I rode that pass in 1959 on my first bike, a Raleigh Trent Tourist with a 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub gear.
I had a saddle bag for luggage and a drink bottle cage. This was on a tour of the Lake District from Merseyside.
I was youth hostelling with my best friend, unaccompanied at the tender age of 12 years old!
My best memory is passing a car on the downhill side towards Patterdale - wheeeeeee! - fearless at that age.
I view my Thorn Rohloff bike as a turn of the circle back to a steel framed, straight handlebar, hub geared touring bike, great to ride.