Kielder 100- 100 mile MTB race in Kielder

One Lap
One rider
One adventure
One hundred miles

So the flyers said. I saw the buzz of interest on forums and the event certainly had an attraction, the first 100 mile MTB race in this country and not too far from home too. I certainly never felt I would be fit enough to give it a shot and have been taking evrything one step at a time this year. Nigel however was showing quite an interest and so I promised I would enter with him if I survived SITS. I did so had little choice but to get signed up, sure that it would hurt.

Training was almost non-existant, for two weeks after SITS I barely looked at my bike let alone rode it. The next few weeks saw some rides but nothing approaching the size of the event. The constant rain falling in the North made Summer riding more like Winter and motivation which should of been bursting through somewhat jaded. A steady pace and underlying base fitness would hopefully see us through.

We headed up to the Youth Hostel at Kielder on Friday afternoon where we met up with Chris and Pat who were riding and Nick who was along for support. The weather was looking favourable, bikes unpacked and all signed on we were physically all set but mentally along with many others I wager wondering what we had let ourselves in for. We had barely slept when the 4.30am alarm woke us, Nigel and myself had a date with a full english breakfast at the cafe.

Fed and then changed we headed for the start line with the other 200 riders and awaited our fate. Just a few minutes after 6.30am we were off, a good stretch of fire road behind the lead car gave a decent steady warm up as the sun crept over the tree tops. Once the car split off the pack spread out, we were quite happy to sit mid-pack and keep to a decent average speed rather than burn out. The first 25 miles were a great mix of trails and we made good progress to the first food stop. The trails were a mixture of surfaces, some plain hard work and some sections of the fire roads very quick.

Nigel started to suffer chain suck with the Kielder grit playing havoc with drive trains and brake pads. He also suffered a puncture but soon after it was my turn to anger the trail gods and around 40 miles I suffered a loose left hand crank arm. We had bumped into Chris at a crossing point when it happened, at first I thought it just needed nipping up but it turned out to be a more serious issue. The insert in the carbon arm had come away at the bottom bracket leaving me heading for retirement until Nick offered me the loan of Chris’s Specialized Enduro which he just happened to be on. After back tracking to the trackside mechanic to swap the pedals we were back in action on a burly all mountain steed

With time lost and no GPS showing average speed we plodded along as best we could, it was hard going now with some demoralising sections but also some amusing parts such as the head tube height puddle. After the pipers welcome it was a great relieve to make the Newcastleton food stop with 2 hours to spare from the cut off when we thought we were going to miss it. And well worth a stop it was too A good run round some of the red route was enjoyable before the route headed back towards England.

Breaking the ride into smaller sections certainly helped but it still hurt, the long draggy almost flat sections seemed much worse than the hills to me. The 80 mile marker was another great highlight, the stream crossing just after it sent a tidal wave over our heads as we sped through, it put a smile on our faces. The last 10 miles saw Nigel perking up and picking up the pace, cursing him I tried to stay on his wheel as the miles painfully passed by. Some lovely sections of red trails took us over the finish line just after 7pm, quite an epic day out.
Pat retired around midway and Chris just ahead of us, great effort from them both as well as everyone who took part.

A very successful event, well organised and brilliantly marshalled. After a few days rest I’m looking forward to next year already

SITS 2009 24 Hour Solo

It’s been sometime since Sleepless In The Saddle but after losing my first draft I have never got round to summing up the event. My Blog has been very neglected this year and it’s long overdue a few words and pictures.

The run-up to SITS saw little real training, I clocked up a few long midweek evening rides but epic rides just haven’t really happened this year. My knee has been improving which was my biggest worry but with great support from Graham at thebodyrehab I felt it would hold up. The weather forecast for the day was looking good but after weeks of rain it was still expected to be rather damp in places, hopefully nowhere near as bad as last year though.

