Fred whitton 2012
Comments
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See the power of the positive waves at work already
Brian B.0 -
Bring your waterproof and stop checking compulsively the forecast... barring a massive storm, their chances of getting it right are slim anyway... go for it, whatever the weather, I'll stay down south, where we should be blessed with some proper spring... 8)left the forum March 20230
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I just hate not being able to decide what to wear?
I'm thinking leapord print, yeah?I Dont Ride Hills, I Climb Mountains!
2010 Scott S40
2011 Wilier Izoard XP0 -
waynobfc wrote:
I just hate not being able to decide what to wear?
I'm thinking leapord print, yeah?
Surely you should choose the flouro green one - makes you more visible in the dark. :shock:Independent website - Rate and share your sportive experience
http://www.sportiverater.com0 -
Absolutely hammering it down here at the moment, hope it clears for Sunday!0
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There's even a hint of some sun now.
At 7.00am0 -
Well, the weather wasnt to bad, bit windy but it could have been much, much worse if it had rained!
Managed a 7:15 which was alrite I guess. Went quickish but fairly steady, enjoyed the foodstops, no mechanicals although I kept having to stop and adjust my seatpost. Struggled to find a good group to ride withthough. Wish I'd checked my time, then I maybe would have pushed on for under the 7 hours.0 -
styxd wrote:Well, the weather wasnt to bad, bit windy but it could have been much, much worse if it had rained!
A bit windy! Thats an understatement. From the A66 at Matterdale to Gosforth there was a constant head wind and some of the gusts were brutal and I got pissed off with the constant roar of wind in my ears. I was 20 minutes down of my best time of 7:28 and this year I have the best fitness ever. Still I agree if it rained like it was when I drove back to Scotland it would have been terrible.
It was a great day out though and got round without any mishap and sailed up hardknott. Its always a tough route no matter how fit you are. I saw a lot of crashes today particularly on descents with people either going to quick or just lacking the technical know how.Brian B.0 -
Got absolutely soaked today. Been for a swim in the pool at The Swan at Newby Bridge. Great warm down and tone after a tough day in the wind. Great route, back next year (if I get in). 0
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This was my first time riding at the event. Loved the partial road management of the local police. Felt like a closed road event to an extent.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ride despite twisting my chain and having to get a lift in the event's photographer car to the 2nd feed stop 12 miles away for a new chain to be installed (thanks to Saddleback for sorting) and dropped my chain twice...
Could have easily done a sub 7 hr time. My time at Whinlatter was 3.50 hr. Oh well, life goes on. Hope to be back again next year.
I must say I thought the descent down Wrynose was dangerous as hell. Bumpy, rough, narrow, roadside mountain rocks, high winds & knackered riders = recipe for a disaster.
Though I'm not surprised to hear of crashes. What I don't understand is why riders would push on dangerous descents... It's a cycle sportive not a time trial.0 -
Yep. was happy t crawl down the descents, especially at the end when I was too tired to deal with anything unexpected.
I got round in just over 10hours, an hour of which was feed stops. Managed the first section of Hardknott but pushed up the final part. Happy with that though - I did Etape Du Dales last year in sligtly slower time and walked up loads of climbs on that one, so I've obviously improved since then :-)0 -
Got round in 7 hours 58 minutes. I was hoping for an under 7.30 ride but the wind put paid to that. First time I've ridden it for 5 years. Like Brian I was the fittest I've been for years. I was 5 minutes down to Buttermere, and I found the wind over Fangs Brow/Cold Fell unbelievably tough. I was 24 minutes down on that stretch. Conversely the wind was a big help up Eskdale and over Hardknott and Wrynose. There were moments on Wrynose where it almost seemed unnecessary to pedal. I made up 24 minutes between Gosforth and the finish. I'm always knocked out by the unfussy but efficient organisation of this event, and it was great that the police seemed to be discouraging cars from going over Hardknott and Wrynose. I've never seen so few cars in that area. I'll be back next year to see what time I can do on a still day!0
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I reckon the poor weather tends to make about a 15-20 minute difference for most peoples times. Cold Fell this year was even worse than last year! The tailwind between hardknott and wrynose was lovely though, everytime Ive ridden that stretch recently Ive had a head wind down it.0
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I'd agree the wind 'cost' about 20 minutes overall. As said, Cold Fell was indeed brutal. Thanks to all who organise the event - very well run. And how fast was the Kirkstone descent...
