Critique my lakes route

I’ve never ridden the Borrowdale Bash so want to head over to it from Glenridding. I’ve come up with this route going over the top out of Glenridding then back along the Threlkeld coach road. Anything you’d do differently? I’m expecting a long day, HaB and I’m confident fitness is up to it.

Link to komoot route here

You are doing sticks the wrong way, do it as a figure of 8 instead and finish the ride on sticks and seldom seen (north of Sheffield pike) dh, that will be the best bit.

Very ambitious mate, I love how you start by going over Helvellyn. The traditional route up us keppel cove. If it’s wet you will struggle. If its sunny and you’ve got the legs it’ll be the best day of your life. After descending past castle Crag into Grange I’d be tempted just to bomb up the right side of the lake and crack on with getting back instead of more climbing up the side of Catbells, there’s nothing to be gained there anyway.

Good luck, when are you doing it?

We want a full write up and pictures please.

Could be tempted by wzzzz’s suggestion to morph it to a fig 8.

My main points would be that sticks found E-W is generally an OK climb from Glenridding  (easy push up through mine remains and rideable most of the rest), descent to west is OK too (open single-track at first to boggy pasture to steep descent to valley floor) but not great. You may know this already. If going East-West then you might consider the zigzags up and one of the more southerly descents off Helvellyn to the West. That adds some more climbing and more technical descending. Or reverse it as suggested above (and thus make a fig. 8) – but then I’m not a huge fan of Sticks w-e as a descent either.

Also, from Keswick along the old railway and then coach road are all good for linking (I’ve used them on similar rides linking Helvellyn to the west in the past) but round Keswick can be busy with all sorts (and slow) and having non draggy tyres will make your life a lot easier on these bits.

Would agree about Cat Bells. Given what you’re doing, I’d say save the legs and get on home as suggested. The descent isn’t worth the climb and the trail is full of walkers so you can’t really open up anyway.

Birketts Leap however, that is an ace trail. I’d take the right fork through Frith Wood rather than straight down though, which is brilliant.

Sticks East is indeed a great ascent. As far as seldom seen junction at least. I was well impressed how much was rideable

On the return journey (and if you don’t mind a little carrying), you could head from the coach road up onto Clough Head (there’s a path via White Pike), Great Dodd, Watson’s and pick up the Sticks east descent.

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Thanks for the points all. I did consider a fig 8, will have another look at that. The decent to the west of sticks was my big unknown. If that’s ridable then 👍. I’ve been up through the mine on foot before so had an idea that I could ride some of that ascent above the YH. Seldom seen I’ve been down with the dog but not bike. I’m eyeing that at an evening loop perhaps.</p>
Heading up next week, hopefully the weather will be ok. I’ll not be going high if it’s grotty though still working on the backup plan.

And a fig 8 version. Punts the HaB to the end and gives more of a warm up :D.