Fanylion Mountain Bike Team
Official site of the Fanylion Mountain Bike Team. Includes mountain bike ride guides, gear reviews, bike maintenance, team reports and rider profiles of the Fanylion Racing Team.
Garburn Pass, Walna Scar Road
October 01, 2005, Lake District
Gales, low depression moving through the British Isles and plenty of rain; the kind of forecast Team Fanylion had come to expect from many a weekend epic. The first weekend in October was always going to be a little sporty when it came to the weather and it was nothing that the pack couldn’t handle now that we weren’t camping on Saturday night any more (thank Christ).
The Team was amassing from all over the country, from as far South as London and North as Glasgow. It was going to be interesting if the team could meet in time to get the ride done on the Saturday with minimal faffing and maximum biking. Whitesox and newest member Team Twin Pin were first to arrive after Whitesox surfaced at 05:30 to drive up from Oxford. On reaching the car park a quick call to the Hogmeister alerted the rest of the team to the fact he had gone back to his crib in Leeds to get the map he had forgotten! It was going to be a late start………again!
Techno and Jesus had spent the night in Ambleside to beat the morning rush and we were soon all gathered at the Backpacker’s Hostel sorting out the bikes. The weather was holding and off the team set off to carry out a loop which included Skelghyl Wood, Jenkin Crag, Staveley Head and the formidable Garburn Pass.
The ride instantly gained altitude with a steep, sometimes unclimeable track which made everyone wish they were heading in the opposite direction, down! Breaking out of the trees saw the team head past Jenkin Crag and onto a fast section of fireroad to Robin Lane. The fun really started here with a tough technical rocky climb up the side of a large stone dyke which White Sox tried to ride through with little success! There must be a good decent with all this climbing was the general thoughts bouncing around the team as the sweat was starting to pour off! The lions were treated to a rest in all the climbing and made their way along a fairly flat section of trail. It wasn’t long until the antics started and as the puddles turned into small lakes and then into small oceans it was only a matter of time until Hog’s sense of maturity faded away like many a pop-idol hopeful. Heading towards the largest puddle this side of New Orleans both Hog and White Sox got airborne in the hope only one victor would emerge. As soon as the wheels hit the surface it was evident this was no ordinary puddle and when it went past the hubs they realised they were in trouble. Hog soaked up to his ginger pubes and Sox totally saturated they made it out the other side much to the amusement of Team Shortbread who was following just behind.
The main descent of the loop was still to come and the truth would soon come out as to whether the new found roadie gay ways that are creeping into the once pure and innocent MTB ways of Fanylion would affect their descending skills. The descent was nice and technical but still flowing and fast. Big John was showing the young lads how to do it on his new Kona full sus beast bouncing up and down like a drugged up kangaroo. Shorts in Winter showed his normal downhill prowess closely followed by Sox and Shortbread with Techno, Eco and the mighty Jesus close behind. After the group gathered at the bottom to eat and fix punctures it was decided to get some film footage of the final corner. Hog took up position with the camera and Techno, Shortbread and White Sox headed up to start the attack. Sam set off from a lower start point and White Sox thinking it was clear set off. Coming round the corner Sox realised he had very few options left as he saw Sam on the Right and the ginger-pubed one on the left. Not holding the line very well as it was he bounced and skipped past Hog and round Techno amazed he had not either taken Sam out or gone straight into the Team Captain. Sure enough Team Shortbread followed shortly after and showed us how its done picking the smoothest line and making it look easy! Soon the student beer belly will take effect and all will be put to rights!
Big John took us round to the bike shop for a well earned break to fill up on energy bars, ferrets and some water.
The pace up until this point had been quick for a FanyLion ride but all the riders were looking fit, keen and hungry for more. Even the newest member Team Twin Pin was putting on a brave face after doing some of the toughest climbing FanyLion has done in a while. However, the toughest climb was still to come in the form of the Garburn Pass.
The fears of Hog’s roadie ways came to show when the team reached Kentmere prior to starting the monster climb. Only a roadie would show such disrespect by defacing another member’s bike in the way he did. You know what you did you filthy little rodent! (Yes, I urinated on Shortbread’s bike – Hog).
By the time we had reached Kentmere the climb was in full view; stretching away up the hillside above this was going to be a hard one. Loose small rocks mixed in with large boulders, tough at the best of times! Hog’s roadie skills were taking effect as he took on the challenge with Shortbread. The rest of the team spread out along the climb each putting in a sterling effort to get to the top. Switchback after switchback the top came closer and closer until we popped out on top. Shortbread looking a little disappointed that Lycra Boy Hodgson had nudged ahead of him at the top of the climb but I’m sure revenge will be sweet on the next ride in Wales!
