteward
    tightbarsteward Posts: 123
    Apparently is gonna absolutely pis* it down in the South Lakes and wash all that lovely snow away tomorrow and Saturday.

    It will be fine. I was told Grizedale was OK last weekend and we went up Loughrigg & it was quality: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12673063
  • gaanrowl
    gaanrowl Posts: 326
    most of the snow has cleared from the low areas in the west rain is forcast so should be ok, hopefully do whinlatter sun. :D
    Cube Ltd Race 09

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  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    According to the forestry commission site, whindlatter is closed until further notice including the trials (dated 13/01/10).
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    Booooooo. If whinlatter is closed and gisburn unridable I'll give grizedale a go... Anyone certain it's open this weekend?
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • Whytepeak
    Whytepeak Posts: 2,616
    http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-69hbp2

    The webbo just says to take care bigbenj_08, though if you do go, be bloody careful, or you'll end up looking for a new brake lever again :!: .

    You could always try a natural route - like Claife Heights.
    Now that we are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. ROMANS 15:1
  • allmountain76
    allmountain76 Posts: 328
    Whytepeak wrote:
    http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-69hbp2

    The webbo just says to take care bigbenj_08, though if you do go, be bloody careful, or you'll end up looking for a new brake lever again :!: .

    You could always try a natural route - like Claife Heights.

    Its raining in Kendal now. The snow has all but gone under 1000 feet. try Garburn, Claife Heights, Blencathra Tour, Loughrigg and Hodge Close. Forget Altura, its closed. grizedale is icy due to "sheep" following each other round the trails for the last 3 weeks instead of using their imagination :lol:
  • allmountain76
    allmountain76 Posts: 328
    ps its 6 degrees!!!
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    Hmm. I'm not a fan of riding natural routed on my own in shitty weather lol!
    Just have to take care on that boardwalk!
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • allmountain76
    allmountain76 Posts: 328
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    Hmm. I'm not a fan of riding natural routed on my own in shitty weather lol!
    Just have to take care on that boardwalk!

    lol, MTFU and do some decent riding!
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    allmountain76 wrote:
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    Hmm. I'm not a fan of riding natural routed on my own in shitty weather lol!
    Just have to take care on that boardwalk!

    lol, MTFU and do some decent riding!
    I plan to when the P7 is up and running :)

    With the NS... its nice to know the route just incase my legs die from hauling it up hills :lol:
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • tightbarsteward
    tightbarsteward Posts: 123
    Grizedale was shi*e! Mostly unrideable due to snow & ice. And I reckon its gonna flood big time with all that melting snow. Some of the road was underwater on way back which wasnt 2 hours earlier. River down by Force Mills was really swollen.

    Avoid for a week or so.
  • pdid
    pdid Posts: 1,065
    tightbarsteward wrote:
    Grizedale was shi*e! Mostly unrideable due to snow & ice. And I reckon its gonna flood big time with all that melting snow. Some of the road was underwater on way back which wasnt 2 hours earlier. River down by Force Mills was really swollen.

    Avoid for a week or so.

    Thanks for that, think i`ll be going Au naturelle tomorrow
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    Rock Lobster
  • r3 guy
    r3 guy Posts: 229
    so is Gisburn the best bet for tomo?

    Was gonna do whinlatter but now i am not sure

    I just wanna ride (sniffles and wipes a tear away) :cry:
  • pdid
    pdid Posts: 1,065
    r3 guy wrote:
    so is Gisburn the best bet for tomo?

    Was gonna do whinlatter but now i am not sure

    I just wanna ride (sniffles and wipes a tear away) :cry:

    Gisburn will be a quagmire with patches of ice and snow left over, Whinlatter is closed till further notice.
    Commie Meta 5
    Rock Lobster
  • allmountain76
    allmountain76 Posts: 328
    Ha ha, what is it with the trail centres in the winter, forget it! Unless its dry and frozen (ie no snow and ice but not thawing) your doing yourself and the trail centre operator no favours, even more so when its just thawing.

    Went round Ashness Bridge, Rossthwaite, Honister, Castle Crag and bottom of Cat Bells today - descents to match anything at Whinlatter but NO snow and NO ice and we only saw 2 other bikes all day. MINT!
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    allmountain76 wrote:
    Went round Ashness Bridge, Rossthwaite, Honister, Castle Crag and bottom of Cat Bells today - descents to match anything at Whinlatter but NO snow and NO ice and we only saw 2 other bikes all day. MINT!

    That's what gets me - there's so much good natural stuff round round that way I really can't see the point of Whinlatter. It's just so over-rated it's not true.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
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  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    dave_hill wrote:
    allmountain76 wrote:
    Went round Ashness Bridge, Rossthwaite, Honister, Castle Crag and bottom of Cat Bells today - descents to match anything at Whinlatter but NO snow and NO ice and we only saw 2 other bikes all day. MINT!

    That's what gets me - there's so much good natural stuff round round that way I really can't see the point of Whinlatter. It's just so over-rated it's not true.

    but you can read maps well. I also live miles away so if riding by myself i'd rather be somewhere I can guarantee there will be other riders.... just incase something goes up sh"t creek.
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    Whatcha need to read a map for, thats what GPS systems are for ;)
  • allmountain76
    allmountain76 Posts: 328
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    dave_hill wrote:
    allmountain76 wrote:
    Went round Ashness Bridge, Rossthwaite, Honister, Castle Crag and bottom of Cat Bells today - descents to match anything at Whinlatter but NO snow and NO ice and we only saw 2 other bikes all day. MINT!

