Fred Whitton 2008 Reports
Harry Bulstrode
The start was in ideal conditions, spring sunshine and not too hot. I managed to puncture riding the 5 miles to the start, and also realised on the line that 34x25 was my lowest as the cassette was not quite what I had thought it was! We started with good speed up the first climb then settled into a working rhythm, overtaking small groups and individual riders but not overdoing it. At one stage two riders overtook me on a winding descent where I was doing upwards of 30 mph, and then both in turn lost control, coming within inches of the dry stone walls to either side. They turned out to be friends who explained their downhill approach to me as the result of their mountain-biking experience. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if they survive to attend next year’s Fred Whitton.
Ian gave me occasional reminders to keep the pace sensible, and to enjoy the views, which were indeed pretty special. Through the middle section we continued to work together well, often with a small group collecting on our rear wheels. It was good to meet other TV riders, and the first feed station let me stock up on fluids as I began to tire.
By 80 miles I was feeling strong again, and when a pair in Wheelbase and Arctic kit went past at a fair clip I tagged onto their wheels, abandoning Ian like the traitor I am! The pace was pretty brisk, and up a couple of short climbs I was working like I would in a 2-hour race; after half an hour or so, I saw sense and let them go. This was lucky, as I now realise these two were the winning pair with a 5 hour 40 time, and if I’d tried to hold onto them it would have finished me. I teamed up with Richard, a wiry youth rider with a real turn of speed up the hills, and worked with him for another half hour, collecting a water top-up from his dad on one of the cols (thanks!), but again couldn’t quite match his climbing. Just after letting Richard go, Hardknott pass hit me and was the clear low-point of the event! I walked the steep sections and cursed my lack of pacing since I’d left Ian. With the hard climbing over, the final section was pleasant rolling countryside into the finish, where I got through about 3 litres of tea as I tried to get my kidneys working again.
All in, a very special event: great weather, a spectacular course, very well organised. To succeed you need Ian’s pacing, and a better choice of gearing than I gave myself. This was my first sportif, and I was amazed by the sheer scale of the event- clearly this is the way road cycling is going, and I can certainly see why.
