The Fred!

skavanagh.bikeradar

Looking at those pictures on Hardknott turned my stomach. I'll be back - after giving it a rest this year - and I'll cycle up that bloody thing if it kills me. Which on the previous two times it felt like it might do.

disgruntledgoat

skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:

Looking at those pictures on Hardknott turned my stomach. I'll be back - after giving it a rest this year - and I'll cycle up that bloody thing if it kills me. Which on the previous two times it felt like it might do.

That was my fifth Fred and the first time (even the year I finished 5th) that i've got all the way over Hardknott AND Wrynose without putting a foot down. Which made it all the more galling to have to walk down Wrynose as the Hailstorm made it impossible to see and ride at the same time.

That said, all that got me up them was having a back wheel to follow and encouragement from speccies. Good work fellas.

Brian B

The weather this year on Hardknott/Wrynose was terrible and could not have came at a worst time and made it the hardest climbs of them yet. Wind, Heaviest rain ever that then turned to sleet and some snow on Wrynose. Still me and my mate George got up Hardknott despite the traffic and weather. I have climbed it many times but it does not get any easier but the crowds of people and fellow cyclists all shouting encouragement as you struggle on the steeper sections really help. One guy said to me 'I know how you are feeling as I have done it many times and your almost there, keep going and dont stop' and I was on the last ramp at the time and it helped big time.

The worst obstacle for me on hardknott this year was the group I was with all unclipped at the cattle grid at the bottom and blocked the road but luckily they saw me coming and moved aside as quickly as their cleat would allow - many thanks.

crown_jewel

How steep is Hardknott?

disgruntledgoat

Crown Jewel wrote:

How steep is Hardknott?

Check the photos. About 30% at its worst.

I had meant to say, found a huge welt and bulge in my back tyre at the end. I am counting myself rather fortunate that it didn't blow before the end!

Feltup

Perhaps it was lucky you walked down Wrynose, that would have been horrible to have a blow out on.

I kept having visions of a brake cable snapping as I was going down Hardknott and Wrynose!

storck

Well done all involved in the Fred really well run event,this was my second time and first time i got over Hardknott what a climb how bad was the rain approaching the climb cheers to all for the encouragement through the whole day makes it all worth it hope to do it all again next year.

suze

I had a great day out, probably one of the hardest and best days I've ever had on a bike. Still I made it, I'm still grinning at what I did .....How some of those lads manage to ride up the Hardknott beats me. I'm not sure I could do it with fresh legs let alone with 100 miles in them first.

Thanks to all the crowds of support and the applause on top of Whinlatter it really gave me a boost. Mr Suze met me there with fresh bottles.

Hopefully I'll be back next year. Don't tell Mr Suze, he'll probably chop my legs of. Oh! B***** he's just found out.... :roll: :roll:

Rich-Ti

What an awesome day.

Hardknott only just beat me on the very last of it's slopes (when it kicks up again after the hairpins), but I didn't stop from the bottom and it was during that awful downpour and after a breakdown lorry trying to come down got in my way (and I was one of only 2 still riding it which made me happy!), so that's my excuse!

8:27 official time with 7:51 actual riding time according to the Garmin - good enough for me.

Will link to my write-up when it's done and if it gets posted on the Kingston Wheelers' forum or website

popette

suze wrote:

Hopefully I'll be back next year. Don't tell Mr Suze, he'll probably chop my legs of. Oh! B***** he's just found out.... :roll: :roll:

nasahapley

Rich-Ti wrote:

Hardknott only just beat me on the very last of it's slopes (when it kicks up again after the hairpins), but I didn't stop from the bottom and it was during that awful downpour and after a breakdown lorry trying to come down got in my way (and I was one of only 2 still riding it which made me happy!), so that's my excuse!

That breakdown lorry was there when I was on Hardknott too - although by that time it was on the relatively level section in the middle and seemed to be happy to wait for the cyclists to go by. Just as well as I wouldn't want to have met it coming down the previous 25% section in the wet! I was lucky with the traffic on Hardknott - nothing at all after the middle section so managed to get all the way up, I also somehow managed to miss this downpour that I keep hearing about too. Wrynose was a bit snarled up with traffic when I got there but I just about rode all the way up that too - it amazes me how, rather than just waiting on a less steep bit until the road was reasonably clear, many drivers would rather perform a series of clutch-frying hill starts right the way up the pass.

Did anyone else have some chap shouting at them as they went up the very steepest bit of Hardknott? I think he had a camera too, but I didn't really catch what he was saying (being a bit pre-occupied at the time...) All in all a really really good day out; I'll definitely be back again next year.

Sjaak

yeah, I had the same chap shout at me just an inch from my face. Somehow he must have sensed the trepidation when I looked up and ahead. He told me to at least try and make it to the next corner. That really gave me the mental ability to fight it out for another 20 metres and as it happened that was the worst part for me over and was able to reassess the whole thing when it 'flattened out' a bit before the second and final assault to the crest.

