Not The Horsforth Hero?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
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Not The Horsforth Hero?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
50m recovery ride up to the craven arms and back on sunday. I took the Alan, which in its anodised gold aluminium splendour, turned the odd head. A woman on a touring triple asked if it was reynolds tubing, so i gave her a brief history of Alan and stated that it was aircraft grade ally, as that was all that was available at the time.
As i was coming down the hill towards the devonshire arms, i saw a rider approaching. Initially i took no notice of them and marked them down as a born again cyclist, mainly due to their modern attire; they looked a bit like someone who had got a load of halfords vouchers for their birthday. They were moving rather slowly which gave me the time necessary to deduce that it was Graham Breeze, sans Celeste Bianchi and sans Mercatone Uno jersey. He must now sometimes disguise himself as a born again occasional cyclist.
10.21 miles, 2,006 feet, 3 hours 1 minute: Loughrigg trails, ascending/descending via Fishgarths Wood, Todd Crag and Lily Tarn, and doing a loop of the Roman Ruins and Borrans Park to begin with. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 750 feet, and banks of mist at multiple levels below that. Constant drizzle/light rain after the first half hour. No thunder/lightning. Terrain wet/saturated/streaming/slippery. Very few walkers on the fell; 2 runners seen.
It was indeed a black top - but still of Italian manufacture - and, of the six I wear, my choice when I am venturing forth incognito.
After all, one never knows whom one might meet when out on a bike.
:).
11.78 miles, 2,730 feet, 3 hours 17 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Stagshaw Gardens - High Skelghyll - Skelghyll Lane - Mirk Lane - Wain Lane - Fell Lane - Robin Lane - Troutbeck - Nanny Lane - Wansfell Pike - race route descent - Ambleside. Blue sky/sunshine, occasional high fluffy clouds. No rain nor significant wind. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Quite a few walkers about; no runners seen.
It is looking like the race descent from the Pike is going to remain viable for the whole year.
10.19 miles, 2,957 feet, 3 hours 28 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including down the race route from the top to the road at High Close, down through Deerbolts Woods to Grasmere shore, and back up to the top via Loughrigg Terrace and the steps overlooking Grasmere. Sunshine, blue sky, and high fluffy clouds. A few minutes of drizzle. A moderate breeze from the south west. Terrain very variable - dry in many places, elsewhere damp/wet/slippery. Lots of walkers on the fell, particularly at Grasmere shore and at the top of Loughrigg; no runners seen.
The race descent is just bearable if I put my waterproof top on - including the hood - to mitigate the bracken.
10.59 miles, 3,044 feet, 3 hours 35 minutes: Ambleside to the top of Scandale and back, ascending via Low Sweden Bridge, the rock step, and High Sweden Bridge, returning much the same way with a couple of minor differences. Sunshine, blue sky, and high fluffy clouds mainly above the high tops. A very strong wind from the north - hence not going to the top of Red Screes. No rain. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Not many walkers on the fells; no runners seen.
12.5 miles, 3,577 feet, 4 hours 4 minutes: Fairfield Horseshoe clockwise from/to Ambleside. Sunshine and blue sky, a couple of tiny clouds, hazy in the distance. No rain. A very strong blustery wind from the north east. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Not many walkers the fells; 6 runners seen - 2 in the valley, 4 on the fells.
My specific route choices today were aimed at trying to mitigate that strong wind, so I took the 4 trods to the left/west on the ascent, went south west of Dove Crag, then down the non race side/west of the wall and the rock step. I met one runner as he was descending Nab Scar - he had turned back because of the wind.
10.01 miles, 2,912 feet, 3 hours 9 minutes: Ambleside - Rydal Park - Low Sweden Bridge - rock step - High Sweden Bridge - Scandale - Red Screes - south ridge - Golden Rule Pub - Ambleside. Initially there was not a cloud in the sky, but some bubbled up as the day went on. No rain. A moderately strong wind from the north at times. Terrain dry with good grip. Quite a few walkers on the fells, some in large groups. 5 runners seen - 4 in the valley, 1 descending from Scandale.
I agree with Travs that Red Screes is a great fell. One of its many delights is taking in the wonderful view of Windermere whilst descending the south ridge.
Tricky clothing day today, wet but warm. Take a cag and be hot, or no cag and risk getting wet and chilled.
