Something to be aware of when you buy your next bike.

When purchasing a bicycle........

no matter how cute you are......

be SURE to consider the colour of the seat!

 also consider what your T shirt says .........
what does hers say - ?uck ?

Should you be mountain biking right now?

Seen at http://sacredrides.com/ delete "mountain" from the above if you wish

Gamma multifunction LED headtorch from Alpkit

The dark winter nights, have prompted me to write a review on a headtorch that I have been using for a couple of years now. The Gamma from Alpkit, is a Multifunction LED headtorch which has proved to be an excellent bit of kit, the price is a very reasonable £12.50 that belies its quality and performance, the cost includes free postage as well as Duracell batteries. http://www.alpkit.com/gamma

The head unit contains three 5mm LEDs and one 1W Luxeon LED. The unit pivots so that you can direct your light during use. The multi function lighting modes are controlled from a single multi operation button (SMOB). This orange SMOB gives access to two lighting modes each with multiple settings:

1W LED Mode - This is the large central LED, it provides the brightest light, in this mode the button toggles between 4 settings; High > Low > Strobe > Off.

5mm LED Mode - This mode toggles between the three 5mm LEDs and has 5 settings; White LED > Green LED > Red LED > Red LED (Strobe) > Off.

Why do you need different colours?

The different colours on the Gamma are for a few different uses, the main white beam lets you see loads, but to save on battery power the 5mm white LED will let you do most tasks in the dark. The solid Red 5mm LED is great to stop you losing your night vision, the Green LED is great for looking at the map while walking along and highlighting the contours, where the red one makes them disappear. The flashing red lights are great for saving on battery life, for use in an emergency or to scare the kids with a story about monsters and their one flashing red eye.

Bonus Backlight LED -  

In addition to the two modes of the head unit,  it also has a red LED light fitted onto the  battery pack which is fitted with 3 light settings; On > Strobe > Off. A button on the side of the battery compartment cycles between these settings and operates independently from the button on the head unit.

Helmet Mounting a Gamma Headtorch - 

With the elastic straps supplied I have found it was possible to mount it to a cycle helmet, rather than using this as the main light for cycling at night, it proved ideal for lighting any mechanical issues at arise. Normally at night the main lights are mounted on the bike and need to be removed to see anything needing attention on the bike. It also serves well as a emergency reserve light in case of lighting problems. The red light on the battery pack, when helmet mounted is a useful addition for overall rear lighting. I have now added to my lights and so have a helmet and bar mounted light, but still ensure that I have the Gamma headtorch in my back pack for emergencies, it is also invaluable when getting back to parked cars in the dark and changing and loading.

Conclusion – Excellent performance, and superb value for money -highly recommended.

For more information, links to tests and more reviews of the Gamma headtorch go to - KDCS Tested + Reviewed - http://kdcs-tested.blogspot.com/2011/12/gamma-multifunction-led-headtorch-from.html

Many thanks to Alpkit for allowing the use of their photo's in this review.

Mountain Bike Rides

This summer, Bill Jackson started a simple programme of mountain bike rides. KDCS has had occasional mountain bike rides in the rides list, and also at times a few members have got together for a mountain bike ride. Bill wanted to open these up on a more regular basis, so everybody would know where and when they would start. The rides are every week; they start from a different point on Thursday, (Link to Mountain Bike ride list). From November they start at 10am, we try to find a morning coffee stop, but this is not always possible, we sometimes manage to find a lunch stop. On the last ride we had lunch in some style at The Shap Wells Hotel, but mostly sandwiches are taken for lunch. The route is decided by discussion before the ride, come a bit earlier and bring your map and ideas for that perfect ride, normally between 15 and 25 miles. These rides take place regardless of weather conditions, if no one else turns up, just go, and do your own route.

Photo - At the cairn on top of Crag Hill, Birkbeck Fells Common, Neil, Bill and Mark on the Tebay-Shap-Borrowdale ride, Mike took the photo.

