Saturday ride - Appleby, Kirkby Stephen & Orton

Final details from Mike about his ride scheduled for next Saturday - 15th September 2012

I plan to leave the start point at the old quarry at the top of Orton Scar (GR 628098)at 10:00am, (on the left just before the cattle grid on the B6260) north of Orton. From here we will descend through Crosby Ravensworth, The Meaburns to Bolton, Colby and onto Appleby (15miles). Most of this first part of the route is downhill on good roads, so we should be in Appleby well before 11:30 for tea. There are several tea rooms to choose from.

We leave Appleby and follow cycle route 68 past Burrells and Rutter Force, turning left in Great Asby (up the only arrowed climb of the day) through Soulby and into Kirkby Stephen for lunch (25 miles), again there are several cafes, three chip shops and two Co-ops selling food to choose from (including the cycle friendly Pink Geranium who sell inner tubes and energy gels and have a good selection of cycling magazines).

If the weather is fine I plan to slightly extend the intended route to Hartley and along the cinder surfaced old railway, crossing Podgill and Merrygill viaducts to emerge onto Nateby Road (if it rains we will go straight up to Nateby without this loop).

From Nateby we will continue to Pendragon Castle then turn right up across Wharton Fell and onto Easgill Head then Smardale. From here we cross a ford (which is very slippery, crossing the footbridge is advisable) and fairly steep uphill to Crosby Garrett (very slippery climb if wet). We then retrace our steps to Great Asby (tea, coffee available in the Three Greyhounds) and then the final leg up to Bank Moor and then back to the start point.

The ride length is 50 miles (47 avoiding the Hartley loop). There is some significant climbing, but mainly gentle gradients.The ride can be shortened for those who don't fancy the whole route by returning directly to the start from Great Asby and avoiding the Kirkby Stephen leg.

I rode it on a particularly windy day last weekend and found the drag up from Great Asby to the finish a bit of a slog, but it was a 30mph headwind! Given a calmer day, it's a great ride.

Hopefully this preview won't frighten too many members off!

Telephone Mike on 07557-982522 if you need any more information.

Next Sunday: Between Haverthwaite and Coniston

Details of this Sunday's ride (2 September) from John (all welcome as ever):

Start at Haverthwaite crossroads at 10am.
Ride through Rusland Valley to Grizedale (possible tea stop) on to Moor Top then either through the forest to the top of Hawskhead Hill or down to Hawkshead and up the hill on the other side. Over the hill and round to Tarn Hows and on to Coniston (tea stop).
Back by the east side of the lake to Spark Bridge, then Greenodd, over bridge and back to the starting point. (If wet via Bouth.)

Telephone JOHN on 01229 833798 for more details

Tebay to Kirkby Stephen Scenic Loop - join us this Saturday (18 August)

Here are the details for Jack and Paul's ride this Saturday. It's a beautiful route with some hills but no chevrons on the map! Do join us. Everyone welcome...

From Tebay we follow the old Kirkby Stephen Road keeping off the A685 and using the NEW off road cycle path between Newbiggin-on-Lune to Ravenstonedale. We’ll stop for coffee break at Ravenstonedale. Then head over to Mallerstang (on Tommy Lane drops down to Pendragon Castle) and cruise into Kirkby Stephen on the quiet Mallerstang road. Two very good tea shops and pubs for food in KS.

Route back follows narrow lanes through Crosby Garrett, Little Asby and Orton (tea shop/pub drink here optional, or Tebay Old School House). Jack will bore you about Friends of the Lake District management of Little Asby Common, National Park extensions and some flowers as we look down at Sunbiggin Tarn and the amazing panorama of Dales, Howgills and Eastern Lakes.

Those travelling from Kendal suggest head to Tebay via Walney to Wear NCN Route via Lowgill and come back more direct on the A685.

Call: Jack 01539 727651, or Paul 07768 647745 for more details.
Start/Meet Times: 10.30am at Tebay (outside new Café in Old School House – plenty of parking on roadside), OR 8.45am from Kendal Leisure Centre.
Distance: 32 miles from Tebay (approx 68 miles from Kendal)

Bikes go free on Windermere ferry

Windermere Ferry won't be charging for bicycles between 22 and 30 July

This week sees a Drive Less See More Awareness Week unfolding across places like Windermere, Coniston, Grasmere and Ambleside, to help the public understand more about the multitude of sustainable travel options available.

