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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My friend and I will be staying in Liverpool from Aug. 10th to the 30th >and would GREATLY appreciate some more specific mountain bike info on the >Lake and Peak district. We consider our skill level to be fairly high, so >please give us info on the tough stuff. These trips will be seperate >excursions. >1. what is the best way to get to either Peak or Lake districts from >Liverpool. it looks to be about 65 miles or so to each, so is it possible >to ride there on our bikes? or can we take a train to get closer to them? >2. Do you know of any B&B’s that are relatively cheap, but good that we >can stay in. Phone numbers would be even better (hint hint). How much time >in advance will we need to get a room? Do you think they will allow us to >keep our bikes in the room, and if not then where? Also we know it will be >better to go during the week and not the weekend, so thats when it would >be. >3. More specifically which towns are closest to the best MTB trails? >4. Are there any MTB shops near by in case of any serious mechanical failures? >5. What is the weather like in mid-August? >6. (non district related) we are also thinking of going to Scotland from >Liverpool, do you know what the policy is for taking a bike on the train? >and about how much would a round trip ticket be for that? >You would be helping us out a great deal in answering these questions, and >i don’t really have anything to offer in return, except my thanks. if you >want to ride with two yanks from the states, we would love to join you. >thanks again in advance. >From Jamie Caffrey >I don’t know much about mountain biking in the Lake District (the English >have all these dodgy rights of way and such). If you fancy coming up to >Scotland then you can come to Dunkeld if you feel the need. Either >myself or the local shop in Dunkeld (Dunkeld Bike ‘N’ Hike (UK code >01350 728 744)) will give you plenty of info. about our local trails. >You can contact me through the shop. Trains can be dodgy aswell. Contact > British Rail (who’s number I dont’ know just off hand!)

Response:

Helvelyn is an epic ride if attempted from Glenriddin. Up by the youth hostel and onto the old mine track to a set of zig-zags about 3 miles up this bridleway. It is ride-able upwards but only with persistance, loose rocks and gravel. The "zig zags" are a walk up! 30 mins. Then you cycle for a while, heading towards Helvelyn "MAN", another short walk up this then you are onto the enormous plateu which is "Helvelyn" summit. The downhill, is one of the best technical and fast downhills in the country, except for "High Street North" and "Black Combe". You must return the same way for the best down hill, make sure your brakes are up to it!. A word of warning. it is summer and there are millions of walkers up there, show respect! Best do the ride in the evening, it only take 3-4 hours. Chipps… Shops in the Lakes (I recommend) 1."Bike Treks" in Ambleside — Best trick bits in the area, very helpfull and competetive prices, they have everything. 2. "Wheelbase" in Stavely — Big warehouse shop, good prices, helpful staff. Couple others around Ambleside but these are the best. p.s. The weather is always good for MTB’ing, you just ride in Grizedale Forest when it rain, Excellent forest, visit the Grisedale Visitors Centre for cycle routes, near Hawkshead. Chipps.

Response:

> : please give us info on the tough stuff. These trips will be seperate
> I’ve been told that Helvelin in good, from the west side.
> Grisedale ( spelling?) forest, southern lakes, has loads of > routes but these are not that demanding.
> The leisure series of maps from the OS ( Ordanance Survey ) show all
> the possible tracks ( bridleways , byways and RUPPs ).
> The OS also produce a book detailing rides, including maps.

Here’s a book for ‘yall in the Lake District: Mountain Bike Guide Lake District, Howgills, Yorkshire Dales By Jeremy Ashcroft I found the difficulty ratings underated – the runs were always tougher than the book indicated.  Of course, I could be a pussy…. The book did not indicate on which runs a lot of CARRYING of the bike would be required (shin-high rocks uphill?) which I did not like. Buy it anyway, dammit.

Response:

: please give us info on the tough stuff. These trips will be seperate I’ve been told that Helvelin in good, from the west side. Grisedale ( spelling?) forest, southern lakes, has loads of routes but these are not that demanding. The leisure series of maps from the OS ( Ordanance Survey ) show all the possible tracks ( bridleways , byways and RUPPs ). The OS also produce a book detailing rides, including maps. : 4. Are there any MTB shops near by in case of any serious mechanical failures? There are some bike shops in Ambleside, and I belive that most of the towns have at least one. : 5. What is the weather like in mid-August? Hard to predict, its fine at the moment ( very helpfull ). Advice is to play it by ear, as you haven’t booked anything yet. : 6. (non district related) we are also thinking of going to Scotland from : Liverpool, do you know what the policy is for taking a bike on the train? : and about how much would a round trip ticket be for that? There is good riding country around Fort William. Cost to get there about UKP60 plus UKP6 for the bike, UKP3 each way. When I went two years ago the train from Glasgow to Fort William only had room for four bikes, so it’s important to book the return journey before you go ( unlike me ) . BR policy is to put all bike in the guards van , for intercity trains. You are not normally allowed to stay with your bike. You can’t lock it to anything , but you may be able to lock it to itself. You have to change stations in Glasgow, this is best done on bike and should take no longer than 20 mins. Don’t be tempted by the underground, escalators are particularly hard to navigate. Good luck for your trips bill beere

Response:

My friend and I will be staying in Liverpool from Aug. 10th to the 30th and would GREATLY appreciate some more specific mountain bike info on the Lake and Peak district. We consider our skill level to be fairly high, so please give us info on the tough stuff. These trips will be seperate excursions. 1. what is the best way to get to either Peak or Lake districts from Liverpool. it looks to be about 65 miles or so to each, so is it possible to ride there on our bikes? or can we take a train to get closer to them? 2. Do you know of any B&B’s that are relatively cheap, but good that we can stay in. Phone numbers would be even better (hint hint). How much time in advance will we need to get a room? Do you think they will allow us to keep our bikes in the room, and if not then where? Also we know it will be better to go during the week and not the weekend, so thats when it would be. 3. More specifically which towns are closest to the best MTB trails? 4. Are there any MTB shops near by in case of any serious mechanical failures? 5. What is the weather like in mid-August? 6. (non district related) we are also thinking of going to Scotland from Liverpool, do you know what the policy is for taking a bike on the train? and about how much would a round trip ticket be for that? You would be helping us out a great deal in answering these questions, and i don’t really have anything to offer in return, except my thanks. if you want to ride with two yanks from the states, we would love to join you. thanks again in advance.

Response: