Any group starts in March?

[rollindoughnut]

Due to the nature of my job (I'm a gardener), by the beginning of April, I'm flat out. Jan-March are my quieter months.
I fancy doing a group start on something like the Dales Divide or YD300. Not so as to ride for 40hrs straight with no sleep, but to meet people and have an adventure.
Struggling to find information about dates for next year. Any ideas what might be suitable?

[fatbikephil]

Nowt much before April in this country, we aren't masochistic enough!
YD is usually midsummer-ish, DD April, Cairngorms loop is May bank holiday weekend.

[redefined_cycles]

You could always organise your very own group start RD... Put it out there and I'm certain people will come. Plenty of ITT routes dotted about all over so not much work needs to be done in making anything

[rollindoughnut]

That's a pretty good idea.

[redefined_cycles]

That's a pretty good idea.

Tentatively, I'm in... About time someone put together a proper winter route/ITT for the uk (no pressure) that hopefully isn't more than a few quid to enter.

[thenorthwind]

Tentatively, I'm in... About time someone put together a proper winter route/ITT for the uk (no pressure) that hopefully isn't more than a few quid to enter.

Take your pick: https://www.selfsupporteduk.net/ Available 365 days a year, and less than a few quid

Or if you want company at the start, as someone once said...

You could always organise your very own group start

[boxelder]

A spring equinox kind of timed weekender could be good? I could put one together around the NW 'half' of the Lakes if there was demand? Would just be a start point (campsite and pub), gpx of route(s) suitable for the weather, and a suggested overnight - camping near a pub. Nothing stopping folk going quickly/non-stop I guess.
No cost. March 26/27th for the benefit of one hour less trying to sleep. Any interest?

[redefined_cycles]

A spring equinox kind of timed weekender could be good? I could put one together around the NW 'half' of the Lakes if there was demand? Would just be a start point (campsite and pub), gpx of route(s) suitable for the weather, and a suggested overnight - camping near a pub. Nothing stopping folk going quickly/non-stop I guess.
No cost. March 26/27th for the benefit of one hour less trying to sleep. Any interest?

Yes and no... if there was a possibility to start from somewhere that wasn't 'The Pub' then it'd helpmy motivation/mindset apologies for being 'a bit different'...

[Lazarus]

Interested don't drink but not as bothered by this as Shaf is ( no offence meant Shaf)

[redefined_cycles]

Interested don't drink but not as bothered by this as Shaf is ( no offence meant Shaf)

Thanks Jon... I'm thinking someone needs to make summat appropriate for deep winter... is that Jan/early Feb. That someone might just be me. Feel free to suggest an area and I'll try and get to work on it (there's 4 months left, surely it can be prepared). 100km obviously

[boxelder]

Yeah, sorry - I wasn't suggesting starting from the pub, or any requirement to visit one. I'll put a few details together and see what interest there might be. Keswick is a long way to travel for lots of folk.

[redefined_cycles]

Looking forward to it if I can make it...

[slarge]

How about a WC2C2C - start and finish on the Great Orme and head down to Worms Head and back - around 6 days should do it.....? In Feb/Mar.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Thanks Jon... I'm thinking someone needs to make summat appropriate for deep winter... is that Jan/early Feb. That someone might just be me. Feel free to suggest an area and I'll try and get to work on it (there's 4 months left, surely it can be prepared). 100km obviously

Highland Trail Shaf?

[redefined_cycles]

Thanks Jon... I'm thinking someone needs to make summat appropriate for deep winter... is that Jan/early Feb. That someone might just be me. Feel free to suggest an area and I'll try and get to work on it (there's 4 months left, surely it can be prepared). 100km obviously

Highland Trail Shaf?

Lol... more like the Pennine Bridleway..

[ScotRoutes]

We've had no recorded completions of the Cairngorms Loop between October and March. I'm sure there will be at least one decent weather window in that time.

[boxelder]

Right, I have a fig 8 route of up to 75 miles (with shortcuts that could reduce it considerably). Start would be near Cockermouth (campsite, travel lodge etc), March 26-27. Route would be mainly rocky/firm, 99% rideable (less so on a youknowwhat bike, but still very doable). Maybe 20-25% on tarmac, at least 6 resupply points and lots of places to wild camp properly. I'll include lots of suggestions for making things less grim if spring doesn't turn up on time.
I'll try to remember to put a proper invite/post up on Jan 1st and see what interest there would be.
EDIT: clearly rollindoughnut heads the list

[Lazarus]

Looking FWD to it.
It's the furthest part of lakes from me so only know skiddaw and ullock, bash, the way over to langdales and done over grisedale to crummock . Never done anything crummock to wast water
You said mainly rideable so it won't be much of that

[redefined_cycles]

Right, I have a fig 8 route of up to 75 miles (with shortcuts that could reduce it considerably). Start would be near Cockermouth (campsite, travel lodge etc), March 26-27. Route would be mainly rocky/firm, 99% rideable (less so on a youknowwhat bike, but still very doable). Maybe 20-25% on tarmac, at least 6 resupply points and lots of places to wild camp properly. I'll include lots of suggestions for making things less grim if spring doesn't turn up on time.
I'll try to remember to put a proper invite/post up on Jan 1st and see what interest there would be.
EDIT: clearly rollindoughnut heads the list

Thanks vert much for this. Any chance to grab thw gpx pls

[rollindoughnut]

What have I done?

[thenorthwind]

Right, I have a fig 8 route of up to 75 miles (with shortcuts that could reduce it considerably). Start would be near Cockermouth (campsite, travel lodge etc), March 26-27. Route would be mainly rocky/firm, 99% rideable (less so on a youknowwhat bike, but still very doable). Maybe 20-25% on tarmac, at least 6 resupply points and lots of places to wild camp properly. I'll include lots of suggestions for making things less grim if spring doesn't turn up on time.
I'll try to remember to put a proper invite/post up on Jan 1st and see what interest there would be.
EDIT: clearly rollindoughnut heads the list

Only 2 hours to Cockermouth from me so I'm probably up for this

[rollindoughnut]

Would there be any interest in my local stomping ground? There's a nice route from Dover to Winchester using NDW to Guildford, then Downslink to Steyning on the SDW before finishing the ride on the western end of the SDW.

Done in January/Feb, preferably with a stonking headwind, it'd be a mud apocalypse.

[boxelder]

here's a nice route from Dover to Winchester

I've done Winchester to Arundel, during the 'Beast from the East' a few years ago (Feb 2018). Mercifully the mud was frozen, but a gravel bike was still the wrong choice......

Never done anything crummock to wast water
You said mainly rideable so it won't be much of that

Yeah, what I had in mind when I said N and W turned out to be longer than a Jennride, or requiring a HaB pass or two, so probably not a sociable March spin out. The route I have doesn't really stray far west of Crummock.
There's a great trip to the west through Wasdale, Eskdale, Duddon etc - but not ideal ground conditions in March........

Any chance to grab thw gpx pls

PM/DM me an email address shaf - I can't attach it to the messages here I don't think. It will only be a basis to adapt for conditions, if it happens.

We've had no recorded completions of the Cairngorms Loop between October and March

Having spent quite a few long weekends riding around Feshie/Aviemore etc in Nov/Dec, I have considered this. It snowed in May when I had a go recently though.......

[ton]

Andy, will the route go near any pubs ?.....................

[boxelder]

Tony - only 8, plus Keswick. I can suggest short diversions