Ooh - liking the time-lapse. I've only tried something similar once. Must look it out.


Meanwhile, snow arrived...

Global Fat Bike Day ride.

We had snow yesterday but by this morning it had all gone. I took a guess that up at Ribblehead there might be some left. We struck lucky! :D

Heading up to Cam Head from Ribblehead



Now into the snowline



There was quite a bit of drifting so some bits were rideable ...



Others weren't!



We had intended to head over to Hawes then back by Widdale to the top of Arten Gill and the Pennine Bridleway but we weren't progressing that fast, nearly two hours to get to the top of Cam Head, so decided to cut down to Newby Head via the PBW.



Most of the first kilometre or so was pushing, we were knee deep in snow at times.



Eventually we managed to start riding more and more but the depth of the soft snow often meant hard pedalling even going downhill.











We then took a BW to get back to Ribblehead but this was well below the thaw line so a mixture of wet snow and mud.



Not far, just 18km but pretty hard work.

By way of contrast. MrsPB and I did some exploring on the other side of the mountains to the South of us. We can only ride to the adjoining district but managed 65km and about 1,500m of climbing on a cold but sunny day.

Well cold as in 16° average

Ooooo, loving these pics from today!

Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing.

Global Fat Bike Day.

As per normal I like to use the whole weekend up for GFBD, so I was itching to get this one done. Unfortunately due to the C situation I had to make this a solo effort. The Mrs dropped me off at the top of the Crimea pass and the plan was to make my way north to the Eigiau cottage which I had booked from last years GFBD.
Some pics...
20201205_102907 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Low cloud and no wind but it was still a tad chilly
20201205_104454 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

An old church in the ar3e end of nowhere
20201205_114658 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

IMG_20201206_081127_578 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Going that way
20201205_134403 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201205_152630 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Tryfan as the sun set
20201205_160643 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Tackling Cowlyd in the dark was type 2!!
20201205_165333 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Yeah
20201205_181346 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

I soon had the fire glowing which dried me out good style
20201205_203925 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

And good to see my beers were where I stashed them the week before
20201205_201141 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Still had the fire going this morning which made it hard to leave
20201206_080038 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

And now all what was left was to ride home....
20201206_105440 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20201206_122853 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

The snow had melted so it meant the ground was soaking which in turn so were my feet!
20201206_124331 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

What a great couple of days, film coming soon

Well my global fat bike day effort ended up being a snowy one. I pedaled out to the hills via some very icy roads hinting at firm conditions on high after the extreme rain of Friday. Sure enough on the long, long climb out of Tillicoultry soon after passing the snow line there was frost on clear bits and the snow was firm and crunchy. Then on the final section of the climb, lo I did find the holy crust and rose up on top of it


Thereafter my usual traverse along the high ridge of the Ochills was a mix of easy and very hard going. Anywhere the snow was deep it was firm and you could cruise across it easily. But on shallow bits you punched through which needed maximum effort to keep going. On the first section of the descent my usually quiet path had obviously fallen victim to a hillwalking club as there were a load of footprints on it and the trail was wrecked. Fortunately they turned off and on a virgin trail once more I could ride (mostly) easily.


Views north suggested that a few folk would be getting some early season turns in. In fact I suspect I could have skied across these hills before the rain struck on Friday as there was evidence of some big patches of snow in sheltered burn lines.

Cairngorms in the far distance looking very white.

Then a long long descent and a steady ride home in dropping temps

Today could hardly have been more different from yesterday apart from the temperature. Dull, a bit of drizzle and mud. Lots of mud. Took the singlespeed fat bike again so got very muddy

Set off from Worsthorne, onto the Mary Towneley Loop as far as the top of the climb out of Gorple reservoir then did a shortcut through to the Bridestones/Kebs. A very muddy track to the Long Causeway and back via the MTL and the short bit of trail at Hurstwood.

Usual visit to the recycling place couple of miles out of town.



Slightly more resistance this time to my mode of arrival, maybe a new load of staff. "Sorry mate, no pedestrians". "I've got my booking chitty". "Sorry, vehicles only". "Well I must be a vehicle - look, I've got wheels and everything". "And I can't be a pedestrian because my feet aren't touching the ground" [trackstand - this worked on the last visit!]. Still no joy.

Hmm. Okay chaps, this isn't aimed at you guys, more at The System. I've got two alternatives here. I can either drop my recycling off with my bike trailer here, and write a letter to the 'paper praising you, sorry I mean The System, for encouraging sustainable transport; or I could go home with my recycling and write a letter to the 'paper haranguing you, sorry I mean The System, for discouraging the most eco way of bringing my stuff to what is supposed to be a place helping to prevent needless waste. A little strong perhaps but I was determined to be firm.

