At least once every year, we make sure we’ve ridden Great Dun Fell - the big hill - the highest road in Britain and the daddy of #deadendclub! This year we set to our work on August Bank Holiday Monday with a dispersed crowd of about 30 riders. One of them was Guinness World Record Holder, Scott Mitchell - here’s his version of events together with our photos of a top day out…
'Hillgrimage 2024 - Group in 'Cold Dark North'
Having this kind of notification pop up in WhatsApp (you can join our WhatsApp Community here, Ed) always gives me a couple of simultaneous emotions. The first being joy - 'yay, another CDN ride!' and the other, slight dread - 'oh no, where's he taking us now?!' But there's always the warm glow that you just know you'll be looked after, it's a CDN ride and they're catered for all.
But...the word 'Hillgrimage' itself can only mean one thing - the 11/10 climb that is Great Dun Fell, and more than likely (knowing Toby) a little slice of something else too, and in this case - Hartside Fell. Excitement and dread appear in equal measure. 'The big one' is 11/10 for a reason.
The plan was set, meet at Penrith Station at a specified time (after driving North through what felt like all of Ullswater landing on the car), meet new folk, roll out, follow the route that had been crafted by Cold Dark North. So, 21 riders (which later swelled again in number to over 30 with stragglers) set out following a slight deviation. We were led out of Penrith in a couple of groups by locals through the slightly confusing one-way system. Now, I've ridden a few times round the Eden Valley, but as is par for these rides, it was very much a journey of discovery. We were meandering through the quiet, gorgeous, little back lanes shadowing the A6 southbound that I've managed to miss until now. Then we wiggled our way eastwards through the picturesque sandstone villages of Morland and Kings Meaburn towards Appleby, where we stopped as a group to, well, 'prepare'.
Pop a few calories down, take a few deep breaths, gather your thoughts and start heading back North.
Here, we enjoyed a lovely tailwind up to Dufton, then again onto Knock, where the impending doom became reality. We're here for a reason, so let's just get on with it. 'If you're into that kinda thing, say a prayer now'.
Great Dun Fell - on paper, it's statistically 2/3rds of Alpe d'Huez - but it's nothing like it. 7.5km long, with an average gradient of 8.4% - that's only half the story. It starts out nice and easy at 2%, like a fun little jab in the belly. It soon starts to ramp up though. 2% becomes 6%, which before you know it, gets into double figures. A quick respite, before it starts proper - you're through the gate and into the steep stuff, topping out at 25%. Now you're sweating, and it's only just begun. After a flat few hundred metres, you're into what feels like an eternity of 10-15% until you think you're done - but you're not. Literally seconds of soft pedaling and it's quad-screaming steep again, ramping up to 20% yet again. Now - it's true we had a tail wind up here (as I'm told, the UK's only named wind) - 'the Helm Wind', but you didn't really notice it. Cresting over the worst of it, we looked out to see - basically nothing. Thinking it's the sweat condensation, the glasses are off, but no - the wind picks up and it's 40 metres of visibility - which in fairness at least hides that evil last 15% ramp.
Bingo - done!
But - it's bitterly cold and raining sideways, so quick celebrations are had, photos are taken, jackets are donned and a (very careful) descent taken. Trying to ride downhill, into not-insignificant winds that are throwing mizzle into your eyes is challenging.
Grouping back up at the bottom, everyone was glad to have completed it, but astounded that the view to 'the golf ball' was better from 5 miles away than 50 metres, we all set off towards Melmerby for a catch up and some lunch at the bakery - just what was needed.
Straight out of here, you're into Hartside. Now, if I'm being completely open, I love Hartside as a climb this way round, and we were really treated with the wind. Pushing us up the (again) 7.5km ascent, but this time only with a 5.3% average, it felt mere lump compared to what had already passed, and after another grouping up to appreciate the far-reaching views of central Cumbria to the west of us, we set off down 'the other way' back to Penrith via the 'sting in the tail' that was Strawberry Hill. 'It's like he hates us'.
A few strategically placed stickers later, we were all rolling back through to the station, all having had 'a proper day out' - a day on the bike always a joyous occasion, but coupling it with meeting new people, riding new roads and experiencing it all together serves to remind us of the true joys of cycling - especially somewhere so beautiful, and arduous, as Cumbria.
You can find the route that we rode on Komoot here.
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