Calls from fellow climbers of ‘You’re keen, aren’t you?’ and ‘Shouldn’t you be riding up there?’ become commonplace, but with the Pike of Stickle on my mind these wisecracks are soon a distant memory. Towering over the Great Langdale valley at a height of 709m (2,326ft) the Pike gains its height fast. Beginning my now well-practised clamber towards the peak, I’m almost unaware of the bike strapped to my back – I could get used to this.