It was a chance to treat the family to a wonderful long weekend at Catton Park. I took the Friday off work and we set off mid morning to beat the Friday afternoon rush and try and get a decent pitch. The site seemed almost deserted as we drove in, stark contrast to Mountain Mayhem a month or two back. Signage wasn’t great but we soon worked out the layout and managed a trackside position adjacent to the solo marquee. Once the tent was squeezed into the gap and everything unloaded it was time for a steady lap of the course to see what lay ahead whilst the camp slowly filled

The campsite was quite a muddy mess in places which was a worry for the course. I had fitted Speedkings to my hardtail and took this out for a reccy. It didn’t take long to realize that mud tyres would be the starting choice, some sections were cut up badly already and the sections deep in the tree line stood little chance of drying out all weekend. With flashbacks to last year I had to stop and pull mud from the bike at one point, happy days The course seemed great apart from the mud, no big hills but a few short steep climbs to test the lungs and a selection of muddy therefore sketchy downhills to keep you on your toes. With my new found knowledge I headed to a stall and bought a new set of Mud-X tyres as soon as I could and fitted then ready for the race.

I guess I must of been keeping things rather close to my chest, I knew Mark was entered and had sent him a text asking how things were going. When he got round to replying I rung him, as we spoke I saw him heading for the cafe, he still didn’t know at that point I had entered let alone was sat in front of my tent watching him It was nice to meet up again, it’s been too long. Barny was again popular with the boys and it was nice for Sarah and Chrissy to catch up again as well. Small talk out of the way, gauntlets were thrown down ready for the battle tomorrow I think both of us just wanted to nurse our way through, Mark was struggling with his knee from the start in a re-run of my event last year. 15 laps and to make the finish lap was my goal.

With my best disco slippers on I lined up for the run on Saturday afternoon. With the more laid back atmosphere there was no great jostling for position and I found myself quite well up the field. That could soon change unless there was a mass of others not keen on anything other than a leisurely jog. And so it began, slowly settling into a gentle pace and keen to avoid joggers nipple I went with the flow and on occasion passed a person or two. The run was plenty long enough for me and I was glad make it to my bike and start the event proper. The first lap often means being stuck in a long queue but I got a reasonable run in but the obvious choke points were slow going.

Lap then blended into lap as time went on, strategy wise I threw my camelbak to Sarah or the boys as I went past and pitted in to collect it and take a short break every lap. The hardtail was proving a good choice and the tyres were doing better than my hopeful first choice although the roots had in in for me With light fading the lights were fitted and my first problems surfaced. My HID lamp started to cut off when it seemed I needed it most, it was fine cruising along double track but gleefully went out as soon as I turned onto single track Thankfully Stu had lent me his Lumicycle HID which served me well.

The night laps were a gruesome experience for me, a heavy dew meant the sappy conditions were taking their toll. The low point of the lap for me was about the halfway point where the track skirted close to the allure of the arena and warm bed before heading upwards for more punishment. The dawn lap couldn’t come quickly enough for me, the temperature had dropped and the cold air was playing havoc with my lungs and the bloody roots seemed to be growing.

Dawn has always been a great time for me on events, this one was particulary welcome. It was great to see some faces again and look forward to the trails drying out. With the end now in sight things felt easier, I was on target to pass my target laps with plenty of time to spare so planned to swap bikes on 15 and finish the race on the comfort of the E-120. With help from the mechanic camped next to us I swapped the tyres over as I felt the course still justified the ones I had been running. Maybe not the wisest choice in hindsight, my carefully prepped and tested bike kept throwing the chain into the wheel. I had to adjust the stop screw on the mech, I guess something was knocked slightly in transit

The extra comfort of full suspension was maybe a bit too late in the day for any real gain and certainly felt harder work on the last few laps as the ground started to dry nicely. My body was already hurting and on the 17th lap the sunrise effect had long since worn off and I was in a bad way. I crossed the finish line and could of quite happily cried. With two hours to go I could of got another two laps in but opted for a 5 litre bottle of water over my head, an extended break and a very steady last lap. Surprising I felt much better on my last lap to the extent I was seriously considering putting in another but instead passed 30 minutes with the pre-finish line crowd that was gathering.

Not long after the horn sounded the 24 hours were up I crossed the line to shake Pats hand. It was a great feeling to of finished after last years disappointment, my heart went out to Mark though when I found out he had had to retire early with his knee in a re-run of my experience last year. We spent another night on the site rather than rushing home, the family had enjoyed the weekend again and I am sure we will be back next year for more suffering

Saddle sore

Rides have been somewhat steady since my last post, 2-3 hour’s in the saddle enough to start building a little fitness back and not overstress the knee’s. The weather hasn’t always helped but the last week has been milder and dry which is always a bonus. A ride round Kentmere on Wednesday night with Stu went down well and we discussed posting a ride up for Sunday. With some interest showing we hatched a route plan starting from the Youth Hostel and taking in Iron Keld-Hodge Close-Parkamoor-Moor Lane-Breasty Haw-Great Wood-Devils Gallop, around 20 miles.

