|
metres later. I still couldn’t even
undo my backpack clips unaided.
Before long we had everything
fixed and reached the top of the
last climb in time to see the clouds
lift. Although we spent some time
looking at the stunning view
across the mountains the pull of
the final descent stopped us from
hanging around too long. A long,
fast, rocky descent covered snow
beckoned and we couldn’t resist.
undo my backpack clips unaided.
Before long we had everything
fixed and reached the top of the
last climb in time to see the clouds
lift. Although we spent some time
looking at the stunning view
across the mountains the pull of
the final descent stopped us from
hanging around too long. A long,
fast, rocky descent covered snow
beckoned and we couldn’t resist.
As I crawled up the steep, snow covered road at 5mph, wheels
spinning every time I went near the accelerator, I was worried I
wouldn’t even make it out of my village, let alone to Hawkshead. Once
I coaxed the car over the crest the road conditions steadily began to
improve. As I headed north the snow started to disappear and by the
time I reached Lancaster the motorway was back up to three lanes.
Connor got in touch to see if the ride was still on. He was happy to
hear I was on my way, especially as the webcams showed Ambleside
was completely free of snow. It didn’t stay that way for long. As soon
as I turned off the M6 the snow started to come down. I still managed
to reach Hawkshead but when I pulled into the car park and found it
spinning every time I went near the accelerator, I was worried I
wouldn’t even make it out of my village, let alone to Hawkshead. Once
I coaxed the car over the crest the road conditions steadily began to
improve. As I headed north the snow started to disappear and by the
time I reached Lancaster the motorway was back up to three lanes.
Connor got in touch to see if the ride was still on. He was happy to
hear I was on my way, especially as the webcams showed Ambleside
was completely free of snow. It didn’t stay that way for long. As soon
as I turned off the M6 the snow started to come down. I still managed
to reach Hawkshead but when I pulled into the car park and found it
| John and Alex waiting to start the ride |
already covered in a centimeter of snow.
I was happy to see John already there and even happier when he pulled out his
gas stove and offered me a coffee. Unbelievably most of those who had put
I was happy to see John already there and even happier when he pulled out his
gas stove and offered me a coffee. Unbelievably most of those who had put
their names down began to turn up,
despite thinking it might have been wiser
to stay in bed. I found out later Rich was
gutted not to have been able to make it,
especially as he was in the Lakes for the
weekend, just round the corner but too far
from a main road.
When the seven of us set off for the climb
to The North Face Trail my thoughts of
possible route diversions started to
recede. I realised we were being treated
despite thinking it might have been wiser
to stay in bed. I found out later Rich was
gutted not to have been able to make it,
especially as he was in the Lakes for the
weekend, just round the corner but too far
from a main road.
When the seven of us set off for the climb
to The North Face Trail my thoughts of
possible route diversions started to
recede. I realised we were being treated
| Gus and Steve (left) and John (right) climbing to The North Face Trail |
to perfect snow riding
conditions with grippy,
creaking snow under our
wheels and Christmas
card views all around.
But it wasn’t all winter
wonderland. Steve’s
gears were skipping and
Gus was regretting
having Champagne on
top of wine previous
night.
The North Face Trail was
fun, if a bit slippery.
Surprisingly it was the
conditions with grippy,
creaking snow under our
wheels and Christmas
card views all around.
But it wasn’t all winter
wonderland. Steve’s
gears were skipping and
Gus was regretting
having Champagne on
top of wine previous
night.
The North Face Trail was
fun, if a bit slippery.
Surprisingly it was the
| Connor, Sherd and John on the slippery singletrack of The North Face trail |
rocky singletrack corners, not the wooden north shore sections that were the trickiest. After enjoying the
descents we passed through a silent Grizedale Visitor Centre before climbing to the natural trails above
Coniston. When then man made trails gave way to double track the creaking of snow was occasionally
joined by the sound of cracking ice and the possibility of a wheel disappearing through the snow into a
muddy hole.
descents we passed through a silent Grizedale Visitor Centre before climbing to the natural trails above
Coniston. When then man made trails gave way to double track the creaking of snow was occasionally
joined by the sound of cracking ice and the possibility of a wheel disappearing through the snow into a
muddy hole.
On Parkamoor the stunning view
across Coniston was obscured by
fog. It wasn’t particularly missed
as we spent all our time looking
ahead, trying to work out the lay of
the boulders beneath the snow.
When the trail pointed down hill it
became increasingly technical but
still rideable. The snow was still
grippy and it was amazing what we
could get over by staying back and
riding in a straight line.
across Coniston was obscured by
fog. It wasn’t particularly missed
as we spent all our time looking
ahead, trying to work out the lay of
the boulders beneath the snow.
