Crudcatcher Weekend Ride - Inners/GT - 27/28/29 Jul

Proutster

Just ordered the smidge.

I gather the wee blighters are out in force and will still be when we're there.

Now to get a sleeping bag for that Country Manor

thekickingmule

Just thinking (as I cba doing any work today, I feel I've done enough explaining to the Network guy that his network isn't working!). I see that 'Tent #1' still has room for one more. If it saves cost and space, I don't mind crashing in there, saves me with mine, but I don't mind being in mine in the slightest if you have filled it.

Richie63 You driving up from Sheffield? Fancy picking me up en route (Leeds). No worries if not.

cat_with_no_tail

Ok, I've been putting a bit of thought into the ride on the way up.

I reckon it's a good opportunity for people to meet up beforehand and stretch the legs before getting back in the cars and finishing what is for many, the long drive up to GT.
Trying to pick places that will be "on the way" for as many of us as possible.

AFAIK, most of us are coming from Walesshire and Mids, and so would probaly be heading up the M6?

1st thoughts are:
Gisburn
Somewhere in the Lake district (I'll defer to someone with more local knowledge than me for exactly where)
Lee/Crag Quarry

Mostly because I'll not be in L'pool until 10:30

Other options however are:
Kirroughtree (McMoab looks ace)
Mabie (always fancied trying the Dark Side)
Dalbeattie

Although they're a bit further afield, and we'd probably not even arrive there until 2pm ish.

I'm not driving, so it makes very little difference to me.

flyingmonkeycorps

The Galloway Stanes are quite a trek from GT, you'd have a long drive afterwards. Lee / Cragg would be a good bet, good fun for a chilled out play around and sessioning stuff. I could recommend you some awesome rides in the Lakes, but they're all quite big rides, or Whinlatter isn't bad if you fancy trailcentre type stuff.

Not sure why I'm in this thread since I'm not going

cat_with_no_tail

You want to come along? You've certainly contributed enough to the thread.

cat_with_no_tail

And yeh, it's about a 2h:30m drive from there to GT, which if you've already done 5hrs coming up from Wales is prob a bit much.

I've done Lee Quarry (and Cragg) before, and they were alright. I personally felt they lacked "flow" though. Don't have any strong objections to going back if it's what everyone else wants though.

I know Northern Monkey used to ride at Whinlatter a fair bit. I'm quite open to any suggestions for where we should stop along the way.

flyingmonkeycorps

Would love to, but ironically I think I'll be on holiday with the Mrs in Wales that weekend! I'd stop in the Lakes if it were me, I love it there - there's an awesome natural route around Grizedale that's not too epic.

pilch

Got the Friday booked off now

Me & my mates have an annual pilgrimage to the Stanes, over the years done, pretty much all of them... Kirroughtree is awesome, got some vid of me on McMoab somewhere..... but looooong drive on minor roads over to the other side as discussed.

Done Lee at the singletrack weekender a while back... i'm with you it's 'OK', my 2p worth would be Whinlatter/Grizedale/Gisburn - out of those i'd pick Whinlatter, for purely selfish reasons as I haven't done it... but happy to do whatever!

cat_with_no_tail

In other news, I just booked myself a Trek Session 8 to demo on the Uplift day at inners.

Anyone wanting another demo bike should get in touch with Alpine Bikes ASAP as they've not got many left. They're £50 for the day (although to be fair, I may only be using this one for a half day).

Proutster

Cat With No Tail wrote:

In other news, I just booked myself a Trek Session 8 to demo on the Uplift day at inners.

Anyone wanting another demo bike should get in touch with Alpine Bikes ASAP as they've not got many left. They're £50 for the day (although to be fair, I may only be using this one for a half day).

Now that's serious! I can see an expensive n+1 coming along.....

Did you go for the Sunday?

Let me know & I'll book myself on the uplift as well - then we can see how cack I really am (BTW the Make or Break DH course looks a lot less scary than some of the others, think I might try that one first).

EDIT: Booked it for Sunday 29th - Oh Sh!t, will the SX Trail be enough bike? Will I have enough ability?
I think the answers are Yes and No, in that order

Squarepants

DH day sounds fun.

Me and Ben NM are looking at costs atm. CWNT you're paying fore this out of your own pocket? That's incredibly generous but I can't in good concious (and I'm strictly speaking for myself only here) let you pay for my accommodation yourself. I'm sure we'll come to some arrangement (jeez we're back to the cheeky b*m w*nks) I won't be back long off my honeymoon so money is likely to be imaginary at that point but if it's doable it's doable..

Really looking forward to it all being equal

cat_with_no_tail

Ok, update on a few more things.

I'm booking myself on the uplift day on the Sunday. That way I've got a full day of riding on Sat.
Plus, I'll probably not be able to do the full day as I've got to return the Trek (maybe ) then be back in l'pool by half 6. Anyone wanting to join me on the uplift is quite welcome to do so.
You can book this yourself though the Uplift Scotland website.
The price for a place on the Uplift is £32 per day.
•Sign on opens - 8am
•First uplift leaves carpark at 9am sharp
•Estimated finish time - 4.30pm
The uplift does 8 runs per day with a lunch break half way through the day

I usually ride DH on my Reed, but having seen the tracks at inners, I'd recommend getting a proper DH bike for it.

