Mountain Biking in the Lake District

We had booked into Center Parcs at Whinfell Forest in Cumbria for a break this Easter and decided to use it as a base to revisit some great mountain biking locations in the Lake District. First up was Whinlatter Forest Park which is home to the Altura Trail - 19km of fabulous red grade single track. Initially, I wasn't keen on this outing since the last time I had been to Whinlatter was to take part in the Whinlatter Challenge in March 2009. The Challenge is my only defeat to date in mountain biking competitions since I retired after the first of two laps fearing that daylight would be gone and emergency rescue vehicles be required if I set out on the second lap! In my defence I could claim ill health on the day and note that 25% of entrants DNF as we say but to be honest these are poor excuses. I can only hope that they keep running the challenge so I can go back and seek victory over that particular event one day.

However, the Altura trail is different again from the Whinlatter Challenge and we had a brilliant day out hitting the 10km North Loop in the morning before being seduced by the wonderful nosh at Siskins cafe for lunch and moving onto the 9km South Loop in the afternoon. Adam was not too impressed with the start of the North Loop, 'Bob's Traverse' being somewhat exposed and 'The Slog' being just that but it was all worth it for the descent:  'Happy Days', 'Big Dipper' and 'Grand National' need no explaining the whole family were on a high by the time we swooped back into the car park. The south Loop starts with a stretch of single track called 'Dead on Arrival' which was somewhat daunting but to be honest we all found this ascent much more engaging than 'The Slog'. Again both the view and the descent were more than worth the climb and we simply flew back to visitors centre.

 

The second outing of the Easter break was to Grizedale Forest and the North Face Trail another 16km of free flowing mountain biking. The Grizedale Challenge is held here in the month of September and for the last two years we have found time to take part along with other mad friends. I still haven't managed to complete the course in under 5 hours but am inching closer and who knows what this year will bring. Again the trail is completely different from the challenge. It starts  with an ascent which zigzags upwards and requires good concentration, technical ability and fitness to keep moving smoothly without any offs or dabbing. A moment of hilarity was provided by Ben disappearing from a relatively straight section of track into some very brambly undergrowth from which it was quite difficult to extract himself -the whole route can be completed in a couple of hours with kids in tow providing plenty of variety and entertainment for all. 

Move out the way kids Dad is coming through!

Racing for fun - the latest event - the Nutcracker

The fourth of April 2010 saw the Lewis family heading over to Camp Hill near Bedale to take part in the the first of six races which will make up the Nutcracker MTB XC series and boy was it worth the effort. How lucky are we to get a mountain biking series on our doorstep with a category for everyone in the family to take part in. All the photos are by Enigmatic Photography and can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nutcrackermtb/.

Even our youngest, just turned 11, got to do a lap of the same circuit as the elite men which he was totally up for. As it turned out this was a one off because the organisers hadn't realised that under 12's are in a separate category for mountain biking - thus at the last minute Dad had to accompany him on his lap for insurance reasons. From here on in a Nutcracker Academy has been set up for the under 12's called the Sweat Monsters and a specially created short course will be available free of charge at each of the remaining five races.

The series follows a common timetable which for our family works well with the kids racing in the morning at 10am and the extremely ancient parents racing later in the afternoon at 2pm. Ben, in the juvenile race was the only one of us to suffer with a mechanical - a flat tyre which he got just after the first lap. He walked much of his second lap only to discover when the results came out that he only needed to do one lap anyhow! Better luck next time son!

I was really pleased with my ride. The conditions under tyre were very muddy which made it a physical course but I managed a pretty consistent two laps and didn't collapse at the finish line - always a bonus. Having never been placed in a race before I was chuffed with my third place but since there were only five of us in the female vet category I have to say I would rather come further down the field and see more female competitors - where are you all?

And as for Mark he was a star, having already ridden a practice course plus a race lap with Adam he had a good three laps but was absolutely gutted when he was pipped on the finish line by a competitor racing from his local bike shop. Still there's nothing like a bit of rivalry to keep you motivated at these events.