You need better food at the end though
Even when you're starving, those pasties were dubious. What about some Greggs sponsorship? Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer0 -
Abandoned at Calderbridge, me bloody left handle bar broke off 15 miles before. Waited from about 1 till 4 to get bike and me lift back to Coniston. Was in the little hot room till then, the number of people coming in to get warm again was constant, with one poor chap having Hypothermia.
Got up Honister for the first time as well and going alright until Mechanical, got up and down a few hills one handed before feedstop.
I'll be back next year hopefully.0 -
I agree 20-30 minutes was cost by the wind. I was 10 minutes down on my average time at the 1st feed and lost more time to the 2nd feed. It seemed that all the fast sections(apart from the descent of Kirkstone - that was crazy fast this year) were affected by the wind. The A66 section which is usually fast was reducing people to a crawl at times.
Like Nick I rallied round on the last stretch and never before have I flew up the Duddon Valley in such big gears. The wind was a big help but again the last section into Coniston was into headwind - usually everybody is flying down there heading towards the end.
I did the Lakeland Loop a month ago and remember the gears I was pushing on sections and could not believe how slow I was going in comparison.
I almost never went to this event as 7 days ago I hurt my left knee and had to walk down stairs side ways to avoid pressure on my knee. Abstained from cycling all week but had no problems with it at all yesterday. Brian B.0 -
Are you doing Le Terrier this year Brian? I Hope to catch up with you if you are.Brian B wrote:I agree 20-30 minutes was cost by the wind. I was 10 minutes down on my average time at the 1st feed and lost more time to the 2nd feed. It seemed that all the fast sections(apart from the descent of Kirkstone - that was crazy fast this year) were affected by the wind. The A66 section which is usually fast was reducing people to a crawl at times.
Like Nick I rallied round on the last stretch and never before have I flew up the Duddon Valley in such big gears. The wind was a big help but again the last section into Coniston was into headwind - usually everybody is flying down there heading towards the end.
I did the Lakeland Loop a month ago and remember the gears I was pushing on sections and could not believe how slow I was going in comparison.
I almost never went to this event as 7 days ago I hurt my left knee and had to walk down stairs side ways to avoid pressure on my knee. Abstained from cycling all week but had no problems with it at all yesterday.0 -
Certainly a great event by any standards. Managed 7.02 and maybe without the wind would have got under 7hrs but not sure. The wind definitely made it more important than ever to get in a good group, but that's not possible on some of the descents that had to be pedaled down.
Cold Fell was certainly the low point for me, needed massive re-fueling at the feed stop just after and then got stomach cramps for the next 20 minutes!! Still, flew up Hard Knott and Wrynose in PB times set on shorter rides (first time I've not had to push up that last steep section on Hardknott).
My first ride on the "Fred" and I really enjoyed it, of two guys I rode with one set a PB by 10 minutes and the other was just over 10 minutes off PB so not sure what you can say about the wind really, helped in some parts but hindered in others so maybe not too negative (most of the top times on Strava are for this years event!).0 -
maddog 2 wrote:You need better food at the end though Even when you're starving, those pasties were dubious. What about some Greggs sponsorship?
They were mannah from heaven for me - I'd overdone the energy drink powder when mixing up my bottles and ended up with guts ache for hours on the ride. The pasty was just what I needed to settle it down again - the tiny serving of mushy peas was poor though (under provision on this score!).0 -
I abandond after just half a mile!
My mate was in front of me literally a minute or two after starting out at 6.30 and a bloody black cat ran out under his front wheel and had him off.
He took the full impact on his face and was out cold.
Lost 2 teeth, badly split lip and road rash with a cheek bone like a duck egg!
Got an ambulance to Furness general but was fine (Sort of!)
Two other mates, also 1st timers, did it in 8.07 (After staying with us for 15 - 20 mins)
Did seem well run and hopefully can get in next year.
One T**t did remind me why I used to hate cyclists before I became one when he rode past my mate and I sitting at the side of the road waiting for an ambulance and scoffed "Giving up already?!"0 -
My first Fred Whitton too, in fact only my 2nd sportive after doing the Lakeland Loop last month. I've only been cycling for a year (apart from when a kid) so I wasn't aiming for a specific time, just aiming to get round and did so in just under 10h30m.
