Day 2 Penrith to Stanhope, 58 miles reaching appx 2000 feet

We were well impressed that Ian made it to breakfast after leaving London at 4:20am after only 1 hours sleep - now that's Rock'n'Roll! The day started well as we knocked out 11 miles in about 50 mins, a great pace........

Then disaster! Whilst chatting we'd riden due South by mistake! We realised we were around 20 miles off course........look at the faces as the reality dawns!

As the rain came down we plotted a recovery course and cycled around 15 miles at pace to get back on the correct route.

Around 2 hours later we began the 1st of two long and challenging climbs of the day - up to Hartside Pass at about 1900 feet.

Matt summits Hartside Pass the hard way!

Mark summits Hartside Pass the hard way!

After a short lunch on top of Hartside Pass we headed off through Garrigill for some more off road routes. Some tracks were so steep and rocky it became 'comedy riding time'

Matt bravely takes on the 'unrideable'

Mark attempts the unrideable



Triumphant - we made the impossible climb out of Garrigill......... Whehay!!!

Checking the route to the old mines & quarry - now where can we find some more expert off road!

The old quarry road - time for some serious off road descent. Now this is FUN!

Descending the quarry road - one handed camera man extraordinaire!

After every down comes an UP. We climbed 1.4 miles out of Nenthead towards the highest point of the ride at Black Hill, an altitude of 1,998 feet.

Summeting Black Hill. Now that was long, hard & COLD! We're still a long way from home.

Are we there yet & what's this pile of rocks for? Shall we bunny-hop it?












The route home looks long and frankly quite desolate. Are we sure this is the right direction? We have been know to make navigational mistakes.















The final (hard) climb of the day out of Rookhope and on to the Moors. It's getting late, we're tired & cold but not too far from home now.




















Finally we make the B&B. There's (it's) nothing like a luxury.


After 58 miles, two climbs of nearly 1,900 feet each, some serious off road riding, a detour of around 15 miles, one puncture, a brisk north easterly and temperature of 6C we make it to the B&B at 8.30pm. A quick shower, meal and little whisky & guiness sees us all fall very tiredly into bed.