I found them by following the Red; I think that might have been the long way round. They’re ace.

Rode up there and followed the Red from the DH Cabin to the Grove. Then rode home. I’d have proof on Strava of just how amazingly fast I was, but the app crashed and died and wouldn’t come back. I was awesome though. Watch the above video, but imagine it slower. 5 hours and a bit home-to-home.

Tweets:
“Made it to Woodland. Head wind. Slooooow.” @11:47
“At Woodland again, on the way home. Ace fun ride!” (pic) @13:39
“Home!” @15:18

Distance: Between 40 and 52 miles (20 miles to Hamsterley, ?ish miles round Hamsterley (the full Red is about 12 miles) and 20 miles home
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Warm and dry, occasional spits of rain. Windy – badass headwind on the way up
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres, 32:17)

Unlike the last ride, I didn’t feel crap. Usual route up to Woodland in the usual time, then dropped into Hamsterley using the tail end of the Black route. Rode the Red for the first time every, including the lovely new trails toward the end, followed by a sausage sarnie and a coffee. Then razzed around the Blue and the remainder of the Black before riding home again.

I’d post a link to the GPS of the route, but my phone battery died and then I left it on a bench in Woodland, because I’m an idiot.

Felt soooo much better than last time, though had a niggle in my right knee again part way round that went away after a bit of stretching. Felt fine when I got home, though stiffened up a lot sitting in a car back to Woodland to try (and fail) to retrieve my phone.

Bike worked fine, apart from almost losing the front brake again (I may have cocked up shortening the hose) and the rear wheel moving under braking and then pedalling (need to file down the axle a bit more, I think).

Distance: 68 miles (20 miles to Hamsterley, 28ish miles round Hamsterley (the Red, Blue and Black routes are about 12, 9 and 7 miles) and 20 miles home (phone battery died, so no GPS))
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 8 hours (1:40, 5:00, 1:30)
Weather: Warm and dry
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres, 32:17)

Rode to Dales Bike Centre on the (mostly) road. Knee hurt, headache. Rode up to and over Reeth Low Moor. Knee hurt more, felt crap. Rode/grovelled home.

Not great.

Distance:65 miles
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: can’t remember
Weather: Warmish and sunny
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres, 32:17)

First proper ride on my new bike, though it’s essentially the same as my old bike so no great surprises.

Got properly soaked riding up to Woodland; giggling because you’re so soaked and thinking it can’t possibly get any wetter, then it does. It shouldn’t be that dark at midday in July. Really impressed with how the 2.4″ Racing Ralph tyres roll. Did a lap of the Black loop, which was interesting in the wet when my front brake decided to fail.

Probably the fastest I’ve ever done the ride there and back, but slow on the off-road due to lack of braking.

I’m sure I could do this in 4 1/2 hours, which would make it a great ride to stick in with an early start on a Saturday morning.

Distance: 80km (30km to Woodland, 20km round Hamsterley and 30km home (phone battery died, so no GPS))
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 5 hour (1:40, 1:52, 1:15)
Weather: Torrential
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres, 32:17)

A loop round the town, using bike paths and bits of off-road and taking in a few laps of the pump and 4xtracks. Alternating laps of the 4X track and West Park in the middle was fast and fun. Faster than the last one and a bit further.

Distance: 34 km (map)
Surface: Some off-road, bike paths, bits of road
Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres, 32:17)

A loop round the town, using bike paths and bits of off-road and taking in a few laps of the pump and 4xtracks.

Distance: 31 km (map)
Surface: Some off-road, bike paths, bits of road
Time: 1 hour 52 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres, 32:17)