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An early thought for a trip next year
I was just reading Robbies post from the Lakes and had an idea for maybe a Lake District trip next year.
I was up there last week with the family and sneaked in a couple of rides. I know the roads up there well, although it was 15 years since I last tackled the ferocious hills and i was a 1st cat then. However, i figured I've got a compact and a 28 now, can't be that hard. Wrong...I set off from our campsite at the end of the Langdale valley planning to go over the Wrynose from the east,( the hard side) down into Wrynose bottom, up the Hardknott over Birker fell back over the Wrynose and home. All of 25 miles no problem.
The first snag was the climb out of Langdale which was much harder than i remember and then the Wrynose which is long and just gets steeper and steeper. Incredibly steep and narrow i just made it, going about 3 mph on the worst bits. When i got to the bottom of the hardknott it was very wet and i was worried as although the Hardknott is shorter from the east its even steeper with some genuine 33% bits. At the first ultra steep section a combination of the wet roads, sheep poo and the extra torque of the compact gear saw me spin the back wheel and topple off. With no way of getting back on i gave up and went back tail between my legs. I think the Hardknott is the only hill i can think of that I'm frightened of. I was also terrified going back down the Wrynose in the wet as you have to brake so hard and have so much weight on the front wheel you can feel your front wheel on the verge of locking up.
I had a more successful ride over the Honister the next day in the dry. An absolutely stunning climb but hard at the bottom with lots of 25%. i reminded myself of the need for total concentration on these roads when descending the Honister. i took my eye off the road for a second to look at the scenery. You pick up speed so quickly and when i looked down the road was doing a sharp right over a granite walled bridge. Just managed it with a 2 wheel slide and a change of shorts!
Anyway, there is the Fred Whitton challenge which takes in many of the famous climbs in a 100 miles or so sportive. However its apparently very difficult to get into and misses out some belters like The Struggle which Robbie mentioned and Red Bank, a short but nasty climb near Grassmere.
Maybe we could devise our own super challenge for a CCA Lake District weekend?
Id forgotten how stunning it is up there, and so totally different from Alpine climbing. Maybe something to think about.
I was up there last week with the family and sneaked in a couple of rides. I know the roads up there well, although it was 15 years since I last tackled the ferocious hills and i was a 1st cat then. However, i figured I've got a compact and a 28 now, can't be that hard. Wrong...I set off from our campsite at the end of the Langdale valley planning to go over the Wrynose from the east,( the hard side) down into Wrynose bottom, up the Hardknott over Birker fell back over the Wrynose and home. All of 25 miles no problem.
The first snag was the climb out of Langdale which was much harder than i remember and then the Wrynose which is long and just gets steeper and steeper. Incredibly steep and narrow i just made it, going about 3 mph on the worst bits. When i got to the bottom of the hardknott it was very wet and i was worried as although the Hardknott is shorter from the east its even steeper with some genuine 33% bits. At the first ultra steep section a combination of the wet roads, sheep poo and the extra torque of the compact gear saw me spin the back wheel and topple off. With no way of getting back on i gave up and went back tail between my legs. I think the Hardknott is the only hill i can think of that I'm frightened of. I was also terrified going back down the Wrynose in the wet as you have to brake so hard and have so much weight on the front wheel you can feel your front wheel on the verge of locking up.
I had a more successful ride over the Honister the next day in the dry. An absolutely stunning climb but hard at the bottom with lots of 25%. i reminded myself of the need for total concentration on these roads when descending the Honister. i took my eye off the road for a second to look at the scenery. You pick up speed so quickly and when i looked down the road was doing a sharp right over a granite walled bridge. Just managed it with a 2 wheel slide and a change of shorts!
Anyway, there is the Fred Whitton challenge which takes in many of the famous climbs in a 100 miles or so sportive. However its apparently very difficult to get into and misses out some belters like The Struggle which Robbie mentioned and Red Bank, a short but nasty climb near Grassmere.
Maybe we could devise our own super challenge for a CCA Lake District weekend?
Id forgotten how stunning it is up there, and so totally different from Alpine climbing. Maybe something to think about.
Comments
We could take on this ride as a detour coming up from Lands End to Jon o.
Also taking on Matin's hilly b*stard up north too.
Daniel
This is the hardest hill I've been up.
Interesting that Tim is suggesting a low ratio induces wheel spin. Should you climb these hills on the big ring then?
Daniel
You're right about the blurred vision and nausea though on the bike. Think sticking to the pub is properly the best option.
http://www.epicevents.org/product.php/58/lakeland-loop-sportive--sunday-april-15th
am in
woop woop woof woof ouch!