Northern Whippets & Clogs Blackb

26th June '05

Fast Circuit of The Lakes

Starting at the Carnforth Truck Stop just off the M6 junction 35, on the A6, this 181 mile run does a fast circuit around the Lake District keeping to the open roads. After a short run up the A6 it's onto the rapid A590 the short distance to Gilpin's Bridge where there's a slight detour to take in the torturous and technical A5074. This road, although slowish, is a biker's delight with a whole spectrum of corner types all strung together in a haze and at its end a rewarding view over Lake Windermere as we drop into Windermere itself. From Windermere we turn south on the slow but picturesque A592 to regain the A590 and on to the A592, both of which ideally suit the Blackbird with plenty of sweeping bends mixed in with the odd surprise. Add to this the numerous views out across Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Channel to your left and the looming hills of the lower Lake District to your right and it all adds up to a memorable section.

Suitably warmed-up, we turn onto the Irish Sea coast and drink in the pure delights of the A595, invariably empty of any other traffic it has a heady mix of very fast perfect visibility straights and long flowing bends punctuated by concentration testing sharp corners. If any road was ever designed for a 'Bird then this is it - and it's some 18 miles long! As a chill-out we then take the A5086 with its more sedate wealth of bends and views towards Cockermouth.

From Cockermouth another detour into the Lakes takes us round Bassenthwaite Lake towards Keswick on the twisty B5292 but cutting north before the town on the faster A591, hearts and souls filled with a taste of the splendour of the mountains, out via Bothel and onto the B5299. Picking the pace up a bit on this section prepares us for the rapid straights and gentle bends of the B5305 until we join the A6 just north of Penrith.

If you thought you'd savoured the best to be had then you're going to be very pleasantly proven wrong for, having passed through Penrith, we're then onto the famous Shap run down to Kendal. This is getting on for 25 miles of sheer biking joy supremely suited to the 'Bird, a section that never fails to leave you with vivid and wonderful biking memories. Keep an eye on the Cumbria Safety Cameras website to check where they'll be on the day!

All that's then left is to cool your biking ardour on the tootle through Kendal and back down the A6 to the Carnforth Truck Stop finish.

If your image of the Lakes is one of torturous and slow car-choked roads then this ride will blow those misconceptions out of the window.

ROUTE & ITINERARY
Start Time	From	To	Description	Dist. (Miles)	Dur. (Hrs)	Total Dist.	End Time	Notes
09:00		Carnforth Truck Stop	A light breakfast (!) and an early chance to have a chin-wag.		1.0		10:00	A good long break if you're coming some distance to the start.
10:00	Carnforth Truck Stop	Broughton in Furness	A6 to the A590 to take in the A5074 and A592 before regaining the A590. The A5092 & A595 lift the pace a bit continuing the westward run to the coast.	40.8	1.3	40.8	11:20	We start the run with a bimble up the A6, a furious short hop down the A590 before the torturous delights of the A5074. Calm down a little and enjoy the lakeside views on the return to the A590. Then it's the wonderful run along the southern edge of the Lakes.
11:20			Break		0.5		11:50
11:50	Broughton in Furness	Cockermouth	The A595 takes us up the coast, through Egremont and on the A5086 to Cockermouth	46.8	1.0	87.6	12:50	Fast, furious, sweeping; a blend of mainly fast bends all on good quality empty roads with views to delight
12:50			Meal Break		1.2		14:00
14:00	Cockermouth	Caldbeck	Onto the B5292 around Bassenthwaite Lake and up the A591 then a cut across to pick up the B5299	33.4	0.8	121.0	14:50	From the hypersonic to bends galore a quick delve into the splendour of the mountains, then bends, long straights, bends, long straights,....
14:50			Break		0.3		15:10
15:10	Caldbeck	Kendal	Continuing on the B5299 and B5305 onto the A6 through Penrith and Shap	46.0	1.2	167.0	16:20	More bends and long straights before nipping through Penrith onto the unsurpassable A6 and its indescribable Shap run - need we say more?
16:20			Break		0.2		16:40
16:40	Kendal	Carnforth Truck Stop	A6 southbound, all the way	14.0	0.5	181.0	17:10	A pootle to the run's end.
17:10	Carnforth Truck Stop		A snack and a well earned rest before wending your way home satisfied

Interested (will confirm nearer the time):
Handle	Name(s)	No. Up.	Notes

Attendees:				11 Bikes & 14 People
Handle	Name(s)		No. Up.		Meet-Up	Conf.
STUEY	Stu & Elaine	Leader	2		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
CLIVE	Clive & Kit	Whippets	2		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
QUINEY	John & Sandra	Sweeper	2		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
CHIMES	Simon		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
FODDER	Paul		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
GREY WOLF	Del		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
JANE	Jane		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
NIGS	Nige		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
SAM	Sam		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
SKIPPY	Skip		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü
TRICKSTER	Rik		1		Carnforth Truck Stop	ü