Amazing effort Zlod. Good luck for the rest of the season. TMB included, IIRC?
Amazing effort Zlod. Good luck for the rest of the season. TMB included, IIRC?
And again for 2009....................
What is the terrain like for the bike from Whitehaven along the cycle track to when you come off before Kirkland (and on the track to the YH). Will a road bike with Campag Zondas and maybe Conti Gatorskins cut it or would a chunkier tyre/wheel be better suited?
Yes, we need to know this, could this be a new "what bike" thread?
Perhaps a recce is on the cards????
I often used the cycle track on my way for a ride down Buttermere on my road bike, its tarmaced and is really fast to move on even though its uphill. I could often keep on the big ring all the way.
The forest road down Ennerdale is totally different, its rough and stoney, before mountain bikes I would go up there on a tourer I think the tyres were 32? and would get knocked about a bit by the stones.
I think you could get by on a road bike with touring style tyres but not racing tyres.
Thanks Baggins. Am I correct in saying entry onto the cycle path is from the B5345 just south of the Old Quay - is it an obvious entry onto it and then obvious end to the route on back road 1.25K west of Kirkland? Will be going up for a recce but just gathering info...........ta.Originally Posted by Baggins
I would say its not too obvious, it's marked as it's the start of the c2c cycle route, here's a simple map showing the way. (don't use the quieter route at the start, total waste of time)
When you end the route on the cycle path near Kirkland you turn left at the road, after about 300m you come to a crossroads by Kirkland school, turn right here up the hill after 800m you'll come to another crossroads in Kirkland.
Turn right here to drop down to Ennerdale village or straight across then follow the road to a T juction at Cauda Brow where you turn right and drop down to Croasdale.
AIA,
I did it last year and used a mountian bike with semi-slick tyres but to be honest if I were to do it again I'd use a cross bike.
From the start to the track at Ennerdale it's all tarmac and would be very quick on a road bike or crosser. The track at Ennerdale is not that long but it is quite stony - I think you'd get pretty shook up on a roadie but it's definitely doable.
Having said all that we made a real mess of the run on that leg so I reckon if we'd done it on unicycles it wouldn't have made much difference.
If you're serious about your time and want the best possible machine for the job it's got to be a cross bike (with a fairly low gear for the climb back out the valley!!!)
Will prob get some Askiums with some suitably thick rubber on for the road bike - bit of an expense to get a crosser just for this stretch. Anyway, good feedback so I can ditch the Michellin pro sports!
Like the quip re unicycles! Will be doing at least 2 recces for this leg - there are some nice shorter route options from the YH which join up to Black Sail pass but I think we are expected to go via Black Sail hut. Might make for a good bivvi recce as per the one earlier on in this thread.
Lots of good info, thanks guys. The rate limiting step for me will be bone healing time and the ability to run once healed. Time will tell. A little ride on the bike to recce the route shouldn't be beyond me though!
Addy, does this mean you are doing it??
As long as nothing breaks in the meantime!!
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