The highway agency didn't put the Road Closed sign where it would make sense, they could have just told us too! They had one job... Dipshits! So we had to turn the bikes around on the steepest bit of the most challenging road in Britain.
Ah memories. Went over Hardknott and Wrynose twice as a yoof. First time in spring, it was a white out. Spent some time in the scenery as I had no idea where the road was. Second time in high summer, it was raining cats and dogs and blowing a hoolie. Happy days! Both times I met some old bloke in an old Landrover who never moved an inch as he came at me. Cumbrian curmudgeon I guess.
In 1980 did that road on a Ducati Darmah SS, with a passenger (now my wife) in an absolute downpour.....we were the only vehicle on the road and the water on some of the bends was quite literally running like rivers. The steering lock was so poor that I had to spin-up the rear wheel to get the bike turned on the tighter bends. Not nice when the road was so wet! We made it OK and after some tea and cake the ride back in the sunshine was great.
The problem with this crash site is that the road surface faces into the sun in the middle of the day and it 'over heats' the surface making it slick when wet and combined with gradient and the sharp turns. Use to be used in the RAC rally before it was fully surfaced. 1958 and 1959 both passes where timed at 30 mph. Try that on a week day without traffic, but still with sheep and cattle. Be good to add to the ACU national rally without the timing.
I never bothered with the Hardknott because of the amount of traffic (cars) coming the other way that were not being observant of the old 'traffic coming downhill gives wat to that coming uphill' common sense rule of sensible driving with respect for others..... I saw a young lass do ithe pass one day and turn back to do it again as it was so much fun - her friends on sportsbikes wouldn't follow her back as they said it was too dangerous.... she was still a learner as well..... I have however done the Wrynose a good few times and the Bealach Na Ba pass near Applecross in Scotland on my Harleys when heavily laden with camping gear. On one such occassion I was passed by a cople of sportsbikes riding like they owned the road but it is not my place to tell others how to drive or ride so.... About five miles later on, one of the sportsbikes was parked at the side of the road with two riders by it, one of whom was looking a bit sheepish. I slowed to a stop and asked if they were OK to which I got the reply that one of them lost control of his bike and decided it was a good idea to jump off the bike as it left the road. I asked where the bike was and was told it was down the side of the mountain - about two hundred foot down to be precise ! They had mobile phones and were getting a signal apparently so I wished them luck as I pottered off down the road having a bit of a chuckle to myself ! Moral to the stories ? - you can have the best most up-to-date bike in the world but if your riding skills and judgement are not upto the challenge of roads like the one in this video, then be prepared to be humiliated !
Oh you should give it a go because like you say, anyone can do it, even learners and sports bike riders. I've never had bother with traffic at all even on weekends and if you don't go somewhere just because other road users don't follow your rules you'll miss out. I just wait in a passing area but more often than not we get waved on. Go for it ;)
@@mykheaton They are not my rules but common sense 'rules of curtesy', and not all car drivers are like it I agree - it is normally just holiday makers who are sightseeing. I live down south and was at the Ace Cafe in London one day when a guy I got talking to told me he lived in Cumbria. He said that for something to do they would ride their bikes to the pass and deliberately make things difficult for car divers by blocking their path..... so it ain't just car drivers either ! I never go anywhere where there is going to be lots of traffic or people - I like getting out in the country for the peace and solitude after the hectic pace of life these days and travel alone as I can't be bothered with all the dramas other people create and carry with them - pillions seem to be the worst culprits, you know - back seat riders ! As for your comment that anyone can do it, well the guy who dropped his bike couldn't could he ? Things are a little different on Harleys - you are riding a bike that weighs 300Kg BEFORE it's loaded with camping gear and they have a rear wheel bias to the weight distribution as well. When younger I would also tear around like a fool and have the scars to show for it - broke my legs four times in all thanks to car drivers. But, as I am in my 60's, I tend to take things a little easier these days - I won't 'downsize' either as Jap bikes are just of no interest to me, I tried them a few times but found they are a bit boring and 'samey' - just lke all the others. I cut my teeth on British bikes and just cannot bring myself to keep things as 'factory standard' and the aftermarket dosen't really cater to my tastes for Japs.... I am not derideing them, just not my choice. I urge you to buy some midge repellant and ride up the west coast of Scotland - I think it is refered to as the North West 200 these days..... Cumbria is just a park in comparrison to Scotland and the natives are friendly - once you get away from the cities.
@@mykheaton You are welcome friend - I suppose that I see the traffic in Cumbria as it is summer when I go there and I am just a tourist myself, I love to stop and watch for a while but it's easier and doesn't cause a blockage on the narrow roads. I don't like riding in colder times as these old bones don't like it ..... don't get old mate, it's not much fun !
I am a biker but don't know of the Hardknott pass so was curious to watch. Almost stopped in the first few seconds tho, the wind noise is unbearable and needs suppressing. However I persisted and it's clearly a challenging ride especially on a bigger bike, where the road surface is pretty rubbish. Camera video performance needs upgrading too tho, the video frame refresh is not fast enough, very notch.
Yes, was facing the road coming the other way, the highway agency had just put it there then drove up. We thought if the road was actually closed they might have told us as we were clearly following them. They said they put the sign out of the way so traffic could pass it.
Its great at night by yourself. Ive done it a few times and never seen another soul all the way.last time on a lambretta 225cc. It flew over.the small high revving 2T engine loved it.these big multi cylendar bikes are not cut out for this type of road
Presumably that's a 'Road Closed' sign at the start, with a gap left to enable access for farmers. I'd probably ignore it as well, just in case.. but if one person does it, everyone copies thinking it must be alright!
Yeh that's right, we got there as they were putting the sign there but it looked like they just moved it. We followed the van up but they never said anything until they tried to get us done by the police.
I once worked on a bridge / culvert repair job, quite a substantial project about 4 weeks and it was signed as road closed at road junctions half a mile each side of the job. It still seems incredible to me the number of people who drove past the signs and drove right up the big hole in the road then stopped and muttered something about the sign being right after all. Then came all the shenanigans of reversing 50 yards or doing a ten point turn in order to make an escape. Perhaps someone needs to invent a more convincing way of saying Road Closed but it seems simple enough in terms of language to me
I ridden on roads like this on my old 125 Honda. My mate couldn't keep up with me on his 650. You can definitely go ait faster on small bikes. I have 1200 GS now I can't speed around these roads like on my little Honda. Must seem strange to non bikers seeing these big bikes go slow and little bikes go fast
done it once and glad I can say ive done it but will prob never do again, its such a sketchy road tbh and if u crash or drop ur bike it just ruins the trip
Did it last year in July, not too hot but good ride. Cooked the brakes a bit on the way down as could pull the lever to the bar by the time I was at the bottom. (Was on a Ninja1000SX)
@@mykheaton Weren't there trees there a long time ago? Way back when wood was a big source of heat for homes? Trees are a renewable resource. And BTW, there are no silly questions. ;-)
@shakey2634 I can't answer those questions. I get the feeling that if trees used to be there, they still would be. There aren't a lot of homes near there, it's fairly remote and quite literally the most challenging road in the UK.
