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Cycling in the Lake District and CumbriaCycling in the Lake District and Cumbria Whether you are into road or mountain biking, the Lake District and Cumbria provides you with challenges and rewards on every level. Whatever your ability, you can enjoy your cycling by means of off-road, purpose-built circuits, sustrans cycleways or extreme road hill climbing, unrivalled this side of the French alps.  Staveley provides an excellent base for cycling and Wilf's café is where many cyclists depart from. You can cycle on the quiet Kentmere roads or get muddy on the Garburn pass trail deep into the hills. Post-ride sports massage and injury treatment can be found at the BodyRehab Injury and Rehabilitation Clinic. Moving further into the Lakes, you could use Grizedale forest and Hawkshead as a base, utilising over 40 miles of off-road tracks that are free from traffic.The Keswick area also provides purpose-built tracks as well as miles of disused railway lines alongside magnificent river views. It is also a gateway to the really steep mountain passes of the famous Fred Whitton cycle sportive. Moving into the heart of Cumbria and the Lakes provides the ultimate in challenges both on and off-road, with the 1 in 3 climbs of Wrynose and hard knot passes and superb mountain biking around Eskdale and the foothills of Scafell. Ambleside remains a popular place to stay when in the Lake District with its easy access to the fells and classic road and mountain biking routes. Detailed descriptions of these routes can be found in various local guide books – (recommended link http://www.amazon.co.uk/District-Mountain-Biking-Richard-Staton/dp/0954813189)  In the Kendal district, CycleFest, which began as a week-long event in 2009, is now a six-month-long Summer
of Cycling celebration with many rides, events, competitions and workshops. More details of events are here and you can order Free cycle maps of Kendal by clicking here. Also throughout the summer, Kendal & District Cycle Scene run free cycle events called 'Easy Tuesdays'. They begin from Kendal Leisure Centre (lakes leisure) at 7pm every Tuesday apart from the third Tuesday of the month when they start from Milnthorpe or Bowness / Windermere. The rides involve a gentle pace and are generally between 10 and 20 miles. Full schedule here.The South Lakes Group of the Rough Stuff Fellowship organise rides that are open to cyclists of all abilities, all ages and on all types of cycle (perhaps with the exception of lightweight racers, as they do go off road). They are easy paced, non-competitive social rides usually calling at one cafe in the morning, although participants are asked to bring a pack lunch. If you are a non-member you are welcome to join the group for two or three rides, check them out, and then hopefully become a member (£12.00 per year). Just turn up on the day or for further information call Simeon on 01524 811843 after 6:00pm. Forthcoming group rides are listed here. So, you can see that whatever kind of cycling you are passionate about, the Lake District has it all nicely contained. MTB routes, classic road biking, quiet country lanes, vicious hill climbs, exciting mountain bike adventures, long multi-day touring routes and all washed down with a cup of tea and a cake from a local café! So for beautiful views in the magnificence of the Lake District, you can't do better than pick the Lake District for all your cycling needs. Cycling in the Lake District & Cumbria - Your Guide 2 The Lake District
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