    That's what gets me - there's so much good natural stuff round round that way I really can't see the point of Whinlatter. It's just so over-rated it's not true.

    but you can read maps well. I also live miles away so if riding by myself i'd rather be somewhere I can guarantee there will be other riders.... just incase something goes up sh"t creek.

    Get a book or get the MBR routes, seriously they are so easy to follow you dont need a map. In fact i dont usually take a map if i am using:
    http://www.bikemaps.co.uk/lake_district ... guides.htm

    Whinlatter and Grizedale are great for a quick blast in the dry but when its been frozen and then starts to thaw the surface lifts and it gets ripped apart so fast its ruined in no time. Not only that, it stays icy for ages longer than the natural trails as it gets so compacted by all the traffic.

    I take your point about being on your own but there are always plenty of walkers about on most routes and in the even that you do fall off and are conscious (99% of the time) then mobiles generally work in the lakes i fyou are incapacitated!

    Plus, reading a map is a piece of piss and should be on the national curriculum!
  • tightbarsteward
    tightbarsteward Posts: 123
    That book is a must have. Sod maps. I have done half the routes in that book and out of them there are only 2 I wouldnt do again. You get to know the area alot better too and can link up some of the routes to others.
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    but you can read maps well.

    Reading maps isn't a black art - any numpty can do it. Hence my enormous ability.

    What are you doing (or were you doing) at university? And you can't read a map. Pfft.
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    I also live miles away so if riding by myself i'd rather be somewhere I can guarantee there will be other riders.... just incase something goes up sh"t creek.

    A prudent if somewhat timid approach. Going out on your own is all about expanding your limits. If you DON'T go out and get in trouble (up to a certain level, of course), you'll never know what you're capable of.

    It's funny isn't it - just under 20 years ago when I was your age, we didn't have any GPS, mobile phones, Health and Safety and all that jazz. We just went out riding and if we got in trouble we had to deal with it. Kids these days have had all the sense of adventure knocked out of them and despite having all the gadgets they're MORE afraid of going out and getting lost.
    Briggo wrote:
    Whatcha need to read a map for, thats what GPS systems are for

    A GPS will only show you where to go if you use a map to plan the route and load it up first. And even then it shows you using...a map.

    GPS is for girls and people with bad memories.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
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  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    dave_hill

    I don't want a GPS. I just think it would be stupid to venture out into isolated/unpopulated areas of the lakes on my bike with the weather like it is for the very first time.
    If i knew the route then yes, I would.
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    I don't want a GPS.

    I never said you did.

    It's difficult to express the sentiment really, but I do agree with you, I think you're very sensible. I wouldn't venture out into the mountains myself in this weather, but that's down to my intense dislike of being cold and wet, not because I'm scared. If it was 20 degrees with a warm breeze and blue skies you wouldn't see me for dust.

    My post is an observation about the general state of things. It's not a personal attack.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
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  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    alright no worries :) I'm a grumpy are today... work wasn't good.

    I do plan on heading out into the more isolated lakes when I've got a more suitable bike built up and my fitness has increased though!
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    I'm a grumpy arse today... work wasn't good.

    In that case I'll let you off. It's the same with me today... :evil:
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    dave_hill wrote:
    Briggo wrote:
    Whatcha need to read a map for, thats what GPS systems are for

    A GPS will only show you where to go if you use a map to plan the route and load it up first. And even then it shows you using...a map.

    GPS is for girls and people with bad memories.

    You dont need to use a map to plan the route, download a premade route from somewhere.

    GPS is a godsend, dont get me wrong I can read a map (from my scouting days) but you cant beat pinpoint accuracy on where you are that second, especially in the rain...
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    Briggo wrote:
    You dont need to use a map to plan the route, download a premade route from somewhere.

    And how did that get there. Oh, don't tell me - somebody used a map to plan it. Unless routes are now just bursting forth out of nothingness... :roll:
    Briggo wrote:
    You cant beat pinpoint accuracy on where you are that second, especially in the rain...

    Yes, I can see the advantages - oh look, it's raining and I'm 10cm away from where I thought I was. Great.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • stwilfredridesakona
    stwilfredridesakona Posts: 8
    Biking is all about exploring your limits. This means also going into the unknown route-wise; and of course , taking a map helps.

    But don't trust me; far too often I've ended up shouldering a bike...but the routes we've reached in that way have been awesome.

    Buy a map, get a route off 'tinternet and just go ride a bike.
  • southlakes
    southlakes Posts: 474
    There plenty tracks to go and explore in the South Lakes Area which on edges of the Lake District National Park or in the upper Lune valley which alot people miss! Its case looking at map or visiting one of the local mountain biking club websites to find out where they are going and join one of there rides, if you under 30 years old I would recommed you think about going out with the Bog Trotters Mountain Bike Club at http://www.bogtrotters.org/index.php and if you over 30 years old you welcome to come out on South Lakes Group(which is a local group of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship which is oldest off-road cycle touring club in the UK which was started in 1955) ride you can find our website at http://www.southlakesgroup.org.uk/ We have a ride every weekend and new members are always welcome, we do cater to the over 30s (as most our members over age of 30), those new moutain biking and folk with families.

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