Fred Whitton challenge

ed29

Hi,

I would like to ride the Fred Whitton challenge next year for my dad who had cancer.

I'm just wondering if this is a realistic goal!

I currently havent got a road bike although am ordering one next week, (canonndale synapse) as i am mainly a mountain biker...but i have ridden road bikes years ago and done 125 mile days. (but not as hilly as the Fred Whitton!)

Current biking is generally 30-40 mile off road (no tarmac, all off road) with about 1000-2000m ascent.

I'm moving to the lakes in September so i'll also have the benefit of being able to train on lots of big hills.

Question is, have i set an achievable goal? I have until next jan to train before i need to put an entry in, then until about May before the ride. If it is a reasonable goal then what would be the best training riding to do. I've never really done any organised training, just regular mountain biking as described above. I was thinking of starting out with some 50-60 mile road rides inlcuding 1 pass and see how i manage with the higher gearing of a road bike, then working up to 2, 3, 4 passes etc. I suppose one advantage is i'll be able to actually ride bits of the route anytime once i move to Cumbria in September. I've been a regular winter muntain bike rider in the past, and have a decent light set up so i dont mind night riding.

I know if i'm living there then i have all the time in the world to ride the route, but i'd like to actually do the organised event!

Should i be mainly road riding from now on or will long mountain bike rides still be of any significant benefit? I'm worried if i stop the mountain biking i might get a bit bored of being on the road all the time!

Thanks for any advice

shazzz

Yes - it is an achievable goal, esp given your current biker status.

I'm no expert on training but if your goal is to finish then I would suggest simply riding and enjoying your time on the bike. Build up to 9 hour rides with plenty of climbing. Personally I think on or off road is fine - just enjoy it. YOu should get some experience on the road and in groups but that doesn't mean you have to consign the mtb to a locked shed!

If your aim is a good time, say under 8hrs, then you may want to get more specific.

nasahapley

Hi Ed,

I can say from doing almost the exact same thing that you're planning that you'll be fine. I got my first road bike in August last year and did the Fred in May, not in a particularly fast time (8.5 hours), but the heat on the day slaughtered me much more than the hills! You'll be starting from a better biking base than I did, and being able to ride the passes every week will be a huge help (I ride in the Dales which has a few big old climbs too). The Fred's got a fearsome reputation but if you're not gunning for a time you don't have to flog yourself half to death to get round - it can be enjoyable!

Your training plan looks good to me - I actually did more running than cycling over the winter and only started training properly once I'd got an entry, so you'll be just fine. Hopefully I'll see you on the day!

p.s. where abouts are you moving to in the Lakes?

ed29

Cheers for the advice :-)

Do you think its a good idea to get the comapct swapped out for a triple for doing passes in the lakes? I tend to climb seated on the mountain bike, not sure how i'll manage on a compact...but then again the bike will be lighter. I'm just worried i'll struggle on all the steep bits and it'll put me off if i'm just on 2 rings! Just wondering if its worth getting it swapped when i order the bike (or ordering a triple already fitted, i think the Synapse comes with this option)

I know theres some discussion about compacts / triples on the forum just wanted some advice from people who had ridden losts of lakes passes!

nasahapley

If you can get the bike with a triple already fitted I'd definitely go for that. I ride a lot in the Lakes and use a triple, I could get away with a compact 99% of the time as I rarely use the very bottom gear, but there are times when the extra lower gear has been very much appreciated - Hardknott into a headwind or at the end of the FW f'rinstance. I'm finding I use the small ring less and less as I get more practice in the hills, but I won't be changing - better to have a gear you don't need than not have one you do!

LeighB

I will second nasahapley, yes this is possible. My first Sportive was the 125 mile Three Counties Challenge last year and my second Sportive was The Fred Whitton Challenge this year. I live in Kendal and have plenty of hilly routes to train on. My good bike has a compact chain set with 36 x 26 low gear and my other geared bike has 39 x 28 low gear. These have been ok on all the hills including Hardknott West; the only time I have had to walk was on the Fred Whitton and I will put this down to the heat; over the last 25 miles I was just about finished but at the end it had taken me 8 hours 11 mins 10 seconds. So I missed the gold standard at my first attempt but yes a finish is possible for a relative newcomer. You have a year to train, give it a go.

Tom Butcher

Make sure you enter on the first day possible - hand deliver your entry if possible - it may not be quite such a race to get a place next year as there are far more sportives now but my guess is that it will fill up in a couple of days as it has done the last few years.

andy_wrx

Tom Butcher wrote:

Make sure you enter on the first day possible - hand deliver your entry if possible - it may not be quite such a race to get a place next year as there are far more sportives now but my guess is that it will fill up in a couple of days as it has done the last few years.

Couple of days ? Might be a couple of hours...

Cynically, you could say it would be easier for the OP to train for the event than to get an entry.

On the other hand, if he lives in Cumbria and can hand-deliver at 6am on the day entries open, perhaps he has a chance...

Anonymous

The Fred is a disgustingly hard challenge in early May....A normal bloke cannot get round with enjoying it IMO....its bloody hard fullstop....Kirkstone to start with is one huge long drag...Matterdale aint easy....Honisters tougher than nay hill in the Dales IMO...Newlands very tough...even Whinlatters tough...Fangs and Coldfell do a good job of killing people off and what can you say about Hardknott...Ive did FWC twice now and 95% walk...Wrynose directly afterwards is a kick in the teeth....

However with your current biking and future training plan I reckon you should get round...but do expect extreme suffering...if your fairly normal then dont listen to all that "not too hard" gash...and get the triple.....most guys Ive spoke to on the event give up all hope of scaling Hardknott and have already resorted to walking...theve brought cleat covers etc...why bother entering the FWC if you dont even try to get up Hardknott...thats the whole challenge? I use a 30x27 triple...Ive got up Hardknott successfully twice...but it was the most extreme effort Ive ever did...prepare yourself!.......