Cat and Fiddle Challenge - 3rd October

ksherratt
ksherratt Posts: 11
edited October 2010 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
Well done to all those that managed to complete this one in probably the worst conditions I’ve ever cycled in on the road :shock:

I think we all deserve a medal (and a psychiatric check-up). :lol:

Heavy persistent rain from start to finish – soaked to the skin after 5 minutes. Gale force gusts creating horizontal rain and treacherous conditions as we climbed up towards the Cat and Fiddle. It reduced my wife to tears as she fought to keep her bike upright as we crested Axe Edge.

Does anyone know who the photographer was on the Cat and Fiddle climb?

Comments

  • GSCoritani#14
    GSCoritani#14 Posts: 1
    I will agree - the toughest condions I've ever ridden in I'd say. I never realised rain could hurt so much. One rider in front of me crossing the moor by the Cat & Fiddle pub got literally blown off his bike at some speed as we started the descent - he was ok, shaken up as I was in having to stop quickly in the rain to avoid piling into him.
    But...feels very good 24hrs later in the warm & in dry clothes! Hail all who completed and for those who decided not to go out...next year eh?!?
  • fluff.
    fluff. Posts: 771
    Well done to those who braved the conditions, I forgot it was on until late morning (had no plans to do it anyway), looked at the cams at http://www.maccinfo.com/cat/ and all I could see was a white out with the occasional damp cyclist going by. Sods law it looks quite nice today.
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,152
    it was horrible, but I loved it!
  • changomusic
    changomusic Posts: 1
    what a crazy ride.. retrospectively loved it...at the time quite a challenge. particularly loved mastering the leaning into the wind technique to avoid flipping over. All hail!

    www.codsallphotographic.com(view gallery) for photies
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,152
    thanks for the link to the pics, shame it doesn't show how bad it was
  • ksherratt
    ksherratt Posts: 11
    Great stuff - thanks for the link.
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    Yeah I enjoyed it in a bizzare way, first time I've ever ridden in that part of the world on the road.

    Is it ever nice up there :D
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Steve_b77 wrote:
    Yeah I enjoyed it in a bizzare way, first time I've ever ridden in that part of the world on the road.

    Is it ever nice up there :D
    It was
    Last Thursday.
    Sunday proved a one test too far for some allegedly weather proof kit.
    Manufacturers need to set up a testing station up there from October to March.
  • rdt
    rdt Posts: 869
    Steve_b77 wrote:
    Yeah I enjoyed it in a bizzare way, first time I've ever ridden in that part of the world on the road.

    Is it ever nice up there :D

    It's unlucky the ride was on Sunday, as Monday was a stunner. Blue sky, warm and for much of the day, barely a breeze, even up on on the tops. The roads were covered in cack after Sunday's rain, but hey, you can't have everything :lol:
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    Bloody typical :roll:
  • ksherratt
    ksherratt Posts: 11
    rdt wrote:
    It's unlucky the ride was on Sunday, as Monday was a stunner. Blue sky, warm and for much of the day, barely a breeze, even up on on the tops. :
    Yep, I was cursing our luck as well on Monday as I looked out over pristine cycling conditions - but then again, it always tends to be the 'challenging' rides that stick in the memory rather than those when the conditions were perfect... :)
  • etapechamp
    etapechamp Posts: 81
    looks like i missed another grim day,... i didn,t ride it this year, but in subsequant years, its a good ride if the weather is nice, i,ve ridden it two years previously when it been drizzling in macclesfield as you turn right up the cat, at the top it can be hailing and snowing and blowing a hurricane, its just a microclimate up there. but well done guys and girls who rode it this year. give yourself a pat on the back.

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