Hardknott Pass | Iconic Climbs | Cycling Weekly 

I was that "random car driver"! Having ridden up it, without walking, the day before I know that anyone making it to the top deserves a round of applause.

I’m on a best of five with this bugger, and I’m currently 0 - 2 down. Well done to all those that nailed it. Pleased I managed all the others, as I was celebrating my 65th!

I went up last week for the first time. No problem whatsoever. 13m 5s and I am 68 years old and weigh 17 stone 11 lbs. Oh I forgot to mention - I have an eBike.

Got up this last week without stopping with a 30 on the back. Trained like a mad man for it and proud to be in the club

I completed this climb yesterday! Delighted to make it safely to the top despite almost getting knocked over by two cars and finally, 100 yards from the summit cairn, a herd of cows on the road! Great feeling to make it all the way up.

I did this climb yesterday, but not being an athlete I had to stop a few times. No shame in that - I was just glad to get the whole way up on my own power. Maybe one day when I'm in my best shape I'll try do it in one go. Greetings from an Aussie.

did this last year july according to my own climbing rules (fully seated, no foot down, no weaving) - 28t chainring/34t sprocket, 32mm tyres, dry day, really good tailwind. did it totally as slow as possible - pacing yourself is crucial at my speed balancing the bike became a large part of the struggle. - saw 4x4 cars wheel spinning on the hairpins , one worry i had was cars causing me to put a foot down somewhere, but they all pull over and cheer on - great. keep your head down, don't look at the top, put some old-man gears on your bike. the wrynose decent on the other side looks like a nice climb too - maybe next time

I went up it in my LDV 200, it went on three wheels several times on the bends. I was in first gear and foot to the floor and it was slowing down to the point of stalling just passed the 33% bit. The thought of reversing down was frightening, I dipped the clutch and the revs picked up enough to get me to the top. White knuckles and out of breath, my companion said he has never seen a person more at one with their vehicle. How anyone can get up that ill on a bike is amazing. I've only just managed Red hill near louth.

How in the hell did that Roman Legion haul up all the materials for that Fort, find & move those boulders, the wood for the buildings, fighting the steep incline and winds? That takes a lot of mind-numbing grit & dedication, incredible!

Wow, that’s Ollie the guy from GCN 🙊

Me and a mate did this ride in 1992, I was on a Raleigh Apex MTB, with a flex stem. We rode for 7 hours across the lakes, so worn out, we survived on Blackberries, off the bushes. My car ran out of Petrol, on the Motorway, just outside of Lancaster, I had to scale the embankment with the bike, to find petrol, for my old Austin Allegro. Good Times.

It’s like watching Frodo and Sam climbing Mount Doom!! Epic effort boys.

I drove over Hard Knot in each direction this week, as I walked Pillar the day before my 57th. Coming back over the route you chose was difficult in a car, especially as some one in van kept stopping to give the down traffic priority. Chapeau boys.

Pretty sure the day after The Fred I wasn't thinking 'I could really do with slogging up Hardknott again'. Good effort!

I just came across this video. I rode over Hardknott pass on a fixed gear bike in the late 50s - I do not recall what gear I used but I walked quite a lot - both uphill and downhill.

I found this video very helpful and informative as it established for me, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that there is no f**king chance of me going anywhere near that climb 🤣🤣

Just did this today, really enjoyed it. Fortunately it was dry because my biggest concern was loosing traction and my back wheel slipping. I had a 11-30 and 34/50, with GP5000 @ 85PSI, that was the perfect choice for me - I was out of my seat for most of it though, I can imagine having a 32 on the back would allow you to stay seated a bit more. All in all a great day out, something for any cyclist to do at least once.

I cycled from Headingley, Leeds over to Whitehaven…already tired when I started the pass but took it slow and bounced from pedal to pedal…on my 90’s steel Ribble, gonna have to do it on my R5 next..awesome solo day!!

When I ride it I found that technique is very important too, if you can’t keep your line because you are going so slow and are unbalanced you’ll end up off the side or in a rut especially if a car is coming too. Position on the bike too: too far forward and the rear wheel will slip away and too far back and your front wheel will go. Core strength training exercises help.

Wow take my hat off to you guys that 33% bit was making my legs twitch and ache just watching. Well done

It's brutal, I've only ridden it on a mountain bike and it's still brutal with super low gears.

Did this as part of the coast to coast in 2011 on mountain bikes with 25 lbs rucksacks and raincoats on. Its really steep and it was hard to keep the front wheel down as all the weight is far back. And dont forget when you go down the other side you still have wrynose pass to climb next!