So, with my Light Blue Darwin fitted with flat bars and mini cow horns, a Brooks saddle and 29x2 tyres, do I count as a born again cyclist? It's not running but at least it gets me out and about . Mike T reminds me how good life was.
12.27 miles, 2,304 feet, 3 hours 20 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Stagshaw Gardens - High Skelghyll - Low Wood - Mirk Lane - Wain Lane - Fell Lane - High Skelghyll - Ambleside. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet. A few minutes of weak sunshine. No wind. It started it drizzle intermittently for the last half hour. Terrain dry with good grip. Not many walkers about; 2 runners seen.
This was a low level outing - 825 feet was the highest I got to - a lot more of it was runnable than my usual outings - though just because a section was runnable does not mean I ran it!
Had another run round this yesterday in preparation for Gt Whernside, though hit the first climb a lot harder, more like race pace. I forgot to take a bottle so had to suck some moisture up out of a very slowly running spring next to a sheepfold. There were quite a number of shrimpy looking creatures living in it, but good clean water. 7m/2215' for the day, and i can probably hit the first climb on Gt Whernside a bit harder than normal, which is good as i'm after a sub 40m. I'm taking the rough straight line off the turn and hoping to have more speed endurance for lower down.
Attachment 8949
I had a look at the legs for the relays last night, leg 4 solo is a pearler. I've been trying to put together a training route just like that for years, but private land gets in the way
Brooks? Sprung hide?Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
11.55 miles, 3,065 feet, 3 hours 53 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including down the race route from the top to the road at High Close, down through Deerbolts Woods to Grasmere shore, along the River Rothay to White Moss, then back along the other side of the river and up to the top again via Loughrigg Terrace and the steps overlooking Grasmere. Sunshine, blue sky, and a mixture of high clouds, some of them, if seen in a ski resort, usually imply imminent snow. A moderately strong quite cold breeze from the north east. No rain. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Quite a few walkers about; 1 runner seen.
Yes indeedy. My local bike guru who built my light blue for me recommended it. He us right. Much more comfortable than all this plastic stuff with gel pads, gaps and whatever. A cow laid down its life with good intentions.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I don't ride in padded bottoms so i need a bit of gel.
10.09 miles, 2,956 feet, 3 hours 5 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, including up the race route steps, along the ridge to the true top, down to the upper part of Nanny Lane, back up to the Pike, and down the race descent. Mainly overcast, with fluffy clouds above the high tops. Intermittent drizzle; intermittent sunshine; a cold wind from the south west. Terrain wet/saturated/streaming/slippery. Not many walkers about; no runners seen.
12.12 miles, 2,353 feet, 3 hours 21 minutes: Rothay Bridge in Ambleside to Slater Bridge in Little Langdale and back, going out via Clappersgate, Bog lane, Skelwith Bridge and High Park, returning via Three Shires Inn, Elterwater, High Close, and Loughrigg top. A mixture of sunshine, blue sky, high clouds, and intermittent drizzle. A cold breeze from the north. Terrain dry/damp/wet and slippery in places. Not many walkers about; 1 runner seen.
10.48 miles, 2,937 feet, 3 hours 30 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Miller Bridge - Low Sweden Bridge - rock step - High Sweden Bridge - Scandale - Red Screes - south ridge - Golden Rule Pub - Ambleside. A mixture of sunshine, blue sky, and high fluffy clouds. A surprisingly cold moderately strong wind from the north. No rain. Terrain anything from dry to wet/saturated and slippery. Not many walkers on the fells; 3 runners seen.
14.03 miles, 3,128 feet, 4 hours 3 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Bog Lane - Skelwith Bridge - High Park - Little Langdale - Lingmoor - Elterwater - High Close - Loughrigg top - Miller Bridge - Rothay Bridge. Lots of high clouds, some periods of sunshine/blue sky. No rain. An intermittent cool breeze from various directions. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Very few walkers about. I met the AAC Tuesday/Friday runners - 6 of them - and ran with them for a bit. 3 other runners seen as well.
