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and a sudden feeling of dread, fear and anticipation all in one.
How is everyone else feeling???
After last year's rather unpleasant weather experience, I'm feeling smugly pleased that I didn't bother entering this time. But also a little bit wistful since it's a great ride. But then again, I can always pick a pleasant summer's day and ride the route anyway...
Brilliant day out. Have fun 🙂
Last long ride just finished, not that long at 65ish miles. Looking forward to it in a masochistic way. Fingers crossed for weather!
(Not received mine yet) What's the craic with start times? It'd be good to get in with a quick ish group...
even though there is no statistical basis for this... we MUST be due a decent day weather-wise
What's the craic with start times? It'd be good to get in with a quick ish group...
The fastest guys traditionally start late aka. the "8 o'clock group" from the early days when starts were in scheduled bunches instead of an open window.
A good fast group to work with makes the most difference on the Ullswater/A66/Borrowdale section (the A66 most of all, it's awful on your own into a headwind) so I'd consider a 7.30 start, get warmed up over Kirkstone then be ready to jump on anything that comes past and expect to get dropped at Honister 🙂
And the other standard piece of advice: don't underestimate the "back straight" over the moors from Loweswater to Gosforth, it doesn't look like much on the profile but there's a lot of ascent hidden there and it's very exposed to the weather on a poor day.
good lord ......... I am looking to survive make 1st cut off point and then the second.....anything else is a bonus..... can I ask is this a race or a challenge/sportive????
My registration came through this morning. Going back up to do Hardknott and Wrynose again this Sunday then start tapering off in readiness for the big day. Interesting about what time to set off, I'm after a good time also ( would love to be around the 7hr mark, weather dependant obviously) didn't know weather to set off early and miss all the walking traffic up the big passes or go later.
Haha, I've just got limited time, really need to be back home sharp ish.
Interesting about what time to set off, I'm after a good time also ( would love to be around the 7hr mark, weather dependant obviously) didn't know weather to set off early and miss all the walking traffic up the big passes or go later.
If you can make 7hrs then you'll be ahead of the heaviest traffic on Hardknott and Wrynose pretty much whenever you start off. The downside of an early start is you could be out on your own for much more of the time.
can I ask is this a race or a challenge/sportive????
It's a sportive but one that attracts some seriously quick riders who are keen to go hard. On the other hand there'll also be plenty of people just aiming to complete (and rightly take pride in it) so you won't be out of place. Good luck 🙂
thanks given a tweak to my back just completed my first ride in two weeks, injury necessitates full suss so gonna stick out like a sore thumb ............ just aiming for the first cut off anything else is a bonus.
Descents are they that bad?
First time for me. I've ridden more miles and more hills this year than I ever have, and I'm lighter and fitter than I ever have been and I'm still apprehensive. I'm aiming just to finish it comfortably(?) but anything under 8 hours will be a bonus.
Descents are they that bad?
Kirkstone: Very fast and sweeping, generally good sightlines but no room for error. Someone inevitably spangs themselves badly into the wall and/or oncoming traffic every year.
Honister: Steepens rapidly over the top with badly corrugated tarmac in the braking zone for the first lefthander. You can carry a lot of speed below that if you're confident but watch for the tight right-left over the bridge near the bottom.
Newlands: Steep but straight, warp speed off this one. The long run down the rest of the valley to Whinlatter gradually losing height is my favorite section of the whole route I think.
Whinlatter: Nice and flowy but invariably has an annoying headwind that forces you to pedal against...
Hardknott: Very steep tight hairpins on corrugated tarmac, real hanging off the back of the saddle territory. MTB handling skills pay off. Double extra care if its wet.
Wrynose: Not as technical as Hardknott but almost as steep. Lower half straightens out across the side of the valley, can let off the brakes here but launched into space if you get it wrong 🙂 and watch for the blind right-left hairpin just before you reach the farm at the bottom.