Anyone wanting to demo a DH bike for the day should speak to Alpine Bikes but had better do so sharpish as they are already running out. A DH bike will cost you £50 for the day. It's also worth mentioning that they have some other blingy AM and XC bikes to demo if anyone is in the mood and feeling a bit flush. They've been dead helpful with me.

As for the issue of accommodation (and of me paying for it). I simply wont hear it. If it makes you feel better (which it should), I have just got off the phone with Ian, the chap who owns the campsite we're staying at.
It's costing me the grand total of £100 for the entire weekend. That includes all our tents, the van, the gazebo, campfire, access to the showers, kitchen etc. Because I'm not 100% sure on who is bringing bikes, how many, and where they intend to keep them, I've not added bike storage onto this, but it's £2 per night for anyone who wants it.

It's SO cheap in fact, I will be making an additional contribution to the charity.

I really don't want anything back off this, and I'll be deeply offended if anyone offers again. Even at £100, it's a damned cheap weekend away.

I would just like to say a MASSIVE thanks to Ian at Glentress Forest Lodges. I've spoken to him a few times, and he has been [/i]incredibly[/i] helpful all the way through. http://www.glentressforestlodges.co.uk/
I'll be recommending them to every man woman and child who even hints at passing through that area.

Squarepants

£100 - fruck you then you won't see penny one from me

Cheers again, I'll be sure to donate to the Kaise fund

Proutster

Cat - replying to PM's doesn't seem to be working for me at the moment - so yes, that's superb.

Squarepants

Me and Northern Monkey are in

I'll take a tent pitch, not sure bout Ben atm

The Northern Monkey

Evening all....
Long time no speak, apologies I have been internetless up in rural northern monkey land.

All sounds lovely and a superb weekend so deco up for this, DH day sounds tidy too!

Tent for me, I have a big one so may share with Squarepants .... Oooer misses.

Another reason for me not being on here is the lack of bike and moving house, Canyon is due to be fixed next week so should be no issues for July.

Very much looking forward to this

Squarepants

The Northern Monkey wrote:

I have a big one so may dry hump Squarepants

cat_with_no_tail

Cat With No Tail wrote:

So far, accommodation wise we have

Country Manor (wigwam)
Proutster
Bails

Tent #1 (can sleep 3 people)
CWNT
Richie 63
kickingMule

Tent #2
NorthernMonkey
SquarePants

Tent #3
Andyrm
Tent #4
Lawman

Van #1
Pilch

The plan as it stands so far is:
Fri - Gisburn - around lunch time - Mrs CWNT will be providing her trademark sausage rolls and cakes (if she knows what's good for her).
Sat - Glentress baby - ALL - DAY - LONG!!!!!
BBQ on the night if the weather is ok.
Sun - Inners - Uplift Day (I'll be leaving about 2ish)

How's that grab everyone?

Proutster

Perfect for me!

I'll bring a BBQ, bacon for Sat & Sun mornings and BBQ food for Sat night.

It's a pity this is 6-7 weeks away, I'm looking forward to it loads already

cat_with_no_tail

You've got a fridge in your stately home too, so there should be enough room to stick burgers and bacons in there.
As I say, the wife is supplying sausage rolls and cakes. If it's anything like bikeradar Live, she'll pack me enough to feed a small army.

thekickingmule

Jesus wept Mrs. CWNT's sausage rolls and cakes! Seriously guys, we're in for a good'un here!!

So looking forward to it. I'll sign me up for the uplift, sod riding up that hill again! I'm well up for Gisburn, not ridden there in a year or so. In talks with Richie about scavenging a lift with Cat, could be epicness in the making here!

Why is it only June!?

The Northern Monkey

Gisburn sounds like a plan... The hope line is awesome!
Should be able to drive up in time, and then convoy to Scotland

I would ask the mrs to make food but I doubt anyone wants food poisoning.... I shall supply meat.

cat_with_no_tail

The Northern Monkey wrote:

I shall supply meat.

fnarr

Squarepants

Sounds good, I'll bring beer; eatings cheating.

Need to book an uplift before all the spots dissapear!

cat_with_no_tail

Ah yes, the uplift.

Me and Richie are both booked on already. Everyone else doing it needs to get on it sharpish like before it fills up.

Anyone not wishing to be rad to the power of sick, gnarcore and so on, I was flicking through an old copy of MBUK last night and I noticed they've done a pull-out map for a ride around St Marys Loch (in inerleithen). Looks like a pretty decent natural XC route with about 3,500ft elevation. I'll bring it along in case anyone is interested.

thekickingmule

I'm booked onto the Uplift too, for £32 it's certainly worth it! I love the Inners descent, won't be going near the DH, the XC one is fun enough, so fast!
Travel plans are coming along nicely, looks like a lot of riding that weekend! Fantasticness.

Proutster

That's 4 of us on the uplift then.

Richie63

Throw this into the mix

talking with tKM about lifts etc and it looks like we may be getting together for a Thursday Peak ride with a few ales and curry thrown in before going to collect CWNT on Friday.
Anyone have the time to join in?

The Northern Monkey

Uplift booked for the Sunday
, believe Squarepants is doing the same

Won't be able to do anything Thursday... Working

What time is CWNT's ferry? Not sure how long it'll take to get to Gisburn. Really hoping to borrow a company car or we'll be squashed into my 206 haha!

Squarepants

The Northern Monkey wrote:

believe Squarepants is doing the same

Yep