10.6 miles, 2,587 feet, 2 hours 55 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Stagshaw Gardens - High Skelghyll - Mirk Lane - Wain Lane - Fell Lane - Robin Lane - Troutbeck - Nanny Lane - Wansfell Pike - race route descent - Ambleside. Initially overcast and drizzly, with the cloud base at about 500 feet. It gradually cleared to an extent, with the cloud base rising to above some of the high tops. A moderate breeze from the south. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Lots of walkers and runners about - there is an event on that comes up from Troutbeck to Wansfell true top, along the ridge to the Pike, and down towards Ambleside.
11.48 miles, 3,076 feet, 3 hours 36 minutes: Rothay bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Lake Road - Rydal Park - Low Sweden Bridge - rock step - High Sweden Bridge - Scandale - Red Screes - south ridge - Golden Rule Pub - Ambleside. Overcast, with banks of cloud at multiple levels - I was in or between cloud layers from 500 feet on the way up to 1,100 feet on the way down. Constant drizzle/light rain. A moderate breeze from the south. Terrain wet/saturated/streaming/slippery. Very few walkers about; 6 runners seen, 3 of whom had just finished their outing.
Luckily, despite the rain and that breeze it was not cold.
Bit of an extended recce of the Gt Whernside route yesterday, 6m/2000'. I've found a faster route down the scar behind hag dike, but getting to it is troublesome and involves negotiating some very slow and rough ground. There's a big bog too and i went in up to my knees. You can't really get past anyone if you take the tourist path down the scar, so if i overtake even one person it will be worth it. I took the wrong line down off the summit and went too far right again, missing the path by quite a way. I ended up in the middle of nowhere with nothing but fog and bogs in sight, i had to use the wind direction to navigate back on course. It might pay to take the footpath for a short way, then cut off right in good time to avoid the rock steps, keeping runners on the path in view to stop me going too far right. I'm going for sub 40m.
11.39 miles, 3,335 feet, 3 hours 52 minutes: Wansfell Pike and Loughrigg, including up and down the Wansfell Pike race route, along the ridge to the true top, then ascending Loughrigg via Fox Ghyll, and descending via the old golf club and Miller Bridge. Sunshine, blue sky and high mainly streaky clouds. Initially there was fog in the valley, but it did not last long. No rain, no significant wind. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Not many walkers about - surprisingly few given what a lovely day it is. 4 runners seen.
On the Wansfell ridge I came across a couple from Kent on their first visit to the Lakes - he was about 60, she a bit younger. Wow, leaving it a bit late, but better late than never.
I almost forgot, guess how much the Blue Bell in kettlewell wanted for 4 yorkshire puddings and a bowl of gravy? £13.95! The same thing at the Queens Arms in Littondale costs £5. Needless to say i went for the soup instead which wasn't that great TBH.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I was in Paris airport yesterday, and paid 28 Euros for a bowl of Rabbit food (basically a couple of pieces of chicken, tomato and salad, which i had to heat myself in the microwave), and two mini-baguettes (one of which was virtually inedible).
One of the major world airports, and the only hot food options in the largest terminal are that, and a Pret Coffee Shop.
12.59 miles, 3,252 feet, 3 hours 58 minutes: Rydal Round, starting and finishing in Ambleside, going past, rather than through, the sports field. I went around Great Rigg but over the other tops on the ascent, then south west of Dove Crag, down the left/east/race side of the wall, and the rock step. Wall to wall blue sky, apart from some streaky clouds and haze on the horizon. No rain nor wind. Terrain dry/damp with mainly good grip. Quite a few walkers on the fells; 3 runners seen.
46 minutes from the race start to Nab Scar today.
Oh Brett has a story about the Blue Bell...Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Did he see you in there paying a lot of money for some food and think 'i pity that guy whoever he is'?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I (and others) were with him but in essence: the Blue Bell is short on charity.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I seem to recall that before it was stripped out and turned into a posh joint with loads of crap on the walls, that it was a better place. It seems to have been restyled as a gastropub and rejected its roots.
10.01 miles, 2,645 feet, 3 hours 29 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including down the race route to the road at High Close, down through Deerbolts Woods to Grasmere shore, along to White Moss, back on the other side of the river, and up to the top again. A wonderful inversion was present over Windermere, extending - patchily - all the way to Great Langdale. Wall to wall sunshine above the inversion - the latter had completely vanished within a couple of hours. No rain. A lovely breeze from the south west. Terrain dry/damp with good grip. Lots of walkers about; no runners seen.