Well I did my last big ride yesterday as in 80 odd miles and 8600ft. Did both Wrynose (twice, East to West then later on West to East)and Hardknott in pretty horrible conditions so if it's bad on the day I kinda know what to expect. I just hope all the training rides I've been doing for the last 4 months around the Bowland fells in the wind and rain will hold me in good stead on Sunday. If it's not it's to late now to do anything about it. From here on in its going to be a case of steady commutes into work and resting my legs as much as possible. Good luck to everyone else who's mad enough to do "The Fred"
did a hard 40 miler chaingang on Saturday morning and a tempoed 80 miler today - that's my training over apart from work commutes. happy with my fitness, but not done enough climbing.
hoping for 7.5 - 8.0 hours.
it's the weather that's my biggest concern, and dressing appropriately, and having to carry gear when/ if the rain stops. might just go for warm and wet rather than warm and dry.
Feeling somewhat apprehensive..........
Currently looking wet but not windy. Fingers crossed for reasonable weather.......
went over Honnister 1st time on a bike Sunday lunchtime - bloomin heck it's hard. Appalling weather at the top; wind & rain - needed a coffee to defrost my hands before going down to Buttermere with wet carbon brake levers 🙁 Best wishes to all of you this weekend!
Did the Fred last year - I had fun but was very wet and cold at the second feed stop and had to walk Hardknott due to impending cramp (and knackeredness)
Doing it again this year I have ridden more in preparation and just ordered a cassette with a bigger big sprocket and a nice waterproof gore coat
I was in Little Langdale last week and saw a notice fixed to a gate, saying something like: "Motorists! 1,700 cyclists will be using these roads on 11 May. Please be patient!"
Oh bloody hell I've just seen the weather forecast for the weekend. I think a new waterproof jacket might be in order 😯 Also I've completely failed to book anywhere to stay on the Saturday night. Is the whole of Ambleside/Keswick/Windermere going to be booked out or do I still have a chance to avoid getting up at 4am to get there from Manchester?
plenty of campsites!
this makes for uncomfortable reading.
[url= http://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/ ]http://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/[/url]
good article here
[url= http://www.castellicafe.co.uk/blog/stuff-about-castelli-on-ciao-scorpione/the-fred-whitton-challenge-dressing-for-a-sportive/ ]http://www.castellicafe.co.uk/blog/stuff-about-castelli-on-ciao-scorpione/the-fred-whitton-challenge-dressing-for-a-sportive/[/url]
Do you want to borrow a jacket? 🙂
I was in Little Langdale last week and saw a notice fixed to a gate, saying something like: "Motorists! 1,700 cyclists will be using these roads on 11 May. Please be patient!"
Please God let this be the weekend that Andrew Frankel has chosen for a quiet getaway in Eskdale...
Do you want to borrow a jacket?
ha! I've been hoping up until now that my soft shell would be enough... I might take a trip to a bike shop tomorrow and buy a proper one - it's either that or my £30 North Face mac/ bin bag.
packing up tonight and off tomorrow..back and neck injury flared up big time target is first cut off in time
so please wave at the rider on the most inappropriate bike and possibly the widest handlebars in the challenge
good luck to one and all
ps bjj andy w possibly you may have passed me in the trough...been an intresting winter for us
Don't compromise on clothing. It's a long day in the saddle and it's better to overdress than risk it. A LOT of riders were caught out last year, me included, and I'll be taking a proper waterproof jacket this time.
Look for a group to latch onto on the A66 to Keswick and through to Honister, but don't be cheeky, take your turn on the front unless you're spent!
Hardknott is ridiculously tough when you're reasonably fresh but after 100 miles it is so much harder. It's almost comically hard - I've managed to ride up both times but barely faster than walking on the 33% bits. Remember to smile (grimmace) for the photographer 🙂
Good luck everyone, I'll be on the tatty Allez with full mudguards.
went over Honnister 1st time on a bike Sunday lunchtime - bloomin heck it's hard.
Local fell runner, in his sixties set out to do Honister 100 times in a year. 136 at last check apparently.
I'll be watching from the front window in the village at the bottom of Whinlatter. Weather not looking helpful.
Good luck all.