Such a local event meant that it was easy to pass the word around and encourage people to pitch up at the event regardless of whether they had ever competed before. At least one such competitor was heard taking my name in vain as he completed his second lap of the course and vowed afterwards to be back leaner and meaner for the next race of the series. Unfortunately, the Lewis family can't make the second race, a prior engagement with the Lakeland Loop, but races three to six are already in the calendar - the dates are as follows:

• 23 May at Richmond
• 13 June at Dalby
• 22 August at Swaledale
• 12 September at Bedale
• 17 October at Hamsterley Forest

Hope to see you there!

Racing for fun (The first time – Ten Under the Ben)

I entered my first mountain bike competition in 2008 at the age of 44 and it was truly a baptism of fire. It was one of a series of three endurance races based in Scotland … 10 Under the Ben was the innocuous name of the event meaning a wee ten mile circuit in the vicinity of the Nevis Range and Lochaber Rural Complex to be ridden continuously for 10 hours. Now this event could be entered as an individual or as a team and originally the idea had been to enter a team of four so that the biking could be shared out – there being no possibility of me being able to mountain bike for 10 hours straight! But when it came right down to it there was only Mark (husband) mad enough to enter with me and so we found ourselves in that lonely category of mixed vets - a total of eight I think.

We drove up to Ben Nevis on the Friday night after work and it was still Friday when we arrived but only just. We had booked a place at the ‘campsite’ which turned out to be your bog standard field completely crammed with tents. I swear there were not more than two blades of grass together without camping paraphernalia squashing them. This was apparent from inside the car but things got much worse when we actually got out. The reason for the strange head gear several individuals were wearing became immediately obvious – the midges were wicked!!!  Luckily we had brought an ancient and tiny two-man tent that was quick to erect and we found a space of sorts between the guy lines of more deluxe models. We then proceeded to try and grab a few hours kip before the rigours of the next day. It was one of the stranger nights I have spent. Conversely, for Scotland, it was extremely warm and in the humid, pitch dark it felt like we were in an unfeasibly large bed full of hundreds of strangers. Different conversations and jokes bombarded us from every angle, despite the fact that I was wearing a fleece over my head in an attempt to sabotage the midges’ plan of attack. All in all the perfect preparation for my very first race!

The next day dawned hotter than ever but fortunately in the daylight the midges had abated so bare legs could be risked otherwise I fear heat exhaustion would have been a real likelihood. Many people had registered the night before but as we hadn't made it up in time we went and signed in as 'The Cobbles' and got our electronic tags and race numbers - this was a first in itself. The fact that we were in a team event meant I could watch the start which was just as well because I was feeling somewhat intimidated by all the lycra encased testosterone roaming about the place. Once the start was over it was an hour before the leaders completed their first circuit so there was plenty of time to get into the atmosphere and chat to other competitors - I was rapidly coming to the conclusion that I had well and truly jumped in at the deep end of mountain biking challenges.

If I'm honest the first circuit was heart stoppingly scary, I had never even been on a bike in Scotland let alone ridden in a competition. The circuit was totally unfamiliar so the only way I could approach it was to tell myself I could and would cycle whatever was round the next corner. With hindsight this was probably not the most sensible approach and neither was it the right approach to getting the fastest time - sometimes its quicker to get off and run. But by now the fact that I was in a race was eclipsed by the need to prove to myself that I could do the route, all of it, on my bike. Two years later all I can remember is the heat, the effort and the adrenalin. The second circuit was better in that I knew what was coming and that I had already done it without killing myself but it was also worse in that I knew what was coming .... And the third circuit nearly did kill me, the thought of some horrendous fall began to seem very attractive compared with other option of continuing to keep the pedals moving. I knew there was no way I was going to make a fourth lap not unless it would save the world or at least a child or two ... we haven't yet been back to take part in more of the '10 series' but we will. The sense of comradeship between the competitors and the feeling that everyone who took part was a winner are memories for life; and it was the first of something that continues to be a source of great enjoyment and fulfilment to me.

Other mountain biking challenges and races that I can recommend include:

• Grizedale mountain bike challenge
• The Altura Whinlatter mountain bike challenge
• British Mountain Bike Series
• The Nutcracker MTB XC series

It's great news that there is now a mountain bike series in the north in the form of the nutcracker series - so if you live in the area get involved. The first race was in April but there are another five to come and if I can do it anyone can!

