VRA (UK)
Northern
Here is a report, written in 2006, of our ride around the Lake District from Brotherswater:-
After leading 30 bikes around the Lake District last year I had spoken to several people about “doing the six passes” some time. With various other commitments, both for Pauline and myself and other interested members, only one weekend seemed possible although it was unfortunately in the middle of the holiday season. Having posted a message on the message board it became clear that we didn’t have room at home for all who wanted to come, so we switched to Sykeside camp site at Brotherswater and booked 10 pitches. This soon increased to 14, with me booking one extra and others booking independently.
Friday came, and having finished nights that morning I stayed up to finish assembling
the bike, which had just had the Fat Bob tanks fitted for the second time! I headed
for Sykeside, arriving at 2pm, to be told that a camping arera had been set aside
for us, despite having been previously told that this would not be possible. Having
never put the tent up on my own I got a good sweat on fighting it, but I won in the
end! People started to arrive about 4pm and I left to pick Pauline up from work just
as Jack, Sue, Phil, Kathy, Kim & John arrived. On returning to the site at about
6-
A short discussion with the owner and his wife ensued, resulting in everyone being accommodated. Once that was sorted I could relax and get on with the serious business of eating and drinking. Some time later we retired to our tents somewhat the worse for wear!
After breakfast on Saturday morning we all got together by the tents for a ride briefing. Unfortunately a number of latecomers missed this and I had to dash round as we were about to set off to tell these riders about “second man” etc. This was my first mistake, which was to have it’s consequences later in the day…….
Billy and Kerry had already told me they couldn’t join us on the ride due to family commitments, but I was surprised to see Gordon walking down to the camp site as we rode to the top car park – I was later to learn that he had discovered that a back wheel spacer was missing following the fitting of a new rear tyre and he was lucky to have arrived in one piece! So we now had 18 starters from twenty bikes.
We set off some time after 10 am, stopping for fuel at Glenridding and then heading up to the A66 for Keswick and the first of the passes, Honister. Having passed Honister Slate at the top of the pass we stopped briefly for photos and smokes etc. in Gatesgarthdale. Making sure everyone was still OK we set off again, turning off at Buttermere for Newlands and returning to Keswick for lunch. Then it was back on the bikes and over Whinlatter pass and down the west coast, arriving without incident at Gosforth for another break. Those who hadn’t refuelled at Glenridding made a brief excursion to a nearby petrol station and then we all set off for Eskdale Green.
Shortly before Eskdale Green we encountered a young lady on a rather skittish horse. A number of us passed her without incident, but shortly afterwards I became aware that most bikes had not followed us, so I pulled in to wait for them to catch up. This is where I made my second mistake……… When I saw a number of bikes coming round the corner towards us I assumed that all was well and set off again, turning left shortly afterwards at Eskdale Green to head for Hardknott Pass. What I didn’t know was that several bikes were still stuck behind the horse, which by this time had become completely uncontrollable and took 10 minutes or more to calm down sufficiently for the rest of the bikes to get by. Now my first mistake was to yield it’s fruit!
When I took the left turn the second man, who shall remain nameless here (we all
know who it was, don’t we!!) stopped, but not having been fully briefed didn’t wait
for Phil, the last man, to arrive. Thinking that everyone must have got there by
now, due to the length of the delay, and worried that he would lose us, he set off
to catch us up. As a result the last 5 bikes and one car went straight on here and
ended up in Foxfield, Broughton-
Hardknott Pass is the most difficult of the Lakeland passes, with a number of 1-
Waiting at the bottom of Hardknott Pass and wondering if I should go back up to see
what was happening, I gradually started to get a group re-
Once we were back together (still minus the missing 5), we headed for Ambleside to refuel one or two bikes that were getting low on juice. I then decided to miss out The Struggle and return via Troutbeck and Kirkstone Pass.
Arriving back at the camp site I was relieved to see the missing group had beaten us back, so although they missed part of the route all was well and we were able to laugh about it all once we were suitably refreshed once more.
On Sunday morning we went our separate ways in small groups and I was pleased to
be able to lead a small group to the café in the square at Broughton-
All in all a great weekend which I think we all enjoyed, and from which I learned some valuable lessons about group rides (the main one being not to be the organiser or leader!) Thanks once again to everyone who came and made it such a good weekend.
Tom
The Lakes Six Passes – or Not the Northern Rally