Hardknott Pass

[333]

I've got a couple of goals for the end of this year (taking work and family commitments into it and being realistic) to aid me in getting fit again and looking after myself (I'm 38, old timer now), first is to complete a local Duathlon and second is to attempt (I did say attempt) to climb the Teide in Tenerife on a road bike from sea level to the crater (2100m) without stopping and then descend back.

Anyway on my way to training for these I want to have a crack at some of Britains biggest climbs all ofc on a road bike, first off I am going to try to relive my youth and climb the Chimney in North Yorkshire again but the one in my subject I didn't know about until now and it looks brutal, has anybody climbed this? how tough is it? would love to hear your stories and any pics or blog write ups about the experience if you did. Can you do it on standard road bike gearing?

I would probably tackle it fresh although it would be nice to have it as part of a days ride out but maybe near the start of the ride lol.

Thanks

Edit: Just found this:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzNfufUHh9Q


Very impressive climbing at that pace after 100miles! almost superhuman.

 

[Waspie]

There is mention of the Hardknott on this thread http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/anyone-do-the-fred-witton-today-pics.156069/#post-3077474
Unless you are a mountain goat I wouldn't try it on standard road gearing, I have manage to fail on a 34*28, not that I'm much of a climber. May have made it on fresh legs..
Their is a wee hairpin section that must be over 1 in 3 and that has got me the three times I've tried it. Road surface is pretty poor too which doesn't help.

As for your attempt at Teide, carrying enough fluid might be an issue if you want to do it non-stop.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Hardknott is on my to do list as well, but then again it's been on there for a few years now

The Fred Whitton that Waspie mentions is, IMO, a total nutjob of a ride, and more than I ever want to achieve in one day on a bicycle.

As for HK, loads of people have done it, and indeed I will do it one day, but I'm currently on a standard double, and after a small amount of riding in the Lake District previously I wouldn't entertain it unless I had a compact, then again I'm no climber either at 41 years and 17.5 stone!

 

[jazzkat]

I'm sure you could do it on a standard double, but you'd be bonkers to do it!

I've ridden it many times and it's not as bad as some make it sound, if you are relatively fit and your gearing is low enough. I enjoy climbing, but I'm no mountain goat, more of your plod-and-spin-up-it-in-my-own-time type of rider.
However, I do a lot of cycling in these mountains, so it's all relative. I've got a triple on my road bike and I ride with guys who have compact doubles and we all manage fine. It's a tough climb right at the beginning and then eases off until just before the end where it ramps up again. If the wind is in your face it can be tough.
I think the biggest problem is it's pretty much a road to nowhere, so you've got some good distance to go before you get there (or back) unless you want to do it from both sides!

To be honest, the descent is worse than the climb!

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I am having a crack at it next month , we are doing the Coast to Coast in day, and going over Hardknott pass just a few miles in as we are starting off at Seascale.
I will let you know if i got up without stopping.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

To be honest, the descent is worse than the climb!

Ive heard the descent is a grim one, is down the other side of Hardknott or is down Wryonse pass, or are they both a white knuckle ride.

 

[marcusjb]

To be honest, the descent is worse than the climb!

This is totally true.

The descent between Hardknott and Wrynose is just awful. The descent off Wrynose is pretty bad as well.

Tough pair of climbs all in all.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I think the biggest problem is it's pretty much a road to nowhere, so you've got some good distance to go before you get there (or back) unless you want to do it from both sides!!

That's what I found when I was trying to plan a route a couple of years ago. It did seem like you'd have to either go on to do a right old mooch of a ride, or turn round and ride it back again, which as you say

TBH I'm enjoying hills more at the moment, well enjoy might be too strong a word, but I've lost about 2.5 stones this year, so that's certainly helped

 

[jazzkat]

Ive heard the descent is a grim one, is down the other side of Hardknott or is down Wryonse pass, or are they both a white knuckle ride.

They are both awful, the descent would be bad with smooth tarmac, as soon as you let go of the brakes you are instantly doing 20mph straight into a hairpin! But the road surface is terrible. I went over there a few weeks ago and despite a few holes being patched it's grim. You are bouncing around trying to avoid gravel, holes, bad surfaces while losing grip, trying to slow yourself down, go around the haipins and, in my case last week, trying not to cramp up after the climb! Fun, fun, fun.
Wrynose is just as bad, although I prefer the climb of Wrynose coming at it from Ambleside and then heading south at Cockley Beck.

I make it sound worse than it is. Take it easy and not too fast and you'll be fine, you may enjoy it!
Go too fast and you'll find out how far away the nearest A&E is. (hint, it involves a trip in a helicopter!)

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

For what it's worth I rode it last summer (the week of my 40th birthday). The ride report is here.

I did it from the Eskdale side (as in the video) and it's a seriously steep climb (the signs say 30% but I'm led to believe the gradient actually peaks at 33%) however you do get an easier climb between the steepest bits which allows a bit of time to recover.

