Don't normally do write ups but thought I would for this one as it was different, and even though I've biked a lot this year, I've never took it to the lakes or combined it with another hobby of mine which is hiking. Being stuck indoors a lot lately with uni starting back up and the weather not being great anyways I've 'just' managed to stay on top of it
Last minute planning to go the lakes Friday I thought of trying somewhere south east since I've not really been that way. I wanted something challenging since I've not done much in weeks and found a bike route that required carrying a bike and a description "Not one to be taken lightly. Hike-a-bike, technical switchbacks, punishing climbs." And it wasn't wrong
The whole route was a figure 8 so I parked in the middle near Kentmere with expectations to complete the full thing but if it took longer I could just do half. I decided I'd do the half with the 2 passes and most strenuous first.
You began with a gentle climb to the top of a downhill section towards Sadgill that's flowy enough to reach speeds which made my eyes water and which spits you out at the bottom of the valley with a huge grin but concerns it was long enough to question the level of elevation I've dropped that I'd sometime have to climb back up
From Sadgill you then ride though postman pat land; the Longsleddale valley before the long (lives up to its name) and brutal climb up towards Gatescarth Pass that's over double the elevation of the first decent. The path is rocky and there wasn't a chance I could ride up it so it was a hard slog pushing my bike up to the top occasionally stopping to enjoy the views of the valley and people climbing to make it less punishable whilst thinking "if this is what hike-a-bike is at least it's manageable by pushing... "
I knew there were two big hills en-route so getting to the top of this climb there's a bridge and a perfect stop for lunch before the next downhill section, or so I thought
after refueling I set off round the corner for what I expected to be all downhill, to find another decent sized hill to continue pushing my bike up
Getting to what was finally the top it was onto Gatescarth Pass - a picturesque and superb downhill section back to the valley bottom towards Haweswater - with a combination of steep, technical and loose tracks that felt like I was literally just clinging on for the ride. I've never been so out of breath going downhill but probably never recovered from the previous accent
At Haweswater you do a 180° and head back but towards the second pass Nan Bield. After an initial ridable section I probably rode my bike for all of 5 minutes to the top with the remainder a reality check of what hike-a-bike really meant. It was a long hike so gave plenty of time to practice what works best in terms of trying to limit the pain in my neck and shoulders as it's so steep it makes you wish you were and could push your bike the way you hardly enjoyed up to Gatesgarth, but there's very few possibilities for the most part you have to haul it.
When you reach the top and Nan Bield Pass, you are greeted with views down to Kentmere Reservoir and the Kentmere Common descent leading to it. It was nice to sit and chill for food with the view knowing this time it was all downhill from here
Looking from the top it looks like a smooth trail you could ride super fast with endless switchbacks and good terrain, but once you're on it, at least the top section, you find it's very steep with stairs of death, big rocks and drop offs that if you go too slow they'll just halt your momentum and you'll end up over the bars so you have to at least attack it with relative speed.
There were a couple gnarly bits I got off and carried my bike down as I didn't fancy broken teeth but for the most part I stuck with it, and by the time I reached the bottom my arms were so pumped I could barely hold the brakes and kept letting off to give my arms some rest for what little that did but I was enjoying it too much to stop.
I didn't manage to do the 2nd half and what would have been the 3rd pass but will certainly be trying again next year with more daylight. By the time I got to my car I felt pretty beat up and fulfilled from a full body workout.
This is the type of route you have to be willing to accept you'll spend more time pushing and carrying a bike then you will riding it, but when you plug yourself in with music and get to the descents they make it worth the gruel and I'm glad to be able to do these things whilst still relatively young and able.
It sounds cheesy but when you're sat at the top on your bike ready to tackle a downhill descent with unreal views and a playlist set up it's so rewarding and uplifting pinging down it in the moment and does wonders for mental health and fortitude I can't recommend it enough.
