Does anyone fancy a trip up to ride this route towards the end of September?
I was thinking of travelling up the night before to B&B ride the route and then drive back. I would favour doing it on a week day rather than at a weekend.
Do not underestimate it, I have ridden it 3x this summer, in bad weather I imagine it to be grim. You need to pay your £5 at least a week inadvance, you could ask for the dibbers be left at the Spar garage if this is easier.
If you want any pointers I am happy to help, be aware this year the serious accidents were on the descents, Wryenose and Honister but also be aware of the really nasty unsighted switch- back coming off Newlands.
Good cafe on the campsite in Braithwaite. The haul up out of Loweswater onto Coldfell is the most exposed part of the ride for me.
The downloadable Garmin route sent me the wrong way down Honister which I ignored, told me to turn around in Ennerdale Bridge & had me very annoyed by giving me conflicting info on the A road from Troutbeck to Keswick.
I would be keen but would echo Gilgamesh's caution. I have not ridden the route but Simon Warren, author of 100 Greatest Climbs ranks this and the Marmotte as the two hardest sportives there are (above Liege Bastogne Liege which I have ridden and was brutal!!).
You can ride it over two days if you wish. The mid point being Brathwaite / Keswick after the descent. B & B or Hostel, and you're off again, 60 miles each day and that 13,000ft of ascent is more manageable (?). I think the 4Seasons takes account of this. Just a thought.
But if you have yet to ride Hardknott followed by Wryenose, boy, are you in for a shock! It makes me laugh each time I tackle it, stoooopidly steep on HK, that last kick in the tail, just shy of the top of Wryenose ..... it is a brute.
If it is wet, be warned, the initial descents off Honister, Wryenose, and Hardknott are very poor Tarmac and precipitous in the extreme.
Once you have carefully managed the first 200m of Honnister the descent is quite stunning,fast, flowing but Kirkstone is simply amazing, sooooo fast and open, you over takes cars galore, huge fun, Newlands opens up into the valley like a gift from the Cycling Gods for your efforts thus far ,some reasons why I have physically 'beat myself up' three times this year on the FW.
Well myself Phil K and Jane tackled this beauty last Friday. We awoke in Keswick to dark skies and light rain which got heavier as we drove to Grasmere for the start point.
Slightly shaky start with me and Jane realising that we had left our bottles in the car having cycled for a couple of miles. But we recovered to head off to the first climb of the day which was Kirkstone Pass. The descent was tricky due to a gusty cross wind and the roads were still wet, but fortunately the rain was easing. Since the route passed Keswick we dropped back to the cottage for Phil to get some dry clothes and shoe covers, before heading off with rapidly clearing skies.
The next major climb was the 25% up Honister pass with a steep top descent, and nice run out but the fresh breeze meant it had to be pedalled. It was then on to Newlands and Whinlatter Pass, the sun shining and temperature rising and it was rolling countryside with some cheeky 10-16% sections.
A quick coffee stop and a grey ham sandwich and it was time to head for the daddy of Hardknott Pass which has ramps to 30% and a tricky similarly steep descent (thankfully it was warm and dry). The last ramp beat us all so there was short walk past the (Guardian!) before being able go back on. It provided some relief as did watching people having to get out off their car so it could get up the hill. Wrynose Pass was the last big effort of the day, not quite as steep as Hardknott but probably in excess of 25%. The descent was steep again and then a quick run home with the light fading.
Stat's for the ride from Garmin.
113 miles
3305m
Moving time: 8:27
The official website gives 3950m and 112 miles.
It was a top day out in some stunning countryside, which made the celebratory beers go down very well.
(Copied over from other thread... )This is an amazing ride for the sheer scale of the scenery let alone the enormous climbs/descents of the Lake District.
