Learned something about climbing today.

[Globalti]

I went up The Struggle this morning. 32 minutes, is that respectable?

Those who have climbed it will know that it's a climb of two halves. The first half was awful because my hands were squirming around on the hoods in my sweaty mitts and I just felt all wrong. I was wondering if I would manage the crux of the climb through the zig zags up to the Kirkstone Inn so I decided to stop and remove the mitts. To my amazement, being able to grip the hoods more securely put me in a more upright position, allowing me to climb with straighter legs like on a stair climbing machine. The difference to climbing efficiency was remarkable and the last few hairpins, two of them at over 20%, seemed much more bearable.

Gawd knows how people manage to do the Fred Whitton though; after just one Lakes climb I feel like I've ridden a TT.

The road from the pass down to Bowness was horribly rough for the first half, terrible worn-out top-dressing, which made my hands ache with gripping the bars. My plan to finish with a trip over Windermere on the Hawkshead ferry then round to Ambleside was thwarted though because yesterday the ferry caught fire and it's now out of action, probably for a good few weeks.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Many kudos to you @Globalti!
I walked down the Struggle, after walking up most of the Kirkstone pass.
The descent was needing to much concentration in my tired state, I'm scared of steep, twisty downhills.

 

[IBarrett]

Hmm, interesting to read your thoughts on gripping the hoods when out of the saddle. I have really loose hands and throw the bike about so I’ll have to try your method and see if it’s better.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Did you find two of my ribs on Wrynose Pass?

Great climb though. Did your gps record your VAM?

 

[Globalti]

Eh? My GP and his colleagues were nowhere near the scene.

 

[KenDave]

I went up The Struggle this morning. 32 minutes, is that respectable?

Well, on Strava, 7459 people have recorded a time, the fastest being Rohan Dennis during the Tour of Britain a couple of years ago in 13:05.
Your time would put you in around 5500th place.

 

[Globalti]

Not last then by any means! That's a relief!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I'm just impressed by anyone who can get up the damn thing so well done @Globalti

Re Windermere Ferry: the radio up here yesterday said that alternative arrangements had been put in place for pedestrians and cyclists - not sure what these are though. Maybe a small motor boat?

 

[Globalti]

Yes one of the smaller cruisers is running a service from Bowness Bay to the Hawkshead jetty.

Has anybody ever cycled up the west shore of Windermere from the ferry ramp to Brathay and Ambleside? What's the surface like?

 

[Too Tyred]

Completely different to how I climb, I usually get off and push.. naw jokes!

Hands are only on hoods when out of the saddle, even then I may go on the drops if I'm feeling good. When I sit down I bring them a lot more central and sit right up, unless I'm not in a rhythm and messing with gears then I'm on the hoods. Different techniques suit different people, just look at the pro-tour. If there was a 'best' way then every rider would climb that way for marginal gains.

However, I don't think I've ever tackled a hill so long? All have been fairly short and sharp.