Eden Valley Cycling UK

The weather does not look too bad at the moment for Wednesday but I am proposing to start from Station House. There is parking for a few in the drive but lots around the area particularly down at Crodundle bridge on the Acorn Bank Rd. Come early for a cuppa if you wish but we will leave at 10.00. Route proposed below but this can be changed if the weather poor or extended if we feel keen! (75km 935m) Lunch stop at Lune Springs Newbiggin. puzzle of the day?: How many times since the inception of the Eden Valley group has the 29th of Feb occured on a Ride Day? Incidentally - The New Runs List is now available on the Website here Don't forget to refresh your browser!

  Mr Brown's at Brampton is a winner... and they don't make breakfast rolls like this in Corsica! Great to see you Janet!      

If you have always wanted to do the Morecambe Bay guided walk then now is your chance! Eileen and I will be taking part in this walk which is still in the process of being organised but is likely to be on either July 18 or July 11. There are further details below and if you are interested please contact Nigel Faulkner to put your name on the list. Nigel who is organising this in our village Culgaith, says.... The Guide over Sands Trust run this iconic safe guided walk over the sands from early May until early Sept. I am asking that those who would like to join the walk might also take a sponsorship  form  for Dementia UK. The walk will depend on the safe route chosen on the day but could be anything from 6-10 miles  including crossing of some water channels on the way (not too deep or for more than a few minutes) and I

The temporary closure of UpFront made my proposed route a nonsense. Instead I am doing a northern county loop which is a test run for another of the Eden Rivers Trust rides. It is good to get out of your familiar lanes sometimes and I really enjoyed last week's Talkin Tarn loop, but I know the weather forecast for this Sunday isn't good so I don't blame you if you decide to stay at home... Anyway, the plan is to start off with coffee at Mr Brown's, 17 Front Street Brampton. I don't intend to ring and alert them in case you all stay at home! We will be there for coffee by 11.30 planning to leave at 12. The route is 15/16 miles - you can't get that wet in that time, can you? Return to the café for late lunch. They do Sunday dinners but hopefully our timing will mean we leave before they get too busy and return as they are winding down. May see some of you???

UpFront café is closed and I am going somewhere totally different for my ride. The forecast isn't great but, in case there are people wanting to cycle to coffee, can someone suggest a venue? I don't know if Granny Dowbekins has been popular this month (the feedback link hasn't been completed), Daffodils didn't have many people on 12 Jan; I'm not suggesting Brougham Hall café as that' the venue for Wednesday. Someone has suggested we try Rheged... over to you

If anyone fancies a cycling challenge then they're welcome to join me for a little jaunt up and down the Eden Valley on 26th April. Entries are limited by parking availability and will likely close before the closing date. Follow this LINK for more details. Cheers, Bill

Since the Upfront Gallery is closed until Jan 29 th the ride will now be a single stop, out and back to the Mill Inn Restaurant at Morland for 11's / early lunch.    The outward route will probably be via Stainton, Pooley Bridge, Askham and Great Strickland. We will return via Great Stickland, Clifton Dykes, Frenchfield, Beacon Edge, Catterlen, Laithes and Little Blencow.   Subject to weather conditions the route may be modified or cancelled if the roads are icy. I hope to see some of you at the Greystoke for the 10:00 start

For revised coffee stop on Sunday, please see the blog. As I had devised Sunday's ride around UpFront being the coffee stop, I may now do something completely different - will blog again when I have decided the new route.