The hardest sections for me were the flatter sections with headwind - I'm quite lightly built and can't seem to get any speed up. The climbs were great fun though, and found myself passing a lot of riders who had overtaken me previously on the flats!
Managed to do all of the climbs without stopping too, although it did feel like cheating with that tailwind up Wrynose! Also got some sarcastic comment when riding past a guy who was pushing up Hardknott "it's not much faster riding than walking mate". Oh really, so I didn't just RIDE past you then...?0 -
BeauMaximus wrote:One T**t did remind me why I used to hate cyclists before I became one when he rode past my mate and I sitting at the side of the road waiting for an ambulance and scoffed "Giving up already?!"
Very poor.
I ran into one annoying guy on several occasions along the way - he was loudly regailing all who would listen about his racing prowess. The odd thing was that he seemed to be doing this to complete strangers, as I saw him ride off and leave who he was speaking to behind, seemingly never to rejoin him. He'd found a new victim later though.0 -
I think a huge 'well done' goes to all of us who did it. Also my first 'Fred' & not to be my last, i will be returning for sure next year if i'm lucky enough to get a place. Been cycling for 2 years now & loving it. This was a mega challenge though, but i acheived my mission in completing it, ride time was 8.08, actual time was 9.01. Can't grumble at that really. Walked the last 50 metres of Hardknott as i was getting blown all over the place, but apart from this i rode all the course. My way of getting up the tough climbs was to sprint around the switchbacks & then just spin up the straights, seemed to work! Feed stations were great, staff & organisation were spot on & a very friendly crowd overall. . Got back home to London today (having spent best part of 2 hours in a traffic jam outside Birminham on the A6 - great!) to find my number & stuff for the Dragon Ride! Can't wait. Before then i've got the Evans Ride It! King Of The Downs - should be great rides. They won't come near to the Fred in terms of toughness though. The descents were amazing tho, a great test of bike handling ability & Kirkstone was just SO fast! Shame about the gale force winds, i really suffered riding up to & over Cold Fell but managed to form up a chain gang along the A66 which was a real help. Heres to next year & hopefully smashing my time (if i get in)!0
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I was dubious about riding it at all, I couldn't even seem to ride 30 miles without getting knackered over the last few weeks. I had a go though and ended up loving it (sort of). Saved enough in the tank to ride up hardknott, no dabs. Not quite the sub 8 hours i wanted (actually 8:48), but I don't think i could have done it any faster in all honesty. The descents were amazing, especially Kirkstone.0
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All done and dusted. Already suffering from the post event blues. Always the way after such a high! All that build up, training etc and then it's over. Just hope I can get an entry for next year! I will get out for a recovery ride this afternoon and start thinking about Le Terrier at the beginning of June.0
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Tough but I enjoyed the event. The wind was something else. I rode solo for most of the event and it seemed an age before the legs kicked in. Managed a time of 7:23. First time I've been up Hardknott without a zigzag, think the wind had something to do with that though!
It was the second time I've done The Fred Whitton and just loved being part of it. The atmosphere and the course is something else, and I even looked around at the views this time too!
Dragon ride next then Maratona in Italy.0 -
First time doing the Fred and found it a real killer. Very happy to have managed it all without walking though
Has anyone found many photos of it online? There seemed to be millions of people out there with cameras but I've not managed to many photos. So far I've found:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfleming/s ... 575304753/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpascalj/s ... 189724744/
http://www.athletesinaction.co.uk/portfolio259144.html
Anything else from anyone?0 -
Nickwill wrote:All done and dusted. Already suffering from the post event blues. Always the way after such a high! All that build up, training etc and then it's over. Just hope I can get an entry for next year! I will get out for a recovery ride this afternoon and start thinking about Le Terrier at the beginning of June.
Hi Nick - I am glad someones feels the same as me. The Fred is always one of my main goals and train towards it every year if possible. Last year I had the Marmotte to look forward or in previous years going abroad but not this year.
Been doing a few Mega routes in Scotland on my own and basically covering 150miles by linking the best bits of sportives together.
Not sure whether to do the terrier again this year - although I keep thinking how good it would be in the dry.Brian B.0 -
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