The first “off” of 2012

Sometimes, factors combine to give you that special experience. Tonight was one of those occasions. Not because it was a hard ride, but due to clear, sharp January weather, and the timing. There were three sections of the ride today where I just wanted to stop and savour the experience.

Riding the old, gated road from the top of Whinlatter round towards Buttermere was the first section that lifted my spirits. The view down from my road onto the main Whinlatter road is always amazing, seeing little cars passing back and forth below. Add to that a setting Sun and views out to the sea at Workington and Scotland in the mist beyond. What more could you ask for? And yet, riding alongside Crummock Water I had another amazing view across the clear, still waters through the pass between Red Pike and Melbreak. The sky beyond was bright red, and behind the hills were bathed in the alpenglow. Could there be more? Perhaps the hard, wet, windy riding of last week deserved such a treat – riding past my favourite bit of the Lakes (see last weeks post), I was stunned by the view back across Buttermere – inky black hills silhouetted against a milky starlit sky. Amazing!

But back to the main event. Two climbs tonight. Again a trip home, but this time via Whinlatter and Newlands. Old friends. Hills I’ve climbed over and over again, and yet they still spring surprises. Tonights was an icy patch near the top of Newlands that persuaded my wheel that horizontal was better than vertical, dumping me onto the tarmac. So, the first climb I’ve had to walk- but I’ll be back over Newlands again. The Fred Whitton passes this way, in the direction Buttermere – Keswick. A good choice of route from Mr Warren, as the climb is always interesting from this side. Steep to start from Buttermere – starting from the Bridge Hotel it’s a lung busting thrutch up onto the main pass road and then onto the summit.

I had set off over Whinlatter first, and as you can see from the photo, I arrived still in daylight. 

Newlands was another matter, and the camera refused to flash due to the cold. But I did manage to get a shot of the bike at the top, but out of focus and dark. So here's the roadsign!

And how to get home. Choice one – over Newlands and down to the Swinside Inn and round the back of the lake home. Lots of downhill and not much climbing. Or, choice two –back over the ice and down to Buttermere, finishing with a climb over Honister. In my head the mental discussion played out. I have a little voice that always asks – “What would Lance do?” As for the outcome, well I’ll leave you to guess!

22.2 miles, 974m

Double Double Dutch at the Velodrome.

What a weekend! Lunch with friends in Manchester, Revolution at the Velodrome, Salsa at CopaCabana, and still I got some hills in!

Last night Laine and I went to our first Revolution meet of this season. No major stars, but Luke Rowe, Jon Mould and Russell Downing kept the interest up. The major highlight though was tandem sprinting. I thought that Hoy v Kenny last year was immense, but this time we got to see four blokes slugging it out on two bikes round the track at over 40mph. Awesome!

Another great night at the Revolution, followed by the usual struggle to find the salsa venue, and then a night at the Old Trafford cricket ground hotel. What better place to wake up than overlooking the square.

We managed to squeeze in a couple of hills on the way back. No 72, the Rake, in Ramsbottom, was first. Ramsbottom was bizarre. It was a Sunday, but the main street was really busy and all the shops were open.

Then 74, Nick of Pendle from Sabden.

It was great to have Laine for company and for her to take some shots of me at the summit, rather than the usual bike photo. Two straightforward climbs, but yet again, no visibility as you can see from the Nick of Pendle photo below.

I’ve discovered a new way of doing the hills.. Drive to the top, freewheel down as a warm up, and then cycle back up to finish. Job done!

The GPS reads

3.18 miles, 290m of ascent.

Physics or Chemistry?

I never thought I’d be considering “which is best, Physics or Chemistry?” on a solo bike ride, but heading home from school I plugged the Ipod in and found myself listening to Brian Cox and the “Infinite Monkey Cage” Having laughed my way to the top of Honister (who’d have thought that science was funny?) I arrived yet again in wind and rain, but this time with the addition of darkness.

