Ever since riding the 5 passes challenge last November. I have not been able to shake the idea of riding Fleetwith Pike straight into the Honister Pass. The track is clearly visible from the Honister slate mine car park. It looked perfect with lots of sweeping bends and steep straights.

The geology of the pike being Lakeland slate, coupled with the track being in working use provided enough of a clue that it would definitely be ridable. So onto the weekend of the ATBA-UK first round of the downhill series. This provided the perfect opportunity to make an extended trip to the Lakes and tick it off.

So the plan was to use the same shuttle system to transport riders as on the 5 peaks challenge. Then we would hike to the top from the car park at Honister Slate Mine. We would then ride the Pike straight into Honister Pass.

Route shown in blue

Fleetwith Pike was everything I hoped that it would be. Although the gradient is very steep in places. I doubt it is the 60% quoted elsewhere on the net. There are a few sections with quite hefty rocks, but nothing a mountainboard will not roll over. Once into Honister Pass it's all plain sailing, and for me the most enjoyable section of tarmac I have rode on British soil.

In conclusion this is a true mountainboarders mountain.

 

VIDEO

Here is the video of our ride. It's a bit wonky in places but you get the idea.

 

Looking up at Fleetwith Pike from the finish

Looking back up the Pass from the bottom.

 

From Wikipedia

Fleetwith Pike is a fell in the English Lake District in the county of Cumbria which reaches a height of 648 metres (2,126 feet). The fell is a well-known feature of the area as it casts an imposing presence over Buttermere and the Honister Pass on the B5289 motor road between Borrowdale and Buttermere.

Fleetwith Pike is the north western shoulder of Grey Knotts. It is bounded by Honister Pass to the north and Warnscale Bottom to the south west, their two streams uniting beneath the fell in Buttermere. The north west ridge rising almost from the lakeshore at Gatesgarth is named Fleetwith Edge, and is a striking feature from any direction. The top of the fell is situated directly at the top of the edge, while a lower summit stands to the east atop Honister Crag. Fleetwith Pike is lined on all sides by impressive crags, other than for the broad plateau leading across the Drum House to Grey Knotts.