Fred Whitton Challenge! 2011

psychologist1

OK so i have posted my form and live in hope of getting a place on this epic ride! Having been to the lake district last summer and been up a few of those hills one at a time, I know I have a big challenge ahead.

Has anyone done it before and would like to share their training plans with me. I am a relatively average rider. Done a few 100mile rides in 8 hours or so..Thanks

Brian B

I have done the Fred 4 times before and several times the route on my own. I can do an average 110 mile sportive in around 6hrs or so but I add an extra hour at least for the Fred as the last 15miles are the worst with Hardknott and Wrynose. Last years time for me was 7:28 and two weeks later did a 110 mile sportive in 6:08.

As for training I dont go into anything specific but I do plenty of hills every time I go out on my bike. I also try to get in a few big runs before hand but as its so early in the year its hard to get fully fit for the event.

Last year I did the Lake Land Loop sportive which is a slightly smaller version of the Fred but its a month before the Fred so it gave me an idea on how fit I was. Doing the same this year and hoping to get into the Fred as well.

So basically what works for me is doing hills, miles.

Good Luck

320DMsport

As Brian says its a tough event and Hardknot at the 100 mile mark is pretty hard but doable.

I did it for the first time last year, i did alot of miles through winter and plenty of hilly rides.

Last year for me it was a case of pacing myself so took it steady to make sure i didn't blow up on Hardknot, i wanted to ride it all which i did in 7hr 56, not mega quick but completed it.

Whatever anyone tells you its not just as quick to walk Hardknot, no one walking it has ever passed me riding it!

You can loose loads of time by walking those passes so get on the hill repeats.

As suggested the Lakeland Loop is ideal, only 70 miles and takes in Whinlatter, Cold fell, Ireton Pike, Hardknot, Wrynose, basically the Fred route from whinlatter but you get a 25% sting before the finish.

Great training ride though and one month before so you can sample Hardknot Wrynose before the Fred.

Im doing it again if i get in but now ive done it once i'm going to push abit harder this time.

Goodluck with your entry!

rock_hopper

I've also sent an entry in and live in hope of getting a ride. I think a good block of endurance training through late winter/early spring then keep the volume quite high and head for the hills. Try doing some long hilly rides with tough, steep hills towards the end when your tired/fatigued to try and mimic the event.

For the guys who have done it, 39x28 a low enough gear? Don't want to change to a compact. I'm say I'm a fairly strong rider and will be aiming for a sub 6:30.

Tom Butcher

Yes should be low enough - if you are a decent climber aiming for that time I reckon you should stay on the bike with that - but lower would be better. I know a guy who did a low 6 hour ride with 39*23 - he did push the final short ramp of Hardknott and was a good climber.

Last time I did it I had a 39*27 and I lost a lot of time pushing up Hardknott but I made the schoolboy error of attacking it from the bottom and seeing how far I could get like that - far better to go at it slowly and try and stay on the bike as once you are pushing you are losing shedloads of time. I was average 3rd cat race fit at the time to give you a guide.

320DMsport

Sub 6hr 30 is a good time, i would go for easiest gearing you can, better to spin those climbs than grind to death.

My mate normaly rides a 39 25 but always swaps to a 34/27 for the fred and he does it 6hr 10, my other mate held the record and his advice was to get easiest gearing you can.

Rob Jebb that wins it rides a 28, not sure if compact of not, i'll find out.

I did it on a 34/28 which was still tough in places for me anyway but stayed on the bike.

The first stint of Hardknot is tough upto and through the first s bend, it levels out after that to catch your breath then go at the next s bend.

When i rode last year there was more pushers than not but it is costly, i would advise riding those climbs Hardknot and Wrynose before the event.

There is a good training route from Keswick, down Borrowdale, up Honister, then Newlands then Whinlatter, loop back round buttermere then over honister the other way.

rock_hopper

Thanks guys, that's some good info, you've sold me on the compact by the way! Have one on my other bike that I can use. There are some pretty steep climbs in the NY Moors that get up to 33% so that should form some good training rides. Providing I get in..........