Skiddaw mountain bike weekend in the Lake District

This is a Skedaddle Weekend not to be missed!

Cycling straight out of the door in Threlkeld, near Keswick, we contour around the longest, steepest single stretch of bridleway in the UK. Our journey will have us winding along ancient mining tracks, leading to the classic Skedaddle challenge of Whitewater Dash. There are stunning views of the Northern Lakes throughout and a route to savour in the Borrowdale Valley, brimming with technical challenges, yet not too daunting for those with less off road experience.

Skedaddle’s weekends are for those who want a little more luxury at the end of a hard day’s ride and a good breakfast before we set off with lunch also provided during the day.Why not take advantage of the Skedaddle free train station pick-up service to avoid those Friday night traffic jams. With direct trains from London to Penrith now taking only just over 3 hours there's never been a better time to escape to the lakes for a weekend!

Our support vehicle is never too far away and will meet us at several points throughout the day with plenty of delicious munchies as and lots of hot and cold drinks to keep the pedals turning, . As you take in the great riding and comparable views the vehicle moves off ahead to prepare our delicious buffet style lunch packed full of tasty, healthy choices. It also carries bike spares and has space for tired bikers if the going gets too tough, or if you need a lift up the odd "cheeky climb".

Primarily off-road, the routes vary in degrees of difficulty and to maximise the ‘grin factor’, each is modified depending on the ability of the group.

Each trip is kept specifically small; between six to fifteen riders and is fully guided by two guides enabling us to cater for different fitness and experience levels in the group and has the luxury of a support driver too. By all means bring your own bike with you, but if you haven’t got your own, you can hire a top quality Giant mountain bike with front suspension and disc breaks on from us.

Detailed Itinerary:
Friday evening
Upon your arrival you will be shown your room and then you can join us at either the accommodation or a local pub/restaurant, where over a drink and something to eat we'll have an inforaml chat about the weekend. For this trip we use a charming pub guesthouse in the heart of Threlkeld near Keswick, which provides a great base for our weekend and a warm welcome return after a day in the saddle. Tonight is a good opportunity to get to know our MIAS (Mountain Bikes Instructors Award Scheme) qualified guides who represent Skedaddle's friendly and enthusiastic attitude to mountain biking.

Saturday
After a hearty breakfast at the accommodation, the guides will discuss the route possibilities available and requirements / capabilities of the group. Following this and having assessed the weather conditions we can then tailor today's route accordingly; this is often made easier by the fact that our routes are often in our guide's backyard where they regularly ride themselves!

The day’s cycling will commence at around 10:00 led by a minmum of two Saddle Skedaddle guides in order to be able to fully support a mix of abilities. The group will be met at various points around the route by our support vehicle for snacks and hot and cold drinks, with lunch served mid-way through the day. Our lunches are commonly buffet style picnic with a wide selection of local produce put together by our guides (often their pride and joy!). Vegetarians and other dietary requirements can be easily catered for.

Following lunch the route will continue, returning to the accommodation mid-afternoon. The evening meal will be taken either at a local pub or restaurant meal. As many of our guides help out on several trips this is a good opportunity for those who fancy heading further afield on their bike to get an accurate picture of our holidays from someone who has been there and ridden the routes. The remainder of the evening is set aside for socialising.

Sunday
After another great breakfast to set you up for a day in the saddle, we will discuss the possible routes for the day based on our experiences yesterday. The guides will go through the highlights you can expect during the day, pointing out areas with particularly good scenery as well as sections of outstanding riding. This is supplemented throughout the day as we discuss the route ahead of us.

As yesterday, we will aim to be on the trail at around 10:00 again led by members of the Skedaddle team. The group is met at various points around the route by our support vehicle with a selection of tasty treats, and lunch will be served mid way through the route. Following lunch it's back on our bikes, returning to the accommodation mid-afternoon for a quick shower and light refreshments before heading home.

Equipment
We provide everything except personal equipment, clothing and a bike (although we are able to hire bikes at each location). Apart from your emergency tool kit and spare inner tube(s) you will not be required to take any extra equipment. If you are planning to bring your own bike we strongly advise a well maintained / serviced mountain bike with a minimum of 24 gears and at least front suspension as well as tyres with an appropriate level of tread.

What the price doesn't include
(A) Bike & helmet hire (if required, £55).
(B) Personal clothing and equipment.
(C) Insurance (If required, £13).
(D) Evening meals and bar bills.
(E) Single room option.