Bike Rides

Sunday 31st May

Flora of the Fells Ride

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Abbot Hall Car Park	10am	3-4:00pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	25 miles	Janet 01539 727175

Meet at 10am at the Abbot Hall car park near Brucies Bikes.

Join Flora of the Fells on this ride over Scout Scar, and down through the scenic Lyth Valley to the hamlet of Witherslack. We will be stopping along the way to explore the diverse flora that populates this beautiful location. There will be the opportunity to stop for a drink at the Derby Arms at Witherslack to replenish ourselves before the ride home. Please bring a packed lunch. The ride is suitable for all but there are some steep climbs.

Kentmere Konundrum

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Wheelbase, Staveley	Flexible 10am - 12	3pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
All ages & All the Family	6 miles	Wheelbase 0870 600 3435

Description of ride:

This ride will take about 1.5-2.5 hrs to complete and is treasure hunt on bikes with clues given out on a sheet of paper (question and answer form with pencil issued to each entry). The route is in and around the base of the magnificent Kentmere valley on quiet country lanes and is a great day for a family day out. A free ice cream is given to every child who takes part, and a Wheelbase voucher is awarded to the top three correct answers.

Rough Stuff Fellowship Ride Along Old Shap Road and Down Borrowdale

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Ashes Lane car park	10am	5/6pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone - partly off road	25-35 miles	Simeon 01524-811843

Starting at 10.00am from Ashes Lane car park on A591 between Kendal and Staveley or join us at Wilf's Cafe in Staveley at 10.45am . We aim to be back at Ashes Lane between 5pm and 6pm. The ride suitable most people who can ride about 25 to 30 miles. The ride will be about 25 to 35miles long depending on the weather. The route: From the Ashes Lane car park, we be following Ashes Lane up on to Crook Road and then following the Crook Road down into Staveley for morning cafe stop at Wilf's Cafe. From Staveley we will be following various lanes and tracks over to Garnett Bridge. Then from Garnett Bridge we be following various lanes and along side the A6 up to Huck's Bridge in Borrrowdale, then following the main bridleway down Borrowdale before following the bridleway over Whinfell Common pass the repeater station down to Tarnside. The from Tarnside we be following various lanes back to Ashes Lane car park.

Please bring a pack lunch. For information about the ride call Simeon on 01524-811843 or visit the South Lakes Group website.

TrailQuest

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Wheelbase, Staveley	Flexible 10-11am	1-2pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	15 miles approx	Lucy 01539 729048

Description of ride:

Epic Mountain Bike events are organising a Trailquest on Sunday 31st May starting at Staveley Mill Yard from 10.00am – 11.00am.

A trailquest is a mountain bike orienteering challenge where participants have to visit as many check points as possible within 3hrs. The check points are identified on a pre marked map which is handed to you at the beginning of the quest. For more information about Trailquest, visit www.trailquestassociation.co.uk.

Solos and pairs can enter the event in female, male or mixed categories. It’s £5 to enter on the day if you are a member of the TCA or £6 for non members.

To enter this event, please email lucy@bluestoneevents.com.

Kendal - Kirkby Stephen Road Ride

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
New Road car park, Kendal	9am	late afternoon
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	65 miles	Rory 07912679761

Description of ride: A ride from Kendal to Kirkby Stephen and back. There will be three groups - fast, medium and slow to cater for all abilities. There will be a cafe stop just before half way (bring money for cafe). There will be a small charge to cover the cost of registration to Kent Valley Road Club, allowing all riders to be fully insured by British Cycling.

Monday 1st June

Rough Stuff Fellowship Ride Down Winster Valley

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Ashes Lane carpark	10am	5/6pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	25/35 miles	Simeon 01524-811843

Starting at 10.00am from Ashes Lane car park on A591 between Kendal and Staveley or join us at Wilf's Cafe in Staveley at 10.45am . We aim to be back at Ashes Lane between 5pm and 6pm. The ride suitable most people who can ride about 25 to 30 miles. The ride will be about 25 to 35 miles long depending the weather. The route: From the Ashes Lane car park, we be following Ashes Lane up on to Crook Road and then following the Crook Road down into Staveley for morning cafe stop at Wilf's Cafe. From Staveley we be following National cycle route 6 up to Ings before following various bridleways and tracks down the Winster Valley and aim to be back at the cars between 5pm to 6pm. Please bring a pack lunch.

For information about the ride call Simeon on 01524-811843 or visit the South Lakes Group website at South Lakes Group website .

