Lakes Cycling Week

Moira and I thought we would get some early season cycle training in for those up and coming Cyclosportifs, especially the murderous Fred Whitton 112 miler. We were on the Dave Lloyd training camp, based in Arnside on the southern edges of the Lake District. Monday was a rest day, after Clachnaben on Sat and the 73 miles on Sun on the Lakeland Loop sportif.

Tuesday was more serious stuff, off with the fast bunch, though dropped on the first wee hill near Cartmel. We were on lovely country lanes with some serious ups and downs, and that wasn't even the "proper" mountain passes.I passed the bottom of Coniston, Broughton Mills, Dunnerdale then up Wrynose Pass down and up to Blea Tarn to Langdale. I was well alone by now and decided after a nice pastie in Ambleside to head up Kirkstone Pass and up the infamous "Struggle" where I rewarded myself with a pint of ale in the Kirkstone Inn. It was a great fast descent to Troutbeck and then some meandering through Stavely, Burneside, Crook and Brigsteer arriving back in Arnside rather knackered after 94 miles and 2420 meters of ascent.
Wednesday was a windy 72 miles/ 1390 metres with the "normal" group over to Kirkby Lonsdale, the slog up Barbondale to Dent in Yorkshire, for a tea stop before a fantastic wind assisted descent to Ingleton and back.
Thursday was a bit easier when Moira and I took the car over to near Coniston and enjoyed a nice sunny cycle up the west side of Windermere to Hawkshead, a lovely lunch outdoors at Brantwood, and then down the east side of Coniston, up to Oxen Park and back. 30 miles/ 700 metres.
Friday we did our own thing in Ambleside - up the Struggle on Kirkstone Pass, down to Troutbeck and back over to Ambleside with fantastic views of Windermere. 16 miles/ 595 metres.
Saturdaywe were in Keswick for a hilly cycle down Borrowdale up Honister Pass, down to Buttermere and up Newlands Hause, down to Braithwaite and up Whinlatter Pass down to Lorton village,round to Wythop Mill and Bassenthwaite before heading down the east side of Bassenthwaite Lake to Keswick. 45 miles/ 1175 metres.

A grand total of 257 miles and 6280 metres ascent, not including the 73 mile/2120 metres Lakeland Loop and Clachnaben, 12 miles/1020metres, which would make the grand total Sat to Sat of 342 miles/9420 metres.