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Fitness Fun and Adventure Getting out this Winter Across the North West – 5 Favourite Activities

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Dave W

Just because it’s the depths of winter doesn’t mean we have to sit by the fireside until April comes around. To help you decide, here’s a top five list of winter sport and leisure activities happening up and down the North West, which are sure to get you yearning for the great outdoors (and the great indoors too).

5: Ok, so it’s cheating a bit, but the North West’s choices for indoor skiing and snowboarding are luckily some of the best in the country. Manchester and Rossendale offer great artificial skiing and snowboarding slopes, the former being real snow, the latter a dry course. With two prime sites in the North West alone, there’s no reason to rule out a little skiing, without the hefty lodge prices and flights. At Manchester there is also a climbing wall on site to provide a second high-energy option.

4: If there was ever something different to do for a winter activity, it would have to be a day of falconry in Cheshire’s Gauntlet Birds of Prey Eagle and Vulture Park. The park has a wide collection of eagles, owls, falcons and hawks for you to handle, and also hold walks through the Cheshire countryside flanked by a team of free-flying birds of prey. This is a great opportunity for nature lovers to learn about the ancient art, and to get up close to some of Britain’s most stunning avian wildlife.

3: Winter in the Peak District is ideal for rock climbing, and there are few places in the North West that have such a natural abundance of climbing faces and sites to choose from. Hope Valley in the Peak District National Park is a good all-round destination, provided for by Rock Lea Outdoor Activity Centre. The mild winters of the Peaks make for excellent climbing, and with more difficult faces like Wild Cat Crags and Ravensdale there’s plenty for experienced climbers too.

2: Fancy yourself as the next Ray Mears or Bear Grylls? Then why not take a bushcraft and survival course in Penrith this winter? Learn to make friction and flint fires, cordage making, shelter building, wild food, and navigation skills. Courses are both basic one day affairs, and a more advanced and in-depth two-day foundation level for those with more time.

1: Mountain biking is a fantastic way for getting around some of England’s most breathtaking countryside, while having the option for an adrenaline kick at almost every turn. Whether it be the popular but challenging Jacob’s Ladder run from Upper Booth to Kinder Scout (Edale station), or a day out riding in the beautiful Grizedale Forest, there’s plenty to choose from, with an abundance of hire shops wherever you decide to hit the road and cheap train tickets to get you there.

Whatever you choose to do this winter, check weather reports and public transport notices to ensure you’re prepared. Other than these activities, there is plenty to do in the North West this winter, so enjoy the season and the new experiences.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/fitness-fun-and-adventure-getting-out-this-winter-across-the-north-west–5-favourite-activities-1353446.html

Mountain Bike help, which one should I choose and why?

I’m currently searching for a bike and I’ve not had a bike for about 15 years. I’ve read up a bit online and have seen some that I think are good but am not sure which one to choose. I will be using it to commute daily to work which will be 8 miles daily, mainly on the road. Also I’ll be going out for rides on my days off to keep up my fitness and trim up. This might involve trails and cycle routes off road so I thought a MTB would be better suited than a hybrid. Here are the bikes I’ve took an interest to, my budget is £750. An XCR Aggressor 09 from Halfords £750, Merlin Malt 1 09 model at 700 pounds, A Carrera Fury at £500, A GT Avalanche 1.0 at £570, A Genesis Bikes Core 10 (09) at £599, A Focus Bikes Fat Boy 09 at £537 and finally a Specialized Rockhopper Disc at £699. There are quite a few I know but if you can’t pick just one then narrow it down to 2 or 3 of the above please. This would be appreciated if someone can help me pick one with the reasons why for my needs.
Anyone else?

Answer
You’re right, this is a huge list! But, I have found that with bikes, you get what you pay for. I would assume that they all have full suspension, i.e. front shocks and rear springs. If there are some that don’t, they will not perform so well when going over rocks, etc. Next, look for disc brakes (preferably front and rear). These will slow you down much better than normal brakes when you have built up momentum from going downhill. Another important thing is number of gears – for the daily commute, you will want higher gears for cruising effortlessly along roads, but for off-road you will want lower gears for steep gradients. The bigger the range of gears, the better. Tyre thickness is also necessary for grip on slippery, muddy trails. Finally, the only way you will know which bike suits you best is to try them! Even if you have the best one out of the above criteria, you might still hate it as a bike!

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