a few pics of todays meet!

[mecki]

Gerd,  Kirby Lonsdale is about an hour from my palace, BUT I was up at 6 chomping at the bit  : :Yes I still get a real buzz out of going out on the bike, and am pretty much unfazed by what the weather is doing. I could NEVER just turn around and stay in bed a bit longer when the option is going for a wizz on the bike

Good on you, Geoff.
I too like a nice ride out but not before 10:00 or 11:00. First a bit of sleeping in  , followed by a nice breakfast  and a walk along the river with my best mate. After that I'm ready to go for a run on the bike for the rest of the day - Now that's a good Sunday for me. 

And yes, Alston or Hartside comes to mind for a meeting place for Northerners - but surely not in winter. 
I wouldn't be surprised if they still have snow up there.   

[Lonewolf]

mecki, in the warmer months I'll often set off on a ride at about 5 in the morning. Great time of the day to be out on the bike. You can watch the Sun rise and take in that lovely fresh air.

As for Hartside Cafe, I went up there in late November 2010 on the GTR,    freezing.......





But then lower down it was....fine!

[mecki]

As for Hartside Cafe, I went up there in late November 2010 on the GTR,    freezing.......

I went up there late October and even though it was a bit warmer than on your pics it still wasn't pleasant.
I guess they clear the road from snow and put salt on it but dropping the GTR on a patch of black ice is just too expensive to risk it.