Country Lanes Guided Ride from Windermere

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Windermere Train Station	6pm	8:30pm approx
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	Depends on experience	Guy 015394 44544

Join Country Lanes on this guided ride from their cycle hire shop at Windermere train station. Ride distance and technicality will be tailored based on the participants abilities. These rides are free and open to everyone, and may be on or off road. Contact Guy on 015394 44544 for more details.

Tuesday 2nd June

South Lakes U3A Ride

Circular (Kendal) - Stainton - Arnside - Stainton - (Kendal)

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Stainton	1015	5pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Over 50's leisure ride	18 miles	Colin 01539 725394

Description of ride:

A route largely on minor roads with minimal gradients throughout leading to the beautiful seaside village of Arnside on Morecambe Bay.

Car users start at Lancaster Canal’s present head of water at Stainton (SD520854), where there’s a car park for 4/5 cars and a picnic bench. Those wishing to cycle from Kendal could meet the rest of the party here – about 4 ½ miles from central Kendal, via Natland and the Sellet Ridge, take a left turn ½ mile after Natland, blue cycleway route sign signposted “Stainton” – attractive undulating ridge-top road, believed to be the old mail coach route to Kendal before the A6070 and A6 were built. For canal car park turn left at foot of second downhill section just before the bridge over the canal.

Attractions en route include:

Lancaster Canal – in water to Stainton, then mainly filled in to Kendal
Woodlands Nursery & Garden Centre – worth a visit - open every weekday
Tea room at Farleton Fly Fishery
At Arnside: cafes, fish & chip shop. Picnic possibility on the stone jetty. Tidal bore if the time is right.
Carr Bank Garden Centre – another good one, a mile after leaving Arnside
Storth – alternative picnic possibility by the estuary
Fine view of Dallam Tower and estuary from River Bela bridge
Milnthorpe – shops and cafes, lively market on Fridays

Lanequest

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Strickland Arms	5:30pm	7pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	8 miles approx	Mintcake 01229 861507

Description of ride: Lanequest (orienteering on a bike) cycle events are held on Tuesday evenings in June and early July. These simple format 2hr tarmac based Trailquests are an ideal bike ride for a hot summer evening. Families are most welcome and any sort of bike is suitable. They are held on backroads and country lanes to avoid the busy traffic strewn highways. Can be treated as a bit of fun or for hot competition, all profits go to charity.

ALL riders must join the Trail Cyclists Association before they can compete in these Lanequests (insurance issue). Associate membership is FREE on line JOIN NOW at www.trailquest.co.uk.

For more details of the ride and others like it see Mintcake MTB.

Wednesday 3rd June

Country Lanes Guided Ride from Windermere

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Windermere Train Station	6pm	8:30pm approx
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	Depends on experience	Guy 015394 44544

Friday 5th June

Country Lanes Guided Ride from Windermere

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Windermere Train Station	6pm	8:30pm approx
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	Depends on experience	Guy 015394 44544

Saturday 6th June

Rough Stuff Fellowship Ride to Askham Fell

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
in car park at Shap	Meet at 10.00am	5pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Off road	20/25 miles	simeonorme@southlakesgroup.org.uk

Heading into some of the most scenic parts of the Lake District for this excellent beginners guide to off road biking. With some of the most commanding views in the country this is a great way to get your mountain bike dirty! Meet at the car park in Shap by the public toilets and brng a packed lunch. The route will be approximately 15/25 miles long depending on the weather.

For information about the ride call Simeon on 01524-811843 or visit the South Lakes Group website at South Lakes Group website .

Sunday 7th June

Cumbria Wildlife Trust guided ride

Starting Place	Starting Time	Approx end time
Latterbarrow Nature Reserve	10:30am	3:00pm
suitable for	Length in distance	Contact
Everyone	12 miles approx	Kate Sykes 01539 727928

Description of ride:

Meet near Latterbarrow Nature Reserve. From the A590 follow signs for Witherslack, turn left immediately after the Derby Arms. Park on verge 300 metres down this small road. The reserve is off National Cycle Route 72 (Walney to Wear), and has good bus links.

Join Cumbria Wildlife Trust staff on this guided ride to some of south Cumbria's finest natural attractions. Explore the wildlife in the diverse habitats of the Trust's Nature Reserves, such as the newly renovated raised mire at Foulshaw moss, which has attracted Ospreys in the last year, and is home to a range of wildlife such as adders, dragonflies, red deer and much more. The ride will continue on to the Whitbarrow Hervey Memorial Nature reserve, and following country lanes return to a welcome drink at the Derby Arms in Witherslack.

CycleFest '09 could not have taken place without the generous support of the following:

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