Whomever it was, thanks very much, it did help! He's in a couple of photos made by Allan (see http://picasaweb.google.com/rhnb55/FredWhittonChallenge2009 - yep that's me, #671 with a face full of hurt...

10 min later I was to be pelted with hailstones, some of them the largest known to mankind and still got the red impact marks on my arms to show for it.

nasahapley wrote:

Rich-Ti wrote:

Hardknott only just beat me on the very last of it's slopes (when it kicks up again after the hairpins), but I didn't stop from the bottom and it was during that awful downpour and after a breakdown lorry trying to come down got in my way (and I was one of only 2 still riding it which made me happy!), so that's my excuse!

That breakdown lorry was there when I was on Hardknott too - although by that time it was on the relatively level section in the middle and seemed to be happy to wait for the cyclists to go by. Just as well as I wouldn't want to have met it coming down the previous 25% section in the wet! I was lucky with the traffic on Hardknott - nothing at all after the middle section so managed to get all the way up, I also somehow managed to miss this downpour that I keep hearing about too. Wrynose was a bit snarled up with traffic when I got there but I just about rode all the way up that too - it amazes me how, rather than just waiting on a less steep bit until the road was reasonably clear, many drivers would rather perform a series of clutch-frying hill starts right the way up the pass.

Did anyone else have some chap shouting at them as they went up the very steepest bit of Hardknott? I think he had a camera too, but I didn't really catch what he was saying (being a bit pre-occupied at the time...) All in all a really really good day out; I'll definitely be back again next year.

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disgruntledgoat

Think they were from Cyclefilm or whatever they're called. I recognised Marcus who makes all their Sportive DVDs atop the next corner and we exchanged hellos as i ground up past him. The 2007 FWC DVD with yours truly doing the recon feature is still available from all good retailers. hemhemhem.

simonahfrost

The chap on Hardknott between the 2 final hairpins was from Cyclosport TV I think he said, he was videoing your pain and inner concentration, I passed him while still cycling and felt that his motivation and encouragement, in the midst of my own pain, concentration, the hail and rain, was paramount in helping me with my mental demons as I wobbled passed those that were walking. (takes a while to pass a determined walker at my speeds, but why? in the middle of the road??)

I made it round the breakdown wagon, now parked below the beached car, pleading with the driver to stay still as he stood at the side of his vehicle, he was as good as my plea, flattening himself against the vehicle and issuing encouragement.

Last year I did 8:33 on a triple, and walked the last steep straight bit on Hardknott, this year I resolved to use a compact chainset and made it up both, but it was hard, v hard. I was 9 mins slower on 8:42, but felt immense pride at my personal achievement. You fast guys, Chapeau, indeed.

Great encouragement all the way round, the airhorn on Whinlatter was wielded by an apparent 2 year old (well his dad anyway), the cowbell was a nice touch of the Alps.

My sense of enjoyment and accomplishment is down to the guys who organise this and run it on the day, theirs is a comitment of similar or greater magnitude than taking part, chapeau and thanks to all of them.

Simon

Brian B

Yep it was indeed the chap from Cyclosport and hope he caught me pained expression on camera. He shouted to me as well to keep going but I had the bit between my teeth and was not stopping for anything at that point after all my hard work.

Funnily enough it was my arms that aching the next day and I could feel them straining on the last part of the climb. It was my best FWC ever to date. I'll bet the chap who said to me that I looked over dressed when the sun came out at the 2nd feed station wish he had kept his mouth closed as the weather went right down hill after that.

Feltup

I think everyone was underdressed for that weather. My overshoes filled with the water running down my legs/tights.

Don't remember anything outside of my field of vision on the steep bit of Hardknott. A car had stopped halfway and there was a lass pushing her bike up ahead. She was a real star as she spotted me about to run the gap and ran a couple of steps to get out of my way. Big thanks to her for being so aware. There was a man at the corner at the top of the ramp who shouted that I had done the hard bit go on get to the top and that really helped.

The cheering around the course was amazing and kept a grin on my face the whole way (apart from the top of Hardknott and Wrynose!).

It was nice ticking the box on the certificate "did you walk?" No! (but only just)

Hugh_P

The fellow from Cyclosport was shouting pretty much the same to me as I went up and it helped a great deal. First time I have managed to ride all the hills so I was well pleased. Hoped for sub-8 but had to settle for 8:16 in the end. Missed the hail on Hardknott. I could see it falling as I came up Eskdale and caught the edge of it as I went through Boot but by the time I got to the telephone box at the bottom the sky had cleared. The breakdown lorry was waiting patiently on the flatter section and let me past which was nice so I gave him a wave and a thumbs up.
Etape du Dales on Sunday. Anyone else stupid enough to be doing both?

disgruntledgoat

Me HUgh. I always go better at the Dales for some reason.

