[Closed] Weekend riding and plans. With pics. July 13.

My weekend started on Thursday night (I get every other Friday off 😀) so this one counts.

Me giving it maximum effort on a climb that is named ‘Millstone unclimbable climb’

Rode at Ballo woods for the first time today in really greasy conditions......a wee bit scary after all this dry riding. The fireroad climb was absolutely teeming with baby frogs which probably contributed to my tyres lack of grip 😢😢

Ours started with a 4 hour drive which took 6.5 hours to the tunnel last night. Now halfway through France on our way to our first stop in Aosta so tomorrow will be lift assist in Pila. Mid week up to La Thuile and then Verbier after the EWS

Was supposed to race cross this morning but didn't fancy the 2 hour round trip in the car so went on an adventure out the back door instead exploring some new trails. 60k of gravel, singletrack, road and some hike a bike.

i know it's been warm of late but....

seen on this mornings pre breakfast ss 20 miler

off to Morzine in a couple of weeks, so putting the other bikes away and playing on the Zesty for the next couple of weeks to reacquaint myself with it... new bars took a little getting used to, and recovering from a bug, but was nice to get out there for an hour today.

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/42497495485_111a69501c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/42497495485_111a69501c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/27KmLPp ]Holmwood Bump[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]LittleNose[/url]

After Martin Hutch had done a ride the other week, part of his route piqued an interest. I thought I had to be back by around 3pm so needed something to fit in with that.

Headed up into the Dales taking in a BW that's normally a bog but is bone dry at the moment (I'd only done this BW before when it's been frozen!) then canal tow path to Gargrave. I worked my way up to Malham Tarn via Weets Top and Mastiles Lane before heading north for the cheeky bit.

There was no-one visible at the farm at the start of the path so it was onward and upward, and upward, and upward until ...

Had to walk about 40 metres of the descent near the top as it was a bit beyond me but after that there's just a bloody awkward gate to negotiate. Dropped down to Litton, quick drink in the pub. Back down the Dale to Kilnsey. Up the first bit of Mastiles Lane before cutting left and over to Threshfield and Boss moors (the boggy bit is a dust bowl), down to Hetton. Road to Gargrave then canal and a bit of road to get home.

95km and 1600m of climbing. Not a bad short day really.

Rare foray into the forum for me, but I’m breaking my lurking habits because I’ve just ridden a bunch of trails, including a nemesis one that I don’t always clear, on a test hardtail in clips. I might go so far as to say I’m stoked. 🙂

Quick blast out from Helwith Bridge, things are getting so dry that even Strava is starting to flatter me.

Sadly the council have decided to dump several thousand tonnes of shingle on any bit of bedrock that shows itself on the descent from Cam Fell going East, and Gilbert Lane towards Buckden. The latter has even been carefully flattened to remove any trace of uneven-ness. They might as well just tarmac it!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1701907084

Bob - it's not a bad fell crossing, that one, is it?

Big ride from home (75km!) on the tarn out to ladybower and hope. Found myself against the flow of riders doing the steel valley event but luckily got down from Derwent edge before the bulk of them arrived. Great day to be out and didn't feel too hot.

@martinhutch: I was surprised how much was rideable on the ascent - there were only the short bits with steps I didn't bother with, probably just as quick to walk anyway. Just one walker on the whole crossing.

Is it the council, the NP or the farmer/estate doing the track work? The track across Dawson Close down to Litton has been worked on as well but it's just patches here and there rather than wholesale end to end stuff. Mostly it looks like they've put new culverts in and the new top surface extends a few tens of metres either side.

Gilbert Lane was resurfaced/covered in gravel about ten years ago - there used to be some steps about halfway up that have long been buried. I can't say it was too bad when I last did it in May. It was rougher than a couple of years ago but nowhere near as rough as it used to be.

Took part in the Steel Valley Ride today, the first 20 miles were OK, a couple of tearful moments due to mind wandering off to silly places. The last 10 were hard especially the last hill. Really enjoyed it.