Doing it With Kids in Canada (Kicking Horse Mountain, Golden)

Just an hours drive from Lake Louise, the Trans-Canada Highway 1 delivers you to Golden and Kicking Horse Mountain which in the summer months transforms from a ski resort to a bike park ... and how. The Golden Eagle Eye Express gondola takes you to 2,347 metre for an amazing 1,128 metres of downhill descent heaven. To be honest I was somewhat nervous as we loaded our bikes for the first ascent. Was I being a responsible parent bring a 10 and 13 year old on such an adventure but then why should the grown ups have all the fun! We had already hired our bikes in Banff ... not the serious downhill variety; and brought our cycling kit from home ... not the body armour and full face helmets; but hey we were ready to rock.

Heights always make me nervous, despite having done my share of rock climbing in the past, so just the ride up got the adrenaline going. It was pretty chilly at the top, I guess that's what you get if you go high enough up a mountain. It was certainly cold enough to eliminate any prevarication about route choice and we quickly decided to go for the easiest 'green' trails on our first descent as opposed to sections like the 'Spiral Tap' shown below with its jumps over gaping holes.

We actually saw someone take this jump too slowly and topple into the gap - didn't know whether to laugh or call an ambulance. On reflection we decided to give this one a miss, however, after our first descent we were buzzing and feeling a bit more adventurous so we decided to move it up a gear and include some of the more difficult 'blue' trails such as 'Northern Lights', 'Dirt Devil', 'Buffalo Jump' and 'Dust Buster'. Confidence was really building by now and we opted for an all 'blue' third descent finishing with the 'Super Berm'. Wow what an experience but the concentration required was immense the trails flinging you out wide or up high if you let your attention waiver for a moment. We probably could have squeezed in a fourth descent but decided to stop while the going was good, arms and legs were getting tired and we just wanted to avoid that big off and a trip to the hospital if at all possible. As luck would have it we didn't manage to avoid the latter despite our best attempts as later in the trip Mark decided to come down with appendicitis and he left the country with one organ less than he arrived with ... the best laid plans ...

Further research since we returned from Canada has revealed that there is a lot of great mountain biking to be had in this area of the Kootenay Rockies so who knows perhaps a return trip will be necessary one day. The final days of our holiday were based in Kananaskis where we ditched the tent and stayed in a tipi at Sundance Lodge again there is some great mountain biking to be done in this very picturesque region but the fact that one of us was actually a resident of Canmore Hospital meant we weren't able to make the most of it. The February 2010 issue of Singletrack has a great article about mountain biking in this area called 'Finding New Nowheres' but remember even with kids in tow there's lots of adventures to be had out there.

A windy C2C training ride

No honestly, I'm not complaining again. It was extremely windy on Friday. The sort of day when if you stopped pedalling you would be going backwards down the road, but it suited me just fine. It had been a frustrating week and the battling wind matched my mood perfectly - 'bring it on - do your worst' - my legs felt strong and ready to go. I was probably in the minority but then I hadn't done a 40 mile ride the day before and neither was I anticipating a houseful of 11 year olds sleeping over that night. It was oh so simple, I just wanted to keep cycling until I was satisfyingly tired. 

The route was familiar to start with. We headed out of Stokesley, through Busby, Carlton and Faceby before skirting Potto and Hutton Rudby and then detouring from our usual roads to cross the A19 to East Rounton and a most agreeable pot of tea and scones at Roots Farm Shop. One of the pluses of cycling with new people is that you discover new routes and also new places to stop for refreshments - this cafe was definitely one to be revisited. 

At this point the group split in two with Ruth and Caroline returning the way we had come while Fee and I pressed on, continuing our struggle against the wind to East Harsley and eventually back across the A19 to Osmotherley. Somewhere along the way the wind dropped and the Fee conquered the climb through Osmotherley with relative ease; as with so much in life, the obstacle proving to be much harder to contemplate than to actually do. We felt like we were on the home straight as we pedalled past Cod Beck Reservoir and Scarth Wood Moor before blasting down into Swainby and then retracing our wheels through Faceby and those other villages on the way back to Stokesley. One cycle ride nearer to the real thing Fee!