I opted to ride from home and take the ferry over to Hawkshead, with things going well with the knee’s and needing to get back into riding some big mileages again. After some last minute faffage I finally set off, taking the Whyte 46 out for it’s first proper trip out for a long time as the E120 is back in Wheelbase with BB/crank set issues again. At least the 46 was quiet even if the tyres weren’t really going to be the best choice for the 15 mile of road. It took around an hour to reach Ferry Nab where I had to wait for the first ferry of the day before the 4 mile stretch to the Hostel. Ray had cycled from Windermere, going round the lake as the ferry wasn’t running as early as he would of liked. Matt, Tony and Alex were already there too and before long everyone else was present and ready for the off, nine in total was a good turnout.

The first climb of the day Saw the fitter riders flexing their muscles and forging ahead, some of us opted to plod at a steadier pace. I knew I would certainly be feeling a little tired by the time I was done so was in no hurry to try and keep pace with the whippets. Shifting problems had surfaced with my bike which was to plague me for the day, climbs were somewhat dodgy with ghost shifting creating problems and at one point leading to a near over the bars moment coupled with a pedal on the shin on one uphill

The familiar trails were as enjoyable as ever, the weather whilst very kind led to copious sweating on the hills and a chill whenever we stopped or eased off. The sun shone on us though which was great and made the scenery ever better. The first mechanical of the day was a puncture on a water bar for Matt at Low Yewdale. It gave me chance to swap out the Superstar brake pad that had come adrift on my rear brake……..

Another sweaty climb up Lawson Park led us to Parkamoor and the great descent down Moor Lane. With gates already open it was a cracking ride down to Satterthwaitte, the sanitised rock outcrops now take away the tricky bits but water bars claimed another tube this time for Alex. Ian assited him whilst we waited, glad it was just a puncture causing the holdup. A water refill at the pub was a welcome relief for me before the climb up Bresty Haw where Stu showed us all how to clean the rocky step, everyone else spun out despite the dry trails. The final descents were a fitting end to a great ride, I’m sure everyone enjoyed it.

All that remained was a further 15 miles back home for me. Ray split off with me and we headed back to the ferry. My legs were feeling the ride now so the trip over the water was a welcome break. Ray dragged me up the climb to the golf course before splitting off home. Once back I shoveled food down and being a good boy stretched off a bit before collapsing. It was a good day but some bits aren’t used to being sat in the saddle for so long again…….

No pictures due to my broken Fuji and the credit crunch

Biggish Day Out

Phil, originally uploaded by brf.

A short entry to try out posting through flickr, thanks to Ben for the picture from a great ride out in the Lakes. Shamefully my camera is still sat waiting to be sent for repair so no pictures of my own sadly but Ben and Paul took some stunning shots.

Winter riding rules….

Well Summer was a washout and Autumn proved little better for my biking too so it’s nice to be finally back in the saddle clocking up a few miles and trying to regain some sort of fitness. A trip to Innerliethen on Monday was a great tonic and the weather was great with a covering of snow coupled with a clear day providing great views as well as riding. My camera is broken again at the moment but I took a picture or two with my phone to capture the day.

It has been a long time since I have blogged, after my last entry the next big event was SITS which turned into a mudbath from which I was to retire early when my dodgy knee gave way again. I had almost completed a blog entry but ghosts (or kids…) in the machine lost all my typing and I didn’t have the enthusiasm to type it out again. I took a long break to try and let my knee heal but it never improved at all. A visit to the GP led to x-rays, consultants, cortisone injections but no lasting cure.
Back to paying for private treatment I visited a new Physiotherapist at The Body Rehab in Staveley. Graham inspired from the first appointment and has worked wonders in getting me back in the saddle. The knee still gives a little bother at times but seems to be improving nicely. I have a few miles in the bank now but my fitness level has dropped alarmingly over the last few months, not helped by the weight gained sat on the sofa. Hopefully Winter will provide some good riding to allow me to regain my fitness and enjoy a better next year. I must get my camera fixed too.

The Calf and Bowderdale

Time has passed and the blog has been neglected Four weeks off the bike after the WildBoar 24 to recover from an overuse injury which flared up on my ankle and calf followed by miserable weather hardly proved inspirational. The injury made my training for Mountain Mayhem non-existent but I did manage to recover in time and make a show of sorts. I did start a report but it is still sat unfinished, a project for a rainy day perhaps…..

