The weekend of 30th June & 1st July saw the cycling club undertaking the Lakes & Dales Loop.
It all started when one of our members floated the idea of doing it in a day.
For some reason 196 lumpy miles in a day didn’t generate a lot of interest, but a two day ride ticked all the boxes and we quickly booked all the available rooms at Whoop Hall hotel in Kirkby Lonsdale, conveniently half way round the route with a start and finish in Cockermouth.
So 16 riders including a number of guests assembled in 20 degree temperatures outside Cyclewise in Cockermouth with two support vans from Cyclewise themselves and Clive’s Cumbrian Way.
Whoever devised the route deserves a massive pat on the back, beautiful scenery, almost entirely on back roads and some non-trivial climbs including Birker Fell, Kiln Bank and Barbon Hill.
Temperatures reached 30 degrees at times but a massive effort from riders and support drivers alike saw everyone complete both days in time for rehydration and refuelling, and an end of ride celebration in the Swan Inn – where else?
As an inaugural club adventure ic could hardly have gone any better, all we have to do now is to decide what route we do next year and book the same weather.
Derwent Valley Cycling Club 