The Fred!

nasahapley

Right. It's less than a week to go now and nobody's started a thread yet so I thought I would.

So, are people feeling adequately fit for it? Got a gameplan figured out? FWIW I think I'm in better shape than I was last time around; did a hilly, windy century around the Dales yesterday without too much drama, and I even made sure I took the intended detour near the end to get one last nasty hill in!

And I know it's totally pointless really, but I've already started keeping an eye on the 5-day weather forecast for the Lakes, and it looks...sh**e!

andy_wrx

Stinking cold.

Flat easy 40 on Saturday, not been near the bike yesterday or today.

I'd better be better by the weekend or I'll suffer...

Rich-Ti

Might know of a room going spare in a B&B not far from the start if anyone's interested? A friend asked me to book it for them but now isn't likely to bother doing the ride :roll: :evil:

I'm up for it - did the Lakeland Loop last month without too much drama (including 2 days of fairly heavy Lakes riding before that) and had a pretty strong ride yesterday. A couple of roller sessions / Richmond Park laps this week should keep me ticking over 8)

Feltup

Had a couple of long kitesurf sessions over the weekend so that has left me aching all over, perfect training

I did get 48 miles on Sunday up in to the South Wales Hills. Never cycled up there before but the loop up through Maesteg and down Ogmore Vale was really nice, not too hilly about 1200m ascent in the end.

So hopefully in not too bad shape for getting around but not in good enough shape to get a fast time. Weather is looking either hideous or just damp depending on the forecast. I guess you dont get big lakes in the desert and we are going straight past the wettest spot in the England. Bring it on.

disgruntledgoat

Was going to start a thread on this but theres one already here!

I want to do a 6:30 time or there abouts, i'm local so I know the roads etc. And i'm looking for a decent group to ride with for the day, I want ot go early to avoid as much traffic as possible too. Any takers?

And yeah, the weather looks terrible.

Rich158

I was feeling pertty good, but had the weekend off and the legs felt like lead this morning Still there's time to ramp up the training during the week and getting the legs firing nicely for Sunday Anything under 7 hours I'll be happy with, although I am heading into the unkown, I've never even attempted the amount of climbing involved in one hit :shock:

Yah boo sucks to the weather, it's going to be a hell of a ride whatever the weathers like, and tbh I'd rather it was a bit cold and damp. Rather that than being too hot.

Feltup

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Was going to start a thread on this but theres one already here!

I want to do a 6:30 time or there abouts, i'm local so I know the roads etc. And i'm looking for a decent group to ride with for the day, I want ot go early to avoid as much traffic as possible too. Any takers?

And yeah, the weather looks terrible.

Just thinking getting traction down on the steeper climbs is going to be tricky. Hasve you done Hardknott in the wet? Any tricks for not spinning the back wheel and grinding to a halt?

disgruntledgoat

Feltup: Lower gears? Just kidding.

Normally i'd stay off such roads in the wet, sacked off Honister and Newlands on Friday for just that reason, plus the descent of Honister is sketchy in the dry!

Only tip I can give for that sort of thing is just keep the power down, the quicker your cadance the quicker you'll recover from your back wheel slipping. Either that or stay seated, which is unlikely I know.

You can, however, get away with a lot more that you think with the wheel slipping, my best time up Newlands this year was on a wet road with the back wheel slipping all the way up.

Feltup

Hmmm thanks! I didn't think there was any magic I hadn't found! Just hoping. Yeah Honister does worry me in the wet, I am just hoping it will be car free when I am dropping it. (unlikely).

nasahapley

Rich158 wrote:

Yah boo sucks to the weather, it's going to be a hell of a ride whatever the weathers like, and tbh I'd rather it was a bit cold and damp. Rather that than being too hot.

Amen to that. The heat did me in last year; I think it being ten degrees cooler would knock half an hour off my time in itself (although I'm not aiming for any time in particular). I'm planning on setting off just before eight; warm up over the first few climbs done at my own pace, catch a lift with one of the big groups that start at eight along the A66, then see how it goes.

