Training in the Lakes

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from doing the Etape’s its that cycle fitness is nothing without conditioning. By that I mean hill, lots of them and the steeper and longer the better.

Earlier in the year I have planned to take a break to France and take on some alpine climbs. Unfortunately this remained a pipe dream and I considered the alternatives.

The Lake District seemed to be the perfect option, close and hilly. What topped it for me was watching David Walliams fall off his bike on Kirkstone pass during his sport relief ride. I wanted a piece of that climb!

My first ride departed from Coniston and headed up to Ulswater via Ambleside and the Kirkstone pass. What a beast for the morning, 25% for substantial sections. What I realised at the top was Walliams has taken the gentler approach, the Ambleside climb is much steeper. The run down to Ulswater was a fast roller coaster of a road with some stunning views of Helvelin.

From Ulswater I headed north to the A66 and then left to Keswick. My tri bars came into their own on the smooth tarmac and I quickly covered the miles. The turn back on the road to Windermere was a shock though; first a big climb and then a nasty headwind. To top this off a Euro fighter did a low pass and nearly made me jump off my bike.

I made good time back to Ambleside so added on a loop of Windermere and back to Coniston. All in it was about 80 miles on a lovely route. Some of the roads were potholed but nothing unbearable.

The next day it was the turn of Wynose and Hardknott passes from the Langdale side. Wynose is a 30% climb up to a col with some stunning views at the top.

I’d never ridden anything so steep for so long until descending the other side and seeing the Hardknott pass. I’ve never seen a wall of tarmac before let alone ridden up one. The switchbacks on this road made Mow Cop look like wheelchair ramp. The legs came good and a couple of guys I overtook said I made it look easy.

The return leg to Coniston wasn’t as nice though as the heavens opened and the wind picked up. One pass was just too exposed to take leaving a nasty surprise of short sharp hills from Broughton.