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Ambleside Road trip
Just an event recommendation for 2018 for the grass trackers.
Me, Dave Wells and Travis Pell decided, fairly last minute to make the journey to race at the Ambleside grass track in the Lake district.
Traveling up on the wednesday evening we broke the Journey by staying on Geoffs farm in North Yorkshire, absolutely stunning place, not far off the A1. Geoff put us up in his caravan free of charge, it a brilliant venue and the surrounding around looks like cycling heaven, with Geoff keen for Ashwell riders to come and experience them. Sadly, no road riding for us, but a relaxed evening in the caravan, followed by a 90 min drive to Ambleside in the morning.
Me, Travis and Dave were all in agreement that the stunning scenery was worth the drive, before any racing started. The cycling is held within a north country show, with fairground style attractions, plus running races, fell racing, hound sniffing (ask Dave), and wrestling. Which, even with the wet weather drew a big crowd.
The cycling events, were a 500 scratch (heat and finals), an 800, a 1600 handicap, a 3200 scratch and a devil, so plenty of opportunity for all to get in the mix in the racing. The track was tough, very soft and muddy due to the rain, and a hill bigger than Ashwells which required getting out of the saddle every lap!!
As a group we did good! I managed 2nd in the 500, 1st in the 800, 2nd in the 1600, 2nd in the 3200, and 1st in the devil, and got £160 prize money, Travis was unlucky in the 500 to be picking mud out of his cleat at the gun went so missed the final, 3rd in the 800, 3rd in the 1600, 1st in the 3200 and 2nd in the devil (and achieves his 2nd Cat licence!! and won near to £100? ) and Dave's confidence on the mud (first time he'd ridden a track in these conditions) grew throughout the day, achieving 5th in the 1600 and 5th in the devil, picking up some prize money and by my calculations 5 BC points which are worth more than gold.
Next year we should take a minibus full, stay at Geoffs and the dominate the track (there were already murmurs about the southerners coming and stealing all the money, so it's only fair we take a bit more next year). We all felt, in hindsight it would have been nice to have stayed a day or two afterwards and ridden some of the iconic climbs in the area.
Apparently the event is always the last Thursday in July - so mark it in your diaries next year.
Mitchy
Me, Dave Wells and Travis Pell decided, fairly last minute to make the journey to race at the Ambleside grass track in the Lake district.
Traveling up on the wednesday evening we broke the Journey by staying on Geoffs farm in North Yorkshire, absolutely stunning place, not far off the A1. Geoff put us up in his caravan free of charge, it a brilliant venue and the surrounding around looks like cycling heaven, with Geoff keen for Ashwell riders to come and experience them. Sadly, no road riding for us, but a relaxed evening in the caravan, followed by a 90 min drive to Ambleside in the morning.
Me, Travis and Dave were all in agreement that the stunning scenery was worth the drive, before any racing started. The cycling is held within a north country show, with fairground style attractions, plus running races, fell racing, hound sniffing (ask Dave), and wrestling. Which, even with the wet weather drew a big crowd.
The cycling events, were a 500 scratch (heat and finals), an 800, a 1600 handicap, a 3200 scratch and a devil, so plenty of opportunity for all to get in the mix in the racing. The track was tough, very soft and muddy due to the rain, and a hill bigger than Ashwells which required getting out of the saddle every lap!!
As a group we did good! I managed 2nd in the 500, 1st in the 800, 2nd in the 1600, 2nd in the 3200, and 1st in the devil, and got £160 prize money, Travis was unlucky in the 500 to be picking mud out of his cleat at the gun went so missed the final, 3rd in the 800, 3rd in the 1600, 1st in the 3200 and 2nd in the devil (and achieves his 2nd Cat licence!! and won near to £100? ) and Dave's confidence on the mud (first time he'd ridden a track in these conditions) grew throughout the day, achieving 5th in the 1600 and 5th in the devil, picking up some prize money and by my calculations 5 BC points which are worth more than gold.
Next year we should take a minibus full, stay at Geoffs and the dominate the track (there were already murmurs about the southerners coming and stealing all the money, so it's only fair we take a bit more next year). We all felt, in hindsight it would have been nice to have stayed a day or two afterwards and ridden some of the iconic climbs in the area.
Apparently the event is always the last Thursday in July - so mark it in your diaries next year.
Mitchy
Comments
Definitely good to see more CCA or indeed any riders from the eastern region next year. I think there is scope for getting something organised between the Beacon Wheelers and CCA in 2018. Both clubs have a similar passion for grass track and have a vested interest in keeping the sport going. Happy to help here.
Mitchy, were you still on the karve 25's in the mud?
If I can make 2108: I will do it.
I'm thinking of upgrading to a la-di-da track bike. Margarine gains.
Geoff is some 80-90 minutes away by car, t'is I who live in the UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the Lake District National Park, the other BIG event here for cyclists (and there are loads of them) is, of course, the Fred Whitton.
Interested in Life in a National Park? Instagram account HERE.
I'd echo Mitchy's comments- great day out, really nice event. Only downside was only having the track bikes with us and one night at Geoff's- having been up previously, I know how incredible those roads are, and it was just tantalising not being able to have a play on them..!
Hopefully a bit drier conditions next year- my lack of bog-riding experience seriously compromised my performance!
See you when next you're up here. give me a shout and i'll come over and take some pictures. See above Instagram link.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPI-A_1WFbMNf87rn3-fq0rZNd3EiXeX4ZQ-8qOD8eNSr65Z9P_o0oIdPsQeNvy6g?key=alBsRFo4TnJLS0xQVEVuZnFITEs4TlZxb1dwVjBB
Dave you're looking Lean!