Fred Whitton - May 2006
Background
The Fred Whitton Challenge is just one of the growing number of one day cycling "challenge" rides that has taken off in the UK in the past few years. It is generally regarded as one of the toughest, as it takes in all of the major passes in the Lake District - including the foreboding Hardknott Pass, one of the steepest roads in the country.
The Route
The bike was sporting a rather bright and shiny new compact chainset giving me 50/36 at the front and a 9 speed 12-27 cassette on the back. This was lesson 1 learnt after last year - get some sensible gearing!
Again this year I travelled up with the family, arranging to meet up with 2 other riders (Paul Hartigan and Ian Lowe) from the club who had done the same. A 4th Velo rider, Mark Nathan - had made his own arrangements, including the wise choice of a Consiton based B&B. We, once again, opted for Hawkshead YHA as it was "only" 8 miles from the start of the ride and had ample of room for the children to run riot around the gardens.
The weather forecast was not looking good at the beginning of the week, with varying assessments of how much rain was going to fall - from "moderate" to "torrential". Terrific. However, as we arrived at the YHA, the latest posted forecast was to indicate a mild dry start with little wind.
So on the Saturday night the 4 Velo duly assembled in the local pub to discuss tactics for the ride, sample the beer and work our way through the food menu.
Paul - who was on his 3rd Whitton - was going to for a time under 9, I had nailed my colours to the mast with an ambitious sub-7 and Ian wanted to survive - a man noted for his pre-planning, looked somewhat apprehensive about what lay ahead - bless! Mark was a seasoned sportive man - new to the Whitton and originally intending to leave with the 9 o'clockers - until we mentioned that this was reserved for the elite riders who would be doing 6 hour rides - he then decided to leave with us an hour earlier. with the 8am group depart, known as the "8 o'clockers". This gives enough time to clear the cut-off time at Buttermere, with a biggish group that soon splits at the start so that you find similar paced riders for company.
So fed and watered we retired to the YHA early to bed and the alarm set for 6am - I dreamt of blissfully dancing up Hardknott in the 36x27 - casually passing the other riders struggling on foot …
Race Day
I awoke in good time and took a tentative peep at the weather conditions outside - it was dry, great - that'll do. There wasn't a breath of wind either and it felt mild. So up and changed and to the kitchen which was a hive of industry as I shuffled in with my porridge ingredients - at least 4 lots of the stuff were already on the go! I found Paul and Ian and we sat and chatted to the rest of the in-mates. Apparently the previous years write-up on the web had helped them make the decision to stay at the YHA. We should have been on commission.
Ready for the off, it was a 20 minute ride to the start, by way of Hawkshead hill. Ian decided on a last minute costume change from ambitious shorts to longs and a race cape - sensible chap. I'd gone one better by forgetting anything waterproof from home but had arranged to borrow one at the start - just in case.
As we arrived at the start, it was the usual affair with signing on and getting the electronic dibber secured to the wrist. Paul and I were pretty keen for a coffee to kick things off, but the corralling had begun for the "8 o-clockers" - so we ditched the idea and lined up for the start. Mark kindly lent me his spare waterproof which I duly stuffed into my back pocket.
With a 10 second countdown, resembling some sort of 'it's a knockout' type scenario, we fought our way over the start/line to begin the ride. There must have been around 60 riders in this group and it felt like a road race with riders jostling for position early on and the lead car speeding ahead. The first few miles are flat alongside Consiton water, so you get a chance to have a last minute chat with those around you and check for any mechanicals - and more importantly any wobbly wheelers to avoid. I was riding around 10th wheel behind a posse of riders from the "Honister 92" club. These were local boys and seemed keen to lead the way, which was fine by me. As we climbed Hawkshead Hill, the group stretched and splits started to appear. I was happy to ride my pace and let riders pass me, as I knew that once over the top it was a very fast section that then weaves its way through small lanes and then drops to Ambleside. I quite enjoyed that bit and found my way back up to the front. Onto the main road towards Troutbeck it all regrouped - the skies looking quite dark and threatening but still dry and mild.
As we turned off at Holbeck Lane, I again just let the pace suit myself - as the roads started to undulate a bit more, the group split again with a noticeable front section of Honister boys and a second group with me in it. I saw Ian for the first time here who had a chat and looked comfortable. As we started the Kirkstone Pass climb proper, it really split the groups - but the scenery was quite spectacular - which tended to take your mind off things. So much so, that we go to the top sooner than I remember, to be welcomed by the rain. Some stopped to don waterproofs, but I pressed on - this was one of the few descents that is well surfaced and reasonably wide. I am not ashamed to admit that I really gunned it - dropping everyone in my group and nearly getting onto the leaders at Patterdale. I didn't fancy their pace so sat up and waited for a group of around 15 riders to come up to me. This group was a good size and was made up of some decent riders, so we plugged on together alongside Ullswater, the climb to Matterdale End and the A66 at Troutbeck. Some token through-and-off then ensued for this 8 mile section of busy A road - but the usual headwind was absent, so shelter wasn't really the issue. A few riders started to get upset that they were pulling the rest along … sounds like the usual 3rd cat racing strategy there!! Into Keswick on local roads the group ticked along, picking up riders from earlier starts, great lanes alongside Derwent Water, until the rude awakening at Seatoller - Honister Pass. This was the first of the pig climbs - 25% in places and not funny at all. It was here that the group completely splintered - my most memorable moment from the climb when another rider decided to engage me in conversation halfway up on the merits of carbon frames. I decided it was best to ignore the porr fellow and pressed on, passing plenty of riders would had decided that walking was the preferred means of propulsion. Over the top at last and the descent was quite a nasty one … it was here that some riders had obviously lost control as a couple of ambulances were in attendance - with a marshal desperately trying to warn us of the dangers ahead. I remembered this from last year so took it carefully.
