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Entries for the draw for the FW close in a few days - who fancies a crack at it this year?
Feel pretty ambivalent about road riding (and training) this time of year, but that usually passes once we get into Spring. I've done the last two and the weather was absolutely glorious in each case, really made the event, so more of that please.
Got to be due a wet one. Conditions for the last two were absolutely stunning.
Frankly CBA'd, did it once and thought it was just nice climbs strung together in the quickest way possible, not the nicest route IMHO.
It was a once only thing for me. Got a free entry so was rude not to. Good event but I'm not at all fussed about riding with 1000's of others.
I'm with Steve on this one. Love the Lake District, you get incredible views, some great climbs, but there are nicer rides in the UK. I've done the route and found the roads quite hostile.
Done it a few times but there are nicer routes (inc options that miss out the awful A66) and riding Hardknott and Wrynose with hundreds of other people is often a recipe for disaster - a friend from my cycle club got taken out on Wrynose by another rider swerving straight into her. Wrote her bike off and she got a ride out in a helicopter.
Nice to do as a one-off but I wouldn't rush back to it.
Could there too many entrants?
Did it last year and it’s no fun being elbow to elbow up Honister.
inc options that miss out the awful A66
This is one bit I especially don't get, there's even a B-Road next to it for some of it's length.
This is one bit I especially don’t get, there’s even a B-Road next to it for some of it’s length.
If I remember right, it's part of the national cycle network? Organisers make some very questionable route choices sometimes.
Quite enjoyed the A66 when I've done it - good to have a section you can absolutely steam along, nice and wide, it adds texture.
Do dislike the A road on the other side, Calder Bridge to Gosforth - feels narrow plus the legs are starting to feel a bit walloped by then (plus you're just after sitting down at the feedstop) - it's only 2 or 3 miles though.
^ This.
I wouldn't dream of riding down the A66 alone on a normal day, but in the Whitton, with hundreds of others on the road and massive neon signs to warn drivers about all the cyclists it's not a problem. Quite nice actually to get in a decent group and tick off a few fast, easy miles before the suffering starts again.
I also agree about that stretch prior to Gosforth. Saw a shocking close pass on a rider just in front of me. Wing mirror probably 2 inches from his bars. Must have really shaken the lad up.
No place for me this year, hope others had better luck.
Like to have some sort of event to aim for around that time so entered the Etape du Dales instead, not ridden in the Dales before so hopefully that will be good.
Never done the Etape du Dales but some mates did it and rate it highly. They said it not as hard as the Fred though.
Get the GPX and do it on another weekend without the crowds = Fredalike. Worked for us.
I'm in this year.
Get the GPX and do it on another weekend without the crowds = Fredalike. Worked for us.
They encourage that as the 'Four Seasons'. Page seems down and/or illegible at the mo but: https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/four-seasons/
I'm no fan of sportives, but giving 100k a year to charidee (mate) seems far better value than many.
Did the Fred route with ten pals and a support can, mid-September one year, in perfect conditions. Don't think I'll ever better that do, so the thought of doing it with hundreds of others just doesn't appeal. I do think it's a great route tho.
Me. I've done it a couple of times before including the horror year when people were dropping out with hypothermia, which was interesting. First time conditions were mostly good apart from the hailstones, I think that was 2009.
I don't normally like sportives, but there's something oddly northern and epic about the Whitton and there's always someone to chat to and - fingers crossed - some incredible views.
I'd better go and find my road bike, though I'm tempted to stick 30mm road tyres on the cross bike and see what happens... what could possibly go wrong.
I've got a place again this year. Last (and first time) I did it in 2016 I got ill the night before and couldn't stomach any food on the day of the ride.
I did the whole ride on empty and I was a gibbering wreck by the end. Those portaloo's are no fun when you're wearing bib tights!!
I'm hoping I can enjoy it a bit more this time round!!
Well I've not long accepted an entry after being on the reserve list so I'm in!
Have a 34x32 bottom gear, as experience tells me go as low as you can go (did it in 2009, 2010 and 2011).
The plan is to start VERY steady and try to enjoy it. Been on the bike lots but don't often do anything near as long in the saddle as this. Feeding strategy is to go armed with savoury baguettes as sweet stuff only keeps you going so long.
Looking forward to the start in Grasmere as easier to get to for me, and a change from Coniston.
Going down night before and kipping in the van so hoping for a comfy night. Probably stay down night after too
Nice one muzz - you know the ropes so it should be a great ride. They added an additional climb after Wrynose last year over Blea Tarn to Langdale, which sounds like it should be absolute torture at that stage of the game. But I found it OK, think I'd gone into some sort of must-keep-pedalling twilight zone by that stage and just winched up it.
I've done FA road miles this year so probably should swerve the Etape du Dales - it looks really beautiful though so weather permitting I'm going to go up and try and bimble it.
