Has anyone on CC "enjoyed" cycling in the Lake District??

[Dave7]

I used " " purposely.
We have just enjoyed a 3 day break in the lakes...........lots of walking. I saw a lot of cyclists going up some VEERRY long & steep hills. I know that I just could not do them...........maybe on my hard-tail but not with my 11-32 road bike. I sort of enjoy the hills around Cheshire but I thought "they are seriously fit" to do some of those BIG hills.
Just wondered how many CCs "enjoy" that sort of challenge.

 

[Hip Priest]

I have a few friends who do the Fred Whitton every year (ballot-permitting) and love it. For me that's perhaps the sort of challenge I'd like to endure once in a lifetime to prove to myself I could do it, but it would be an ordeal. I certainly can't see me ever relishing +25% gradients.

 

[ColinJ]

Lots of us!

I have only cycled in the Lake District once but I have tackled hundreds of tough hills in Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Peak District, Snowdonia, the Highlands and the Costa Blanca.

This is the profile of one such ride that I did a week ago ...

I intend to go for a proper cycling holiday in the Lake District one day.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I'm an occasional bike visitor and not for a few years (maybe there's the answer - or maybe Metrolink not liking full size bikes and a 12 mile ride home from Manchester stations after a day hooning in the hills doesn't appeal). I wouldn't say enjoy whilst doing it, but the exileration and sense of wow, did I really just do that, while sitting down afterwards is a bit fun

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I love taking my bikes up to the Lake District. Okay it's a bit hilly but that can be sorted with the right gearing and the views make the climbs worth it.

Any excuse to dig out this photo again :

Taken just above the hairpins on the Eskdale side of Hardknott Pass.

 

[Dave7]

Lots of us!

I have only cycled in the Lake District once but I have tackled hundreds of tough hills in Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Peak District, Snowdonia, the Highlands and the Costa Blanca.

This is the profile of one such ride that I did a week ago ...

I intend to go for a proper cycling holiday in the Lake District one day.

I take my hat off to you and the others.

 

[Crackle]

Yes: haven't done any for a few years bar accidentally getting lost on a mtn bike trail and having to go back up the Whinlatter. I've been up the Struggle and the Honister from both sides, Newlands and a few others. Never done the Hardknott or Wrynose both probably too tough for me.

 

[Kevoffthetee]

I was there early September on my hardtail. I cycled from falbarrow park to hawkeshead to grizedale visitor centre, around one of their hilly circuits, out of grizedale to Ambleside then down the west side of the lake to the ferry at bowness

I did enjoy it but it was was a family week away so ended up cycling on my lonesome as it was too much for my daughter. Could of done with some company

 

[MontyVeda]

it's not so much the hill, or the effort to get up it... but the view at the top that makes it.

 

[mrbikerboy73]

I've only ever walked in the Lakes but I'd love to do some cycling up there. Not very helpful I know but just wanted to say!
I know there is a bike shop in Ambleside that hire out bikes so I'm guessing plenty of people cycle up there. Maybe next time...

 

[ColinJ]

I love taking my bikes up to the Lake District. Okay it's a bit hilly but that can be sorted with the right gearing and the views make the climbs worth it.

Any excuse to dig out this photo again :
View attachment 107854
Taken just above the hairpins on the Eskdale side of Hardknott Pass.

That reminds me of a picture I took looking down Deepdale to Dentdale on my Settle forum ride in July ...

 

[Moon bunny]

... I cycled from falbarrow park...the ferry at bowness

I did enjoy it but it was was a family week away so ended up cycling on my lonesome as it was too much for my daughter. Could of done with some company

You were right next to where Hover fly and I sometimes work.

 

[Moon bunny]

Yes I cycle in the Lake District, but to be honest, the big hills do not appeal, I would much rather ride around a lake or around Rusland than drag myself up the big hills. Careful planning and being prepared to walk short stretches help.

 

[Wolf616]

My answer depends on where I am at the moment of answering. Ask me whilst I'm sat on CycleChat from the comfort of my chair and I'll say hills are one of the best things about cycling. Ask me halfway up a particularly hard hill and I'll tell you to fark off, before continuing to mumble under my increasingly laboured breath about how I am an idiot and I hate hills and oh god why am I doing this again? Ask me at the top of said hill and I'll breathlessly exclaim hills are categorically the best thing about cycling.

I imagine others are similar.

 

[swansonj]

I love taking my bikes up to the Lake District. Okay it's a bit hilly but that can be sorted with the right gearing and the views make the climbs worth it.

Any excuse to dig out this photo again :
View attachment 107854
Taken just above the hairpins on the Eskdale side of Hardknott Pass.

And you give me the excuse to dig out this photo again:

50 yards below yours as I'm sure you'll recognise.

Really steep hills are in some ways easier on a tandem - you don't have to worry about the front wheel lifting off, which i find is the limiting factor for me when climbing hills.