[Closed] Whinlatter challenge ……

That road in the background looks clear John, and hardly a major road either.

Cyclewise at Whinlatter have just tweeted that the demo day there has been cancelled due to snowdrifts at the top of the pass. They are currently not sure if the Challenge has been cancelled yet.

http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Whinlatter/forecasts/102

At least we'll be in the trees to stay out of this -7 wind chill

That road in the background looks clear John, and hardly a major road either.

I think the real problem is the wind. I'm t'other side of the country to the lakes so can't really comment on them, but it hasn't snowed for days here and yet it is still drifting across the most exposed roads because it's blowing from elsewhere.

For anyone who is travelling, take care. It's easy to get settled into a false sense of security when conditions are perfectly clear and dry, only to be met with 6" of snow on the road when you come round a bend.

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A picture from the GOPRO reps van about 40mins ago, picture is taken on the Keswick side.. 😕

It's nearly there, it's managed all the steep bits!

But that car park enterance on the left is one of the ones the organisers have said to use instead of the original fire road.

It looks like no ones been up it yet.

Hi here are a couple of pics taken at 12:00 from the Lorton side of the pass. There is snow drifting across the road on the tight bends after the bridge. I would say pretty difficult in anything without 4 wheel drive.

[IMG] [/IMG]

[IMG] [/IMG]

You'll all be reet - get on wi it.

John - read the rules - max tyre width 2.5"

From @SIP_Events_UK twitter feed:
Course recce and ride for WMBC - 98% rideable, 100% fun! Having lots of laughs in the snow drifts

[img] [/img]

just seen this posted on the fb page

"Right, a decision has been made by the WMBC organisers - tomorrow's event IS CANCELLED. The organisers tell us that, because of the adverse weather, they can't put their evacuation procedures in place. The event will be rescheduled - please see the official WMBC for further updates and info"...

Good call

That last pic of the road is what I couldn't get up yesterday. That was the only bit of the road that really had any significant drifts, the rest was pretty much clear.

At the top where the road goes left is where the car went off and is sat upside down against a tree with it's roof caved in.

gasyz - Member

Good call

Just phoned a friend who'd booked to do it to tell him. He was already on the train on the way to his brothers in Carlisle. He seemed surprisingly philosophical about it.

From the Sip website

WhinlatterC With regret, we are postponing WMBC to 21st April on the advice of the Police and Emergency Services. Please RT.

Bolt

A bit of an over-reaction imo,I'm most of the way there already,headed up from South Lincs so not a short journey either,and it's been fine.
I'm not going to critisise the organisers,no doubt they have more info than the rest of us, but it does stike me me as H&S going over the top again, bit of snow down south and the media goes mad. I'm sure we could all park in Keswick and ride the last bit.
but hey he, longer to train for it I suppose.

but it does stike me me as H&S going over the top again

I'm sure we could all park in Keswick

I wish they'd called it earlier to give folk a chance to cancel hotels and not spend a fortune on fuel bit hey ho. We'll make the most of it. Glad I brought the baby carrier! One things for certain I won't be bothering with a hotel for the rearranged ride.

If you were responsible for 650+ riders and the weather had turned nasty would really run it when Police and Ambulance have advised not to or just wait a few more weeks?

+1 D45yth.. absolutely spot on. The organisers have a responsablity of care.. the pass is dangerous in these conditions. They've made the right decision.

I wish they'd called it earlier to give folk a chance to cancel hotels and not spend a fortune on fuel

A bit of an over-reaction imo,I'm most of the way there already,headed up from South Lincs so not a short journey either,and it's been fine.

For one or two riders, a small group ride then maybe.

When there are hundreds of riders potentially travelling from across the UK, no way. The organisers are acting on the advice of the emergency services who are already stretched to the limit without needing to get ambulances/helicopters etc up to a forest simply cos hundreds of MTBers want to ride round it.

It's just a bike ride. It can happen anytime. Just have a good weekend while you're up there but do something else.

****, and now to unpack the car.

Also to try for a refund as I'm away on the 21st April.

****, and now to unpack the car.
Also to try for a refund as I'm away on the 21st April.

Yup, me too!I'm assuming a refund won't be an issue??

Do they have to offer a refund? Im assuming they will do as not everyone will be able to make the new date in April..I think i should be able to make it

Good call. Bit of a late one for anyone travelling from further afield and doing an overnight, but the organisers arnt responsible for the weather. The sheer volume of cars trying to jockey up and down the hill to Whinlatter would have been the biggest problem. A snow covered trail is not the issue, snow covered roads are. Looking forward to doing it in better weather next month.

I'm in Cockermouth with my bike this weekend. Anyone fancy a ride?

Edd

Hi Edd I am also in Cockermouth and am sat here debating if i should ride tomorrow?! What you thinking of doing and what time?

Steve

Can do any time, I'm stuck here for work (but not working on Sunday), but I don't know any local trails. I was hoping someone could guide me.

Oh well, looks like I'll have a consolation curry tonight.

Fair call by the organisers if we can't actually get to the start. I was looking forward to the extra challenge too.

OK just a couple of questions

1) How far you want to go?
2) Am guessing the Snow don't bother you either?
3) Am assuming you have all the right gear for the conditions?
4) Are you super fit? lol

1) Willing to fit it with your/ anyone else's plans.
2) Snow bother.
3) Yes.
4) Fit enough that I shouldn't be holding anyone up but willing to go at whatever pace suits.

I ought to add that I have a 4x4 hire car so can travel.

Edd

Right after giving it some thought I'm up for riding in the morning, not sure where yet but i'll come up with something and i may even try and get a few more out too.

Sounds good to me and the more the better. By the way my e-mail is:
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4132/5059009807_30465204db_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4132/5059009807_30465204db_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/33251520@N07/5059009807/ ]e-mail[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/33251520@N07/ ]eddkh[/url], on Flickr
I can e-mail you my number.

