Road Cycling - North Lakes Loop

Cold, frosty and clear day today, very little wind, I decided to get my bike out.  I've entered a 100 mile sportive in September so I need to try to get my mileage up.  Plan for today was a long, slow ride.  Anything over 50 miles would satisfy me.  I'd drawn a map out the night before using the excellent Memory Map software (I love playing with maps) and was ready to go this morning after a big coffee.

Here is the route I took:

My plan was to keep my effort level low, within zone 2, and to build endurance.

10 miles from home and the lovely Sale Fell, the course I tookgoes along the front 

past the church until I got to the dual carriageway.

 Dodd and Carl Side behind across Bassenthwaite

 Barf with the Bishop in sight.  There's a great little scree run down from the bishop to the clerk.

 still frosty on the roads, buffs in full effect here: one on my head, one round my neck over my chin and nose

 Just outside Keswick, the easiest Wainwright

Blencathra, one of my favourites - still some snow on top

It was a cold day today and after a while, I really couldn't be bothered to keep taking my gloves on and off to take pictures so I just enjoyed the rest of the ride.

With one or two exceptions...

 

    

73 miles altogether, great day.