Starting in Grasmere, Kirkstone Pass slipped behind us fairly comfortably and then came Honister Pass which was viciously steep at first, then less severe, but very long (and up ahead, I watched 1 other rider keel over before he reached the top!) The sun came out as we climbed Newlands Pass, into the rainbow and down the other side and on to Whinlatter Pass .... and in between came Lake Windermere, Ullswater, Derwent Water, Buttermere and Loweswater. Spectacular
Then came various leg-biting shorter climbs, aptly named - Fangs Brow, Irton Pike ... over Cold Fell and Swarth Fell ... and all the time drawing closer to the big daddy, Hardknott Pass at 95 miles. Hold something in reserve, they said and boy were they right
Garmin had given up by this stage, so I'm only guessing at the gradient (and Martin or Phil can probably set me straight), but I'd guess the start of Hardknott is 20% and that includes a cattle grid. This gradient does eventually ease (- use the next section to recover, they said), but not enough for me to sit down, so I was 'recovering' pretty much whilst standing. After several minutes, I was beginning to wonder how this was possible but clearly it was, so I just kept turning the pedals and studying the tarmac. Something v weird had been going on down there. It was as if even the tarmac couldn't cling on to the mountain and it had been slowly flowing down, making mogul-shaped lumps. Goodness only knows how they laid the road ... and then I was wondering about who drove the roller ... and then the gradient really did ease a bit and I looked ahead to see the final really steep section approaching. After that, it got v hard indeed.
I remember fretting about how to unclip when my bike is that close to going backwards. And I remember struggling even to walk up that 2nd steep section, then looking down from the top of it. Then as we watched, a car ground to a halt near the top of the Pass, 2 people got out and I wondered what they were doing. Thought perhaps somebody else wanted to drive, but no, it turned out they just needed to shed 2 bodies in order that the car was light enough to get over the top!
The descent from Hardknott ranks right up there with the scariest black run I've ever done, without the option of stopping by falling over in the snow. My hands and arms ache still and I will be forever grateful that my back wheel didn't somersault over the front. Then came Wrynose Pass and afterwards, I was back to that more familiar feeling of trying to hold Phil's wheel as he headed for the finish line. A spectacular day indeed
little man with a wheelbarrow rake and shovel Tim :-) Hardknott is super tough but the whole route sounded epic. Great write-ups you two. You'll be back I'm guessing wanting to complete the ride without having to walk. Or perhaps knott.
Tim conquered Hardknott ... and now that I know it's humanly possible I can (almost) imagine going back for a rematch
With fresher legs next time and less of the lights, food and spare clothing. (Think I'd be more daunted by the descent and I'm not really sure what I could do about that. Valium?)
haha Jane. I just know you all will. Might join you next time and see if I can do as well as you all this time. Think Tim did it with his paniers on and a full load. Awesome. Closing your eyes is not an option :-)
I got 1/3rd of the way up the left switch-back when I stalled. Walked her to the corner, re-mounted only to stall agin 100m later. I think I might have sworn at that point. That morning I had weighed the bike et al at 85lbs. I do have a 36 rear though!
The descents are horrific in the wet. The Tarmac on Hardknott is like no other.
I say this with some authority as I rode Rosedale Chimney the other day, twice.... and Applecross in May (?) and I can tell you Hordknott is way harder than any other road hill climb in Britain. Wrynose is sod too and you have no choice if you have climbed HK. The Lecht and Porlock come in a tie for second, along with Honister.
Comments
You need to pay your £5 at least a week inadvance, you could ask for the dibbers be left at the Spar garage if this is easier.
If you want any pointers I am happy to help, be aware this year the serious accidents were on the descents, Wryenose and Honister but also be aware of the really nasty unsighted switch- back coming off Newlands.
Good cafe on the campsite in Braithwaite. The haul up out of Loweswater onto Coldfell is the most exposed part of the ride for me.
The downloadable Garmin route sent me the wrong way down Honister which I ignored, told me to turn around in Ennerdale Bridge & had me very annoyed by giving me conflicting info on the A road from Troutbeck to Keswick.
The mid point being Brathwaite / Keswick after the descent.
B & B or Hostel, and you're off again, 60 miles each day and that 13,000ft of ascent is more manageable (?).
I think the 4Seasons takes account of this. Just a thought.
But if you have yet to ride Hardknott followed by Wryenose, boy, are you in for a shock!
It makes me laugh each time I tackle it, stoooopidly steep on HK, that last kick in the tail, just shy of the top of Wryenose ..... it is a brute.
If it is wet, be warned, the initial descents off Honister, Wryenose, and Hardknott are very poor Tarmac and precipitous in the extreme.
Once you have carefully managed the first 200m of Honnister the descent is quite stunning,fast, flowing but Kirkstone is simply amazing, sooooo fast and open, you over takes cars galore, huge fun, Newlands opens up into the valley like a gift from the Cycling Gods for your efforts thus far ,some reasons why I have physically 'beat myself up' three times this year on the FW.
