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I've never ridden in the Lakes before and after watching a few videos of the above route I can't wait. Off up this weekend and doing the above thirst thing Saturday.
Any other suggestions for routes near by for the afternoon/Sunday.
Cheers
Grisedale Pike is the obvious one for me- very close, scree, steepocity, technical bits- it's excellent. It's a bigger ride though. I'd go up from Stoneythcroft over Crag, then down to Coledale Hause, up Hopegill Head if you fancy it (or skip it and go straight to-) and up to Grisedale Pike and down Sleet How to finish.
I only got photos of the tamer bits but the first descent off Grisedale Pike is flippin' wild. It's the best ride I've done this year I reckon, right up there with Ullock Pike.
[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3WOy_8olQZiwAqrVprYUFkxdOYe8FJcnKA7IR2mz3gpo=w305-h229-no [/img]
[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/39-d7kWD1EiIMduXXKX0-E-OtwIrAnqdiE_-9ZMe97aJ=w828-h621-no [/img]
Steepocity you say, I need that in my life, cheers old chap.
Whitless Pike.
As Munro - Hobcarton Crag.
There are a few other ideas here aswell. I rode Lowey's suggestion on an evening and it was a cracking ride.
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/one-excellent-all-round-ride-in-the-lakeshelp-me-decide ]Linky[/url]
I also pushed up Skiddaw with a view to doing Ullock but the weather came in so much i couldn't find the turn off the top across to Ullock 😥 so that will have to wait for next time.
Cheers for that, that link has all i'll ever need and would seemed to be packed with steepocity.
Drop down off Fairfield to Rydal is similar.
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I did Skiddaw Ullock and Bash all for the first time today, weather weren't too shabby 8)
Ullock is quality, some real nadgery sections, right up my street. The drop down from Skiddaw, WTAF! - bonkers steep! Do folks actually ride that?
I slithered down most of it on my arse - mental!
WTAF! - bonkers steep! Do folks actually ride that?
Funny you say that, just watched a video and allot of seat showing from the guys chest cam. Couldn't work out if it was crazy steep of he just liked hanging off the back of his bike.
It's not the steepness that's the issue, it's the price of failure off to the right!
These are all footpaths and should be ridden considerately. Doing them on a weekend is going to lead to problems. the popularity now of the Ullock descent (due to people posting about it) has already caused increased erosion and comments from walkers and other groups. Doing these rides in the evening, when no-one's around is the way to go.
There is a school of thought that advertising the rides on the web encourages people to go up, who might not have the mountain sense to be there safely.
Just saying.
A very valid point Boxelder.
Fair point, not considered that.
We'll be at the top for 6-7am to avoid walkers but an evening decent is just as possible.
What time?????!!??? 😉
I found the area around Crag/Whiteless Pike/Grisedale Pike to be quiet anyway. It's a big walk out and most people don't bother. I've done rides in the area on a Bank Holiday Monday and a Saturday. Everyone was pleased to see us and there was only a small number of folk about, despite being glorious days. Skiddaw I've done in the evening because there's loads of folk up there usually. But I gave up on all this footpath/bridleway nonsense when I moved back to England after a few years in Scotland.
Twang- they do indeed.
[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HWRyS9GCA2Ep4UNcTSUi4NTgIQMzEyqulqUxyZg9X-M=w600-h600-no [/img]
It took me an hour and half from Keswick to the summit of Skiddaw, I got there for 8am, the only person I saw was a solitary walker on Ullock, we had 2 minutes chat and went on our ways. Being polite and not hooning it past usually helps but as said, on a busy weekend it comes across as blatant piss taking (to the relatively few walkers that know you're not supposed to be there...)
I found the area around Crag/Whiteless Pike/Grisedale Pike to be quiet anyway. It's a big walk out and most people don't bother. I've done rides in the area on a Bank Holiday Monday and a Saturday. Everyone was pleased to see us and there was only a small number of folk about, despite being glorious days
I know, I live here. The numbers doing this stuff has sharply risen over the last couple of years. First Ullock, now Grizedale/Whiteless. I'm not saying don't check them out and ride them considerately, but I don't think encouraging people on the web to do them is wise.
How do Lee, you stalking me? Yeah, that time is very dependent on beer consumption the night before.
I agree with Boxelder its not a good route for a weekend, but late evening would be better
I agree, wouldn't go near Skiddaw/Ullock during the day it is defo a ride "for later on"!
A great option is to drive down to borrowdale and park at the youth hostel (I'm sure they don't mind if you buy coffee and cake!).
Up Langstrath, across the footpath that avoids the descent down stake pass and subsequent haul-yer-ass up Rosset ghyll and on to sprinkling tarn. The descent from there to stockley bridge is a manna from the Heavenly Father himself (except a wee 200m Boulder field, but hey, even the big mans not perfect).
A descent so good, I forced myself to do it again on the Sunday last time we were down.
Do folks actually ride that?
Yes
I once stopped for walkers and literally could not get back on the bike as it was so much lower[ due to the angle and steepness] I had to jump at the bike.....trick is dont stop.
🙂 And I have scar about 3" long on my hip from disregarding the advice of my friends and not dropping my seat post (no dropper post in ye olden times). The slate is sharp if you do come off...
I also pushed up Skiddaw with a view to doing Ullock but the weather came in so much i couldn't find the turn off the top across to Ullock so that will have to wait for next time.
Just to add to this after a few of the comments above, with the conditions at the top by the time i'd got there, there was no way I was even considering riding across to Ullock. It probably should have had "even if i'd wanted to" after "couldn't find the turn".
I rode skiddaw/ullock as my 1st proper offroad ride after heart surgary......in the snow and ice......also alone. 😀
[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7637/16840835340_35e14587d8_o.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rEaFC1 ]cidImage_FOTB1D8.JPG" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7637/16840835340_35e14587d8_o.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rEaFC1 ]cidImage_FOTB1D8.JPG"/> [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/91703444@N06/ ]20ston[/url], on Flickr
Bookmarking for laters. Cheers.