With the weather almost summer like of late we have enjoyed a decent ride or two. Last weekend saw us tackling High Street which was a great day out despite the summit being somewhat wintry. I took the easy option and got a lift home rather than riding back as intended- I was a little cold and damp. A far cry from the midweek Garburn ride which was much more to our liking

I suggested The Calf and Bowderdale ride for this weekend whilst enjoying a post ride pint of Hawkshead Gold at the Eagle and Child on Wednesday night. Pridds posted the ride up on the forum once it was decided to go ahead. It gathered a bit of interest and gained another number when Tom got in touch asking if I was up for a ride on Sunday. With eight of us and the weather looking favourable things were looking good.

Tom and myself were to ride to the Sedbergh meeting place, the 13 miles from my house involves good lump of climbing so I aimed to get away around 8.30 to allow us plenty of time to get there for ten. I needed to stop to adjust a cleat at the top of the Greyhound but we still managed to reach Sedbergh in little over an hour. With 30 minutes to kill we had a shopping spree in the Spar before finding a café for light refreshments. Whilst sipping my coffee and trying in vain to eat the large slice of carrot cake I saw they had maps on sale. After my last minute search for a paper map had been fruitless I thought it wise to buy one in case the GPS let me down and the others were relying on me for the navigation. I could have saved myself the expense- at the first “which way?” incident nearly everyone pulled out a map…….

We made way to Loftus Hill car park at ten and met Pridds, Stu and Steve. After introducing Tom and some pre-ride banter there was no sign of the others so I decided to check in the other car park. Sure enough Lisa, Jonboy and Matt were there. We made our way back to the proper meet point and after some last minute toilet trips we were off, the early morning cloud had burnt away and it was looking like it would be a scorcher. I had my winter gear in my pack just in case though.

After a short section of tarmac we were heading up the grassy slopes of Winder. The heat was already telling and with no shade on offer even Tom broke a sweat at one point I’m sure. A regroup at the top gave everyone a chance to catch their breath before we headed on upwards. Calders came into sight and looked a testing climb from distance- I had only ever ridden down it. Tom took the lead and for a short while I tailed behind him but soon ran out of lung power and took to pushing. Tom however powered on and cleaned the whole section, no mean feat given the steepness and also the loose surface near the top.

Stu managed to puncture yet again at Bram Rigg, he is having a bad run at the moment. We had carried on to the summit of the Calf as he repaired it. But after snapping off his valve he had to ring through for the cavalry to take him another. Pridds elected Tom We took time out for a spot of lunch and took in the distinctive dales views- the rolling grassy hills such a contrast to the more rocky Lake District to our West.

Refueled we set off on the long descent down Bowderdale. I seemed of been cursed with a serious case of rut phobia, and found myself with a complete lack of balance. When I needed a rut there was none there for me- on a fast section of singletrack my front wheel washed out and slid off the edge resulting in an abrubt stop as I hit the ground hard. My thumb got bent right back which was rather painful but everything else seemed fine and I gingerly set off again, taking a while to get any sort of rhythm back. We had a regroup around two thirds of the way down. Lisa was struggling a little but rode better than me at least making it own unscathed.

Eventually we hit tarmac and the grassy bridleways that took us round to Ravenstonedale. A welcome beer garden greeted us here and it seemed rude not to indulge, a pint of cider went down well but with hindsight a few miles down the road maybe wasn’t the best of choices. Snacks, drinks and even ice creams were enjoyed in our extended break with the sensible ones taking shelter from the blazing sun before we managed to drag ourselves away.

A few miles of tarmac beckoned which ended with a decent climb to burn off what we had just put back into our tanks. I wasn’t sure of what to expect with the bridleways which returned us to Sedbergh. The dry sunny conditions obviously made them much better than a wet and miserable day but they were a pleasant surprise with one section in particular being the highlight of the day. The swoopy section was fast and fun and the dark and technical drop through the woods grin inducing and despite its short length well worthy of a return sometime. The remaining miles were more of an undulation but were pleasant enough although maybe not for those who were tiring quickly in the afternoon heat but we managed to reach Sedbergh with everyone still pedaling.

