Trail bike
Scarness
Applethwaite - Scarness - Bassenthwaite
Riding my Rockhopper hardtail mountain bike round the northern edge of Bassenthwaite Lake, still with a bit of snow on Skiddaw (931 m.) looming above. Again the dramatic clouds. Staying low to avoid the chilly wind but finding another hazard: marsh and mud where the lake regularly floods the tracks on this farmland. So using the low gears I associate with hill climbs for the torque as the fat Ground Control tyres squelch in the mud. Plenty of birdsong. Riding back the direct route spun off much of the mud. Took a while to clean up the bike, and me. But good fun. And I stayed sunny side up.
More photos: Rockhopper in the marsh - Lake District National Park
Watendlath Bridge
Ashness Bridge
Riding routes I avoid in the tourist season. It’s a leg-warmer to pedal up to the ever-popular Watendlath Bridge, passing over the lower Ashness Bridge. Plenty of flow in the beck making Lodore Falls roar, and a treat to visit almost alone. Even the road round the far side of Derwent Water under Catbells was quiet.
More photos: Ashness Bridge - Watendlath - Lodore Falls: Lake District National Park
Finding and following an old track across the savane (savannah) marked with black rocks either side was the highlight of this ride on the west side of Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.
More photos: Lagoon - Savannah - Black Rock. Île de la Réunion.
I hired the only hardtail bike available in Cilaos, a Scott Aspect 50. There’s a forest bike park just outside the town with a selection of graded trails. Unfortunately the road tyres and brakes really won’t do that - I turned back after 10 m. down one of the red trails. So just the loop up to 1500 m. altitude on the forest road, but good enough to ride through cloud forest of Cryptomeria trees with the track lined with Ginger plants.
Cilaos (1150 m.) also has a mini BMX pump track, hidden and away from tourists. The locals made space for my efforts, then showed me much more. Anyhow great to feel the Gs of a different track to Keswick and Marseille and the bike was fine for that.
More photos: Route forestière de la Roche Merveilleuse, Cilaos - Parc national de La Réunion
I can’t usually get on the Keswick BMX pump track due to traffic more proficient and generally a lot younger than me. But it’s far too much fun for them only. It’s a concentrated workout, bowls as well as humps. Strenuous as well as teaching the skills and commitment that are essential to ride on the surrounding fells.
Marseille riders have the Borély Bowls, which gets more sunshine and is better for tricks than Keswick but it’s fearsome to ride.