I'll pop up to Winlatter pass and cheer you all on rain or shine. I'll be on/with a red On-One singlespeed.
I like riding the passes but not disciplined enough to train enough for the Fred.
boxelder is the fell runner PB?
GLA and respect to all that complete it!
Billy B
The first riders just going through Lorton now, having done the Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter schlep.
Hardest bit to come in some ways. They look chilled and tired. Only 25 miles 'till they arrive at Hardknott......
Well it hardly rained - wahoo.
Got round in 7hr28m. Not too shabby.
Honister and Hardknott were horrible. Incredible but horrible. Especially Hardknott with cramp in my hamstrings.
7 hours for me, got to be pleased with that. Had a massive bonk at about 100 miles, head down coasting along, could barely pedal! Picked a fine one for my first 100 miler! Awesomely my Garmin decided to bonk right after me! Thought the weather was pretty decent, never felt cold and actually got a sweat on when the sun came out!
Anyone else get stuck on the field? I had to get pushed out haha! Stupid ****ing woman trying to get into the car park could see I was struggling in the mud desperately trying to hold momentum and get to the hard stuff but no, she couldn't possibly stop and let me craic on.
I thought I was a goner after Hardknott/ Wynrose but after a brief spell of not being able to turn my legs I smelled the finish line and pushed on - it helped that the marshalls were saying '3 miles to go' when there was 6 miles to go.
My sister got stuck in the field and had to get dragged out by a a tractor - I think there will be quite a bit of that...
Yep, probably about half! I was desperately looking for a tractor, just got home on time for the Mrs starting work!
Ah yes, the "3 mile to go" was when I bonked, when I seen the actual 3 miles to go my heart sank! Might have been OK with one more gell/banana!
Hardnott/Wynrose was just brutal! I just kept my head down and tried to keep the pedals turning, think if I'd looked up I would have sat at the side of the road in tears! The descent between 'em is bloody horrible too, first time I've had arm pump in my triceps(???)/on the road bike.
Lovely day, despite the forecast. Achieved my goal of no dabs on the climbs, and pleased with 8:26 given my lazy approach to training. Top organisation, bad crash on wry nose descent, poor fella was airlifted, fingers crossed for him, didn't look well.......
first time I've had arm pump in my triceps
yeah that wasn't nice. not being able to brake too hard as your arms hurt so much and not wanting to go too fast because of the corners and bumps...
bad crash on wry nose descent, poor fella was airlifted, fingers crossed for him, didn't look well.......
saw a guy with a bloodied nose, maybe this was another one.
hard to concentrate after 100 miles and straight after the hardest climb.
Is that the one after Whinlatter? Seen a guy wrapped up lying at the side of the road, hope he's ok and it was just a precaution.
Dobbo - Member
I'll pop up to Winlatter pass and cheer you all on rain or shine. I'll be on/with a red On-One singlespeed.
Saw you today, I was on a white sensa and shouted : "Are you a single tracker?"
Had a great day, well apart from coming off just before the last feed station. Front end washed out but no real damage done due to it being relatively slow speed. What did nark me though was people who wouldn't take their turn on the front. After the descent of Kirkstone all the way to Honister there was a group of around 15 who just sat on mine and two others back wheel. The headwind on the A66 was quite bad and there was only three of us prepared to share the load 👿 pissed me right off. After the Honister climb I just pressed on on my jack jones. What did surprise me though was the standard of some of the riding. Now I'm certainly no Bradley Wiggins (I only started road biking in earnest 12 months ago) but out on the roads there wasn't a lot of warnings (car up/back, pointing to the floor to warn of dangers ect) other than that I had a great day. Well organised, fantastic support around the course with on the whole car drivers who showed good patience to 2000 bikers on those narrow winding roads.
When I signed up for the Fred I set a time of around 7hrs so coming in at 6hrs45mins (42nd apparently) I'm over the moon 😀
News of the injured [url= http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/cyclists-severely-injured-on-lake-district-passes-1.1135176 ]News and star website[/url]
Even though I did not have an entry I rode the event as a couple of friends where doing it and they were stopping at mine i hasten to add i was fully self sufficient and DID NOT use the feed stations!