After a quick debrief at the back of Matt’s camper Tom and myself bid our farewell’s and set off on our journey back to Kendal. The big slog backup towards the motorway seemed longer and steeper than it had as we flew down it in the morning but it was clinically dispatched before a quick refuel and the next short climb up to Roan Edge where we took a right turn to climb the bridleway over Lambrigg Fell. It was Toms first time on this btrail and he remarked it was just like Southern Scotland with the rolling hills and heather. It was certainly nice, my camera gave up the ghost which was a shame as it was a lovely evening to be there. The rocky descent back to tarmac provided the last thrills of the day before roads took us back to the top of The Greyhound for a fast descent back to Kendal.

A long day in the saddle with 50 miles and 6700feet of ascent making itself felt once back home. Providing my knee holds together (it started to hurt the last few miles) it should go some way to ensuring I survive more than a few hours at SITS which I stupidly entered solo after enjoying the WildBoar…..

Almost back in the land of the living

It’s been a long time coming but it’s time I blogged again. Riding back in the UK was something of an anti-climax after our little trip abroad, the trails are great but it really is nice to have good weather on your side. I can’t complain about recent weeks though; A trip to Wales to compete in the Dyfi Enduro saw us lucky indeed, a small shower or two whilst most of the country suffered thunderstorms. I found the event very grueling and suffered badly with a bad back during the race and cramp afterwards, not a good omen for the upcoming Wild Boar 24. A few local rides saw the time fast approaching and feeling well under trained and prepared the big day soon arrived.

I was apprehensive as the time came, final instructions sounded ominous with the campsite a mile away from the course, deductions worked out Moor Lane would be the route of the run and the trip backwards and forwards between the camp and the start. Sarah and I got to the campsite and pitched up near the Ride The Lakes posse. I had a word with the organizer and the solo’s had use of a covered pit lane so things began to look up, we left the tent pitched but loaded most of our gear into the Wheelbase van for a transfer to the start point. With luck we wouldn’t need many trips along Moor Lane which would make things much easier.

The few hours flew by and it was time for the run from the campsite. I lined up at the back with the less serious competitors with fun intention of making it a walk. I did get sucked in due to the crowd though and made a slight effort with a very slow jog until I got off the tarmac. Running is not for me J I did think the trio of wheelbase soloist’s had brought up the rear but later found out Paul Miles, a rider who I have rode with a time or two including SITS last year. His team of four disintegrated as the time loomed and he chose to bravely tackle it solo rather than pull out.

I rode the first lap at a steady pace, I was surprised to be passing quite a few people but felt I wasn’t pushing too hard too early. The end seemed to come sooner than expected for a 10 mile lap which pleased me at this stage. The course used a few sweet bits of track but also a lot of fire road. The return leg being the worst with a really long haul before hitting the top of Moor Lane down to the finish. Some of the singletrack looked tricky enough to cause problems when fatigued. Time would tell………

Things pretty much all blended together from here on in, a lap followed by a break to top up with fluids and try and force some food down. The early laps I had a habit of catching and overtaking riders spending less time in the pits than me, in particular Ben from wheelbase and Matt who were both running solo too. I didn’t see much of Paul and Nick the two fully rigid singlespeed nutters other than in the pits. Camaraderie was high in the solo tent and with most riders out on the track. Tom Owen was in full on machine mode as he set off like a rocket and continued like a train, there was no stopping him as he led the solo field and even gave some concern to the teams of four at the head of the pack.

I was still feeling strong as night approached whilst out on the course, the worst times for me were shivering in the pits as I took my breaks. My head stayed focused though which was surprising; I expected to be in a mess but never went to many dark places….. A few giggles throughout the night at silly things and some pumping trance music through the mp3 player kept me almost sane. I did struggle to stay upright through the darkness, fatigue led to loss of concentration and silly mistakes were made. The boardwalk sections fazed me and after a high speed slide down the fire road after being blinded in a dust cloud my nerves were shot on the sketchy loose and dusty corners. I was scrubbing off speed constantly which added to my lap times, I was running 10- 15 minutes slower than daylight. My lights had a six hour burn time and at 1 hour 20 a lap I managed six before swapping over, but it turned out I didn’t really need to as the sky was getting lighter.