Slightly shaky start with me and Jane realising that we had left our bottles in the car having cycled for a couple of miles. But we recovered to head off to the first climb of the day which was Kirkstone Pass. The descent was tricky due to a gusty cross wind and the roads were still wet, but fortunately the rain was easing. Since the route passed Keswick we dropped back to the cottage for Phil to get some dry clothes and shoe covers, before heading off with rapidly clearing skies.
The next major climb was the 25% up Honister pass with a steep top descent, and nice run out but the fresh breeze meant it had to be pedalled. It was then on to Newlands and Whinlatter Pass, the sun shining and temperature rising and it was rolling countryside with some cheeky 10-16% sections.
A quick coffee stop and a grey ham sandwich and it was time to head for the daddy of Hardknott Pass which has ramps to 30% and a tricky similarly steep descent (thankfully it was warm and dry). The last ramp beat us all so there was short walk past the (Guardian!) before being able go back on. It provided some relief as did watching people having to get out off their car so it could get up the hill. Wrynose Pass was the last big effort of the day, not quite as steep as Hardknott but probably in excess of 25%. The descent was steep again and then a quick run home with the light fading.
Stat's for the ride from Garmin.
113 miles
3305m
Moving time: 8:27
The official website gives 3950m and 112 miles.
It was a top day out in some stunning countryside, which made the celebratory beers go down very well.
Starting in Grasmere, Kirkstone Pass slipped behind us fairly comfortably and then came Honister Pass which was viciously steep at first, then less severe, but very long (and up ahead, I watched 1 other rider keel over before he reached the top!) The sun came out as we climbed Newlands Pass, into the rainbow and down the other side and on to Whinlatter Pass .... and in between came Lake Windermere, Ullswater, Derwent Water, Buttermere and Loweswater. Spectacular
Then came various leg-biting shorter climbs, aptly named - Fangs Brow, Irton Pike ... over Cold Fell and Swarth Fell ... and all the time drawing closer to the big daddy, Hardknott Pass at 95 miles. Hold something in reserve, they said and boy were they right
Garmin had given up by this stage, so I'm only guessing at the gradient (and Martin or Phil can probably set me straight), but I'd guess the start of Hardknott is 20% and that includes a cattle grid. This gradient does eventually ease (- use the next section to recover, they said), but not enough for me to sit down, so I was 'recovering' pretty much whilst standing. After several minutes, I was beginning to wonder how this was possible but clearly it was, so I just kept turning the pedals and studying the tarmac. Something v weird had been going on down there. It was as if even the tarmac couldn't cling on to the mountain and it had been slowly flowing down, making mogul-shaped lumps. Goodness only knows how they laid the road ... and then I was wondering about who drove the roller ... and then the gradient really did ease a bit and I looked ahead to see the final really steep section approaching. After that, it got v hard indeed.
I remember fretting about how to unclip when my bike is that close to going backwards. And I remember struggling even to walk up that 2nd steep section, then looking down from the top of it. Then as we watched, a car ground to a halt near the top of the Pass, 2 people got out and I wondered what they were doing. Thought perhaps somebody else wanted to drive, but no, it turned out they just needed to shed 2 bodies in order that the car was light enough to get over the top!
The descent from Hardknott ranks right up there with the scariest black run I've ever done, without the option of stopping by falling over in the snow. My hands and arms ache still and I will be forever grateful that my back wheel didn't somersault over the front. Then came Wrynose Pass and afterwards, I was back to that more familiar feeling of trying to hold Phil's wheel as he headed for the finish line. A spectacular day indeed
With fresher legs next time and less of the lights, food and spare clothing. (Think I'd be more daunted by the descent and I'm not really sure what I could do about that. Valium?)
I got 1/3rd of the way up the left switch-back when I stalled. Walked her to the corner, re-mounted only to stall agin 100m later. I think I might have sworn at that point.
That morning I had weighed the bike et al at 85lbs. I do have a 36 rear though!
The descents are horrific in the wet.
The Tarmac on Hardknott is like no other.
I say this with some authority as I rode Rosedale Chimney the other day, twice.... and Applecross in May (?) and I can tell you Hordknott is way harder than any other road hill climb in Britain. Wrynose is sod too and you have no choice if you have climbed HK. The Lecht and Porlock come in a tie for second, along with Honister.
As I say, chapeau!