THE BORROWDALE BASH. I did this ... so you don't have to. 

As a very average mountain biker, I really enjoyed this. You perfectly captured that feeling of heading out into the hills to do a route you found that "looks nice", before it starts to dawn on you that you have bitten off way more than you can chew and you end up in survival mode. A feeling I have experienced several times, but which have resulted in some great memories overall.

Good effort! Next time try the walla crag route at the start, it keeps you off a lot of the road 👍 at 16.54 on the video you should've turned left up the trail where the fiesta was parked and the guy with the red jacket, that takes you up to a swooping downhill like you just rode keeping you off the road, miles more fun 😊

Well this vid just got me to subscribe! I’m liking the way you film… and the honesty in what you can and can’t do! So many present themselves as indestructible when in reality most of us want to see the real world, not massive hucks! Cheers Tim

The thing with the trails in the Lakes is that if you're not used to them, they look intimidating but once you get your head round riding the rock (and realise how much grip there is), it's not bad at all. I'm kind of biased as I grew up there and do a lot of riding there but I think the Lakes has some of the finest riding in our fair land. Great video, really enjoyed it; it does show that what one person thinks is normal, another thinks of as bonkers, especially when the terrain is so alien to them 👍

That was very funny. Love the inner monologue, pretty much what goes through my head on a ride😂

This popped up as a suggestion Mate and I bloody loved it! Funny.

one of my fav loops. did it 5 times on normal bike, and now got an orbea rise and much more fun on an e-bike , even the climbs are fun. We always start from Keswick. and go up to walla crag, then a great descent to ashnes bridge.

My home turf, and a route I've done many, many times. I have nothing but good memories of it (except the time I got thrown off descending the steepest bit after the Watendlath climb and severed a rotator cuff tendon OUCH!!)Thanks for posting this, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I skip the really gnarly bits too, we can't all be heroes!

I enjoy the commentary 😂

The full route should include the Walna Cragg above Keswick down to Ashness Bridge.

That’s my Local ride, Next time take in Walla crag to do the full bash

Fair play for riding this solo, and in less than optimum conditions.. The Borrowdale Bash is on my list of rides to do.. I'm definitely taking the E-bike though.. Waiting for some wind muffs for my camera before I film any more rides..

nicely done.... have done a modified version of that loop back in 2017-8 (forget when) That bit you walked down is nuts, It was at least dry when I did it which heped... but there was one bit i bottle too! Line from memory was stay mid to high right, and you end up cutting in quite hard left about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way down!

This video makes me want to go out and ride it..👍🏻

the lake past keswick at the start is basenthwaite.Great video capturing the lakes best. hit me up next time your here in cumbria and i can show you the line for getting down the gnarly rocks on the rosthwaite descent, its really not too difficult it just looks very intimidating.

One of my favourites (doing it tomorrow) and a great introduction to Lakes riding

Thank you, because I never want to do that! 😅

Great video. Well done for completing this. Id love to do it some day but probably slightly beyond my skills. You need to get yourself some waterproof socks...best thing ever! They dont help down gnarly bits though 😂.

What stunning scenery. Would be too much for me being a less than average emtb,er. Anything that could damage my XX1 derailleur or bosch motor I'm getting off and pushing. 😂

As an owner of an ancient Vision Kilo based and hand built carbon MTB, fully Shimano XTR, also wheels, with 33 gears, I had two absurdly steep hills in woods close to my former home. My lowest gears are so low that I can't even start on a flat road and get riding speed! But going up those hills and feeling you are going to fall backwards during that - with your feet in click pedals - they are definitely fine! I must admit that the surface is not at all as rocky as here, but much more plain surface on both, as Danish woods and private roads are ordinarily well taken care of. But as now 75 with a slightly lame one foot, I had absolutely no chance of getting my foot free under that much pressure, so I would have to let me fall, if I couldn't continue going up the hills! But I managed to go up, all the way. 😄 Finn. Denmark

I have done this a couple of times and it is brutal on both the rider and the bike. My mate came off and broke his wrist on one attempt (he didn't know he had broken it until a few days later!).

lol grand stuff !! i used to do this sort of thing when i was younger in scotland and northumberland my bike was a rigid ti gt called a zizang i think that's what it was called

Being a glutton for punishment, I might give it a go, too. Weather not withstanding. And, well done - that was a tad nuts, the inclement weather and all. My friend and I recently did about 25 miles starting at Edale and ending at Edale. Didn't take a map either and it was pessisting it down the whole way. Visited five triangulation points along the way on who knows what mountain tops. After that experience it only seems fitting that I try something else ill advised. Just got to talk my friend into it again. Poor sod!

I suppose we get a bit used to riding up here but the Bash runs just as quick in the wet. Well done for giving it a try.

😂😂 the more you ride this sort of terrain the more your arsenal of skills and confidence in the bike will grow. Your Occam is more than capable of riding everything that route has on offer - there is an alternative start from Keswick which takes in Walla Crag and is definitely worth a look - warning it’s more of the same rockiness.

I'm a local, would you believe this is what we consider a wet weather route as it's always ridable in the rain 😂 If you're doing it again be sure to add Walla Crag on at the start and the second half of Manesty at the end. They cut out much of the tarmac!

Bash 1-0 come back on a nice day its all doable and a great introduction to lakes riding 👍

This video made me wonder if there's something wrong with me. The steep bits look fun. I've only owned a (hardtail) MTB since March... I do live on the edge of the North York Moors though so beginner terrain probably hasn't been that beginner.

Put some low speed compression on your damper. Turn the lever to just past one o'clock. It will transform your ride by giving you more support.

You're a natural at this youtubey thingy ma jig ......I sub'd and hope to see more adventures😀👍🏻

It's an epic route, certainly one of the hardest and most technical i have tried on an MTB. It's a must do if in the area! Recommend having good skills and experience!

You missed wala cragg makes it even better

Not a puddle in sight when I did it for the first time at the start of September!

I’ve ridden this about 5yrs ago and tbh the top sections are classed as black Diamond it’s extremely challenging but it’s a hell of an adrenaline rush

Good effort, got an occam on the way 😁

Awesome, but that was rough, good you have a full sus enduro bike. 6:42 I think you sohuld have gone to the right there, avoiding the big rock. best to go to the right all the way until the end of this section, easiest to blast trough. 6:58 But this looks gnarly, tricky. Might be doable, but so many ways to crash.

Superb video and effort …..windhill bike park …you’d enjoy that …..no uplift though

I rode this not long ago in the same weather conditions, ripped my tyre to shreds and had to pedal bk into Keswick for 4 miles on my rim. Never again

I can only suggest you stick to trail centres to build confidence before you try any other Lake District riding especially the higher mountains. Fair play for giving it a go and at least you had the sense to know your limits, but relatively speaking, this is one of the easier classics in the Lakes.

Ive ridden that dodgy bit 20 years ago but i dont think I'd do it now on my much more capable long travel ebike! Its shit getting old😢

Where in cambs bud?

doesn't seem too bad through a camera lens

Missed the Walna Cragg start and the off road section to Watendlath. Got bored watching all the unnecessary road riding and turned it off.

I cleared the whole bash when I was 7 just sayin