Paul_L
Über Member
- Location
- Shipley, West Yorks
Did anyone else do the Keswick sportive today? 105km 6 pass route from Keswick taking in Whinlatter pass (from Braithwaite), Newlands Pass (from Buttermere), Honister Pass (from Seatoller), Whinlatter (from Lorton), Newlands (from Braithwaite) and finally Honister again from Buttermere.
This was a bit of a step up for me in terms of climbing. I've riden the distance quite a bit before but never taking on hills like these.
Whinlatter first time was fine, nothing too serious but a good start. Newlands was the first 25% climb but that wasn't so bad, but we had a bit of a tail wind). The descent of Newlands first time round gave us an idea of how hard it would be coming back up the other side with the first part of the descent being very steep before a long gentle drop. Maybe it's because i can't really remember too much about it after the carnage later on to come, but the first climb of Honister Pass from Seatoller wasn't too bad (i'm sure it was really) with all the steep stuff towards the bottom.
Whinlatter second time round was my favourite climb. Long but steady. By now though the weather was closing in, dark clouds gathering and wind picking up. The second climb of Newlands was mental. Winds all other the place, struggling to keep hold of the bike, moving all over the road. The steepest part was at the summit. That bit where the winds are strongest! How i got up the final section without either been blown off or just getting off and walking i don't know, but there we were 5 out of 6 climbs done. Just the hardest ascent of Honister to come.
The drop off Newlands second time round, was scary. Fast descent and awful winds. Only a small amount of shelter at the bottom before the start of the climb out of Buttermere up Honister. By now the winds were not just a pain in the arse, they were scary and dangerous. At one point i was on the flat, stood up on the pedals on the bottom ring doing 5.9mph. As soon as it went uphill, even on the gentle bits it was almost impossible to ride. I was blown off the bike by a gust of wind. Walked a bit. Remounted when it was a bit of shelter. 20m later, blown right across the road in front of a car coming down the other way, and onto the grass. Lot's of swearing, bugger this for a game of buscuits and this time i just walk the bugger to the top. And i was not alone. It was more like a hike! In fairness i'd probably have struggled on the 30% sections at the top even without the wind.
And that was pretty much that. 8 miles from the top of Honister downhill and then all flat to the finish and i was happy with my ride. Total time of 6h25 but that including a lot of time lost through regrouping at the tops and drinks stops. I think my ride time was something like 5h40.
Great event, well organised. Lots of food and drink on the route. Well signed and chip timed.
I'll be back next year, but can we have no winds please!
This was a bit of a step up for me in terms of climbing. I've riden the distance quite a bit before but never taking on hills like these.
Whinlatter first time was fine, nothing too serious but a good start. Newlands was the first 25% climb but that wasn't so bad, but we had a bit of a tail wind). The descent of Newlands first time round gave us an idea of how hard it would be coming back up the other side with the first part of the descent being very steep before a long gentle drop. Maybe it's because i can't really remember too much about it after the carnage later on to come, but the first climb of Honister Pass from Seatoller wasn't too bad (i'm sure it was really) with all the steep stuff towards the bottom.
Whinlatter second time round was my favourite climb. Long but steady. By now though the weather was closing in, dark clouds gathering and wind picking up. The second climb of Newlands was mental. Winds all other the place, struggling to keep hold of the bike, moving all over the road. The steepest part was at the summit. That bit where the winds are strongest! How i got up the final section without either been blown off or just getting off and walking i don't know, but there we were 5 out of 6 climbs done. Just the hardest ascent of Honister to come.
The drop off Newlands second time round, was scary. Fast descent and awful winds. Only a small amount of shelter at the bottom before the start of the climb out of Buttermere up Honister. By now the winds were not just a pain in the arse, they were scary and dangerous. At one point i was on the flat, stood up on the pedals on the bottom ring doing 5.9mph. As soon as it went uphill, even on the gentle bits it was almost impossible to ride. I was blown off the bike by a gust of wind. Walked a bit. Remounted when it was a bit of shelter. 20m later, blown right across the road in front of a car coming down the other way, and onto the grass. Lot's of swearing, bugger this for a game of buscuits and this time i just walk the bugger to the top. And i was not alone. It was more like a hike! In fairness i'd probably have struggled on the 30% sections at the top even without the wind.
And that was pretty much that. 8 miles from the top of Honister downhill and then all flat to the finish and i was happy with my ride. Total time of 6h25 but that including a lot of time lost through regrouping at the tops and drinks stops. I think my ride time was something like 5h40.
Great event, well organised. Lots of food and drink on the route. Well signed and chip timed.
I'll be back next year, but can we have no winds please!
