MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I'm thinking about doing this route (think it's the Jenride 2021 route)
as a two or three day bike packing trip some time over summer.
I've done a few long distance rides over the last couple of years (Leeds Liverpool canal in a day for example) so I'm used to a long day in the saddle and I've started working some hills (my progress here will determine whether it's two days ot three days!).
What I can't work out is how commiting/technical the descents might be. I've not really done a lot of proper mountain biking so don't know if i can reasonably get skilled up in time or if i'm biting of more than i can chew! I've been to Llandegla for the first time today and did the blue route (easy peasy) then a couple of laps of the red route (more fun, nothing I found too scary/hard but hard on the legs). How would the descents on the Lakes route compare? Do I need to work my way onto the blacks at Llandegla? (How much harder are they btw?!)
Thanks in advance 🙂
Yup, that's the Jennride '21 route.
Its natural riding, so nothing at all like Llandegla. Some of it is proper gnadgery tech, both up and down, which simply doesn't compare to "graded trails". There's a fair chunk of pushing involved, even for good riders. Its also in a mountain environment which involves a slightly different skill set and risk assessment to bikepark trails or a towpath.
Put it another way - you do one of the most feared road climbs in the country - Wrynose pass, and I reckon the tarmac climb out of Coniston up to Walna Scar was worse. The offroad up and down is of a similar calibre. (just looked up the stats of the canal ride. The Jennride route is 8 times as much climbing (and descending) in 3/4 the distance.
I'm not saying don't do it, but it'll be a big lump to bite off as your first lakes mission.
(and having done it, personally - I'd skip the bit from Seathwaite to Birks Bridge as it was a bit rubbish - an awful lot of climbing for a very average descent)
Toughest descent on that route is probably the descent to Seathwaite, and even that is not too bad, very rocky with a couple of smallish drops/rolls. You're coming down the easy side of Walna Scar, too, with very little tech between you and Stephenson Ground.
The descent out of Grizedale Forest is roughish, but again, not a problem, even on a loaded bike. The most horrible bit by far is the tarmac climb up to Walna Scar, and the push up the zigzags to the top of it.
Take it steady over three days and it won't be too bad at all, I reckon.
Thanks for the tips, much appreciated. Yep expecting a bit of pushing! Happy with that, also happy getting off and walking down if required.
Don't mind suffering and prepared to put in a good bit of hill training. Just didn't want to find after all the suffering uphill the descents were basically totally undoable without nerves of steel and lots of skill i don't have.
Any tips for good training routes within striking distance of merseyside (so lakes/peak/yorkshire/north wales)
Climbing is my main hobby so used to having to make on the spot risk assessment away from immediate help but point taken.
Thanks again!
I know exactly which tarmac path you mean up to Walna scar btw. I've been up that way climbing on Dow a few times and remember thinking i'd hate to be on a bike!
If you’re a climber and already have a decent general outdoorsy head, that puts a slightly different perspective on things.
in terms of training rides - plenty to go at.
Peaks is my local - hayfield/jacobs ladder loop(s), ladybower etc
N. Wales, maybe give Snowdon a try? (Probably not as a first “wild” outing)
Lakes - a lot of the Jennride breaks down into shorter loops you can chew away at. There’s loads of riding between Staveley, Ambleside, grasmere inc Garburn pass etc. Various loops around Coniston/Walna Scar; Grizedale/Parkamoor/Iron Keld etc.
or a bit further north, but still Lakes, the Borrowdale Bash & variations
I'll give them a look ta. So no need to push myself onto black runs at trail centres then (i may anyway in time!)? I'm aware that the red at Llandegla is seen as a bit of a soft touch.
TBH, reds or blacks at degla won't really prepare you for Lakes riding, you should try to get yourself up to the Lakes for a weekend and get a feel for it. You won't regret it, in fact, you'll probably find yourself going to trail centres less afterwards. If that's too far, you're only an hour or so from the Dales, where you can get a lot of climbing and mileage into a day if you fancy testing yourself.
If I'm being honest, the 2019 version of the Jennride is a superior route, still has a few big pushes but the downhills are better IMO, and you get all the way over to Wasdale.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30463078?lang=en
Or better still, sign yourself up for the 2023 version, entries are now open.
I suppose I was just seeing the trail centre thing as a means to and end tbh I'm.much more after an adventure than thrills and spills, although I did have a great time at Llandegla today and will probably go back either way.
The route was just something to aim for really and was the first thing I found which looked interesting and enough of a challenge. Will definitely look into the 2019 route too thanks for that. I did think about entering this year's event but really not sure if I would be able to complete in two days and if I'm honest kinda just prefer doing things to my own tune, Definitely not interested in racing although it doesn't seem like it's that kind of event.
Been trying to piece together some routes from straight out the door (St Helens) but it's either canal or road bashing for a distance to get up to Rivington which is the nearest bit of anything with some consistent hills.
I did think about entering this year’s event but really not sure if I would be able to complete in two days and if I’m honest kinda just prefer doing things to my own tune, Definitely not interested in racing although it doesn’t seem like it’s that kind of event.
Yeah, it's not a race at all, it's a social gathering involving pushing overloaded bikes up hills.