See below for details of Geoff's ride. There are no changes from the plan for my ride tomorrow; I still have some Eden Rivers Trust routes to try out and I propose to try out a route around Talkin Tarn, meeting at coffee time, setting off around 12 and returning for lunch. According to their website, the café is open Saturdays and Sundays through the winter. The route is approximately 12.5 miles and has a bit of ascent (!) including a hill with one arrow so it will be great for the feedback forms (family friendly routes?) - although completing these is optional. I will be driving to the start; others can cycle there but it is due to be cold overnight so take care on the roads. John Roelich has kindly advised me that there is a parking charge of £2.25 for the day. I hope some of you can join me. Alison

As blogged earlier here are the details of the ride starting at Greystoke Car Park 10am: 68km and 1060m of ascent - so hilly but not too far! We will stop at Ulldale - Maes cafe for lunch after about 43 km (about 1330 - 1400) Do come and enjoy what should be a glorious sunny day out! It may be quite chilly! Geoff PS Route below click to enlarge

Good evening everyone. I've just been looking at the runs list for the next quarter & there are still a lot of blanks that need to be filled so can Runs Leaders please have a look and help to fill the spaces. Cheers, Bill

a free presentation by Mike Lee & Richard Ingham,  11th February, 7.00pm Harraby Community Centre  Carlisle, CA1 3SN. Brief update and collection in aid of the work of the Bicycle Mayor of Cumbria. Please Email bicyclemayorofcumbria@gmail.com  for your free ticket – please say how many you need. And, could we ask you to forward this message and attachment to anyone else who you think may be interested.

Hello All. Maulds Meaburn Village Institute have emailed me to say they are holding their Big Breakfast on Sunday 15th March from 10am to 1pm. Rosie

In the absence of an entry on the runs list, Geoff has already advertised a 3 bike ride (see below). I still have some Eden Rivers Trust routes to try out and I propose, on Sunday, to try out a route around Talkin Tarn, meeting at coffee time, setting off around 12 and returning for lunch. According to their website, the café is open Saturdays and Sundays through the winter. The route is approximately 12.5 miles and has a bit of ascent (!) including a hill with one arrow so it will be great for the feedback forms (family friendly routes?) - although completing these is optional. I hope a few of you are able to  join me. Alison

Hi fellow cyclists Tomorrows ride will start at 10.00am at Dalston car park and be around 35 miles with one stop only.  Plan is to cycle to Great Orton, Moorhouse, Monkhill,  Beaumont and around to Burgh by Sands, along the coast and then inland via Easton, Fingland, Aitken and lunch at the lovely Monkey Tree Cafe in Wigton - they are expecting us around 12.30.  After lunch we will head for Rosley then make our way to Welton, Roughton Head, Gaitsgill and back to Dalston. See you tomorrow in the sunshine!!! Karen  

I am blogging this early as there currently are no rides for Sunday: Since bad weather meant the ride on the 18th December was cancelled I am proposing to put this on on Sunday next. The route is the traditional one around Skiddaw - but going via Keswick first. Further details nearer the time.

It is felt among Club members that we would like to increase Club membership. The matter was discussed at the last Committee Meeting and it was agreed that we should focus attention in 2020 on proactive engagement with our community. Tentative thoughts have included advertising, regularly publishing of articles and the use of social media, such as Facebook. To start the process of promoting Club membership we are convening a "promotions" meeting at Daffodils Cafe, Penrith, Monday 13 January 2020, 10 am.  Please come along.  For those who are unable to attend please make contact via this blog or with any committee member to share your thoughts and volunteer your ideas, knowledge, skills and help. See you at Daffodils Cafe next Monday.  And thank you. Rob

The ride will be starting on Beacon Edge as stated. We will be going to Wetheral Animal Centre for an early lunch, going out through Lazonby, Armathwaite to Wetheral and coming back through Cumwhitton, Holmwrangle, Armathwaite and Lazonby. Total distance about 37 miles. If the weather is bad the ride could be cancelled. Anyway, lets hope for the best. Bill H

My profuse apologies for not being able to lead this Friday's MTB ride:  family illness was not on the horizon when the rides list was compiled three months ago. All the best, Rob

As Mrs Millers is now closed it has been suggested that the Pot Place at Plumpton would be a good alternative for this week. Depending on your arrival time & how long you stay we may were may be an overlap with the 3 bike ride lunch stop (it will be good to see you). Cheers, Bill See note below from previous blog by Mike. Please use the schoolroom - even if you arrive first and don't know how many more will be coming. On our last visit there were 20 of us at different times in the main café and it is impinges too much on staff and other customers. Pot Place is a popular stop and we don't want to wear out our welcome.