I've done Hardknott in the wet quite recently, with about half an inch of water running down the very steepest bit! I actually had more trouble with grip (or lack of it) going up Whinlatter the same day; I think because Hardknott is up open fellside it doesn't get as greasy as the tree-covered climbs (either that, or Hardknott is too steep for the grease to stick!) But if it does get slippy, I guess all you can do is get as much weight over the back wheel as possible and try to measure out the power rather than mashing, which I know is easier said than done at that stage of proceedings.

disgruntledgoat

Feltup wrote:

Hmmm thanks! I didn't think there was any magic I hadn't found! Just hoping. Yeah Honister does worry me in the wet, I am just hoping it will be car free when I am dropping it. (unlikely).

This is my 5th Fred and the bits that always worry me are the descent of Kirkstone (which is why I want to get out early), all of Honister and the whole section between the cattle grid at the bottom of Hardknott and the cattle grid at the bottom of Wrynose.

The only bit of magic I can offer is that on the way up Honister when it's at it's steepest by the bridge, there's a trench across the left of the road, keep yer back wheel out of that and you stand a much better chance of not slipping.

disgruntledgoat

Nasahapely: Whinlatter gets a lot more traffic over it too so you get shedloads of oil on the road when it rains.

Rich-Ti

Whinlatter doesn't bother me as I know I can do all of that seated - this talk of slipping wheels on Hardknott / Wrynose / Newlands etc is making me very nervous though! :shock:

Rich-Ti

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Only tip I can give for that sort of thing is just keep the power down, the quicker your cadance the quicker you'll recover from your back wheel slipping. Either that or stay seated, which is unlikely I know.

Do tyre pressures make any difference, or should I just run normal pressures? (100-120psi) :?

disgruntledgoat

Rich-Ti wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Only tip I can give for that sort of thing is just keep the power down, the quicker your cadance the quicker you'll recover from your back wheel slipping. Either that or stay seated, which is unlikely I know.

Do tyre pressures make any difference, or should I just run normal pressures? (100-120psi) :?

To be honest, if you think about the Fred logically, really steep climbs (IE those with gradients over about 18%) make up about 7 miles of 116. I've always just run my normal tyre pressure given the abject pain in the bum of feeling like i'm bouncing along on baloons for a whole day. Even if it is all in my head.

The only argument in favour, I would say, is that there's some really crap roads on the route and it may, slightly, add to your comfort.

Rich-Ti

Fair point, well presented 8)

Feltup

disgruntledgoat wrote:

To be honest, if you think about the Fred logically, really steep climbs (IE those with gradients over about 18%) make up about 7 miles of 116.

It's funny when you say it that way it seems so much worse than just steep sections on big climbs!

Thanks for the heads up on the Honister trench, will try to avoid but you know how things like that become magnetic as soon as you look at them!

Brian B

I am looking forward to it - apart from Hardknott :oops: . I hate the stretch of road from Gosforth as I have butterflies with the nerves. Still I have got up Hardknott more times than not and this is my 3rd Fred - I made it up Hardknott in 2007 but the traffic jam last year scuppered my chance and I almost died in that heat anyway.

My only niggle is that an unfortunate mechanical fault ruined my lovely Storck Scenario frame at the weekend on t the Drumlanrig Sportive and I will be doing the FWC now on my Orbea which is a good bike but just not as nice or as comfortable.

Rich-Ti

Rich-Ti wrote:

Might know of a room going spare in a B&B not far from the start if anyone's interested? A friend asked me to book it for them but now isn't likely to bother doing the ride :roll: :evil:

Friend now confirmed as quitting so the Browside B&B now have a double room available for Saturday and Sunday night - call Helen and tell her Richard sent you if you're interested 8)

storck

Hey Brian R.I.P. 0.9 Scenario onwards and upwards.

disgruntledgoat

Sorry to bang on, but I'm keen to get sorted and, if possible, avoid descending Kirkstone with 100 other cyclists and traffic... So, any takers for a 6:30 paced group departing about 0730 hrs?

Rich-Ti

Weather could be worse according to MetCheck :?

disgruntledgoat

I got blown to a standstill TWICE by a headwind on my way down Whinlatter last night. So it bloomin' better pick up.

Live update: Out our office window it's overcast but dry with no wind

Feltup

Looking at all the forecasts there is still no general consensus for Sunday except that it is looking slightly less wet than it was yesterday. Still plenty of time for the monsoon to hit again.

Mr Goat, sorry but 6.30 pace is way too hot for me and my buddy. Good luck with the time.

