Saturday 6th December 2014 - Global Fat Bike Day - Ambleside ride from Ghyllside cycles
20 folk met up at Ghyllside cycles on a cold Saturday morning, and were welcomed with coffee and Fat bikes. Some had gone to try riding a fat bike with a test ride on a demo bike, others had gone to support the event on their own fat bikes. There were plenty of Fatties, carbon, spes', on-ones and even a 29er+ with 3" tyres; so 3-5" tyres on 20 bikes did look a sight riding through Ambleside. Some local riders and also some who had travelled from away and one dog in support!
Route went something like this, head out of Ambleside and climb up and over Loughrigg, you maybe know the warm up climb past the old golf course club house. Then 3 punctures on the way down, you have to watch out for the gutters. All fixed and off down to Skelwith, stay on the lower lanes, and up to Sunny Brow and the Mountain Road behind Tarn Howes,and onto Hodge close, the slate run, past the playground and over the ford and Lunch at the Three Shires pub sandwiches and chips laid on for 20 bikers and chance to warm up and chat inside, good lunch.
Back via Elterwater, up past High Close, drop down to the beach at the south end of Grasmere, explored some of the new cycles tracks and over bridge, along trees and river and back over the new bridge and up to the caves. The descent down is rocky and testing, then back along the lanes to Ambleside and more coffee and cake to end. A great ride out on FATTIES, even the damp mist could not dampen the spirit.
Back via Elterwater, up past High Close, drop down to the beach at the south end of Grasmere, explored some of the new cycles tracks and over bridge, along trees and river and back over the new bridge and up to the caves. The descent down is rocky and testing, then back along the lanes to Ambleside and more coffee and cake to end. A great ride out on FATTIES, even the damp mist could not dampen the spirit.