Just bike

It was a glorious day. Winter was still refusing to die and there were frost pockets and stubborn scoops of snow in the shady hollows yet spring was in the air. The sun was hot on black lycra, extra layers were soon stashed in the backpack, and the sky was an endless vista of blue who wouldn't want to bike on such a day.

We were three at the start and I took the opportunity to ride ahead and try to capture the feel of the ride on camera. We were following familiar routes and enjoying the anticipation of favourite speedy descents and tricky crossings but the going was definitely soggy. We took the high track through Park Wood which was a mud bath but it was one of those days when it was just great to be biking anywhere, anyhow.

Later after a very tired boy was escorted home by his Dad I got to carry on alone ... I just didn't want to stop as the route unwound by Clitherbecks, Oakley Side, Danby Castle and then along Little Fryup Dale before going vertical up Danby Rigg. The descent was tricky, it's always a challenge to see if you can do a clear run with no dabs but this winter has wreaked havoc on the terrain and good lines just disappear into yawning chasms with zero notice. My riding might not have been perfect but it was a perfect ride.

That was two weeks ago now and since then there have been yet more great rides in all shapes and sizes - both road rides and XC rides with a variety of family and friends. Rides that were planned and others that were unexpected extras. Next week the clocks change and six months of longer days and better weather beckon, what a feeling to anticipate all those bike rides to come.

Doing it With Kids in Canada (Ross Lake, Lake Louise)

I live in such a beautiful part of the UK that nowhere else can really compare; however once in a while I need to  satisfy my sense of discovery and adventure and just confirm that there really is no place quite like home. Last summer I set my heart on going somewhere I'd never been before, somewhere far, far away ... but safe enough to take my kids, although as it happened it really needed to be safe enough to take my husband. And so it was that a plan to go to the Canadian Rockies was hatched.

First and foremost I needed to sort out the practicalities but in this modern world it just took at bit of internet research and bingo tent hire and bike hire was organised. Of course we needed a seriously large pickup to transport it all and then there was campground reservations, backcountry reservations and shelters to think about - Banff National Park was the website to sort all that out on. Planning the details is a bit of a pain but it's worth it for that sense of amazement when things all go to plan later on ... how weird is it when you arrive in a country, thousands of miles away from where you live to find someone has put a tent up for to spend your very first very jet lagged night in?

To cut to the chase the biking was also worth the effort. The kids loved the idea of bike hire particularly as they got upgraded from their usual mounts while we got downgraded. We took our own helmets, cycling shorts etc some of us even took our own pedals. In fact the only thing we really forgot was winter bike gloves .... well it was August and I didn't think we would need them. Never under estimate the ability for snow to fall in Canada, even our mosquito repellent froze! It all added to the sense of adventure, if we had been camping in the UK in such low temperatures it would have been a pain but in Canada it was part of the adventure, the unexpected, a test of our versatility. That's what we told the kids anyway.

To be continued ....

Banff National Park has closed many of its trails to cyclists but there are still some great routes to do if you look hard enough. The photos on this blog were taken on a singletrack route from Lake Louise to Ross Lake. As you can see the trail crosses a creek, two in fact, as it wends its way through subalpine forest and leads you a merry dance over rocks and roots galore. Every once in a while you can look out over the peaks of Bow Valley and Kicking Horse Pass and indulge that sense of isolated wilderness before picking up the pace again and swooping through another series of climbs and descents. Our youngest son had an off as he got somewhat over confident with his bunnyhops down a particularly steep and rocky section but if you don't fall off once in a while your're not really trying. Lake Ross itself is an example of Canada's natural beauty at its best, unspoilt by anyone or anything else ... even a teenager could not help but be impressed by nature's paint pallet of glacial blues and verdant greens with an unforgiving mountainous backdrop ...

We chose to return via the Great Divide bike path which is reached by a 1.3 km trail (riders are required to dismount and walk this section) down along Ross Creek to the Great Divide Road. The former 1A Highway is permanently closed to vehicles now and provided a wide gravel expanse of easy cycling for the return route. But there was plenty of fun to be had in the form of more jump practice on the frost heaves covering the many culverts which run under the road. The large quantities of bear pooh were also quite disturbing; still no need to tell the kids to make lots of noise cos they do anyhow.