OK, I’ll admit, the thought of Kirkstone Pass has been preying on my mind – every time I look at the contour map - and I recall the sight of David Walliams falling off on his ride up Kirkstone in March. So I decided to do a recce and check out the accommodation in Patterdale at the same time.
My route to the Kirkstone Inn at the summit was up from Ambleside. I have driven this in a car often enough; you need a heavy throttle foot to get up and very good brakes to get down. What I didn’t realise that this road is known as The Struggle. Now I understand. It was about 23 degrees when I went up on my mountain bike – low gears but much heavier than the hybrid. But I made it. Fortunately this isn’t the route we’ll be taking.
The fun bit was hooning down to Patterdale, ready to turn round and do the real climb. I was a bit disappointed with the 38mph top speed, even with my chin on the bars, but it cooled me down a bit. After a slice of millionaire’s shortbread in Glenridding and a can of something fizzy and green I felt charged up. First, I decided to see if Jonathan was on duty at the Patterdale Hotel. He was. It was great to meet him in advance. And his news was interesting. On the night we are staying in Patterdale, Friday 25th June, the hotel is fully booked by Durham R.A.T.S in other words we’ll be sharing the village with 100 bikers!
Off to the real purpose of the ride. There is about a two mile level stretch before the gradient starts, then there is a fantastic site of the snaking tarmac as it disappears up ahead and round a right hander. The sun’s beaming down on me and I’m thinking ahead. If we leave early we’ll be in the shade of the mountain. Then I think I’m being a bit optimistic about the sun. Half way up I start catching two road bikes and think heroic thoughts, but I am doing 4mph. Then a 125cc bike with pillion struggles past on the steep section. The sweat’s coming fast and I regret putting suncream on my face because it’s now in my eyes and contact lenses. Into the granny gear for the last push and I’m up at the Kirkstone Inn with the most fabulous view down and across Windermere.
Piece of cake! Now I can sleep at night.
PS Hello to Margaret and John Onions, who I met at the top, cycling in the opposite direction on their four day tour. Glad you two had a good trip.
- Paul.
My route to the Kirkstone Inn at the summit was up from Ambleside. I have driven this in a car often enough; you need a heavy throttle foot to get up and very good brakes to get down. What I didn’t realise that this road is known as The Struggle. Now I understand. It was about 23 degrees when I went up on my mountain bike – low gears but much heavier than the hybrid. But I made it. Fortunately this isn’t the route we’ll be taking.
The fun bit was hooning down to Patterdale, ready to turn round and do the real climb. I was a bit disappointed with the 38mph top speed, even with my chin on the bars, but it cooled me down a bit. After a slice of millionaire’s shortbread in Glenridding and a can of something fizzy and green I felt charged up. First, I decided to see if Jonathan was on duty at the Patterdale Hotel. He was. It was great to meet him in advance. And his news was interesting. On the night we are staying in Patterdale, Friday 25th June, the hotel is fully booked by Durham R.A.T.S in other words we’ll be sharing the village with 100 bikers!
Off to the real purpose of the ride. There is about a two mile level stretch before the gradient starts, then there is a fantastic site of the snaking tarmac as it disappears up ahead and round a right hander. The sun’s beaming down on me and I’m thinking ahead. If we leave early we’ll be in the shade of the mountain. Then I think I’m being a bit optimistic about the sun. Half way up I start catching two road bikes and think heroic thoughts, but I am doing 4mph. Then a 125cc bike with pillion struggles past on the steep section. The sweat’s coming fast and I regret putting suncream on my face because it’s now in my eyes and contact lenses. Into the granny gear for the last push and I’m up at the Kirkstone Inn with the most fabulous view down and across Windermere.
Piece of cake! Now I can sleep at night.
PS Hello to Margaret and John Onions, who I met at the top, cycling in the opposite direction on their four day tour. Glad you two had a good trip.
- Paul.
Sun on the Kirkstone Inn
Signpost down ‘The Struggle’
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