The route from the top saw the team rewarded with the descent down the climb they had done at the start of the ride. Punctures were the problem though and half the team was taken down with them. Technical wet boulders and loose rock made up the descent and it was a good reward for all the climbing during the day.
Back into the Backpackers for a quick shower and out for some grub. That was the plan however until Ben got mown done by some old dear in her car! He was fine but front wheel minced. Some people! The team grabbed a quick shower then settled down to steak and chips followed by chocolate pudding and ice cream and then onto the pubs for a few wets before heading back to the EIGHT man room. Within minutes the window had to be opened and everyone waited till Hodgson was asleep before they felt safe to close their eyes!
The next morning saw the team depart Ambleside and head to Torver on the promise that the ride would be less severe then Saturday’s effort. Judging by the road climb out of Torver that was never going to be the case! The 20 minute steep road climb turned into a fast decent into the Broughton hills. All this descending meant one thing, oh yes, a steep grassy climb as slippy as a 1987 Ford Escort clutch! The team found themselves at the top of a single-track decent through thick bracken down to the road. Feeling confident after overtaking Hog, White Sox had Shortbread locked on his radar and was lining up for the kill when the back end went and next thing he is spread across the track with Hog laughing his head off!
Once down on the road the team was passed by at least 80 motorbikes all looking at us as if we were made to be trogging round the hills on our full sus steads. After a bit of road climbing it was time to get onto the tracks again although we were having a few issues with the navigation and some remedial work may have to be done prior to the Wales trip!
A quick diversion and we were back on track climbing up past Kiln Bank Farm and then descending down to Seathwaite on one of the most ludicrously rocky trails in the World, which saw Sox cut up Hog and then hit the deck again. All the riders were showing good skills and Jesus on the shortest travel bike was lapping it up.
After a short break it was time to do the biggest climb of the weekend. The Walna Scar Climb is a peaty, rocky and eroded track that motocross bikes struggle to get up far less the mere mortals and Jesus of Team FanyLion.
The team showed great effort and spirit in their attempts to clean what could be cleaned and push the rest.
After over 1000ft of climbing the team gathered at the top with the prospect of a mighty fine decent back to the road. Setting off Shortbread took the lead followed by Sox and Hog. Shortbread bugged out with a puncture leaving the rest of the team to charge down the decent screaming past walkers and Land Rovers making their way up the mountain. The descent broke out onto tarmac and Hog warned us all about the steepness of the road coming up. "No problem" we all thought. God has made Disc Brakes for a reason and that reason is Steep tracks/roads. Shortbread may want a quick chat with God after his little episode with said road…..read on! The road continued to steepen and as we approached Coniston village Sox watched in horror as Shortbread made little attempt to slow for the oncoming corner and slammed into a two foot high stone wall on his side at a rather high rate of knots! Oh bugger, we though as it looked to be a real nasty one, the kind wehre you sit up and think you’re alright until you see something sticking out of you. As if by magic he stood up, brushed himself down and declared himself officially hardcore! Twin Pin was next to have the dreaded brake fade and almost took the team members who where there out, missing them only just!
After a quick tube change for Shortbread the team made it along to the cars to pack up and head off. All in all it had been a great weekend with some great highlights:
Team Eco Panzer:
Showing great climbing fitness on a 34lb beast!
Team Twin Pin:
Breathing like a hyperventilating mule within 3 minutes of riding then producing a sound level of effort and fitness all weekend
Team Hog:
Climbing ability of a Gecko Lizard but still not sure about this roadie stuff!
Team Big John: Full Sus Hero showing the rug rats how its dome Dumfries style!
Team Shortbread:
Hardest member of team during weekend for walking away from a state 1 crash!
Team Shorts in Winter:
First member to get run over while on bike – RSPKT
Team White Sox:
First Sub-Aqua member after trying to drown Hog
Team Jesus:
Still has his fitness even though he’s now married
Team Techno: dressed up like a waterproof MTBing seal on day 2
Riders present
Team White Sox
Team Shorts in Winter
Team Twin Pin
Team Auld Yin
Team Jesus
Team Hodgson
Team Eco Panzer
Team Techno
Enjoyment level
Rocky, wet, mountainous