Hardest? Wrynose / Hardknott or t'other way 'round?

Fatamorgana

The Classic ride is from the coast, riding in from the west, Eskdale, Hardknott followed by Wyrnose.

I suspect it might actually be a harder ride in reverse, from Elterwater, in from the east, riding Wyrnose first.

Thoughts?

Escher303

I agree. I find the long steep section on Wrynose from the East harder as it is so sustained whereas Hardknott from the West has a couple of not so steep sections (but still very steep) you can sort of recover on between the super steep sections. Also mentally, I find straight and steep harder than a section with corners as the latter has a way of breaking it down in your head, 'just get to the next corner' etc.

Of course, wind direction, where you are held up by cars and so many other factors can alter your experience on the day and make one or other feel harder. But I think Wrynose from the East just pips it.

simona75

I've only ever gone over them from the west but when I was coming down Wrynose I remember thinking "glad I did it this way"

rolf_f

It depends what sort of climbing you are best at. Wrynose from East gradually wears you down and then dumps a pretty steep ramp on you near the top. Hardknott from West partly destroys you at the bottom and then keeps you waiting for the killer 33% ramp (steeper than anything on Wrynose) right near the top.

If that doesn't help I'd say that of the short climbs, Hardknott from the East is quite a bit harder than Wrynose from the West.

West to East is probably more satisfying and enjoyable.

Cheshire Cat

Gotta say that Rhino's from the East is one of the toughest climbs in the Lakes, the constant gradient and fact that on a hot day it's a sun trap with no moving air, not a pleasant climb...but funny enough one I keep going back too. Hardknot from the Eastern side is not so bad, take the bends at the widest point and they almost flatten out, descending into Eskdale at the first (last on the way up) set of hairpins is not so clever though.

Omar Little

Hardknott then Wrynose for me but its close. It might just be psychological though - the "easy" bit in the middle of Hardknott from the west might allow a little bit of recovery but it also gives me time to think about the pain to come while still feeling the effects of the last bit of pain!

vinnymarsden

Did it the H/knott then Wrynose way...and to be honest it was VERY hard, I do recall thinking on the descent of Wrynose that it would have been a killer the other way round...but rest assured it's a killer the way we did it!!!

The measure tho was 3 days after we had done it as part of the C2C route I said I would gladly do it again!!!!

Brilliant route from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay, with some Lakes scenery in the middle!!!!

Fatamorgana

I went out on rode both today.
East to west, so W-HK, then turned the bike around and rode it west to east, HK-W.

It is a hard call to be honest, there are sections on Rhinos that are very demanding, being quite a long drag, with few places to get your HR under control. Then onto HK, towards the top it ramps up, but manageable.

For the return trip coming from the west, over HK, the lower sections are steeper than I recall, but there are only two places where I got out of the saddle, which on balance is about the same as I did on Rhinos.

The ride up HK - Rhino from the coast (west) is to my mind, after today's ride, is the more demanding ride, it is simply steeper, there is a late section on both hills, especially Rhinos that fair- kicks you when you are flagging, on HK it comes both on the left switchback and then 100m further up, meaning your HR is struggling to cope.

Either way you ride them, they're demanding and satisfying in almost equal measure - I should add that today it was neither too warm, nor too cold with no real wind, nor rain. Add these into the mix and likely the picture changes & I might yet have to push ...... one day!