Is it the council, the NP or the farmer/estate doing the track work? The track across Dawson Close down to Litton has been worked on as well but it’s just patches here and there rather than wholesale end to end stuff. Mostly it looks like they’ve put new culverts in and the new top surface extends a few tens of metres either side.

I assume it's the highway authority, as both are byways. The sheer quantity of gravel being used should mean it turns to ruts by the end of the winter.

A blast along the Grand Union canal near Winsford in Cheshire to pick up my new car. Rough and wild as there was no made up path.

I'll hopefully get out Sunday night too for something a bit more technical

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I called in at one of my mates after watching today's stage of the TDF.

His hobby is renovating WWII vehicles

Now halfway through France on our way to our first stop in Aosta so tomorrow will be lift assist in Pila. Mid week up to La Thuile..

Pila and Aosta last week.  Pila was really dry and sandy.  I don't know how long ago you were last there but there is a very nice cycle path along the river to join the International campsite to the town.

Then onto La Thulie which was gorgeous. There was still quite a lot of snow about and most of the trails off the top lift were closed.

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<div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> So impressed with Sophie’s confidence on her balance bike #mtb #mtbscotland #mtblife #pumptrack #mountainbike #mountainbikelife #mtbgirl #girlswhoride</p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by MTB Scotland (@mtbscotland1) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-07-14T21:32:53+00:00">Jul 14, 2018 at 2:32pm PDT</time></p></div>

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FFS

Woken up late again towards the end of a holiday week, but the plan is to do a seventh consecutive ride of 25+ miles and 2500+ feet to break 300 miles and 20000 feet for the first time in a week, both about twice my normal weekly stats. 🙂

Having posted a bit of a report on the Northern Downhill Eastgate thread ..I won't duplicate it on here..!😁

<span style="-webki42 miles of Manx magic

Great loop from Mam Tor, round to Lost Lads, Derwent Edge, Bamford,  Hathersage, BradwelEdge and finished on the Broken Road. 57km mostly off road and 1700m or there abouts. Definitely earnt a few beers after that. Had a mice chat with a Peak Park Ranger on Derwent Edge, saw a few out doing the Steel Valley and all in all a great day out.

Pics included in the Relive

https://www.relive.cc/view/1702409661

Jobs at home this morning and Buxton Fete later and a cheeky beer or three

Carlos

Another hot day in the hills. When will it end 🙂 Decided to explore a few of the trails on Pressendye. Heather is just starting to turn. Should be a riot of colour in a few weeks.

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Got out to Formby Point on the gravel bike earlier.

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Returned via the Cheshire Lines cycle track

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Now to watch Le Tour & watch the pro's tackle the cobblestones.

Hasn't rained in almost a month here so the local swampy forest is bone dry. Hardly recognised the trails in their current state so after a few runs of each i ventured off into the deepest darkest parts in search of adventure...

Abigale joined us last night from her road trip so we were up early and spent the morning up in Pila. Just come down the Aosta run down to the bottom and lunching before we go back up for some more. Its sunny, hot, dusty and Im riding with my girls. Couldn't ask for more

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Saturday was WC DH and WC England Vs Belgium so I got a quick gravel blast in after that

https://www.strava.com/activities/1702455457

Off up exploring north on the Bridgewater Canal

then today was contemplating the peak then the temp ramped up so the idea of a train slog then ride then train home didn't appeal so decided to head to Clayton Vale for an explore, interesting place, somebody seems to have taken the flow away from chunks of it

https://www.strava.com/activities/1704083407/overview

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlQA6kSh905/?taken-by=smithmichaelw

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlQGUmcho10/?taken-by=smithmichaelw

Then misjudged the little chicane at the end of the canal this end and clipped my little finger

50 miles around Yorkshire/Lancs border with santaslittlehelper

Fantastic views and weather

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/29550561108_f27f9f6bfc_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/29550561108_f27f9f6bfc_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/M2hmhU ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/42704550234_fbb3011069_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/42704550234_fbb3011069_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/284DYYS ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/43421014551_c650ffb7f0_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/43421014551_c650ffb7f0_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/299Y3RV ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr

I was also on The Steel Valley Ride, although one of the last to set off due to a mechanical.