Doing it on standard road bike gearing? Don't know. All I can say is I'm pretty sure I couldn't.

I didn't find the descents a problem but I was taking it easy and was on and off the brakes rather than dragging them the whole way down. Being used to this descent probably helps :

 

[333]

lol wow! this climb sounds grim, especially the descent if I can even make it that far.

I watched some youtube videos of the ascent but the problem with youtube / camera perspective is it hides the actual steepness of the climb which is annoying but the slipping of gears and weaving gives it away, it looks like its in the 15-30% range a good chunk of the climb, is that right? and its not exactly a short climb in terms of English hill standards.

I know I need to get on google maps (work is killing me this week) but where exactly does the road go the other side, is there anyway to work your way around and back to your original starting point without having to climb back up from the other side and then descend the original climb itself (or turn around)?

Good luck Diddly, are you going to GoPro it for us all armchair climbers back here?

Water is going to be a problem climbing the Teide (Tenerife) I had thought about that, I really want to try it non-stop failing that I could always drive up the night before and hide some bottles of water at various places (behind trees etc) which I could stop and pour into my water bottle on the actual climb, but thats stopping! I suppose I should just enjoy it and treat the first climb as a day out rather than a race of sorts?

Thanks all

 

[jazzkat]

it looks like its in the 15-30% range a good chunk of the climb, is that right? and its not exactly a short climb in terms of English hill standards.

It's not that bad, there's a good bit in the middle where it feels flat, of course it isn't it's just your legs have stopped screaming
I don't know if these links will work, but it might give you some idea.
http://veloviewer.com/segments/2626746/athlete/3955330
http://veloviewer.com/segments/1404557/athlete/3955330
http://veloviewer.com/segments/4028982/athlete/3955330
Don't look at the rubbish speeds! lol
I suppose the shortest ride you could do would be to park in Torver, ride down to Broughton, right to Ulpha (or cut the corner off on some of the lanes) over the hill to eskdale, turn right for Hardknott and Wrynose, drop down to the A593 through coniston to Torver. You could just do Hardknott and Go Ulpha, Eskdale, Cockley beck and back to Ulpha.

 

[333]

Thanks Jazzkat for the links, thats a great site not seen it before!

lol they are not rubbish speeds around that terrain!

So I've just drawn this out on Garmin Connect based on one of your suggested routes (thanks chap):

1. Start @ Torver
2. Hardknott Pass
3. Past Beckfoot
4. Left at the road to Eskdale Green
5. Austhwaite Brow (road??)
6. Right into Ulpha
7. South down Sella Brow
8. A595 to A593 ?
9. Back up to Torver

That's approx 36.32 miles with some nice climbs in there, is that the route you were thinking or is there a way to avoid the A roads at the end? I guess I could cut it out with Hummer Lane??? (no idea what these roads are like though, maybe a recon in the car is called for before I do it!)

Is there anywhere I can stop nearby where the bikes would be safe do you know hotel wise? I'd probably stay a day or two as its a big drive from here, failing that there's always the boot I guess or camping lol.

 

[jazzkat]

Torver to Hardknott from the East? ie Coniston, Little Langdale and Wrynose first?
If it's your first time I'd do Hardknott from the west (coming from Eskdale) for the full experience.
It's the way most folk do it and maybe a bit easier (it's all relative!). I'd do it like this, Anticlockwise, I think the opposite to your thoughts.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4855272
You can park on the road where I show the start. There's a pub there, it might do B&B? But, there's B&Bs and hotels all over the place. Lots in Coniston. I'm sure there'll be some in Broughton in Furness. There's a couple in Eskdale and there's loads in and around Ambleside.
Don't worry about the main roads, I don't know where you are from but most of the A roads around here are very quiet and almost all of the drivers are considerate.
Don't recce it in a car first, that'll spoil the voyage of discovery

 

[Waspie]

lol wow! this climb sounds grim, especially the descent if I can even make it that far.

Water is going to be a problem climbing the Teide (Tenerife) I had thought about that, I really want to try it non-stop failing that I could always drive up the night before and hide some bottles of water at various places (behind trees etc) which I could stop and pour into my water bottle on the actual climb, but thats stopping! I suppose I should just enjoy it and treat the first climb as a day out rather than a race of sorts?

Thanks all

Depends what you want out of it I suppose, I would be tempted to treat it a a day out as once you get into the crater, it is absolutely stunning. Although getting in and out of the crater can add a couple of thousand feet of climbing depending on how far you go.
I climbed it earlier in the year and was passed by a guy with two litre bottles on his bike and another in his jersey pocket so I assume he was heading up to the top non-stop so it must be do-able.
I took it easy as I'd never done any climbs outside the UK so had no idea how I'd handle it, stopped for a water top up and a bite to eat at the last village.

Link to my ride if interested.

For what it's worth, I would tackle Teide again with a bit less trepidation than I would Hardknott!