When the trail pointed down hill it
became increasingly technical but
still rideable. The snow was still
grippy and it was amazing what we
could get over by staying back and
riding in a straight line.
| John at the end of The North Face trail |
| Coniston obscured at the start of the Parkamoor Trail |
| Alex starting the Parkamoor descent |
(clockwise from left) Connor, John and
Sherd tackling the snow covered boulders
at the start of the Parkamoor descent
Sherd tackling the snow covered boulders
at the start of the Parkamoor descent
At the bottom the conversation quickly
changed from the descent to why Steve
was standing in bare feet squeezing his
changed from the descent to why Steve
was standing in bare feet squeezing his
socks out. In winter I reserve that kind of activity to the car park, when the
engine is running and the heater is on, not halfway round a ride. His toes did
get chance to warm back up on the steep climb out of the valley but then there
were more puddles for him to avoid across the top of the hill, so I’m not sure if
it achieved much.
His toes turned out to be the least of his worries as his gears were still
skipping and doing his head in. It didn’t help that he was confined to granny
ring and whenever we picked up speed he could hear giggling at his furiously
spinning legs. By the time we reached the bottom of the next climb he was
talking of bailing out.
engine is running and the heater is on, not halfway round a ride. His toes did
get chance to warm back up on the steep climb out of the valley but then there
were more puddles for him to avoid across the top of the hill, so I’m not sure if
it achieved much.
His toes turned out to be the least of his worries as his gears were still
skipping and doing his head in. It didn’t help that he was confined to granny
ring and whenever we picked up speed he could hear giggling at his furiously
spinning legs. By the time we reached the bottom of the next climb he was
talking of bailing out.
| John on the steep Nibthwaite Grange climb |
| Gus climbing from Nibthwaite Grange |
| Steve happy after bypassing another puddle |
| Connor and Sherd at the top of another climb on wonderfully creaky snow |
| John just before the fantastic descent to Satterthwaite |
As we were making good
time, despite his reduced
speed, we convinced him to
continue. And there would
be no more giggling. It was
time, despite his reduced
speed, we convinced him to
continue. And there would
be no more giggling. It was
definitely the right decision. Not only was it turning out to be the best winter ride any of us had ever had
but the next descent was more fun than the last, despite Steve crashing in the same place as Connor and
landing on top of his bike.
but the next descent was more fun than the last, despite Steve crashing in the same place as Connor and
landing on top of his bike.
| (from left to right) Gus, Alex, Sherd and John tackling the snowy drop at the top of the descent to Satterthwaite. Somehow Sherd managed to pull it back from that position and didn't go over the bars....... |
| ....others weren't so lucky. Connor crashes first then Steve decides to land on Connor's bike. |
After the descent we
went straight up Breasty
Haw, the next climb. With
the earlier promise not to
giggle we avoided the
obvious and got on with
climbing, honest. The
juvenile humour was
soon forgotten as the
riding across the next
couple of hill just got
better and better. There
were a few crashes and a
lot of close calls. The
look on our faces said it
all. Pull to a stop with
went straight up Breasty
Haw, the next climb. With
the earlier promise not to
giggle we avoided the
obvious and got on with
climbing, honest. The
juvenile humour was
soon forgotten as the
riding across the next
couple of hill just got
better and better. There
were a few crashes and a
lot of close calls. The
look on our faces said it
all. Pull to a stop with
bulging, staring eyes. Deep
breath out, then smile and nod…..
nice.
Eventually we made it to the final
climb, onto Claife Heights. After
avoiding pinching on the rocks we
rode though a farm where I picked
up a thorn. I had to take my
gloves off to fix the puncture and
by the time I had finished my
hands were frozen. When I tried
breath out, then smile and nod…..
nice.
Eventually we made it to the final
climb, onto Claife Heights. After
avoiding pinching on the rocks we
rode though a farm where I picked
up a thorn. I had to take my
gloves off to fix the puncture and
by the time I had finished my
hands were frozen. When I tried
| Gus on top of Breasty Haw |
| Steve on the Great Wood descent |
to put my gloves back on
I found the inners had
pulled out and with no
feeling in my fingers I just
couldn’t get my hands
back in.
After struggling for a
while John took pity on
me and lent me his liner
gloves, a thin pair of
summer gloves. Better
than nothing.
Unfortunately I couldn’t
return his kindness when
his chain broke a few
I found the inners had
pulled out and with no
feeling in my fingers I just
couldn’t get my hands
back in.
After struggling for a
while John took pity on
me and lent me his liner
gloves, a thin pair of
summer gloves. Better
than nothing.
Unfortunately I couldn’t
return his kindness when
his chain broke a few
| Alex, Gus and John at the bottom of the Great Wood descent, one of many fantastic trails |
| Climbing onto Claife Heights. The last pictures of the ride I took before I couldn't press the shutter button any more. |
It was a great way to finish the ride. I’ll try to keep that as my last memory of the ride rather than fighting to
get my socks off in the car park with frozen claw hands.
Directions for this ride can be found in my Route Guides.
get my socks off in the car park with frozen claw hands.
Directions for this ride can be found in my Route Guides.
| The Edge 'BIG' Shop Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |