www.DurhamMountainSports.org.uk

Due to popular demand & constant haranging from me, April activity day is mountainbiking at Whinlatter forest near Keswick.

The Altura trail is the Lake district's longest purpose built MTB trail. Further info can be found at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/alturatrail

Facilities include a nice Cafe for tea & cakes (essential) with good loo's & a large free car park
Cyclewise, on site have a bike wash (also essential) & can hire out a large range of cube bikes. It's a fully equipped bike shop so you can buy innertubes, tools, etc. And if you're interested you can also hire headcams http://cyclewisetraining.co.uk/content/view/51/90/

The plan is to meet in the car park at 9.45am with a view to starting by 10. Ride the north loop first then stop at the cafe for refreshments (& first aid) then ride the new south loop.

The hope for this trip is that we'll stimulate the existing mountainbikers in the club & also encourage members who have been thinking about joining in. Yes Whinlatter is fairly technical but you will leave with a huge smile on your face. If you fancy coming, I strongly encourage you to come to Liam's March activity day at Hamsterley.

I'm happy to talk to anyone about this trip at the pub on Tuesday.
Steve

Count me in on this one Steve, got to be back in Durham before 6pm

I should be able to make it too!

Pete

Happy Days guys.

Just for anyone who has reservations about coming along:
The trail is singletrack and disects a fireroad running up the side of a lump of a hill. What this means is that all the technical sections are fairly short and because you can't ride too close together you have no choice but to wait for everyone to finish each section. So no matter how slow you are you will have a chance to catch up & also have a rest.
Also, you have some great views from the highest mountainbike trail in the lakes.

Anyone else going ??

Phil - do you want to car share?

Ayup all from West Yorkshire!

Apologies for my lack of absense of late; been busy with house move etc. but thanks to the technological wonder that is Facebook, Steve invited me along so as long as you don't mind an 'ex' member attending (although I do intend on paying my 2009 subs!) I will be there on Saturday! I haven't been out since New Year though so I will def need these rests that Steve talks about....

See you on Saturday,

Izzy and I are planning to be there, like Maurice we're banking on these rests too!

pete wrote:Anyone else going ??

Phil - do you want to car share?

Pete - car share sounds good to me. now its just a question of who.....Phil

At the risk of jinxing the whole thing, the Keswick weather forecast for Saturday is 16C & sunny.
Not so good for the North East tho.
Kate says Lance might be coming.
If anyone in the Newcastle/Gateshead area wants a lift then let me know.

It looks like we won't be making it after all. Lots on at the moment but hope you all have fun!

See everyone at 9.45-10Am tomorrow morning.

Thanks Steve for arranging the excellent Whinlatter biking on Saturday and for organizing the perfect weather in the lakes , we could not have hoped for a better day.

Fingers crossed that the next bike meet is as good.....