Taking the bike for a walk part 2

I managed to get the day off last minute cos my boss is such a nice man, lowey had offered to lead me astray with promises of huge climbs, awesome descents, lickle ribbons of singletracky goodness all served on a bed of cheeky trails. So off we went, late start, weather looked lousy but we persevered and as we hit cumbria the sun came out. I introduced Lowey to tebay services' westmorland shop, lamb damson and mint pies - fantastic! We set off from Stoneycroft into a lovely ascent, well it would have been on fresh legs, steep and loose but mostly rideable. Lowey was a climbing demon, me not so, tebays finest exports were threatening to make a re-appearance. The climb continued, my stomach settled and my legs remembered how to pedal. Monster hill (2700ft), it got steeper and steeper til eventually it was a push, a carry, then a scramble! Fantastic views from the top, proper lakes panorama, then we went down, fast gravel track to start with huge drainage ditches thay offered some airtime. Next was along Gasgale gill, the most unrideable downhill I've ridden but the doable bits were ace, loose rock, fixed rock, hard pack singletrack, it had everything. Had to get off and clamber down some really rocky bits and sections where the path had been washed away, the massive drop to one side didn't help on techy bits, on trails like this it always feels like the big drop is magnetic and my arse is full of iron filings. We made it down incident free, a quick ride along crummock water to Buttermere and then a lower return leg (only 1500ft) a gentle climb up lovely singltrack - except when it crossed streams where the trail kicked upwards big style, damned hardwork on tired legs. The drop back to Stoneycroft was briliant, steep loose and gravelly at first then a more gentle twisty turny slot car racetrack where you could pick up and carry loads of speed with hardly a pedal or touch of brake. Lowey had a sketchy moment when he nearly lost it at a washed away section but just saved himself. Great ride, only 15miles but hardwork, 100% cheeky, 100% fun.

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