mountainstuff.wordpress.com

New blog is launched today :)

nksheridan — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:25:55 +0000

I think everything is in order! So the new mountainstuff blog is launched with lots of new features (in particular the OS mapping for locating blog posts and mapping of routes). I’m also sticking the GPX files up for download.

http://blog.mountainstuff.org/

The bit which took me the longest was the OS mapping for blog posts – check that out here

Thanks for visiting everyone This blog ain’t going anywhere and I’ll be trying to port the old posts over to the new blog but it may be too much hassle as I’ve lost most of the pics I’ll have a go though..
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Gisburn Forest mtb trails.

nksheridan — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:39:47 +0000

I took my first visit to have a look at the new trails in Gisburn Forest near to Clitheroe in Lancashire today.. Really great stuff with the red route giving about 20km on my cyclo computer.

I’m putting together a little page with a gallery of all the technical features, route maps, descriptions, links, etc. as there doesn’t seem to be much going at the moment -> here it is.

An afternoon at Rivington.

nksheridan — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:39:10 +0000

Rivington Pike and the surrounding area (aka Lancashire‘s Lake District!) is one of my regular MTB spots, so I figured I’d get some photos and vids and do a post.

All packed into a small area you’ve got Anglezarke and Rivington reservoirs surrounded by a country park (with a network of bridleways that include a bit of technical terrain) and overlooked by Winter Hill at 456m. The area was host to the 2002 Commonwealth games cycling events (inc. MTBing) and recently an Ironman triathlon.

There are also a couple of small technical mtb trails in the area which have recently been completed. I’m compiling a page on these here.

Pock Stones Moor & Flat Moor from Appletreewick.

nksheridan — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:03:36 +0000

A quick ride this afternoon from Appletreewick out east to Pocket Holes Moor and Flat Moor. I can’t really recommend it as it was a little bit too moorland/desolate in nature for my liking and featured a lot of bogginess.

RAF Menwith hill, with its white radomes, was in my field of view for a fair bit of the ride. Bit creepy and wouldn’t like to live near it!

Tour d’Ingleborough (legal version).

nksheridan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:30:41 +0000

I undertook the version described in the book by Nick Cotton today. As it’s a legit version it was strictly bridleways and a fair bit of road work.. Perhaps not helped by me dropping down early from Bruntscar and ending up with an extra 2.5km of tarmac to deal with

Good ride nevertheless and highly recommended when it’s not too boggy. I did a slightly modified clockwise version which started/ended in Clapham.

Top Descents -> Cam End to Ling Gill and Sulber to Ingleborough

Short video of the ride (shot with a literally handheld camera so missing the best bits!).

I also passed Calf Hole Cave en route and made a little video of the stream entrance. The cavers entrance is close by and starts with an SRT pitch (i think..). Looks interesting anyway…

Settle-Malham loop

nksheridan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:52:30 +0000

A little ride on saturday afternoon following the Pennine Bridleway between the towns of Settle and Malham in the Yorkshire Dales NP.

20km with 610m ascent in about 2hr 40 = slooow!

North Face Trail in Grizedale Forest

nksheridan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:25:46 +0000

I took my new Orange P7 Pro for its first proper ride at the TNF trail today.

My record number of falls (6 in 2hrs) was obtained! Really wet trail conditions and new bicycle/different tyres was probably the cause but I’m not so happy with the speed king 2.3 tyres and will be using my old ones tomorrow. I was slipping off nearly everything

Not my video but gives a good idea of what the trail is like..

Tour of Caldbeck

nksheridan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:53:39 +0000

A long ride with the boggies today. Keswick to Caldbeck via Skiddaw House.

Gallery & route mapping here.

Short Drop Cave (Leck Fell)

nksheridan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:50:07 +0000

This was my first trip with the Craven Pothole Club. The trip involved a short pitch for which a ladder and lifeline was used. Some of the others did a free climb bit though I didn’t fancy it! Next time I’ll take a camera (preferably in a hard case!).

Here’s a quick video (not mine) of one of the larger parts of the cave showing a rock bridge.

Horsehead Moor

nksheridan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:38:33 +0000

A sunday ride with the boggies. Pretty nice weather with only one brief downpour.

Second climb of the day towards Horse Head (605m)

Route was from Horton in Ribblesdale, round the side of Pen-y-Ghent on Foxup Moor, down to Halton Gill then up to Horse Head. Here it was down into Langstrothdale before the ‘push’ up to Firth Fell at 607m and a downhill to Littondale. More relaxed biking followed past Dawson Close and Dale Head.

Tracks on the way back towards Dawson Close

Job done in 6hrs (37km, 1286m ascent) with at least an hour spent pushing our bikes :O