It’s a great privilege to live where we do. Every time I ride into school I have to travel the length of Borrowdale (Cue Wainwright "The Lake District is the loveliest part of England and Borrowdale is the fairest of its Valleys"), but I have other delights as well. With Honister on the doorstep, my ride home can take me via either Newlands or Whinlatter and then over the final hurdle of Honister before arriving back at the house. The route through Buttermere is equally as stunning as Borrowdale and my favourite bit of road will always be the bit just past the eastern end of the lake.

So, Physics or Chemistry? Perhaps a more pertinent question is “Which side of Honister is harder?” I think the choice Simon has made in his book is best. From Gatesgarth you get the view straight up the Pass. You know what’s coming, and you know it’s going to hurt!

The profiles below are from the climbbybike.com website. It’s a website I’m going to be visiting a lot over the next few months!

Anyway, number 5 done, but one I’m going to visit lots over the next few months in my training as it’s my local climb.

Distance 14.8 miles ascent 672m

Can it get any worse?

My third wet ride in a row......

Having set off from Caton I headed for the first hill of the day, Jubilee Tower, which is just east of Lancaster. The route up gave great views across to Morecambe Bay, though as I approached the top it became obscured by an ominous black cloud. After yesterday’s experiences, I opted for early waterproofs, just as a massive hailstorm started. Fortunately the Tower offered some shelter, and I was joined by another two groups of cyclists equally seeking a hiding place.

Eventually, a number of us braved the weather and set off for the Trough of Bowland. I’ve always wanted to cycle here, having driven through it with Laine a few years ago on an M6 diversion. I wasn’t disappointed. The clouds cleared and I was blessed with a little sunshine. Having got over the top, I dropped down to Sykes Farm and turned round and headed back up. The plan is to do all the climbs as Simon Warren recommends, so back to the summit cattlegrid!

Having ticked number two, I headed off for the Cross of Greet and the final named climb of the day. It was quite a drag from Slaidburn, made all the worse by another hailstorm. The final two miles were very slushly, though fortunately for the following descent it wasn’t cold enough to freeze.

There was lots of snow/slush on top, and the descent was a bit hairy to begin with, but I quickly dropped down towards Bentham and then back into the wind to reach the car.

A good day, though again I got cold and wet. It was great to see so many cyclists out though, I wasn’t the only fool on a bank holiday.

Distance 44.5 miles, ascent 1589m.

A cold, wet and windy start.

How bizarre is the English weather? Today was a ride of two halves. The first was Hartside, and then this was followed by Great Dunn Fell. However, for the total time of the ride Hartside was clear with blue sky, but Great Dunn Fell was cold, wet and very windy. (More of this later!)

Hartside was the first of the hundred and I dragged Dene out for company. We had a nice gentle ride to the top, pausing for photos and being passed by a quicker rider on a very fluorescent bike. The only pressure was to make sure we got back so that Dene could watch his beloved Man City.

Having set off for Melmerby, we took just over 40 minutes to the top – nowhere near Simon Warren’s recommended 26, but with a photo stop and Dene chuntering over his level of fitness we were never going to break records.

A quick blast back on surprising rough roads and the next decision was made, we did have time for Great Dunn Fell. Though not in the book, as its private, it does count as the highest tarmaced road in the UK, finishing by the radar station at 848 m (2,782 ft). We’ve both done it before, and had an epic on it when we got really cold on the descent, and we hadn’t learned from that experience! It was a tough climb and a real challenge to Dene’s disappearing fitness. We made it though, but that’s when the fun started. Rather than a quick blast back to Knock, we turned round into strong headwinds and driving hail. The ride down was hellish. Hail-blasted faces glowing, we eventually reached Knock and headed back to Melmerby and the dry, warm car. Sadly for Dene though, we didn’t make the start of the footy!

GPS says 38.5 miles, 1483 m of ascent.