How did people get on yesterday?
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole affair. Weather was perfect and I thought the route was great. Virtually zero traffic on the route and I really didn’t mind the crowds.
The busy A66 section wasn't busy and was nice to blitz a few fast miles.
Made it up all the climbs too which surprised me as I really hadn’t trained very much in the lead up. Took it very steady in between climbs. Wrynose was hard work so soon after Hardknott.
I think coming from a mountain bike background really helped on some of the descents - some of them were fairly wild.
My old biking mate came 8th in the men's and someone in our club came 9 in the ladies. But why you would ride round and miss all the good bits on tarmac is beyond me.
I loved it all, even the A66. Hooked up with some local riders and blasted in a peleton to Seatoller. Was solo or surfing groups after that..Did it in 6.32
Fave part was Cold fell, never been there before, great road with brilliant view of Isle of Man
Didn't do it this time but I've done it 7 times in the past, including last year. Great route IMO. I've done the Marmotte/Maratona/Etape etc. and the Fred route is more technical to ride, harder to pace and feed and, for me, represents the best test of pretty much everything, including the bike and setup. The extra riders these days does represent an issue but you also get a lot more spectators, which is great.
My only grumble is the level of riding skills, especially descending. Some riders are woeful.
Had a glorious two nights in the back of my van in Grasmere. Didn't want to come home!
I started in my own at 0730 and it was surprisingly quiet on the road till Honister! Only a couple of fast groups came passed but experience tells me to ride within limits on this one as it's a LONG way. The A66 I didn't see another rider.
I kept it very steady all ride and after the final descent of Blea Tarn I thought I'd push on for the last 'flat' 8 miles only to bonk after 3 of these. Ended up crawling home after feeling great and getting fueling spot on for the rest of the ride.
The army of volunteers and roadside support was incredible, that cannot be understated. Great people.
Some ignorant riding on climbs such as crawling up the middle of the road (not keeping left) and the super spiderman weave all across the road to 'lessen' the gradient whilst forgetting about the chances of crashing into someone overtaking being the two most notable examples!
Wonderful event.
`It was an awesome day. I knocked an hour and 10 off last years time. Still slow as an ox though.
there was a couple of bad crashes that I passed, hope everyone is ok. Someone had gone down at the start of the down on Kirkstone. Mtn Rescue were with them.
then it looked like someone had gone over the edge of the road on the fast bit at near the bottom of Wrynose.
I was swearing I'd not be doing it again, already planning how to get quicker for next year!! 🙂
Best day I’ve ever had on the road bike, despite a very annoying tubeless blowout before I even reached Ambleside (I’m not at all convinced by tubeless on a road bike)
As above, astonishingly great support all the way round. Barrow Wheelers in particular seemed to be out in the thousands.
Agree re difficulty in pacing. I had loads left in my legs at the end but the knowledge that Hardknott, Wrynose, Blea all feature towards the end of the ride meant pacing is crucial. Quite a few riders looked ruined at the top of Hardknott
My first Fred (and last). Proud to be a member of Barrow Central Wheelers. We only have about 130 members though. The support from fellow club members was very vocal.
Must also give praise for local clubs as well, Lakes Road club, Kendal cycling club and Honister 92 who were also very vocal and gave out freebies etc when needed.
A cracking day, but wouldn't like to do it in the wind and rain.
The support round the route was outstanding. Really helped motivate and encourage - Especially going over Whinlatter when I was at my lowest point.
Now I know I can get round and get up everything (albeit in ideal conditions) I’m already planning how to do it quicker next year (assuming I get a place).
Dropping 5-10kg of upper body mass would be a good place to start...
Now I know I can get round and get up everything (albeit in ideal conditions) I’m already planning how to do it quicker next year (assuming I get a place).
Dropping 5-10kg of upper body mass would be a good place to start…
Pish - some shiny new bits and carbon wheels will knock hours off your time 😉
But I already have carbon wheels 😥
All hope is lost...
My old biking mate came 8th in the men’s
Rory? Saw he had done a PB and finished 8th iirc, on Twitter. Old school mate, I often ride with KCC if I'm in the UK with a bike.
Aye the big lanky lad 😁 I used to ride with him when he had a proper bike, a pink Gary Fisher with a frame the size of a gate and a name like an old people's home/funeral parlour - Celerity?
Small world! Hadn't seen him in ten years or so, then found ourselves wading through a flood in opposite directions on the east side of Coniston one lousy winter morning! I remember thinking who else is daft enough to be riding on a day like this...
Lakeland folk should rightfully proud of their cycling clubs. Fine people.
Good on you and thank you for amazing support. The Barrow Central tifosi on Hardknott are just a nugget of what makes the Fred 'not just a sportive'.