Cracking event will try and get an entry for next year
spoke to Vondolly and laughed at his bike and bars 🙂
you could spot the mtbers very easily 🙂
That's bloody good bjj. Think I was 231st out of 2000.
I shouted at several people for riding badly - cutting in, weaving, not leaving room...
I dont get why the A66 is on the route, it's just not nice!
A66 was not that bad, smooth road with a nice band to ride in eats up them miles!
Was vondally on a full susser with massively wide bars? If so I went past him on the way up to kirks tone, looked great!
Well I had a grand day till 101.5 when my back seized and my knee swelled, so a DNF as I could not pedal
good to be 'helped' along by postierich 😀
great support and great event
ps yes full suss and wide bars = me
7.30 for me which is way better than I expected. Rode all the climbs, the MTB skills came in very handy on the upper steep bit on Hardknott with a stream running down it which prevented getting out of the saddle for fear of wheel spinning. The descents weren't nearly as bad as I expected after all the warnings. Even so a guy managed to come off in front of me on the top bit of Honister and broke his arm I think. I saw the aftermath of the nasty crashes on Whinlatter and Wrynose. Not nice. I guess it lives up to it's reputation for carnage.
7:40 for me. Agree with the above, some shocking riding skills. Some utter twerp on the A66 riding in the MIDDLE of the lane for about half a mile with a car behind him. Despite shouting "car back" several times he didn't move. The car was very patient and sat well back. I could only shake my head and hold my hand to apologise as he drove past.
Hardknott - **** me, it doesn't get any easier does it. Even on 34-28. Managed the bottom half fine but the second bit bloody hurt!
Was hoping for a quicker time but stuck with my mate who hadn't done as much training. I only left him on Hardknott after when he insisted I press on. Finished 8 minutes ahead of him.
Just spoke to my mate and he did 6hr 46 😯 46th overall, bloody fantastic result
http://www.resultsbase.net/Results/IndividualResult.aspx?Id=920059&Round=2510&Page=1&Search=Tim
bjj.andy.w, I saw and heard you! Looked like you were going strong, great time to do it in, well done. 8)
I hung around on Winlatter until the cut off at Braithwaite had passed, some of the tail enders looked pretty knackered and there were some fairly heavy shows passing through. A hard day for them!
I saw someone on a full sus and shouted if it had lockout, apparently it didn't! Was that you vondally?
Well done all who did it.
Anyone got a link for the photographer on hardknott Pass!
Google Steve Fleming photography or Racing Snakes for another one.
Yep, great day and well organised as usual. Friendly and sensible.
I was 7.06 so not quite sub-7 but I paced it pretty well so happy with that.
The riding wasn't too bad IMO although I did see one bloke knock another one off alongside Ullswater, which was clumsy.
But the thing that struck me was the generally poor descending skills. I know the descents are steep and bumpy, and wet, so it will be a challenge to newcomers but some people were comically bad, like they'd never ridden down a hill before. Oh well.
Brilliant day out - healing vibes to the injured.
Less kindly vibes to the muppets who are too pro to pocket their gel wrappers. Unmitigated bell-endery.
There seems to be a correlation between people who use the free High5 gels and throwing the wrappers away...
Dobbo that was me thanks for the call
agree about the wrappers and made the same observations
going into the challenge one of my fears was being knocked off never ridden in a large group/s on road so I took it easy for the downs tried to tuck in and get out of the way but I have to agree some incredible bad descenders also some real good descenders and then some who thought they were and lucky not to have a crash
Interesting day on reflection, some thoughts
cycling is a very white sport
sportive riders have a certain disposable income...lots of rapha on display
generally people were brill and there for the right reason
great support from the people on the side of the road
some really
the lakes are truly stunning
I was asked today air ambulance if call do the organisers foot the bill????
Further observations:
surprising number of significant looking mechanicals within the first few miles- surely people got their bikes ready beforehand?
