The Fred Whitton 2017

dish_dash

Ugo - you hung up your Fred boots at the right time. Just got an email telling me that the event has now been handed over to Human Race...

ugo.santalucia

dish_dash wrote:

Ugo - you hung up your Fred boots at the right time. Just got an email telling me that the event has now been handed over to Human Race...

I couldn't see that happening.
Given the contract assumes the same level of charitable contribution, as I understand, there are two possible outcomes:

1) The entry fee doubles to make some economic sense for Humar Race... in return you'll get a bigger bag of shite, with things like medals, pseudo certificates of achievement and more leaflets

2) The price stays the same and HR only use the event to promote themselves and enhance participation in the other (probably struggling) events they organise for money... could be a case of memorabilia a go go, with a revamped range of jerseys/T-shirts, puppets and whatnot

Obviously very bad news... I can't see the event getting better, to be honest, just more commercial and tacky

DeVlaeminck

I wonder how that works with the volunteer labour that the Fred seems to be able to call on - would people be willing to volunteer their time knowing it's basically a business. I believe at least one organiser has taken some kind of payment for his work in recent years - which I hasten to add is perfectly reasonable given the size of the event - but presumably it now becomes a for profit event with the charity element coming from London Marathon style additional fundraising?

The upside might be they are able to negotiate an expansion of the entry numbers given they have a greater incentive to do so. Hopefully it'd remain the same or better and the entry fee wont go up by much.

ugo.santalucia

DeVlaeminck wrote:

The upside might be they are able to negotiate an expansion of the entry numbers given they have a greater incentive to do so. Hopefully it'd remain the same or better and the entry fee wont go up by much.

Upsizing it significantly (say doubling the entrants to 5,000) is a logistical nightmare... how are they going to drag 5k bicycles up Hardknott? Already now it is an exercise of dodging the walkers... And even worse, how many accidents coming down Wrynose? There might be bottlenecks as early as Honister

I don't think it can be upsized unless one removes Hardknott/Wrynose, which is over 50% of the reason people want to do the Fred in the first place

roubaixmb

I'm glad I did it a couple of times before this change.

EarlofBarnet

It's good to see that the roads over Hardknott and Wrynose are closed to cars this year. Will be a big help for getting over them both, one less thing to avoid.

vinnymarsden

Human Race were the organisers for the TDY sportive yesterday and I have to say the organisation seemed very good, plenty of stewards etc, but at over £50 it should be well planned.
If I had a gripe it would be the feed station seemed a touch small as it was the only one in the event, but all in all a good event.
I just hope HR don't make getting in to their events as difficult as RideLondon and other such "prestige" events, RL is over a ton, which even with closed roads is a lot of money to ride your bike

ugo.santalucia

VinnyMarsden wrote:

I just hope HR don't make getting in to their events as difficult as RideLondon and other such "prestige" events, RL is over a ton, which even with closed roads is a lot of money to ride your bike

Price is bound to go up... it's 50 ish now, it will probably go to 80, to account for the extra costs, given the likely lower participation of volunteers and they have to make a small profit, I reckon.

Increasing the entry fee and widening the number of entrants, combined with more advertising will inevitably attract the wrong crowd... those who have never seen a descent the likes of Hardknott or Wrynose and already struggle to come down Leith Hill in one piece.
On the other hand it might put off the locals, who are demon descenders, but at everybody else's expense and that might not be such a bad thing!

DeVlaeminck

Yes it's not an event for the novice, I actually think Honister is the most dangerous descent because Hardknott and Wrynose are so steep unless you are a complete daredevil you never get up the speed to get into too much trouble (apart from the year I cracked a rim on Cold Fell, loosened the brake blocks to allow the wheel to spin but forgot to tighten them when I managed to cadge a wheel off someone who'd crashed out) whereas Hardknott it's easy to go over the top thinking it's another Kirkstone style 40 mph descent only to discover too late it's not!

arturo_belano

God that weather forecast is a thing of beauty! Looks like a fine week in the Lakes.

Was hoping to practice some of the descents, but the one time I got up there this year the weather was atrocious so had to leave it. Good to read the tips above - like steady over the top of Honister.

mrb123

Arturo Belano wrote:

God that weather forecast is a thing of beauty! Looks like a fine week in the Lakes.

Was hoping to practice some of the descents, but the one time I got up there this year the weather was atrocious so had to leave it. Good to read the tips above - like steady over the top of Honister.

The road surface near the top of the Honister descent is shocking. The tarmac is rutted with a sort of washboard effect. Hard to get much traction in the dry and absolutely lethal in the wet.

Beware on Newlands and Whinlatter descents. Both can seem fairly innocuous but both have very steep switchbacks (2 on Newlands, one on Whinlatter) that come upon you suddenly if you don't know they are there. Also some nasty potholes coming off Newlands.

As said already, Hardknott and Wrynose are so steep that you won't dare let any speed build up if you don't know them.

cgfw201

Breaking my no-more-sportives policy for the Fred this weekend. Delighted that the forecast is looking decent. Looking forward to it.

ugo.santalucia

You are going to have a ball... if anything the forecast is better than it was last year... afternoon was way too hot... I think it got up to 25 degrees.

maddog 2

speaking of descending, last year I felt it was the worst I'd seen, and that was in dry conditions. Crashes on Kirkstone and Honister, plus countless acts of muppetry en route.

More places = more beginners, who just aren't ready for proper technical descents.

