thinking of doing this in a few weeks - anyone on here done it? going to take a combination of my bivvy/touring stuff so maybe enough gear to fill a 25l pack plus a tent on top if i take it (i maybe swapping the bivvy for my small tent depending if a mate comes or not as he doesn't have one). not sure about taking my trailer or pannier rack for the gear - how technical is the route? definately don't want to use a rucksack as i get back problems pretty quickly if i do and if i can get away with a rack i'd probably go with that to reduce the drag on the road sections... cheers 🙂
IME from doing it a few years ago I'd go for a rack in preference to a trailer.
There's a fair bit of pushing/carrying on the Lakes trails, but once through them it gets a lot easier.
ygm to the address in your profile
we used rucksacks, but were hostelling, over 6 days.
next time i'll use my new epic designs bags!
that route is almost all off road, and a lot of it would be very difficult with a trailer. black sail pass especially - about a mile's carry at teh top even without!
We completed it last week.
We were originally going to do the same as you and bivi all of the way, but in the end i'm glad we stayed in YHA's.
The endurance and extra weight (clothes for a night + extra spares) made the climbs extra difficult.
Theres a reasonable amount of pushing involved, and carring up Black Sail pass, so i wouldnt think about taking a trailer.
Conditions are excellent at the moment, with the usual boggy parts being almost dry.
Did it last week and from experience would say:-
1) Go as light as possible, especially the first day as there's a fair bit of carrying
2) Make sure your navigation skills are perfect, or buy a GPS
3) If you're unsure about directions then ask, we found everyone to be very, very helpful when we did get lost
4) Take plenty of liquids, it's hot hot hot there are the moment
Have fun !
thanks for the replies and danny thanks for the map, you're a gent 😀
as for carrying gear trailer looks unlikely then, but think i'll probably try the camping/bivvi route with minimal pannier and yha when/if i need to to keep costs down
cheers, really looking forward to it 😀
If your frame allows you to do so, then wrap some pipe-lagging where you will shoulder the bike. It makes carrying a lot more comfortable!
[img] 
[/img]
muffin-man, just discovered the need for that yesterday - double flat on a rocky descent in northumberland about a mile from my car (whilst trying to get back for match - wish i didn't bother!). should be ok with bike only, bit worried about the pannier
edit: just remembered i have an ortleib rucksack attachment - bonus!!! 😛
I have a full gpx file for the ride, tried it in one go earlier this year unsupported and trust me, carrying a bike and a 17lb backpack is not funny, especially up black sail. Read more at enduranceracing.co.uk, some pics on there too. It's the reports by Rik and not Rich as he was doing the Welsh C2C. You'll enjoy it, just be ready to push/carry as when i did the recce rides it was really staring to get on my t1ts!! I too used some pipe lagging, works a treat.
For more info read Rich Rothwells report but it may scare you a bit!
I have a 3 part GPX for the C2C that avoids the dreaded black sail portering if reqiured.
Highclimber - out of interest - how do you miss out Black Sail? ( or Bastard Sail as I called it when lugging my Orange 5 up there some years ago )
highclimber - would defo be interested in the gpx. do you miss black sail by head east from wasdale head over the langdale fell then down the valley to rejoin the normal route? how does it compare? cheers
Highclimber, I'm also interested in this route and the .gpx files would be greatly appreciated if you could ping them across when you get chance!