CLASSIC RIDE

Lake District local James Vincent shows us just why this is epic day out is considered a true classic ride.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES VINCENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

komoot

Switchback

Noun: A path, road, or railway that forms very sharp bends from one direction to almost the opposite direction as it goes up and down steep slopes.

Verb: Switchbacked; switchbacking; switchbacks To follow a zigzag course especially for ascent or descent. A trail that switchbacks.

Ride a mountain bike long enough and you’ll encounter switchbacks of some variety. Be that on a remote alpine pass climbing to an exposed col, in the depths of a trail centre efficiently gaining height in a relatively compact space, or when venturing off-piste in the woods where a trail builder doesn’t want to lose precious height too quickly. Regardless of where you find them, switchbacks are born out of necessity. On dedicated bike trails, they’re necessary for fun – the straight line might be quickest, but it isn’t always the funnest. Meanwhile, out in the wild switchbacks serve the more basic purpose of getting travellers from point A to point B via an otherwise impassible peak or saddle.

The big question is, at what point does a corner become a switchback, and does it need to come as part of a pair, or can you have a singular switchback? Is there an international standard for recognising a switchback, or is it an altogether looser affair determined by feel rather than precise angles?

I suspect it’s the latter, and by this point you’re probably wondering why the hell I’m even banging on about them in the first place? Well, dear reader, I’m glad you asked. The reason, quite simply, is that at a rough count I reckon there are 65 bona fide switchbacks on this here classic ride, with at least 10 more that are borderline and warrant further investigation.

You can hear the trail scrunching from here

Staveley. Switchback count: 0 

Today’s tour of south Lakeland’s finest switchbacks sets off from the legendary Staveley Mill Yard, just north of Kendal. I meet Pete, Max, Steve and Ewen in the car park and the rather warm early morning sun beats down on us, doing its best to remove any sense of urgency for the day’s proceedings. I’m expecting to be back mid-afternoon so there really is no rush; I take coffee orders and amble about getting ready. Having said that, we feel no real need to do any extra off-road miles on our way to Garburn, so once underway we opt to spin out on the road through Ings to save time. Thanks to roadworks in Windermere, there is a considerable amount of traffic passing us on the usually quiet road to Troutbeck, but the majority of drivers are courteous and give us plenty of room. Turning off the main road towards Dubbs Reservoir, we’re afforded our first proper view of the fells stretching out in front of us and what a sight it is. With Lake Windermere to our left, the full gamut of the central Lakes is on display for us – the Langdales, Red Screes, Stoney Cove Pike and more, with nary a cloud in the sky to spoil things. A short loose section forces us to focus a little more on the ground beneath our tyres, but it’s over soon enough and the climb flattens out a little and makes the final stretch towards the summit almost enjoyable.