RedGreenBaron

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Sorry to bang on, but I'm keen to get sorted and, if possible, avoid descending Kirkstone with 100 other cyclists and traffic... So, any takers for a 6:30 paced group departing about 0730 hrs?

Hi DGG. I had planned on an 8am or just before start, but could be flexible.
We're still not quite sure which cottage we're renting (til Wed) - I think we've narrowed it down to one on the river in Pooley Bridge and one on the lake at High Cunsey. If any of the locals have an opinion, I'd be mighty appreciative. If the former, 7:30am might be too early after registration.
I reckoned on aiming for 7 hours (in dry with no incidents), since a better dynamo than me did 6:30 last year and he started with the fast 9am bunch (dropped on Honister). I'm keen to keep things ticking over on the flats, but aim to take it easy on the early hills.
It's my first attempt so it's difficult to say if I'd be any use to you - Dragon last year was 5hr55, Cornwall this year was 6h26 if that gives any indication.
Nick
PS DGG have just checked your blog and given your training regime I do think I'd be a notch too slow on the hills.

disgruntledgoat

Pretty much my plan exactly mate. I did a 6:18 three years ago but I was 4 kilos lighter and much less use on the flat. My plan is tick it over on the flats at a decent rate and then cope on the hills.

The other half of my plan was to set off at about 0745 to minimise exposure to the chaos of Hawkshead Hill and Kirkstone and then, if the 0800 group were really flying sit on with them down the A66 and Borrowdale. PM me if you're interested.

Pooley Bridge is nice, by the way.

Really should get back to updating that blog as well, personal circumstances have made it a real chore of late.

mozwyn69

4th Fred for me. It's the descent off Honister which scares me the most, its bad enough in the dry let alone the wet. On my first Fred I had to stop and pysche up and then a fellow crashed into the wall in front of me. Whinlatter will have some greasy corners where there is tree cover. Anyway getting excited already whatever the weather, its easlily my favorite sportive.
Would like to beat my best time of 7.46 but unlikley if its wet.

Brian B

storck wrote:

Hey Brian R.I.P. 0.9 Scenario onwards and upwards.

Hey George your'e right - Wally is on the case at the moment to try to get me a replacement frame ASAP. Still wrangling with the insurance/etc but not looking good. PB phoned Dave Martin and asked if he had set up the rear mech correctly - I bet he was none too pleased about that.

Still I wont be thinking about bikes when struggling up the climbs. Not keen on the descent of Kirkstone as I find that the worst as everybody is clammering to regain any time lost on the climb and wwatch out for those catseyes on the A66

Tom Butcher

I agree with goat - the best bet for a 6.30-7.30 time is to start off 15 minutes before the 8am lot and pick up groups as you go round. You can intend to ride in a group of mates but if one or two are having a bad day do you wait for them and lose time or carry on with a small group and end up doing a lot of work on the front ? Start before 8 and agree to ride at a pace but if someone is having a good day or a bad day at least they have other groups coming by to pick up.

Agree on the descent of Honister - last time I rode the Fred it was a very wet day and there were at least three casualties by the side of the road as I descended. I think it catches out riders who approach it like the descent of Kirkstone - on Honister unless you are a very good descender you can't let the speed get up too high as it steepens up and in the wet it's very hard to scrub it off.

disgruntledgoat

Tom Butcher wrote:

I agree with goat - the best bet for a 6.30-7.30 time is to start off 15 minutes before the 8am lot and pick up groups as you go round. You can intend to ride in a group of mates but if one or two are having a bad day do you wait for them and lose time or carry on with a small group and end up doing a lot of work on the front ? Start before 8 and agree to ride at a pace but if someone is having a good day or a bad day at least they have other groups coming by to pick up.

Agree on the descent of Honister - last time I rode the Fred it was a very wet day and there were at least three casualties by the side of the road as I descended. I think it catches out riders who approach it like the descent of Kirkstone - on Honister unless you are a very good descender you can't let the speed get up too high as it steepens up and in the wet it's very hard to scrub it off.

It's the surface too. The fact it's so steep means that water constantly runs down it and it's all rutted and horrible.

liversedge

Really up for the Fred this year. Regardless of the weather. Rode in 07 with a chest infection and struggled. Will be sub-8 this time. Its a bloddy long way for me to drive for a wet ride, but this is my first (and last) test before La Marmotte.

Please let it be relatively dry .......................