Short pause. "You'll find the metal bins over there Sir, and the batteries and things go round the corner".

Thank you, I appreciate your welcome.

Drop the final paperclip, delicately from between thumb and forefinger, with a tinkle into the metal bin, a cheery wave, and away we go to baffled looks all round.

I do like being a Trouble Maker. Keeps people on their toes.

Well done Reg! Good man!

Funny that Reg

Ridiculous way to spend an afternoon! I must be pretty starved of entertainment if I'm resorting to winding up the poor guys down at the "dump"..

(Just seen all those snowy pics - I'm well jealous you lucky so and so's!)

Here's my film from the weekend, happy viewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5bRCm2s3vw

Looks good up their Jeff. One of these days I'll get meself down there for a mosy about.

htrider wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:09 pm Looks good up their Jeff. One of these days I'll get meself down there for a mosy about.

Yeah I got a view
Cheers mate, the weekend was a good 'un. It would be great to have a few boners in that cottage! O err!!

summittoppler wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:50 pm Here's my film from the weekend, happy viewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5bRCm2s3vw

Brilliant film Jeff,
A change you your normal film with longer shots and a longer duration, it makes a great change

JohnClimber wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:10 pm

summittoppler wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:50 pm Here's my film from the weekend, happy viewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5bRCm2s3vw

Brilliant film Jeff,
A change you your normal film with longer shots and a longer duration, it makes a great change

Thanks John, I felt a change was needed

Went out to nab my 3rd month of (the same angle... kindof) pics at Wessenden Head or the path leading to it. Took a detour past Dans who's thankfully rezippered my jacket and what a wonderful job he's done. Enroute I saw some lovely views and wondered why I'd chosen Wessenden, then remembered that it's cos I'm a little afraid of Wessy in case I forget to prepare properly.

Here's some views of the way there on the road bike with 32c knobblies. Hold on, lets wait for the views cos thus reminds me. Thought I wouldn't make it up the cobbles out of Netherton leading to Blackmoorfoot Reservoir. The ride was a tester to see if I could still ride or had Covid a month ago done me over. Managed to climb it, Alhamdulillah (sorry) without needing to unclip. It's a full 16 degrees so you really don't wanna try and unclip on steep and slightly muddy cobbles

Pics coming after this paragraph, honest. So I've been thinking that Covid had lost me some stamina - only had a little in first place, so 'some' is almost all of it - but muscle memort is a wonderful thing. Preride I'd told myself that I'll attempt a longer ride next week if I manage this without tears or injury. So that ride hopefully coming up.


The view from Castle Hill across to Black Hill or whatever it's called. Now I've experienced that, the view has a more personal feel to it.


This was what I wondered should have been my monthly pic... But that's boring, is it not!


Got it, the first view up leading to Wessy and which eill shortly go on the 12 seasons thread. At this point I wondered whether I really should turn back, as I'd never ridden over Wessy in the dark before. Lights were on last legs too, but a quick question to a lady passing by and she reckoned I should go for it. What a treat that section was...


I only fell the once whilst I got as far as 10 degrees of the 16 needed to release the Crank Bros, whilst I slipped sideways. Had to hold onto some grass for fear of sliding down the banking, but it wasn't too dark at this point, so not scary . Not sure how I created the image but it was well worth it as I was in rush to get my final pics before the lights went fully down.


Then when I knew I was almost at the end and back to (remote) civilisation, I noticed this beauty. Since I've been trying to pluck the courage to come here as often as possibly for the past 13 years, it dawned on me that I must've known this little bush since it was a baby. It only took the pitch black to realise it was there and appreciate it.

Next item on agenda, plan another ride cos I obviously still know how to (ride)...

If you watched and enjoyed my Global Fat Bike Ride from last weekend here in Snowdonia, I hope you enjoy this from the following day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6LKYWDQA2M

https://youtu.be/LzouM-i5dKQ

Escape Goat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 12:44 am

https://youtu.be/LzouM-i5dKQ

that made me smile. I'd like to make more films (than the 1 I've made so far) but the thought of having to speak to camera, we'll more having listen back to me speaking to camera puts me off... but I guess I'll have to just get over that. Keep up the good work.

Escape Goat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 12:44 am

https://youtu.be/LzouM-i5dKQ

Great film Al, it's good to see your humor shines through

Haha I just thought bad footage is footage...

Thanks for your comments though. Sean I hate the sound of my voice but I've been told it sounds like that, so as long as people aren't lieing to me I'll be OK heh.

Thanks Jeff, I can't be trusted, with mates or alone

Yeah that was excellent - definitely LOL, out of the ordinary and an antidote to all the slick up-own-arse stuff out there.

Er, where were you again? On the.... ?

A particularly effective touch was playing the soundtrack backwards......

I can't remember where I was glad I filled a minute or two of your morning for you.