Lots of castelli, seems to be the kit of choice.
Lots of expensive bikes making horrible creaks and groans as the day went on.(see point 1)
Some people are very fit!
Re the air ambulance, no there won't be a bill to the organisers. There isn't a mechanism for this to happen. However, hospitals can recoup insured losses as a result of road accidents
some good points Tom.......loads of mechincals.....my partner in the car stopped and got the track pump from the boot for one rider who was struggling with a very mini mini pump......
incredible amount of creaks ............ I think some were the knee joints on the steeps
some really fast folk......and some really determined people as well some true grit out there
respect to all those who finished
Lots of castelli, seems to be the kit of choice.
most of it was Gabba jerseys! I bet the Castelli guys selling wet weather kit on the Saturday did a good trade...
"yeah it's going to pour down tomorrow, you need a Gabba jersey! £150 plus 15% off...."
Haha I noticed the huge amount Castelli on show, seemed every second rider had it on (myself included 😳 ) got to say the Fawesome vest I had on was brilliant though.
Also noted the disgusting amount of dropped litter, absolutely no need. Witnessed a rider seriously berating another for dropping a gell wrapper too. The mind boggles why they do it, if you can carry it in you can carry it out.
Anyone done the Fred whitton and the Dartmoor Classic? Distance and climbing seem roughly comparable. Doing the classic for the third time this year and fancy the Fred next.
It wasn't all gel wrappers, the amount of discarded banana skins I saw and had to dodge on the roads made me feel like I was in a real life Mario cart game....
Cracking day my first Fred.
Started early and took it nice and easy. My mates were at the top of Matterdale (after Ullswater) handing out Bacon butties!
Felt really low going up Whinlatter which was really early days and I was dreading an incredibly long rest of ride. No idea why I got like that but my mojo came back not long after and felt pretty good all the way to the finish.
Got a puncture at around 80 miles not long after the 2nd feed station. Fixed it and 3 miles after that had a massive blow out. 3 inch tear where the bead had separated from the wall. I thought that was a DNF for me but a nice man in a Saddleback van came by about 5 mins later and gave me a new tyre. So I finished but the puncture faffage cost me 40 mins or so in total.
I'll stick my hand up. I pushed the steep bits at the beginning / end of Hardknott.
Some riders passed me very close / quickly on the Newlands descent without any warning and surprised me. One of them was peeling himself from a wall a bit further down the descent. It didn't look like he had damaged himself seriously thankfully.
Saw the helicopter come in to land to pick up the injured rider between Hardknott / Wrynose but got through before they closed the road for the 'copter.
Ditto the comments on the discarded gel / energy wrappers and even a few inner tubes. WTF? I just emptied my pockets at the feed stations and at the finish.
Best part of the day for me was the Marshalls and Supporters. Encouragement all the way round. Especially the cheering, encouragement and cow bells at the top of the summits and in every town and village. Thank you it spurred me on.
+1 on the gel wrappers. It was even worse than some MTB events, and doubly annoying when I had to empty a jersey pocket at the end that had turned into a horrible gel wrapper and banana skin stew.
On the descending, I too was surprised. From all the warnings and stuff I'd read I expected Hardknott to be some crazy pothole dodging nightmare but it was fine. A lot of people were going down it at walking pace which was harder than going a bit faster. It was quite good fun I thought once I let the brakes go a bit.
Observations from an observer:
I went for a spin up Honister and Newlands last night and saw a lot of gel wrappers lying about, they stand out as well due to the garish colours they make them.
While I was watching on Winlater I noticed a lot of creaky bikes going past, I'd be worried about finishing if my bike was making the noises some were making. In fact going back to Keswick I saw a rider whos rear mech had come off going down Newlands, I gave him a tow to KMB and a cafe.
The car drivers going up Winlatter were a PITA, overtaking groups of bikers on bends....then meeting a car coming down while they are n the wrong side of the road. A lot of the cars seemed to be associated with riders, ie car with wife and kids and bike racks with no bikes on them!