The week started on Sunday July 22nd and runs until Monday 30th July and offers over 20 activities, special offers and dozens of events. Cumbria County Council is offering free travel on the Windermere Ferry for cyclists all week, and has seen a positive uptake and a really good response from cyclists – despite the rain!  There’s also great deals and discounts to be had all week at local hotels, attractions, cafes and transport providers. For more information on the week, visit http://www.golakes.co.uk/travel/Challengeweek.

Annual mega-ride - Saturday 21 July - Join us if you dare!

Description: A trip into the heart of the Lakes taking in some of the toughest climbs in the area including Hardknott & Wrynose Passes. Strong cyclists only on this one please. Distance 52 miles.

Start from the Windermere Ferry - meeting 9.45am (to allow for the train from Oxenholme/Kendal). There will be numerous challenging climbs. To warm us up is the hill from the Ferry but worse is to come.

We will skirt Hawkshead and head up Hawkshead Hill to Coniston. A severe climb awaits at Torver taking us to Stephenson Ground for a pleasant but hilly lane eventually dropping down to Dunnerdale. No morning tea stops so bring elevenses.We turn left for a short distance before another severe climb at Ulpha which will take us over to Eskdale. The gradient is kind for a while here so to celebrate we will stop for refreshment at Dalegarth Station to ogle at the engines (or anything else which catches our eye) and wonder why the heck we didn't just catch the train.
On a high from our steamy encounter (and hopefully a good dollop of ice cream) we head up the valley to our fate. Hardknott Pass from the west is acknowledged as one of the hardest routes in the land. Let us hope the weather is kind and we do not encounter too many motorists to impede our attempt to get a good line on the curves. Wrynose Pass is next before a long descent to Little Langdale and civilisation. We will then head back to Hawkshead and the Ferry by late afternoon/early evening. The route is hard so expect a low average speed and thus a fairly long day out.

Health warning: An extremely tough ride - riders will need to be able to cycle all or most of the climbs as there will not be the time available to wait for long periods. Also there are no easy get out options once we have gone beyond Coniston.

Latest on Arnside to Grange cycle route

The Feasibility Study that Sustrans have compiled has been received and they have identified 7 possible routes or route segments on the Meathop side. A copy of the survey will be made available to supporters soon. There are pros and cons for most of the routes. The Farmer on the North side has been approached but is understandably concerned about the project and the impact of dog walkers on his land.

Adrian and Stuart have attended meetings hosted by Suzannah Bleakley of the Morecambe Bay Partnership with the aim of submitting a Joint application for funding from the Coastal Communities fund. The good news is that we are through to the next stage of the application. We now have to get the next stage application prepared before 21 September.

Adrian has had a meeting in Manchester with Jon Kelly of Network Rail to discuss issues such as access, ownership, cost and the GRIP process which is Network Rails process for managing work affecting their infrastructure. The following stages of GRIP would be a “Design Agreement” and then an “Outline Design and Detail Design. Jon was also asked to give an opinion on the proposed routes.

We are hoping to hold meetings soon as ATOG will need formerly establishing with a constitution at which point we will need volunteers to come forward to fill some of the posts in order to push the project forward.

Our Facebook page is now established and there are photos of the old and new viaducts, and comments on the page. Please feel free to have a look and put your views and ideas forward.

Further details from Martin about his ride next Saturday 14th July 2012.

Meet at Shap Memorial Hall at 10.30.

From Shap, we cycle through Keld to join the concrete road towards

Burnbanks, with a detour up the secluded valley of Swindale. Proposed lunch

stop at Bampton (pub - I recommend the Emergency Bitter! - or general

store), then we head North to Yanwath, visiting the very impressive Mayburgh Henge (where you can see what 5 million of something looks like!). There's also chance to visit another couple of ancient monuments along the route, if there aren't enough amongst the participants!

From Eamont Bridge, we head South through Lowther Park (I've checked that

this is OK), emerging near Lowther Castle. When I did the reccy, I rode

through Hackthorpe and Great Strickland (tea stop), followed by a long

steady climb to Castlehowe Scar, finishing with a quick descent into Shap,

total distance 34 miles. However, another, easier, option would be to turn

right at the castle and return to Shap along the East side of the valley

through Askham and  Bampton Grange, which I think would be just under 30

miles.

Gradients fairly gentle throughout, apart from the downhill finish into Shap if we take the longer route.

I recommend that you take a snack to eat at the top of Swindale, as once we

leave Shap there are no opportunities to buy refreshments before Bampton.