{"id":7591,"date":"2018-06-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpmigr.edinburghbicycle.com\/blog\/lake-district-cycling"},"modified":"2026-02-24T13:01:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T13:01:11","slug":"lake-district-cycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/ebco\/blog\/lake-district-cycling","title":{"rendered":"Lake District Cycling: A Diary (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Ben Smith, friend of the co-op went cycling in the Lake District, he was kind enough to keep a diary for us to see how he got on. In this first instalment he\u2019s tackling Skiddaw\u00a0and for the second, Helvellyn.<\/p>\n

Before you read on, if you think you\u2019d like to take on a Lake District cycling challenge like Ben, it\u2019s best to be prepared with a decent\u00a0 mountain bike <\/a> . If you\u2019ve got on already, book it in for a quick\u00a0 service <\/a> \u00a0to make sure it\u2019s in tip top condition before you set off.<\/p>\n

\"siddaw-1.jpg\" SKIDDAW<\/h2>\n

At the base of my first big climb of the week I\u2019m not sure which peak represents the summit \u2013 every time I think I\u2019m approaching the top, another peak gradually appears behind it.<\/p>\n

Having just left the Peak District a few days ago, even at the halfway point of Skiddaw, I feel I\u2019m higher than I\u2019ve ever been before.<\/p>\n

The top half of the ascent was a climb up a loose scree slope but the lure of the summit overrode any concerns I might normally have had on such a precarious trail.<\/p>\n

Getting to the top was not so much a bike ride but a scramble carrying something on my back!<\/p>\n

I met some walkers at the top who agreed that the upward route I took was quite sketchy so I began my ascent down one of the smoother gradients. However, I feel that I can do a smooth descent anytime I like in my local riding area so I turn round, go back up, and prepare myself for the more challenging route down.<\/p>\n

I already feel like I\u2019ve done the mother of all downhills but at this point I\u2019m barely even a quarter of the way down \u2013 this is incredible\u2026 I pause to let my brakes cool off and look back up at the trail I\u2019ve just ridden \u2013 my single piston mini discs are not really up to this!<\/p>\n

The forest and the levelling out of the lake view signals a return to the bottom. What and intoxicating experience! My thoughts are already on which summit to tackle tomorrow\u2026<\/p>\n

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\"skiddaw-2.jpg\"<\/h2>\n

\"skiddaw-6.jpg\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"skiddaw-4.jpg\"<\/h2>\n

\"skiddaw-7.jpg\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"skiddaw-3.jpg\"<\/h2>\n

Ben Smith – Lake District – Skiddaw<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

READ PART TWO OF BEN\u2019S DIARY <\/a><\/p>\n

LAKE DISTRICT CYCLING CHECKLIST:<\/h2>\n