Hardknott Pass is so Beautiful. I would Love To Climb That and planning on doing it. You guys are awesome

I've done this truly wonderful climb 3 times, I live in Scotland and regularly do very steep gravel roads/MTB climbs up in the highlands as well as road cycling. The first time I tackled Hardknott, the conditions were unbelievable, it was morning a really hot summer day but the morning was cool and perfect and most importantly windless! The second time it was driving rain (I mean it is britian), the third it was somewhere in between. I think the only thing I could add would be to say on busier days the real challenge is similar to Bealach Na Ba (Applecross up here in Scotland) which is leaving enough space on the steep switchbacks, several times I have seen people roll back when trying to hill start and so staying well back to keep up your momentum really helps, I've seen cyclists fall off trying to stop on the steep sections of climbs and it just isn't worth it. My advice, get up early, get there when it is quiet and enjoy! (oh and having a climbing setup on one of my bikes was fun to have the extra granny gears).

I think I’ve just found something for the 2021 to do list - thanks guys

My knees were hurting just watching it. Too effort 👍🍻

Going downward with a car (slippery) was already very exciting. Great achievement guy. respect!

You do all that to get to the top, but you've still got to get over Wrynose too 😂

'Ollie, we are gonna send you to hardknott pass.... And can you do some presenting while you climb it.' Think this pushed him over the edge to go to GCN. Or it would have me lol. I am impressed by how little he is out of breath.

I also couldn't choose between Contador and Wiggins, so I compromised and went with "Overweight, unfit, and walking". Worked well.

Did this on Sunday 15th July 2018! You forgot to mention the option of unclipping, taking pics and getting back on. I stopped 6 times, but did not walk any of it! I think there's not real way of describing this climb, even to experienced cyclists. You just have to go and do it! By far the hardest climb I've ever done.

I love this! I want to ride that, but I've got my own version in dirt that I regularly ride. I watched this while riding rollers. It was very entertaining.

Wow-I just found this. I did the climb in June 1992 on a touring bike. drop bars and a good lowest gear (15 total). I had small panniers front; and large ones rear, full of my gear on a three month tour of England and Wales. I did have a 10 minute break half way up-chatted with another Australian driving down. It's important to work each curce=ve as well-take every small ease in gradient where possible-I call them micro gradents.I must say this clip is brilliant. It's usually impossible to capture such grades by camera. I can feel the grades again! If you are young enough and fit enough. its worth a go! Something never to be forgotten as they say. Best wishes. :-)

Looks like a beast. I was feeling pretty good about pounding up a 10-13% climb this morning before work. 33% is just insane, lol. I'm almost 200lbs though too. :D

Funny enough this inspires me to go and ride it lol, greetings from Belgium

Current Strava KOM held by 2020 British Hill Climb Champion Andrew Feather since October 1st 2020. (Avg speed 11,2 km/h, Power 463W, Time 8:22)

52-36 and 11-32 got me up at this years Fred. Still took me over 15minutes.

what was not said is that on the Fred, Hardknott comes at 90+ miles in. did the fred same time as these guys, managed it with no dabs with a 34 on the back

I "cleaned" it but I had 34-32 on a 1999 Principia RS6. I've had the privilege of riding many iconic European climbs, Hardknott is up there with the best.

I have just moved to Kendal and have no inclination to cycle this, especially after living in t'Netherlands for a while. Mind you, my 1200 Bandit would like it. Also rhythmic heavy breathing and grunting describes pretty much every ride I do.

i would love this to be part of one of the grand tours!!!

Is this in the Tour of Britain??? Very impressive guys. NOt sure I could even get up this in one go!! I'd need lower gears than that! 'The 10% recovery zone'!

Props to these guys for doing this the day after they'd already done it on a 115 mile ride....as far as the fort and the road's origins, I think some Roman surveyor found themselves in Eskdale and really wanting to get out of Eskdale very quickly even if it meant climbing straight up the side of a mountain on their hands and knees.

That looks absolutely savage. Heinous.

Chapeau to doing this and talking the whole time

I'll never complain again about my 14% climb, I promise.

Brilliant little knott. We had a few of those in Yangmingshan, Taiwan and most recently up Pikes and Mt Evans , Colorado.., although not short...would love to give Hardknott a go with my 12 yr old boy Giovanni. He likes your kits and Catlikes ,,,if you're going to suffer ..one must do so in Style

Looks very tough - I’ve cycled a lot of the climbs in the uk the hardest one I found was the tumble without doubt

I ride in Pembrokeshire loads of short 25% climbs here but nothing anywhere near that long. Definitely on my bucket list of rides/sportive to do.

EN110 - São Mamede. Coimbra - Portugal. 2.080 meters long, average 14.5%. One of couple of hairpins goes to 37% on the inside. :)

they also forgot to mention that after the descent its up and over Wrynose pass with a max of 19%

really looking forward to the fred next weekend 😖😖😖 just not hardknot pass lol

In this situation, nothing wrong with the triple chainring concept is there?

You guys must have done it multiple times to get the chest cam views. Chapeau indeed.

Wow, how many times did you have to ride up? Looking at the different shots and camera angles I recon it must have been at least 3.

