Fred Whitton 2008 Reports
Tim Brass
Last year/This year:
2007: Naively thought I could beat the climbs at first attempt.
2008: Now knew what I was letting myself in for! Was that an advantage?
2007: Struggled over hill from Hawkshead to start at Coniston.
2008: Enjoyed ride into start - it was a delight seeing the early starters struggling up the hill as we whizzed down it. What was going through their minds, I wondered? One person called out “something must have gone wrong – they’re going the wrong way ”
2007: Overcast & a light breeze.
2008: Bright & sunny & zero wind.
2007: Finish time of 8.14.
2008: Sub 8 hours was the target.
2007: Shocked that I needed the lowest gears on the first climb.
2008: Climbed up happily, knowing what was in store.
2007: Legs hurting as I reached A66, after only 30-ish miles.
2008: Legs tired on reaching A66 despite the extra training, but not as bad as last year. I was riding with Paul from ThamesVelo & we were making good time.
2007: Got off & walked up the Honister Climb.
2008: Rode the whole climb – just! Nearly fell into the gritty gutter at the steepest point – I was zig-zagging up, but after one zig I found I couldn’t zag - I could not steer as the front wheel kept lifting up off the tarmac!
2007: Passed a fellow ThamesVelo-er on the upper section of the climb.
2008: Passed one of my fellow employees: I was admiring a rather smart MTB with a cool looking groupset – I was a little envious – those granny rings were just what I needed! …“Hello Tim” – it was Mark, a chap I work with.
2007: Felt very tired on reaching 1st feed.
2008: Fresher this year arriving 10 minutes up on last year’s time. However my quads locked up (after the effort of the earlier climb) & my hamstrings were feeling a bit crampy – I had no choice but to stand still for a minute as I could not move!
2007: Newlands climb was daunting - stretcheing out a long way in front.
2008: Legs had recovered at the feed & I was up & over Newlands with relative ease.
2007: Pressed on against the encroaching fatigue.
2008: Disaster - mechanical trouble! Suddenly got a very stiff chain link. As it passed through the derailleur the mech’ twisted & the chain slipped on the sprockets.
Now where was my chain tool? You know, the one normally at home in the tool box?! The very same one that I had put out with all my cycle gear to bring with me in case of problems? Ah yes, I remember – I decided to leave it at home cos I never get chain problems & it was a little less weight to carry! How ironic!
Little choice now but to limp onwards: When using the large rear sprocket the fault was minimal, so I could ride up the hills OK, & of course I could freewheel down OK – it was just a problem on the flatter sections – it was a matter of 2 or 3 pedal pushes & then ease off the foot pressure – very inefficient.
It was such a fantastic day I decided to ride steady & enjoy the beauty of the Lake District & not worry about the finish time.
2007: Reached the 2nd feed exhausted.
2008: Relief as I glided into the feed zone & more joy as a mechanic called out “do you need some help?” Duff link removed & 2nd link loosened – the bike was ready to go…
2007: Did not recover much at the feed
2008: Grabbed some orange squash to drink but was not feeling hungry – in fact I felt nauseous after all the sweet carbo’ intake of the day so far.
2007: Was not looking forward to the final section as I was so tired.
2008: It suddenly occurred to me – 2 hours 4 minutes to zero hour & “only” 26 miles to go – surely I could muster an average of 13mph even with the worst still to come?
2007: Soldiered on with increasingly desperate legs…
2008: Was still riding well (for me) but it’s strange how I forgot about all the additional steep hills on route to Hard Knots?! I thought it was flatish but there were still plenty of climbs to keep testing the legs.
2007: Hardknott – got off BEFORE the cattle grid at the bottom where my legs stopped working for a few minutes.
2008: Hardknott – got off AFTER the cattle grid at the bottom but was able to carry straight on with the walk upwards.
For those of you interested in geography – you may like to know that the Cumbrian Tectonic Plates have been in motion over the last year – Hardknott Pass is now approximately twice as long as it used to be - at least it seemed that way to me!
2007: Walked all the way up…
2008: Managed to ride 2 of the less steep sections.
2007: Wet myself on the descent (nearly)
2008: Spectacular view as I cleared the peak - looked down on a helicopter flying around – it was the rescue chopper. Confident on the descent this year, but as it bottomed out the chopper landed blowing dust & bits everywhere. I had to get off my bike onto the grass whilst an ambulance pushed through the narrow road towards me. The chopper took off immediately. There had been an incident – 1 walking rider with blood all down his leg & another on a stretcher.
2007: Cool now & spitting with rain.
2008: Still scorching hot. Not for the first time was I tempted to stop a while & cool off in a mountain stream.
2007: Wrynose was another hill to far.
2008: Cycled half way up but that’s all I could muster. Now 25 minutes to go & still approx 10 miles left – I can do it, I can do it…
2007: legs running on empty.
2008: Still had some strength left to speed on. Again I had forgotten that there were still more climbs – I pushed as hard as I could.
2007: On the final run in to the finish I seemed to get a new lease of energy & was flying along.
2008: 8 minutes to go…I was trying hard but the legs were weakening…I got stuck on a winding descent behind a slow car that was trying to overtake some other cyclists. I could have gone faster but for the vehicle in front…In reality, although it was frustrating it did not make much difference to my overall time.
2007: Relief to have finished “I’m not doing that again” I said.
2008: Dibbed in at 8.03.57. Pleased with my ride but disappointed that I had not reached my target. Actually felt more exhausted than last year.
2007: Enjoyed the Bean Soup & cakes from Wilf’s Café.
2008: Enjoyed the Bean Soup & cakes from Wilf’s Café!
2007: Got a lift back to base
2008: Cycled back up the hill to Hawkshead – seemed easy now, even with tired legs. Down the other side…& I did not want the day to end…so I rode a circuit of Esthwaite water. The lake was so tranquil & a mix of thunderclouds & bright sun made a dramatic scene.
2007: Broke my months of tea-totalarianism with 3 pints of “Hawkshead Red”
2008: Supped on a delightfully cool Guinness….
…ahhhh, now that’s better…
