Which way home





THIS WAY

   Sat night, out on the town straight after work for a few with the lads. thought i would take it easy because Barrie and me were going to try High pike on the mtb in the morning ended up rolling in at 1.30 am when i eventually rose rang Baz told him bad idea bad head and it was freezing so that was that. Then a couple of hours later Baz rang and suggested we go at Two if i was up for it sun was out didn't look a bad day now so we went for it. Took the bikes up on the car parked up and set off, loads of ice and snow on the tracks my bike skills are minimum to say the least so i found my self doing a lot of walking and Barrie a lot of waiting,anyhow managed to get to the top but by that time the fog was well set in thought we were OK still with being up there loads of times. We go up there to do our running training during the summer, we took some photos at the summit and jokingly started to point the way home, then we set off down after about fifteen Min's Baz said i think we've got the wrong track so we switched on to another went a bit further and seen this sort of big drop we thought it must be carrick fell totally wrong direction had a bit laugh but i was shitin it thinking, fog getting dark,were going to be f---ed, i just seamed to go very quiet after that, so we started to backtrack and eventually got back to the point were we went wrong. once we got sight of the two masts at brocklebank, i thought get in at least we were going to get off just as we got back to the car it was getting dark, oh and i tried some sealskinz socks on this trip left foot felt OK right foot was wreckin so i think the foil will be my choice for future.



NO THIS WAY



Thornthwaite day two on Mtb (more fresh snow)

After yesterdays ride out, just had to go again today to try out the tin foil again,there was a lot more snow over night the plan was to stay out for two hours or more just to see if i had been lucky yesterday, temps were well below freezing. Idone the same route but at thornthwaite  i decided to go up to the top of  sandale (catlands) nearly got to the top without getting off but as i got to the sharp corner three quarters of the way up my wheel just started to spin on the ice it was like on the turbo getting no were. so after getting off i took some photos walked about fifteen yards then i was able to ride again, next stop was Headend quarry. I left the bike and had a walk up to take some more photos while the snow was there it is absolutely beautiful, after trudging about in the snow for twenty Min's i was back on the bike heading back to Wigton, half way home i seen a mate of mine out running so i am not the only crazy one, stopped to talk for ten Min's but by that time i could hardly use my hands to change gears and had to set off home, coming back in i thaught my feet are starting to get a bit cold aswell so when i got in my garage it was off with the shoes and socks to check them over but they were fine any one who knows me knows about my gammy feet so i was well pleased, Tin foil seems to be doing the trick, fingers were butching though. So my next thaught is will they be ok in spd shoes on the racer, still got that one to try. (if you do suffer from cold feet on the bike give it a go and see how you come on but dont go to far at first. my Caldbeck ride was a nightmare, without the foil i was in agony).    .



point were i  got off









Headend quarry

 

 



Andrew martindale Carlisle tri club





the famous feet still ok after two hours



THORNTHWAITE ON Mtb

After the ride to Caldbeck and High pike yesterday with Barrie i made a pitstop at my parents house to try and get my feet warmed up in front of the fire, the pain was immense so i gave Baz a ring and asked how is feet were, he said they were fine  advised me to run cold water over them and warm them gradually it seemed to work but they were still sore for the rest of the day. my dad said try wrapping them in tin foil. Why not i have tried loads of other methods with no look. So after my morning shift i set off, Tin foil round feet one pair of woolen socks and gortex trail shoes. i done the Thornthwaite ride plenty of hills and snow and ice on the roads took it with caution, a couple of near misses were the bike started to slip away from me but no tumbles still armed with my camera i took some shots of my journey. Once i was home took my gloves off and raced to take my shoes and socks off to feel my feet, they were actually warmer then my fingers this was after 1hour 45 Min's on the bike. this was the first time ever that i have been out in these temps and my feet have felt OK spot on oh tin foil had broken up when i took my socks off into hundreds of pieces, will try a longer ride next time and let you know how i come on.

Christmas Cracker Postponed

The 2010 Cumbria Christmas Cracker has been postponed due to bad  weather conditions. after a week of little training i thaught get in, stop in bed tomorrow and keep warm sounds good, then got a text off barrie, if you fancy a ride out tomorrow thaught about High pike on Mtb. Will be at yours about 1030, so sun morning we were off to caldbeck with all that snow. Conditions were terrible, got to the cattle grid at the crossroads above caldbeck and seen all of these people sledging so we were across the field for a look. here are some photos of our trip.



  

me mate Barrie







dobo









after watching the sledging we were off to caldbeck and Baz sugested a coffee ?

Job sorted, coffee cake and on our way to high pike the roads were that bad we got there but didn't attempt to go on the fell. took a couple more photos then it was off back home, absolutely froz to the bone.