Respect! Great effort, great video- my calves were twitching just watching.

Haha got here because I am doing keuteberg Netherlands tomorrow. Different cup of tea but each his own 😁

That Ollie guy just did hill climb today with GCN. He all over in the cycling world or they cloned him (LOL)!

I rode the pass about 25 years ago on old school gears 42x24, couldn't do it now. Whilst it's an achievement to get to the top a modern 11 speed cassette makes it a lot more accessible back in the day seven speed was as good as it got. I wonder if anyones got up on fixed?

Anyone looking who wants to know exactly how tough this is - I have a 34/30 on my bike, weigh 97kg (3w/kg FTP on a good day) and found it impossible to do the 25%+ sections, especially with miles in the legs already. It's not all bad, the 10-15% bit in the middle genuinely feels flat in comparison. Amazing experience though.

That gag about the adult entertainment industry really got me

Quote: "...strip the audio off this video and just sell it to the adult entertainment industry...". ROFL! That's about the strength of it! Great vid lads! Well done! I envy you for making this one through! Gorgeous landscape and awesome route! Nothing more rewarding than beating a prolonged, harsh gradient. Inspiration and motivation for all of us, to the power of infinity! Cheers! George, an amateur cyclist from Hellas.

Chapeau guys, that looked brutal.

Loved the video! Funny and entertaining. Awesome job!

I did it... I put an 11/42 and a compact on... I'm 56 years old and without the gearing I would've been walking.. Chuffed

I have a theory (maybe. mad) that some hills are harder than others even when they dont look it... Like they mention in the video about some mountain climbs being easier than this when on paper they should be harder. I think some climbs have stronger gravity... Maybe down to rocks under or something

Great video got this coming up in the c2c in June, and on an orro!

Two fit lads...chapeau.

Notice how they mention that East to West is easier...... and indeed it is, it's quite steep but very short...... However, what they've failed to mention is that to do it (from Langdale) East to West, you'll have to ride Wrynose pass from Langdale! In my (and a few other locals) opinion, IS THE HARDEST CLIMB IN THE LAKE DISTRICT........

Best video on Hardknott Pass, full stop! Going to try to crack this in the next couple of months. Cheers guys.

Animals! A tip of the cap to you boys. That was one heckuva climb.

The day I did it, I was last in the Strava day list, but so pleased I got up without stopping. Compact and 34 at the back, so the gearing helped. The trouble is, that doing a nice loop, I had already climbed 500m before dropping into Eskdale and still had Wrynose to follow after.

"It's a Hardknott pass for us it's a Hardknott pass for us instead of flats we get grades instead of flats we get grades it's a Hardknott Pass"

6.09 a message for Katie kookaburra still there.

Need some mountain gears for that!

Time team reference, down with the kid's!!durianrider rule for hills that steep,thai sprite,wolf tooth,42 cassette on the back then sell dodgy e books to noobs

Brilliant video.....I wanna have a go.....and one day I WILL!!!

Screw that, I did trough of bowland and that was tough for me, with parts of 17%, 30%, is to much for my legs.

Sorry guys I missed a bit at the start could you go back and do it again please?

Excellent run through guys! Loved it!

I was gutted when I cycled up Hard knot as I had to stop at the first 33 % hairpin as a minibus had grounded out going around it and its passengers were all getting out. Did manage most of the climb settled in a 36x25, it is horrible though.

What gears and chain rings do you use?…. Ta should have waited till the end.

Ahhh.... Before Ollie 'Dropped' Bridgewood went to GCN.. :)

i live around 40mins from here but I'm still too scared to even try it

How the hell are you talking at all?

Worst bit half of the time is avoiding the pricks in Range Rovers coming down it on a weekend burning their clutch out!

got to be a lot to do with your gear ratios too, if you hit it on a 52/36 on the front it isn't gonna happen.. not sure i would like it on a compact & 34 on the back....28 on the front sounds better haha

How would you compare this with the Belach na ba? Great video I really want to go and give it a go :)

Most people make it hard for themselves by trying to ride it too fast . I normally do wrynose and hardnott both ways twice it’s easy if you take your time

The craziest climb I've done is rosedale chimney, but that looks like nothing compared to this.

Really an amazing climb! About the given numbers now: Average gradient is 12% or 14% (???). 33% max gradient, simply is a tale of fantasy.

What did ur HR get to? Mine would get to zero...

I had a 25x34 but had to walk. But that was due to a minibus grounding out and blocking the road on the first 33% hairpin.

I fully plan to head south from Sunny Scotland to cycle this next year. It looks an absolute doddle to be honest. To prove how easy it is I'll upload a video of me cycling up the hill...backwards at 40 odd mph

What gearing were you guys running ?

Brilliant review well done

Good grief, you rode Fred Whitton the day beforehand, and then doing... this??

really love this kind of video, keep uploading ride video!

This was a great video!

I love that feeling when I get up 😁