Edd

Will be in touch soon to your Email with my number etc

Thanks Steve.

Anyone staying in the shepherds in cockermouth? In thebar at the moment

Edd i am just about to send you the Email with my number/

Anyone else who may read this and is in the area(Cockermouth) then we are meeting at the bike shop( 4play cycles) in Market place 9.30am should anyone want to join us, not sure where we are going yet but will decide in the morning

Have a good ride steve, edd I hope ur fit should be a good day for it

Karnali are you not around?

I'm around and riding tomorrow, not up for a huge effort, 2-3 hours pedaling time or so. I was thinking about just going to Whinlatter anyway as the trails are riding great and anything else is going to be unpredictable. Need to keep the altitude relatively low too which rules out a lot of stuff.

If it looks ok when your'e in the forest you can always crack on to the top of Grisedale Pike and do Hobcarton End, or the rocks in Coledale could work too, but best to see when you get there I reckon.

Anyone know what the Borrowdale Bash is looking like?

I am but mrs is swimming in morning, training 4 keswick! may get out late pm instead

I'll be needing a refund, can't do the new date.

And why they waited until 15:30 to cancel I don't know..

The weather is bad I don't dispute that, in fact I think it's right to have cancelled BUT why mislead us this morning????

The conditions defiantly weren't getting worse and the emails / twitter posts coming through this morning, suggesting that they were test riding the course and had new parking arrangements, meant that even having delayed the start time of my drive up as much as possible, I was still 160 miles into a 180mile journey.

Still at least I get to do some "proper" Lake land riding tomorrow! 😉

paulrockliffe that sounds ambitious. I wouldn't recommend anyone going that high or remote unless you know the area and are prepared.

Boxelder gave a good cheeky route earlier. He's yer man for local knowledge. See the local bike shops too for advice.

Hello, I do know the area very well, I grew up here and was riding off the big stuff up here when I was 16. It's a good route because you don't have to commit to going up high until you know what the ground conditions are like. Once you're at the top of the South loop you can fairly easily assess whether to carry on or not and bailing still gives you a great ride out. Most alternatives you're either committed or abandoning and going back the way you came.

The climb to the summit is 30 minutes and fine if it's not windy, you can find that out before you get to the narrow bit, so minimal risk. Once you're on the top the descent is a good one to do under a bit of snow and you're sheltered and away from any dangerous bits and you're back in the forest in 15 minutes or so.

I wasn't saying it was definitely on, but it's a good route that lets you play things by ear. As it is most of the snow round my way has cleared today and it's pretty calm, so it might have worked. I stayed in and watched the F1 though 🙁

Pretty calm... don't think the wind gets down pardshaw way. 60-70mph on the tops today that ridge onto Grisedale would have been impossible with a bike on your shoulder today... I think Thats what les was referring to 😉

I've just been running over Blake Fell and my sunglasses blew off which was a first! 😀
Definitely quite windy on the tops...

It does get pretty windy here, but not today. If it was windy on the ridge you wouldn't go up, but you can find out when you get there and still have a good and safe ride in the forest. Can't think of too many routes like that, which is why that would have been a decent plan today.

We rode the Borrowdale bash and was great fun! not all rideable as such and a challenge in parts but guess thats why we love Mountain biking eh??!!

[img] [/img]

What bones76 said, Borrowdale bash was brilliant fun. Plenty of snow (and in places wind) but a clear sky and great views. Thanks Steve, and friends, for allowing me to come along/ guiding me.

Drove up Friday night and wild camped in my van and rode the Borrowdale Bash on the Saturday and cycled the very quite trails @ Whinlatter so no whinging from me, just made the best out of a difficult situation for the organisers 😉

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/8586285741/ ]DSCF2785[1][/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/8587520598/ ]DSCF2809[1][/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/8586378667/ ]DSCF2797[1][/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/8586358525/ ]DSCF2794[1][/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/8587472298/ ]DSCF2795[1][/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

So I drove from Yorkshire with no problems expecting bad roads. No issue at all getting into Keswick. We were booked into YHA and had paid so went anyway. No 3G signal in pretty much all of the area so updates not forthcoming. Eventually got a texted twitter update from my wife saying postponed. What followed was an exploration of the many, many real ales available...
Rode from Keswick up to Whinlatter visitor centre and then had a few minutes on the trails. My mate was on Conti X-kings and they were garbage on the snow. I was on (admittedly new) Rubber Queens and they never missed a beat.
Postponing wasn't a problem as I still had a good weekend away (£60 of diesel though....). I just wish they'd taken the call earlier. I can't believe that if the Emergency services had been consulted on Thursday or Friday their response would have been any different to Saturday. Not sure if I can make the reschedule so expect that £27 refund will be forthcoming. Go

postierich.... no gloves??? crazy man

Must just have been while he got the camera out? 😯 if not!

Only partial refunds offered it seems. Bit of a bind if you can't make it next month or would rather not wait a year to do the challenge.

Gloves were off for the self timer 😳
I find it strange when people are complaining about petrol/costs when the event being cancelled did not stop them from riding and chilling in a beautiful part of the country!
A few more pics from the weekend

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8588849493_eb85620ce5.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8588849493_eb85620ce5.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/8588849493/ ]Photo by Gavin Maudsley[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8589957378_59be1e6359.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8589957378_59be1e6359.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/8589957378/ ]555087_10200875635042367_1280519548_n[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Anyone that was registered and cant make the new date could do worse that get in touch! My partner is looking for an entry. Lets talk

Get in touch and Ill contact you with my email details

Johnny - I can't make the new date and was going to get (annoyingly) the partial refund. If you want to buy my entry off me I'd be more than willing