Report from Arnside to Grange cycle path (ATOG) meeting in Arnside, 12 August

A meeting was held at Laura Lee’s Coffee shop in Arnside on Friday 12 August. This was held to start preparations for a formal launch of ATOG later in the year. Present were Stuart Reid, Adrian Waddingham, Andrew Judson, Sue Cox, Catherine Wandzel and Richard Wandzel. Geoff Kirkham had given apologies.

Subjects discussed were:

• The ATOG constitution which Adrian has compiled. The current draft is attached. This covers voluntary donations and subscriptions, Members and Supporters. The need to set up a bank account.
• The Constitution should cover the need to establish officers and utilise skills available from Supporters. We hope the list of Supporters will include local politicians, representative of local bodies and anyone who can bring support to ATOG, but without necessarily being actively involved.
• Richard and Catherine Wandzel have kindly offered to be the initial ATOG representative for the Grange area. Richard will obtain for us the details of the Grange County Councillor and other important contacts in Grange. Adrian will make contact with the MP Tim Farron and leading Councillors inviting support.
• We will plan launch meetings in both Arnside and Grange, probably in September to sign up initial Members and to approve the Constitution. Meetings will be held at a convenient time, either at the weekend or on evenings. Adrian will draft publicity posters for these meetings in due course. Richard will check available dates at Grange Town Hall.
• A website is probably needed, and we may also set up a Facebook page for to encourage ideas and discussion from supporters. Richard and Catherine will consider this further.
• The new Coastal Communities Fund (launched by Government this month) may be a source of grants. Adrian will pursue his contacts with Sustrans (the cycling charity) who could be a major sponsor?
• Stuart will establish the initial prospective list of members from his contact list as some people had not had responses when they offered support.

Future open meetings will possibly be advertised in “Grange Now” and the “Arnside Broadsheet”. To join the ATOG email list, email ATOG2011@talktalk.net.

Appeal for volunteers | Thursday 29 September | Helvellyn 'Fell Care Day'

We've just had this from the nice folk at Flora of the Fells...
Contact Sue Manson on 01539 733187 (Monday to Thursday) if you'd like to join in!

“The Flora of the Fells Project has been raising awareness of the special qualities of Cumbria’s upland landscapes for the last nine years through festival events, education work and publications.

This year we are running two high profile autumn ‘Fell Care Days’ at Helvellyn and Ennerdale and we are now looking for volunteers to help with the Helvellyn Fell Care Day on Thursday 29 September.

The aims of the Fell Care Days are to highlight the huge role volunteering plays in conserving and managing the fells through a day of practical conservation activities involving lots of different volunteer groups and raising awareness about the benefits which the uplands provide for us all.

Volunteers from Friends of the Lake District, schools, colleges, LDNPA, Fix the Fells, Mosaic groups, businesses and individuals will be taking part and we’ll have an activity that members of the public can join in on the day. United Utilities are key partners in the day.

The themes for the Helvellyn Fell Care Day are land management for water quality and woods. The day will also celebrate 2011 as the European Year of Volunteering, International Year of Forests and the 60th Birthday of the Lake District National Park.

So….we are looking for Volunteers to help us in the following ways at:
Helvellyn Thursday 29 September
(‘Hub’ based at Swirls car park, east shore of Thirlmere. Volunteer work parties start at 9.30am, activities finish by 5.30pm latest)