Brian B

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Me HUgh. I always go better at the Dales for some reason.[/quote]

Thats because the climbs are slightly easier . Good luck I am at the Dales the next weekend

Fat Head

brian, i passed you and george just riding in to coniston as i was leaving in the van. it was too wet to hang around but i gave my best wishes to big neil. glad you enjoyed it.

i was cramping up in one leg upon reaching buttermere after only 40 miles and i honestly wasn't looking forward to the rest of it but that's the fred for you! coming down wrynose in the rain my arms and lower back were in agony. the last bit of the fred i was thinking to myself never ever again but come the next day i'm already undecided about next year funny thing, pain. that would be 3 years in a row.

Rich-Ti

Has turned out to be an expensive weekend for me - I've ruined a carbon rim. Bugger. :shock:

rhnb

I'd just like to put a word in for that guy driving the recovery truck.
I was spectating on the top hairpins. He'd walked up to assess the situation and hung about for quite some time waiting for a lull in the action. The woman he'd come to 'recover' had burned her clutch out and he said apparently she 'didnt know she was on Hardknott!' (That's satnavs for you ;-)
The poor bloke then had to run back down to the recovery truck and drive up to her. He said someone had 'kindly pushed the car into a gulley' ;-)
Considering he was on call, on a Sunday I thought he was patience itself and never heard a bad word from him. I think he was amused by the number of drivers who basically took too tight a line on the right hand corner at the top (oblivious to the gradient in that corner - must be 40%+) and we had to push a couple of cars out. Think there'll be a few visiting Qucik-Fit for new tyres judging by the rubber they left on the road. See, it's even hard for cars!
No, I wouldn't like to have driven that truck with a car hanging off the back down Hardknott. Maybe she's still there?

LeighB

If any of the riders are looking for pictures go on the Kirkstone Inn site and they have just about all the riders and will e mail the picture to you.
I had a good day out, finished in 7:32 and did not walk.
Well done to all the riders.

Philip S

Well done everyone! A fantastic achievement all round.

Now, let us into the trade secrets - what gearing were you all using?

disgruntledgoat

Philip S wrote:

Well done everyone! A fantastic achievement all round.

Now, let us into the trade secrets - what gearing were you all using?

39x25 as my lowest. A defeat after 2006's epic 39x23 triumph.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Feltup

34x27 and needed it to get up Hardknott and Wrynose.

Interesting to compare splits with the faster finishers to see where I need to make up time. We were very relaxed at the feed stations having chats with other riders etc so there's an easy 20 minutes to gain there if I do it again (I really want to). I think a slightly harder push to Buttermere wouldn't have hurt me that much more and still leave me with enough to get up Hardknott. I would rather have a slower time and ride the whole thing than get a quick time and walk the biggies.

mr_tricolore

Feltup wrote:

34x27 and needed it to get up Hardknott and Wrynose.

Interesting to compare splits with the faster finishers to see where I need to make up time. We were very relaxed at the feed stations having chats with other riders etc so there's an easy 20 minutes to gain there if I do it again (I really want to). I think a slightly harder push to Buttermere wouldn't have hurt me that much more and still leave me with enough to get up Hardknott. I would rather have a slower time and ride the whole thing than get a quick time and walk the biggies.

I agree totally about feed stations. I was guilty of hanging around too long. However, I feel that sharing the work at the front better between Matterdale and Honister would have made an ever bigger difference. What's stopping people from taking the lead for half a mile and getting the benefit of having stronger riders pulling the group longer and faster once they have recovered for a minute or 2? I know that not everyone rides in organised groups very often, but really it doesn't take much observation skills to realise how much more efficient a group might be when everyone shares the load.

End of rant. Well done to everyone who finished, even those who sucked my back wheel forever.

Feltup

mr_tricolore wrote:

I agree totally about feed stations. I was guilty of hanging around too long. However, I feel that sharing the work at the front better between Matterdale and Honister would have made an ever bigger difference. What's stopping people from taking the lead for half a mile and getting the benefit of having stronger riders pulling the group longer and faster once they have recovered for a minute or 2? I know that not everyone rides in organised groups very often, but really it doesn't take much observation skills to realise how much more efficient a group might be when everyone shares the load.

End of rant. Well done to everyone who finished, even those who sucked my back wheel forever.

Ahhh you had those as well. My mate and I had one all the way from Ambleside to Honister and plenty of others who never came to the front on the A66 or down Borrowdale. I had never ridden in a large group before not belonging to a club yet and having only started cycling last summer but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to work out what the signals mean and how the work load should get shared.

Apart from that slight rant, I still think it was one of the best sporting events I have done. The organisers should be truly proud of their work.

Tom Butcher

Sharing the work is a difficult one. I think some riders don't want to go to the front because they feel they have to do a longish turn and keep the pace as high as the stronger riders. In reality of course if all they do is roll through and straight off that still gives the stronger riders that little bit of recovery so they can continue doing the longer turns whilst not requiring the weaker riders to put any more effort in at all. That's sportives for you though - not everyone has the same experience.