The Lakeland Loop – always a great ride, and usually good weather. Though, unfortunately for some, “the wind was against us”. This phrase was to become the Descender’s mantra as we pedalled our way around some the best scenery in the land.
The plan was simple, I’d ride on the front, Dene would sit in, and he’d get round in under 5 hours. Factor in my charge over Whinlatter to get him food and drink so that he didn’t have to stop in Lorton and we were on to a sure-fire winner. Sadly, like City’s run into the last few games of the Premiership, it didn’t work out as planned.
We could have done with a few more bodies on the back of Thirlmere to sustain the charge along the lake, and “the wind was against us” from Lorton onwards.
There were highlights though...... The Descender descending at a rapid rate towards the front of an on-coming double-decker is one though that I don’t want to see repeated! How he squeezed through the gap between the car and the bus still dumbfounds me.
We hit the bottom of Hardknott at 4 hours, but sadly this is where the game was lost. The tough climb up Hardknott, as demonstrated by Deno,
followed by the climb over Wrynose
brought us to the final shoulder across the back of Blea Tarn.
A quick dash down Wall End and we were back in the field. Job done for another year!
Two passes today, though the book is a bit confusing. It shows the ascent over Wrynose from west to east, but the description is east to west. I’ll have to come back and do it from both sides to make sure!
69.4 miles 2268m
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