The dawn lap was special, the sky was clear and the sunrise magnificent rising over the tree line. I did contemplate a seat on the brow of a hill to soak it up but the moment passed. It was still cold but the end was in sight and my lap times were back up where they belonged. Sarah was surprised to see I was getting faster, I was too as the hills were now dragging but I was still coping quite well. At some point I recall thinking how well my body had coped, this was maybe the wrong thought as on my 13^th lap things started to go wrong. My right knee started to ache and cause some concern. I finished the lap taking it a little steady and spent some extra pit time massaging my calf which was tight. Sarah told me I should manage another four laps with the time left, I knew it was doubtful I would manage that with my knee now but hoped if I took it steady I would get two at least and hopefully three.

I set off with good intentions and made it to the first climb a few hundred metres from the start. I made no real attempt to make it, my knee was giving me lots of pain now and I knew it was stupid to try and carry on pedaling. I started to push…… On the flatter sections I spun a low gear and tried to work out how I could get a few more laps in. Maybe flat pedals and my trainers would help if it was a cleat issue which had brought the pain on……. I did stop at one point and took a look at my cleats, they seemed fine but I tried to get a bit more angle on them to no avail. I decided that my best option would be to make it my last lap, it was disappointing to have to do so when my legs had plenty of miles left in them but there was no point in causing long term damage to try and squeeze another lap in.

The 14^th lap was a long one, the climbs seemed a lot longer when you were walking them. The crack was good with most riders asking if I was OK and some joining me on the walks J I at least managed to ride the down hills and tried a bit of one foot pedaling on the flats until my left knee started to protest. I had spoke with Ben to tell him to inform Sarah I was walking before the half way point. I bumped into Matt on Moor lane and told him to let her know I would be pulling in short of the finish in a few minutes. I wanted to record a finish and thought clocking in early and not completing the final lap might not count, it appears I might have been wrong to think that but at least I would cross the finish line at the right time. Like a pro team manager she soon arrived with a recovery drink, some food and a coat to sit out the nest few hours with me.

I tried to try 40 winks but failed miserably so took to shouting some encouragement to riders I knew passing by. The time passed quite quickly and soon a few riders were stacking up alongside me waiting for the clock to count down. I was joined by all three of the Wheelbase soloists which was nice after having enjoyed the crack throughout. The horn sounded and a cackle of laughter from the crowd as we mounted our bikes and rode the few yards to the finish. It felt great to of completed the event and shaking of hands and patting of backs was a fitting end. I had really enjoyed the event and had proved to myself I was capable of pushing myself. I was left a little disappointed my knee had let me down when I was still feeling strong but hopefully it will be stronger on the back of this epic. A few body parts are still hurting as I write this but on the whole I felt far better than expected the day after. I have caught the bug and so has Sarah, the entry has been sent off for the next event, Sleepless in the Saddle

A little trip to the Sun

I did envisage a long blog post about my weekend away in Cerro Macho with JoyRiders but after starting to write from the beginning I felt any attempt to cover it all could never do justice to the great time we had. The company was first class with the crack starting from the minute I was picked up, JoyRiders proved a great company with extra Kudus to Jonny for his guiding and biking skills and this was topped off with three days of riding mind blowing trails

The free beer provided in the magic silver fridge which never emptied washed the trail dust from our throats as we relaxed in the hydro-therapy spa, reliving incidents from the day. I don’t think the smile was ever off my face all weekend With no experience of riding in foreign lands it was a real eye opener to fit in so much riding in a few days on trails of such caliber with the Sun beating down too.

The first day started and finished with a section of urban riding, hitting some really sweet trails to make a 40Km loop which proved testing enough in the heat. The second day we paid a little extra to have an uplift service and spent the day riding “Gotham”, a collection of great trails which despite my early apprehension proved to be great fun mixing challenging descents coupled with awesome views. Pridds had a few off’s throughout the day, living up to expectations He was quite a sight in the Spa…. I managed to stay upright on the whole but had a nightmare run of punctures.

The final day Ian decided to have a lie in and nurse his injuries but we were joined by Ken who had arrived with his family the day before to ride a more XC route which delivered fun by the bucket load and a thrilling (and quite challenging) black descent to finish the day in style. Ken tried a face plant at one point and Jonny took the puncture crown off me with a dinged rim the culprit. Stu was feeling a bit jaded and off the pace a bit but Strak seemed in fine form, playing on the bike till the last.