Found it very well organised, with a well stocked refreshment station just when needed. Great ride if you love that kind of riding. Parts of the Peak are just beyond me though, too rocky. Stop, start, push, repeat... That hill at the end was just sadistic, lol. I need to do my own version of that route.

Nice ride around Long Mynd.

Absolutely cracking round of pictures. 😎👍

Awww all the nettles are sad ☹️🥀 no one's given them any water. Die nettles, Die 😡

Attempted to ride up Helvellyn via Dollywagon Pike - a fair bit of carrying to get past the Pike but well worth it for the ride along the tops and then a lovely descent. A few moody walkers mind but I can kinda empathise - was a lovely day for a walk!

Bit of a cheat at this was from Thursday. Spent a week riding in the Maritime Alps (where the Trans Provence is held - we stayed in Ash Smith's house who organises it) been there before but  it's developed a whole lot. Amazing natural trails, superb uplift, lovely town. Battered and bruised and want to go back!

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/28556167997_537203c3e8_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/28556167997_537203c3e8_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/KvpPS6 ]Sospel - Maritime Alps[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

I wrote a thing: contains naughty words as usual

Saturday was all the local trails I could fit in between 6-9am, but the best was to come Sunday. After over a year off due to a nasty double arm break and subsequent surgery the smallest boatette got back in the saddle. After an initial wobble that the new bike was too bike, we agreed to use the old bike. But then did the white peak trail from Rowsley to Matlock and back, and had a blast. Celebratory cold beverages and bacon a d scampi fries for a job well done. Trails were well dusty at times today 😁👍

To quote that sheep. This is why...

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A short but hard loop in the Dales.

Started at Buckden and immediately had the climb up through Raikes woods from the off. I managed to clean this for the first time. A close run thing though. Then it was up on to Stakes Moss, there's been some work done on Gilbert Lane recently and the surface is fresh gravel so hard work climbing. Down to Thoralby and across to West Burton.

A quick refreshment in the pub in West Burton then headed up the Dale. At the end of the road there's a BW marked on the map that goes over to Starbotton. One problem - the signs on the ground say it's a footpath. Press on! The footpath/bridleway heads along the valley floor to a signpost. Then it heads skywards and it's push time. About halfway up the climb a track crosses. I'm waiting for Cath and while looking around I notice a track that's not marked on the map that gets very close to the skyline, looks better than another forty minutes trudge across moorland. There were other tyre marks going in the same direction so we haven't been the only nutters!

There's no obvious junction with our track but we head upwards to find this!

A plastic mesh matting laid across the moor. It's really weird to ride, a bit like riding along a series of mattresses. It's actually really hard work.

Once on the skyline there's an old mining track which takes us to the descent. This is possibly the biggest descent in the Dales, a whopping 400+ metres. It's got everything: steep grass, rocky chutes, fast flowing grass, steep and loose lanes.

Only 37km but 1000 metres of climbing!

Fantastic pics all . Exploring some new xc trails on Saturday, then Åre bike park today. So dry and dusty, 'tobacco dry' as the swedes say.

@Klunk would that would be(roughly) somewhere between Weston Colville and Brinkley? If so, that happened last weekend, lots of smoke seen from West Wratting in that general direction on both that Saturday and Sunday...

I was planning on getting out early doors on Sunday, but plans changed to an afternoon family ride. I've been struggling with a leaky rear tyre, so pumped it up to 20 PSI to try and find it. Long story short, bike was left in the sun for a bit with the tyre holding, then a rather large 💥 happened... 🤦‍♂️

I needed an excuse to ditch these Kenda juggernaut Pro tyres, just didn't expect it to happen like this...

We had the annual Rufty Tufty Mountain Biking Trip, which this year was to Rhayader and the Elan valley. Excellent fun, chuffing beautiful, loved it.

This pre riding a gravel ride for the www.southlakesbikefest.com

https://www.relive.cc/view/1705374108

Another great day in Pila. Travelling up to La Thuile in the morning to get some riding in before the EWS. Family rides are always a bonus.

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