Did Wyrnose and then HK last year loaded with camping kit from Langdale. Going from Langdale to the coast I reckon Wyrnose is harder, and HK is OK (although the start is very steep). However in the opposite direction (heading from west to east) HK seems (and probably is) much longer, but Wyrnose would be easier. HK going West to East seems substantially bigger / longer than Wyrnose in either direction.
Bike Forum
Hardknott and Wrynose Pass
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Posted 9 months ago #
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david I have of course met people who have done these passes on insane gears
I asked a bloke how he coped with 42x24. He said he only used that gear on the steep bit of hard knott (towards the coast at the bottom) the rest he did 42x21
But if 80% of FD riders walk up then they were sold bikes with the wrong gearing. There may have been a time when there was some argument about the need for close ratios on the flat etc. But when a bike can have 20 or 30 gears surely the lowest should be low enough for most people to be able to ride these hills?
Posted 9 months ago # -
I asked a bloke how he coped with 42x24. He said he only used that gear on the steep bit of hard knott (towards the coast at the bottom) the rest he did 42x21
WTF! Absolute machine, he cant be a mere mortal!
But if 80% of FD riders walk up then they were sold bikes with the wrong gearing. There may have been a time when there was some argument about the need for close ratios on the flat etc. But when a bike can have 20 or 30 gears surely the lowest should be low enough for most people to be able to ride these hills?
Yeh, I see your point. Although I think on the FW, by the time you get to hardknott, some are just too tired to cycle up whatever gear they have.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Fair point David I an still to this day amazed.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Had a shottie at it a couple of months ago. I had no luggage and used a light mtb with slicks. Visibility was nil. I was disappointed to find a cairn beside the road and realised I was at the top. I'm just a commuter and not that fit. Biggest problem was keeping the front wheel down. I found Corgarff in the highlands harder (but my gears were higher then). Loved going down the other side and Wrynose is quite a bit easier, went up it without realising I wasn't in lowest gear.
Posted 8 months ago # -
The worse thing is you'l be in Cumbria. The place is fine, it's the people that are the problem.
And HK smarts a bit. What you need is a fixie.
Posted 8 months ago # -
went up it without realising I wasn't in lowest gear
I'd hope not on the MTB, there shouldn't be a road climb that necessetates the use of your lowest gear!
As has been observed road gearing is far far far taller than an MTB. Big/big on the MTB (assuming 44/34) is easier than a compact with an 11-25. Go back and do it in the big ring, that's more of an achievement, and still easier than many road bikes!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Had a shottie at it a couple of months ago. I had no luggage and used a light mtb with slicks. Visibility was nil. I was disappointed to find a cairn beside the road and realised I was at the top. I'm just a commuter and not that fit. Biggest problem was keeping the front wheel down. I found Corgarff in the highlands harder (but my gears were higher then). Loved going down the other side and Wrynose is quite a bit easier, went up it without realising I wasn't in lowest gear.
Awesome effort. Even I had to use the lowest gear when I drove up it in my car!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Go back and do it in the big ring, that's more of an achievement, and still easier than many road bikes!
Fair point
If I can reduce the gut by 20lbs I might do that... But I like pies too much!
Posted 8 months ago #
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