Volunteering opportunities:
1. Setting up and manning of the hub and refreshments at Swirls car park from 8am
2. Greeting and signing in of volunteers from 8.45am
3. Awareness raising and membership recruitment at Swirls ‘hub’
4. Footpath repair work & brash clearance in Swirls Wood
5. Drain clearance on high fells with Fix the Fells – 3 routes from 4 to 6 hrs each
6. Litter clearance high fells – Swirral & Striding Edge – very fit people only with a head for heights
7. Clearance of helicopter bags from Helvellyn Gill – strong, fit people needed
8. Litter clearance – Thirlmere lakeshore
9. Tree work – tree tube straightening – need to be mobile, very rough, steep terrain
10. Tree work – cutting conifer regeneration – rough terrain
11. Helping with school groups rebuilding of a red squirrel hide
12. Red squirrel survey work – on potentially steep terrain
13. Running bird and bat box building with school groups & members of the public
14. Rebuilding of a sheepfold on high fell – for experienced, fit wallers – 50 minute steep walk in.
15. Helping shepherd a guided walk about land management for water quality
16. Clearing up the marquee & hub at the end of the day
17. Creating a short video diary of the day – preferably using own camcorder
18. Creating a photo diary of the day with the different conservation activities
19. Taking time lapse photos of the rebuilding of the sheepfold
20. Cake baking for the volunteer refreshments – need to be delivered to FLD Murley Moss office by Wednesday 28 September.

Variety of Volunteer skills required:
· Reasonable fitness & mobility
· Experienced, fit drystone wallers
· Super fit volunteers for work at high level on steep slopes
· People with video and editing skills or keen to have a go
· People who enjoy meeting people and awareness raising
· 1st aiders
· People with experience of leading practical conservation tasks as well as participating

Equipment we would like to borrow:
· 3 large kettles
Once we have a team of volunteers I will arrange a briefing session for the activity leaders in the week of 19 September.
If you are interested in helping us with any of these activities please do get in touch – volunteers will be absolutely key in making the day happen.

Kind regards
Sue Manson
direct line 01539 733187
Flora of the Fells Events and Communications Officer
(Please note I work 4 days, usual Monday to Thursday)

Taking the ATOG campaign to the next stage

ATOG, the campaign group set up to get an Arnside to Grange Cycle & Footpath alongside the viaduct, is pressing on with the campaign - to be ready when the chance next comes up for the path to be installed during future maintenance work. There is a possibility that the new Coastal Communities Fund might be helpful in the raising the money for the work. They are holding a meeting on Friday 12 August to discuss the options and have sent out the following invitation to supporters of the scheme:

‘It is time to make ATOG more formal, and we are working on a constitution and seeking members and supporters. Adrian Waddingham, Geoff Kirkham and Stuart Reid are working on a constitution and are meeting in Arnside at 10am on Friday 12 August at Laura Lee's Cafe. You are welcome to come along. We expect to have further meetings around the bank holiday in late August. You can also express interest and introduce other supporters on ATOG2011@talktalk.net’

Cycle Maintenance and Cycle Training in June and July

Bike Maintenance Training
Do you know anyone who might be interested in learning some basic bike maintenance skills? SLACC are running some courses again this year in Staveley.

Women's Basic Cycle Maintenance Sat 2 July 11-2 at the Pavilion in Staveley.
Mixed Basic Cycle Maintenance Sat 20 July 11-2 at the Pavilion in Staveley.

To book please send a cheque for £17 to 'South Lakes Action on Climate Change Towards Transition' c/o Ruth Jennings, Sunny Orchard Farm, Kentmere Rd, Staveley, LA8 9JF.
Contact info@staveley-gti.co.uk or 07851 719444 for more information.

Cycle Training for Adults
...because it's never too late to learn. SLACC are offering free training sessions for adults with fully qualified Bikeability trainers. Bikeability is 'cycling proficiency for the 21st century'. Do you know any individuals or groups who would benefit from these free sessions? Please encourage them to sign up!

• Thinking of taking up cycling but not sure about it?
• Enjoy the cycle paths but not the roads?
• Have a bike but would like to brush up on your riding skills?

Sign up for free cycle training sessions with friendly professional Cyclewise trainers at Kendal Leisure Centre. Afternoon and evening sessions available to suit you. (Level 1 or 2/ 3.)
Thursdays 16th, 23rd, 30th June and 7th July 2011.
Contact Ruth Jennings on 07851 719444 or info@staveley-gti.co.uk for information and to book a place.