Mike near the top of Newlands Pass
So it was soon onto the first feed at Buttermere. At the check-in, I was pleased to note that I was around 10 minutes up on last years time-check. The temptation was to immediately press on, but I decided to refuel and make the most of the facilities! Back on after around 10 minutes, I was riding alone - and soon found myself on the next climb - Newlands. This is a very picturesque climb, as you can see fellow sufferers for quite a long way up. Again, I settled into a steady pace and chanced upon Mark Harding, who was the current holder the club record - but had left the Velo this year. We exchanged pleasantries - asked who we had seen etc, etc. - then settled in to tackle the climb. Again, quite a toughie, but soon enough it was onto another superb descent along lanes into Bratihwaite and before you know it - the next climb - Whinlatter.
My memories of this one deceived me, as I'd had it down as an easy one. However, this wasn't how it felt this year and I really struggled and noted that quite a few riders were catching and passing me. So I dug in and once over the top opened it up in an effort to make up some time. Still riding solo, as I negotiated the Bermuda Triangle section of Lorton and Loweswater - 3 riders came up to me that I decided were worth latching onto. So as they went by I accelerated up and sat behind. This section of the ride rolls quite a bit - but I was now finding it tough - and was to be my worst section. Instinct kicked in here and I'm not ashamed to say that these 3 riders dragged me round for the next 15 miles! As we topped Cold Fell, 2 of the riders had a support vehicle waiting, so we bid our fond farewells and pressed on. As I was nicely recovered, I decided to completely hammer the remaining 13 miles to the 2nd feed at Gosforth.
Ian on Newlands, is that a smile or a grimace ....
This section lends itself really, with long sweeping descents and draggy climbs that as long as you're going fast enough - don't feature at all. This includes a great section of main road that you can really nail. I nearly missed the turn off last year, so was well prepared for the sneaky left turn into Gosforth. The time check here was just over 5 hours - and I knew that a steady ride from here is around 45 minutes to the finish. So time for refuel and on for a sub-7! I left solo and ticked along some great lanes to Santon Bridge and into Eskdale proper. A nasty climb that I had eradicated from my mind last year was close to Boot, so that nearly caught me out. A few other riders came up to me here and we rode steady to Boot and the monster ahead - Hardknott Pass.
The start of Hardknott Pass
Looking upwards you could make out figures creeping upwards on two wheels and some walking - at 33% in places this was a brute. A lovely setting for the start - you pass an old fashioned telephone box, a nice running stream and then the road rears up in your face. I slung it in the 36x27 and began the "ascent". All was going well with the plan to traverse the steeper sections as I had seen others do it - a zig-zag motion using all of the road width. Halfway up my zig was not followed by a zag when the front wheel refused to turn and went promptly head first into a ditch. Due to the steepness of the road I simply stepped off the bike, finding the whole thing rather amusing and cackling to myself - to the bemusement of the sadists from the roadside with their cameras. I pushed the bike to the section where I could remount - easier said than done - especially as a Volvo was trying to reverse back down - after failing miserably to combat gravity. The smell of thrashed out clutches was quite overwhelming. Once over the top it was what was probably the worst section of the day - an incredibly steep section of descent which twists and turns on an atrocious road surface - and this year with it teeming down with rain too. Still, I was encouraged by a decent set of brakes that I'd fitted for the purpose and gradually grovelled my way down. The valley section then takes you to the last climb, Wrynose Pass - not as bad as Hardknott but a close second - with another killer descent the other side.
Mike at the top of Hardknott
I was obviously feeling okay as I got up this okay - with lots of soaked onlookers encouraging the riders on. This section was quite busy with car traffic so I had to weave my way past a few sightseers, not that there was much to look at apart from wet bikies! As I passed through Little Langdale, a huge roar and whooping could be heard from the pub on the roadside … it was my family - hoping to see us all en-route. That was enough to give me another boost, and as another rider came tearing past me, I latched on to see how long I could stay with him. The last ten miles are quite deceptive and the hills aren't over as you have to climb before dropping into Coniston. As we climbed together I noted my companion tire somewhat - so I dropped him and hammered up the rest of the climb. Over the top I slung it in top and just went eyeballs out to the finish, dibbing for a 6:52 finishing time.
I then got the chance to use the waterproof I had been given - as once off the bike, you soon feel the damp start to seep through. After a few cups of tea and some chat with the locals I went back to the finish area to hopefully see some others come in … and there he was - Ian came rolling in around 30 minutes after my time - a very good ride indeed. I missed Paul and Mark come in though as I was getting quite cold and went back to the YHA to change.
Ian, happy ... to be at the top of the last climb (Wrynose)
Will I be back next year? Maybe, just maybe …
Mike Inder