Ride is as advertised leaving Dalston at 10:00 and heading up to Caldbeck for coffee at Priests Mill (Old Smithy is closed for January). Lunch is at Pot Place in Plumpton - total distance about 45 miles. The weather forecast looks to be OK although it maybe a bit windy - we'll make a decission about the route between Caldbeck & Plumpton on the day & may choose to take a shorter & more sheltered way. Hoping to see some of you on Wednesday. Bill

Ian L has advised me that all three of the Wigton Cafes I specified will be closed tomorrow.    Therefore if anyone wants a bite on the way to lunch bring a snack to eat en route. The distance to Bowness is about 19.5 miles and with the Anthorn added on the distance would be about 26 miles.  

I have confirmed that the Kings Arms will be open at lunch time and advised them to expect a small group of cyclists. Since they will have limited staff on duty, they can only offer simple sandwiches and soup.   I've tried contacting the Monkey Tree cafe several times without success ( maybe they don't open till next week ? ).  We could take pot luck to see if they are open on the day and if not try the Granary or the Glass House cafe's ( I pass all three premises on my route ). If no joy, we could ride on directly to lunch or if riders brought a snack pause somewhere for BYO 11's.    I hope to see some of you at Dalston.

Happy New Year from TTC, Are you feeling overindulged after Christmas? How about entering Team Townend Challenge 2020... You'll feel fitter straight away! Entering will also help us continue to support road peace in memory of Christian and Niggy and help us reach our £100,000 fundraising target. If we can acheive it Road Peace will use the funds to set up a dedicated support service in Cumbria as unfortunately approximately 30 people are killed and 350 seriously injured on the roads in Cumbria each year. TTC will be a great day out with the same fantastic tea and cakes at the finish plus some new family events at the village hall. Find out more and enter through https://www.teamtownend.org/ Keep your evening free for the TTC evening do at the Kirkgate Arts Centre in Cockermouth. And finally, if you have a friend, colleague or aquaintance who might be interested why not forward this email, ask them to follow us on Facebook or sign up

Hello folks, hope you had a super New Year (ours was amazing with 35 others at the Fell and Rock cottage in Langdale) and best wishes for a great 2020! The balance for our away week April 24 th to May 1 st at Woodland Park Lodges Ellesmere is due by the first week in March. Nearer the time I will let you know exactly, but around £70 making the total week about £120 – depending on what happens as a result of this blog! So far I have paid deposits on 4 lodges (1x 8 bed, 2 x 6 bed, 1 x 4 bed) which would hold 24 people. 20 people have committed and paid deposits, but it would be nice to get up to 4 more so we don’t have to cancel the 4 bed, lose its deposit and increase everyone’s payment to cover that loss. If we get over 4 more, there are still other lodges available to book. Several have expressed interest, but I would be well chuffed to receive commitment by way of £50 deposit per person now that we are inexorably approaching finalising numbers prior to paying the balance.

Subject to weather conditions, I hope to lead the ride as follows : - Start - Dalston 10:00 to Wigton for 11's Via Carwath - stage Distance about 9.5 miles 11's - Monkey Tree Cafe Wigton ( NOT Port Carlisle as published ) then on to Bowness on Solway via Moorhouses, Aikton, and Finland - stage distance about 12 miles Lunch - Kings Head Inn Bowness ( or BYO ) Return to Dalston - via Port Carlisle, Drumbrough, Bousted Hill, Thurstonfield, Gt Orton      - stage distance about 14.5 miles The total distance is about 36 miles ( 58 km ) with approx 1450 ft ( 440 m ) of ascent If time permits, some riders may like to go round the Anthorn peninsular to Bowness this would add about 6.5 miles to the journey. I will check that the Monkey Tree & Kings Arms will be open and advise them to expect some riders. I will place an update to confirm the 11's and Lunch venues are OK.