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As ever, I'd be grateful for some help!
I'm looking at mid-week Helvellyn hike-a-bike in the next few weeks. I'll be doing it with a proficient, if not experienced mountain biker, so looking for a route that makes it most likely that he'll enjoy it. I'm not too bothered about extending the loop to take in other summits etc. If straight up and straight-down is great enough, then that will do. Start/Finish same place. I've walked Helvellyn plenty of times from Glenridding (a few different ways) – so am familiar with the routes visible from Red Tarn beck.
Ways up/down that I can see:
1. Glenridding > White Side (over Keppel Cove) > Lower Man > Helvellyn
2. Glenridding > Sticks Pass > Raise > White Side > Lower Man > Helvellyn
3. Patterdale > Grisedale > Dollywagon > Nethermost Pike > Helvellyn
4. Thirlmere (Wythburn) > Nethermost Pike (via Comb Crags) > Helvellyn
5. Thirlmere (Thirlspot) > Brown Crag > Lower Man > Helvellyn
6. Thirlmere (Thirlspot) > White Side > Lower Man > Helvellyn
7. Thirlmere (Legburthwaite) > Sticks Pass > Raise White Side > Lower Man > Helvellyn
Wide, Shallow-ish track, well-marked, minimal exposure etc. would be ideal, but not at the expense of the best experience. I'm happy to come back and try others in the future.
I was thinking either up 1 then down 2 or 3.
Any advice? Cheers.
Up 1 and down 2 is not too bad.
We did up 2 with the intention of something more technical to get down, but the weather turned bad, thought the rescue chopper was going to crash (someone fell off Striding Edge apparently), so came down 1, which is a handy bail out. Will go the other way next time.
Don't go up or down Dollywagon.
[s]Don't[/s] go [s]up or[/s] down Dollywagon.
There, thats better 😀
Even for someone as incredibly skilful and capable of shredding [i]extreme gnar[/i] as myself ( 😉 ), Dollywagon is pretty brutal. Done it three times now over a few years of riding and it's only got slightly easier.
Junkyard off here cracked some ribs on the (easier) lower bit from the tarn a few weeks ago! That bit is ace fun though IMO
1 is the easiest way up.
Up 1 down 3
Whilst dollywagon is pretty tough and one ditch is a wheel killer(or rider 
). The section from the tarn to patterdale is sublime.
[s]Don't[/s] go [s]up or[/s] down Dollywagon.
let him walk it
its too pretty not to
[img] 
[/img]
Yes, go down Dollywaggon. Yes it's brutal but it's fun, it's a challenge.
I know you said you're not too bothered about extra summits but I'd still recommend going up over the Dodds from Dockray if it's not too wet. A much more gradual climb that way and more of the ascent will be ridable.
[url=
from last year[/url]
Great pictures Dango - what sort of camera? Colour rendition is excellent.
iphone 4s
If your mate is [url=
bad[/url] don't go down DW or take another mate 😀
Great stuff and great pics. Think I'm going to have to go and watch some videos of Dollywagon. You've got me tempted. Cheers.
Don't go up this way
Don't go down this way
Danton - some great pics in the FBI link.
The first 2 pics which ascent are they?
Oh and great vid of Gisburn slab, made me chuckle! 😉
Would agree with others suggesting DW descent well worth doing! Only problem is there are too many ace lines off Helvellyn.