Dobbo the guy with the rear mech problem was my mate I was doing it with. He mentioned he got a tow off an MTBer to Keswick and was very thankful. His rear dropout snapped for some inexplicable reason. He'd checked it beforehand too so we've no idea what happened. One of those things I guess. I suppose he was lucky the mech didn't mangle the back wheel and take him off. He has a history on road sportives, on the polkadot challenge in the Peak a few years ago his stem snapped going over a cattle grid. That day he wasn't as lucky.
The marshals and support on the road were great. One gave me a full hamstring stretch at the bottom of HK. not sure I would have got up otherwise. It was a tough day out. The way everyone silently soft pedalled up eskdale like condemned (mainly) men before the climb amused me no end. Some seriously hard riders out there. Tried to follow a guy with full rack and pannier bag who was hooning along. Hopefully be back next year
The way everyone silently soft pedalled up eskdale like condemned (mainly) men before the climb amused me no end
that bit was VERY sobering. I was riding along looking at the number of miles thinking "I should have a gel soon, it can't be far" then I saw it looming ahead and almost stopped pedalling... "I should have already had a gel 10 minutes ago"... "I can't get up there".... "there are a lot of people walking"...."mummy!"
Hi dazh, glad to have been of help, I wasn't implying anything about his bike maintenance! That could have been nasty if it had gone in the wheel you can get a fair pace up coming down Newlands :-S
If I'd been closer to home and not got the promise of a bacon sarnie from a mate in Keswick I'd have given him a lift to Grasmere. Must have had a bit of hanging around in Keswick, although he did say you were going quicker (don't tell him I told you though ;-)).
pressfit Bs are more common on road than mtb aren't they 🙂incredible amount of creaks ...
Well done everyone who did this, the route has been on my list for a while, tho not necessarily the event, I'm a fair weather roadie and the FW seems to get a lot off iffy weather, was bad at home, looks like most of you got lucky tho (did someone say the stragglers got wet?)
Well done vondally managing most of it on an FS.
S'ok Dobbo, he got picked up by a mate who lives in Windermere so wasn't hanging around too long. TBH I thought the marshall's would've organised a lift back to Grasmere but he wasn't getting any offers. Not sure what the score is on this front on sportives like the Fred. It seems a bit harsh to expect someone to find their own way back to the start if stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken bike. It's still a long way back to Grasmere from Braithwaite if you can't pedal!
brakes - Member
The way everyone silently soft pedalled up eskdale like condemned (mainly) men before the climb amused me no end
that bit was VERY sobering. I was riding along looking at the number of miles thinking "I should have a gel soon, it can't be far" then I saw it looming ahead and almost stopped pedalling... "I should have already had a gel 10 minutes ago"... "I can't get up there".... "there are a lot of people walking"...."mummy!"
Managed to get up to Cumbria a couple of times in the last month and recce'd the climbs on my bike so knew what to expect. Was also advised to neck two gels and most of my water at the King George hotel, Eskdale so by the time your at the foot of Hardknott you should be fully fuelled up. Seemed to work for me, in fact leading up to Hardknott I was chomping at the bit to get going up it. But then again I've often been told I'm weird
Just like to say thanks again for the tow Dobbo, I'd done enough scooting by then.
+1 with the gel wrappers, and the descending skills or lack of.
I had new cables amd STI's so right up until it broke the shifting had been perfect, pretty gutted, but I'll be back next year ( ballot allowing ). Seeing how quick everyone was I'll be doing a bit more training next year as well, since I seemed to go into reverse up all the climbs.
I don't think it had sunk into the marshall that I couldn't cycle, as I freewheeled into the cut-off point and retired pointing at the broken bike, he said that Grassmere was only 15 or so miles away, and I was working out how long that would take to walk in cleats, lol.
An offer of a broom wagon would have been readily accepted, luckily the lift wasn't too long and at least I didn't have to wait for Daz to finish before getting picked up, as I was getting pretty cold by then.
Paul.
Nice one Paul, I'm glad you got back to Grasmere. Sh!t like that always seems to happen when you really don't need it!