10.6 miles, 2,861 feet, 3 hours 17 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Miller Bridge - Low Sweden Bridge - rock step - High Sweden Bridge - Scandale - Red Screes - south ridge - Golden Rule Pub - Ambleside. Sunshine/blue sky, no rain nor wind, terrain mainly dry with good grip. Walkers seen: lots. Runners seen: one.
12.14 miles, 3,055 feet, 3 hours 21 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Roman Ruins - Borrans Park - Stagshaw Gardens - Champion Tree Trail - High Skelghyll - down to the main road at Low Wood and back up again - Skelghyll Lane - Mirk Lane - Wain Lane - Fell lane - Robin Lane - Troutbeck - Nanny Lane - Wansfell Pike - race descent - Ambleside. Sunshine, blue sky, and banks of cloud at multiple levels. Misty in the distance. No rain, a moderately strong wind from the south. Terrain dry with good grip. Quite a few walkers about; no runners seen.
Apparently the Douglas Fir on the Champion Tree Trail has grown 6 feet since last measured in 2012 - now 196 feet. Measuring it involves climbing it.
14.58 miles, 2,681 feet, 4 hours 16 minutes: Rothay Bridge in Ambleside to Lingmoor Fell top and back, going via Bog Lane, Skelwith Bridge, High Park and Little Langdale, and returning more or less the same way. Sunshine, blue sky, and high clouds, some of the latter catching the high tops. No rain nor wind. Terrain dry with good grip. Lots of walkers about, mainly down low; 4 runners seen.
I returned via Slater Bridge - there must have been 30 people on or near it. Two different groups asked me the way to Cathedral Cave - clearly a popular spot; I was asked the same thing on my 2 previous visits to Little Langdale.
Going through the woods to the east of High Park the route via Colwith Force is longer, muddier, and much less runnable than the direct route.
10.51 miles, 2,971 feet, 3 hours 18 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Miller Bridge - Low Sweden Bridge - rock step - High Sweden Bridge - Scandale - Red Screes - south ridge - Golden Rule Pub - Ambleside. Sunshine, blue sky, and multiple cloud shapes at various levels. No rain. A moderately strong cold wind from the north. Terrain dry with good grip. I was surprised how few walkers there were on the fells, though I did set off early. 5 runners seen.
Three times in two days I have had virtually identical interactions with aggressive dogs and their owners. As I approach, the dog - unleashed - starts growling, barking, and adopting an aggressive posture. The owners look at me, and then ignore the situation. Only after this standoff continues for some time do they intervene and reluctantly put the dog on its lead. The comments were interesting: "It's alright, it's friendly", "It's because you are wearing black", "That is its scared bark". All of them initially expected me to continue approaching the dog - unbelievable.
10.21 miles, 3,263 feet, 3 hours 34 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, including up the race route steps to the Pike, down to the upper part of Nanny Lane, up to Wansfell true top, back along the ridge to the Pike, and down the race descent. Overcast and misty - most of the highest tops were obscured. Drizzle/light rain for the first hour or so. A moderate breeze from the north. Terrain wet and slippery in places. Very few walkers about. 1 runner seen - in the valley. Only 1 aggressive dog today.
The local runners call Wansfell true top "Baystones". Wainwright does not mention Baystones in the relevant chapter, and as far as I can tell from the OS map, Baystones is further to the north, on the other side of the wall.
11.1 miles, 3,063 feet, 3 hours 34 minutes: Rothay Bridge to Silver How and back, going to Loughrigg top both ways. Sunshine, blue sky, and lots of high fluffy clouds. A cold breeze from the west. No rain. Terrain mainly dry with good grip. Not many walkers about. I saw the AAC Tuesday/Friday group, about 8 of them, but no other runners.
Yet another aggressive dog. Thankfully 4 out of 5 of the owners in these recent confrontations did put their dog on a lead, albeit after the event.
10.08 miles, 2,928 feet, 3 hours 19 minutes: Wansfell Pike twice, the first time from the Skelghyll Woods' side, the second time going up to the true top and then along the ridge. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,000 feet - there a few banks of cloud below that. A few minutes of drizzle. No significant wind. Terrain damp/wet and slippery on the usual surfaces - wet rocks and tree roots. Very few walkers about; no runners seen.
The race descent from the Pike is still viable, enjoyable even.