Once back to base we packed reluctantly before making the journey South to Malaga to head back home Manchester was at least fine and not too cold, the closer we got to the Lake District the heavier the rain was falling, the grey clouds were back already as the sweet memories started to fade……….. With so much packed into such a short time it seems like we were there for an age, but looking back on reflection now an age would not be enough for me, it must be a dream job for those at Joyriders.

I hope it wont be too long before I can return.

Killer Loop!

A window opened Saturday afternoon for a ride. Starting from Troutbeck Bridge I decided to bike up to Ambleside and do the “Killer”loop from  MBR magazine. The weather was a real mixed bag all day; Sunshine, hail and a bit of rain all adding to the variety of trails. A trip to the Physiotherapist regarding my knees the day before seemed to of done a bit of good although he didn’t want to give Ultrasound to the knee I had knocked some weeks back in case the bone had a hairline fracture Not sure what can be done if that was the case, I guess it would need time and rest. A release of tension in muscles and a bit of pulse treatment left my legs aching for the night but feeling much better the next day.

It’s a while since I have done this loop, theres plenty of variations and options but I decided to stick with the Killer Loop theme. The first climb is a bit of steep tarmac to Loughrigg Fell via Brow Head Farm. Being a bank holiday it was rather busy up here, given I have mostly ridden these trails on a night ride it was something new to me as walkers encouraged me upwards. I smiled and tried my best to speak as I gasped past them, lunch laying somewhat heavy in my stomach.

The bridleway had been in the midst of renovation when I had last been up here (it must be a good while ago now) and despite losing a bit of the technical sections wasn’t too bad. Again walkers all seemed jovial, something which continued for all the ride with the odd exception. With the rocky descent enjoyed a road section with another climb paved the way to the breathtaking climb up towards Arnside Intake. A quality descent, it proves a real slog to go up and I failed miserably on the first section, bad line choice giving my lungs a much needed break. With no such luck elsewhere I gasped onwards, a chance to catch breath at a gate stop lost when bikers heading the other way kindly held it open for me. The descent back down from Iron Keld isn’t really just reward for the climb, a few sections are great fun but on the whole it’s rather pedally.

Hodge Close led to High Tilberthwaite where I almost surprised myself on the climb, I was so close to cleaning it. The down ward bit was rather fun just as the walkers promised I decided to take the bridge at Little Langdale, the water level was plenty low enough to ride but with many miles yet to go I opted to keep my feet dry. The descent to Elterwater was sweet, really enjoyable and no walkers to hamper my run. A quick drop through the Quarry took me back to tarmac and the final climb of the killer route to take in the descent of Loughrigg Terrace. This proved a little busy with walkers, all made way but with speed scrubbed to stay in the good books not as enjoyable as the majority of times I have blasted down.

A coffee break at Ghyllside Cycles went on a bit too long and I reluctantly dragged myself out into the cold for the ride back to Kendal. I went up Jenkin Crag and down Mirk Lane to add a bit of spice. With time getting on (I promised to be home for seven) and my knees feeling tender I took the road and cycleway back. A good feed was a just reward, over 5 hours in the saddle was much more than I have manged for weeks. A couple of bags of frozen peas kept the knees happy for a while too.

With a family theme for Easter Sunday we headed down to Liverpool to visit Knowsley Safari Park. Getting there quite early we enjoyed a quiet first run round the park, highlight of the trip being the baboon’s aiming for a News of The World headline story on our bonnet A second trip later on proved much busier, but the boys wanted to see the baboons again.Considerably lighter in the pocket and after an enjoyable day we left before the football result sunk in and Bradleys Man Utd top caused civil unrest. The car exhaust snapped off on the Motorway on out return, a few tywraps from my biking spares came in rather useful as a quick get me out of here bodge. We were planning a family biking day tomorrow but the forecast looks a bit grim for the kids to be out so I might to go myself for a short while…….

There’s a pulse……..

I blame Stuart with his talk of a ride to see in Spring It was poor weather and seemed to have a negative effect on my brain and body. It took me almost three weeks to recover from the depths of despair that night plummeted me down to I did manage to get out for some midweek rides in the meantime but it was only this weekend just gone before I managed a notable daylight ride round Garburn. Perhaps I over did the training a little before the ill fated “Spring” ride, the easy weeks since have lightened things somewhat but my legs still feeling a bit out off touch. I struggled up Garburn more than usual and my legs are aching now, although the laminate floor laying on Sunday didn’t help. Hopefully things will come right shortly, the upcoming trip to Spain will surely help