EarlofBarnet

Good luck on Sunday everyone. Hope you all have a safe journey round the route and thoroughly enjoy the day. The weather forecast looks good, here's to a great day out around the lakes.

mike1-2

I arrived up here yesterday and can confirm the weather is superb, if a little windy. Went up Great Dun Fell and Hartside today and it was a bloody gale on the tops. However the wind is meant to drop down before Sunday.

dish_dash

Good Luck everyone! Have fun and be safe... I'll be over the Peak district...

DeVlaeminck

I feel sorry for everyone missing out on the true Lakes weather I've been lucky enough to experience the 4 times I've ridden this event :x

vinnymarsden

Went up Buttertubs/Tan Hill yesterday and I can confirm...the wind was a proverbial howler..Up Buttertubs into what felt about a 20mph headwind...totally NOT fun, but the sense of achievement was good for about 2mins!!!

mrb123

What a day. Conditions couldn't have been much better.

Wind wasn't a problem, bit of a headwind over Kirkstone but otherwise very calm.

Think I may do an Ugo and retire after my first effort as difficult to think I'll ever get a much better day for it.

Hope everyone had a successful day.

EarlofBarnet

Another day with fantastic weather. I went off a little too quick (18mph average up until Honister) and eased off after Whinlatter. Managed to knock two hours off my official time from last year, so really pleased with that. I found Hardknott particularly hard this year, even with a 32 on the back. I managed to get up without walking, but was pretty tempted at the switchbacks. The photographer being there encouraged me to push on.

Hope everyone enjoyed the day and liked our Team XIII station on the Leaps (just before Ennerdale).

arturo_belano

Damn that was some event. Are all sportives that good?

Rolled round in just under 9, but the principle objective - getting up HK, didn't happen. Legs were flagging badly, but pulled it together to get up the first third, steadied on the middle, but stood up for the final push and just exploded with cramp. Took 10 mins sat by the side of the road to clear. One for another year, hopefully.
Need a proper road drivetrain, though - was on a 38 single upfront. Was OK with a wide cassette on the back [although I was climbing like a brick all day - some fit lads out there, quite humbling], but on the descents it would have been fun to get the big ring turning over.

ugo.santalucia

Arturo Belano wrote:

Damn that was some event. Are all sportives that good?

Unfortunately no... once you have done the Fred, the rest are pretty poor in comparison.
Etape du Dales worth a shot

gingermagician

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Arturo Belano wrote:

Damn that was some event. Are all sportives that good?

Unfortunately no... once you have done the Fred, the rest are pretty poor in comparison.
Etape du Dales worth a shot

Yep, Etape du Dales is a great event.

Ronde van Calderdale also worth considering. Absolutely brutal though...

specialman

First taste of the Fred and loved it..

I was panicking for the last two weeks about fitness and the ability to climb but buzzing along with loads other cyclists, spurred on by great weather and amazing scenery, it didn't matter - went up every climb better than I'd have ever hoped, even managed to do Hardknott without walking (although I did dab because of a dodgy pedal release).

I can't put my finger on a best bit - maybe digging deep and managing sprint finishes on Newlands and Winlatter - but even the relative normality of the A66 drag was enjoyable. There wasn't a bad bit at all. I smiled all the way round.

Can't believe the weather, I doubt it'll repeat for next year, and the people with cowbells and the marshals egging everyone on was superb. The people of the lakes are patient souls, especially on the twisty roads where there was no hassles to overtake.

Disappointed to see so many gel wrappers discarded and it was a shame to get stopped at the top of Honnister for a while, although when I passed the accident spot it was a bit sickening so I can see why they wanted clear access without loads of people gawping and getting in the way.

I even loved the fact you got a beer glass at the end... no medal, just a very humble tankard that anyone in the know will appreciate.

Feel I've achieved something by finishing. That was the most fun I've had for years.

mrb123

specialman wrote:

First taste of the Fred and loved it..

I was panicking for the last two weeks about fitness and the ability to climb but buzzing along with loads other cyclists, spurred on by great weather and amazing scenery, it didn't matter - went up every climb better than I'd have ever hoped, even managed to do Hardknott without walking (although I did dab because of a dodgy pedal release).

I can't put my finger on a best bit - maybe digging deep and managing sprint finishes on Newlands and Winlatter - but even the relative normality of the A66 drag was enjoyable. There wasn't a bad bit at all. I smiled all the way round.

Can't believe the weather, I doubt it'll repeat for next year, and the people with cowbells and the marshals egging everyone on was superb. The people of the lakes are patient souls, especially on the twisty roads where there was no hassles to overtake.

Disappointed to see so many gel wrappers discarded and it was a shame to get stopped at the top of Honnister for a while, although when I passed the accident spot it was a bit sickening so I can see why they wanted clear access without loads of people gawping and getting in the way.

I even loved the fact you got a beer glass at the end... no medal, just a very humble tankard that anyone in the know will appreciate.

Feel I've achieved something by finishing. That was the most fun I've had for years.

Yes, being handed a cold Erdinger immediately after finishing really put the cherry on the cake!

cgfw201

That was quite possibly my favourite day cycling ever. Up there with some big days in the Alps and Mallorca, for sure.

Roadside support was unreal and totally unexpected. The weather was spectacular. The roads were smooth and empty. The climbs were all different. Hardknott was comedy.

Loved every second of it. Full write up here. It's quite long.

https://aridewithaview.wordpress.com/20 ... tton-2017/

rajMAN

cgfw201 great write up and some fantastic photo's, thanks for sharing.

ugo.santalucia

Yep, nice photos...

mrb123

Great write up.

The "nice lake" is Buttermere by the way. Haystacks is the fell in the background.