The Fred '22
Currently 90kgs and barely sat on a road bike since getting hit by a driver in August.
Time to train eh?
Comments
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Always great motivation.
I'd like to do it again, but I'd like a weather guarantee... the idea of going down Honister, Hardknott and Wrynose on wet roads doesn't appeal at all. I'd end up bailing out and losing a lot of moneyleft the forum March 20230 -
Yes I'd love to do it with decent weather - so far 4 rides have varied from overcast with a bit of light rain through to freezing, heavy low cloud, near gale force winds and persistent rain.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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The one time I climbed Hardknott I walked it back down. Reckon alu wheels this time round, and a prayer to the rain gods.0
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One edition I crashed and cracked my front rim on the Fangs/Cold Fell section - had to loosen off the front brake as a result - of course descending Hardknott without a front brake wasn't a great idea especially when some guy on Recycling team kit (domestic pro team of the time) flew past me and I thought be brave I'll try and follow them.
The only time in my life I literally couldn't stop my bike - I retook this Recycling guy simply because I couldn't stop - thank f*** I came to a bit where it levelled out a bit before I came to a sharp corner - the rest of the descent was done at not much more than walking pace.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
The last time I did it the weather was great which made the climb of Hardknott torture, the temperature was well into the 30s. An ambulance passed me on the final ramp which lead to me going onto the gravel at the side of the road resulting in me failing yet again to finish the climb. It was on its way to pick up someone who had gone off the road on the descent. I caught up with it as it was pulling onto the side of the road by the victim, there was someone just in front of me yelling for it to get out of his way!0
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I really don't know why this event has such a revered following. It's a dreadful event - not the organisation at all - just a combination of the riding environment. The road surfaces are a shocker - busy roads , descents are so technical, not worth the enjoyment of just "letting the bike go", the weather is likely to be poor, and it's full of choppers that are woefully unprepared for the event, either physically or lacking riding skills, resulting in other cyclists being just as much of a danger to yourself, as the roads and cars.
Plenty of other massive events out there, that are just as challenging on better, quieter roads with great descents. I live in the lakes and ride 10 hours a week. The Dales, North Pennines and Wales are far better places to ride than here.0 -
Choppers can be avoided. I started early and kept a good pace throughout, meaning I didn't get to see any of that. I was lucky the weather was good, so the descents were doable with caution.skinnydog said:I really don't know why this event has such a revered following. It's a dreadful event - not the organisation at all - just a combination of the riding environment. The road surfaces are a shocker - busy roads , descents are so technical, not worth the enjoyment of just "letting the bike go", the weather is likely to be poor, and it's full of choppers that are woefully unprepared for the event, either physically or lacking riding skills, resulting in other cyclists being just as much of a danger to yourself, as the roads and cars.
Plenty of other massive events out there, that are just as challenging on better, quieter roads with great descents. I live in the lakes and ride 10 hours a week. The Dales, North Pennines and Wales are far better places to ride than here.
I did the Etape du Dales twice, on both occasions the wind was an issue. In 2015 it was simply stupid, in 2017 it wasn't dangerous, but just hard work.
I did "enjoy" the Fred more. Could do with a shorter version to go together with the long one... either going straight to Keswick from Grasmere (the A591 road is likely to be deserted at 6AM on a Sunday) or maybe avoiding Newlands and Whinlatterleft the forum March 20230 -
You should try the Lakeland Loop. Basically misses out Kirkstone and Honister. You come up to Keswick via Dunmail Raise so you miss out the A66 section. About 70 miles but still pretty spicy as you've got Hardknott/Wrynose at the end.ugo.santalucia said:
Choppers can be avoided. I started early and kept a good pace throughout, meaning I didn't get to see any of that. I was lucky the weather was good, so the descents were doable with caution.skinnydog said:I really don't know why this event has such a revered following. It's a dreadful event - not the organisation at all - just a combination of the riding environment. The road surfaces are a shocker - busy roads , descents are so technical, not worth the enjoyment of just "letting the bike go", the weather is likely to be poor, and it's full of choppers that are woefully unprepared for the event, either physically or lacking riding skills, resulting in other cyclists being just as much of a danger to yourself, as the roads and cars.
Plenty of other massive events out there, that are just as challenging on better, quieter roads with great descents. I live in the lakes and ride 10 hours a week. The Dales, North Pennines and Wales are far better places to ride than here.
I did the Etape du Dales twice, on both occasions the wind was an issue. In 2015 it was simply stupid, in 2017 it wasn't dangerous, but just hard work.
I did "enjoy" the Fred more. Could do with a shorter version to go together with the long one... either going straight to Keswick from Grasmere (the A591 road is likely to be deserted at 6AM on a Sunday) or maybe avoiding Newlands and Whinlatter2 -
Might load that up on the Wahoo for a recon ride a couple of weekends prior, much appreciated.mrb123 said:
You should try the Lakeland Loop. Basically misses out Kirkstone and Honister. You come up to Keswick via Dunmail Raise so you miss out the A66 section. About 70 miles but still pretty spicy as you've got Hardknott/Wrynose at the end.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/200810
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They usually run it as an event a couple of weeks before the Fred, starting and finishing in Langdale.poptart242 said:
Might load that up on the Wahoo for a recon ride a couple of weekends prior, much appreciated.mrb123 said:
You should try the Lakeland Loop. Basically misses out Kirkstone and Honister. You come up to Keswick via Dunmail Raise so you miss out the A66 section. About 70 miles but still pretty spicy as you've got Hardknott/Wrynose at the end.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/200810
https://epicevents.co.uk/lakeland-loop/0 -
I've enjoyed the Fred when I've done it. Didn't really find the roads too busy - ok maybe the run back to town at the end. . I think it's the difficulty that makes it special.
For some just finishing it will be a real challenge, for others it might be negotiating the course inside 7 hours or whatever.
I wouldn't say they are the best cycling roads I've ever ridden in the UK (I don't know the Lakes that well so no offence to proud Cumbrians) but in terms of toughness certainly the hardest organised ride I've done in the UK - and the fact it has a decent entry is a big us for me as I enjoy riding with others to get round faster - sometimes having to go a bit deeper to stay with a decent group and that kind of thing.
[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
The Fred is definitely my favourite sportive and I think the reason is that it feels more of an occasion than any of the other sportives that I have done, especially with the support on the roadside. I have been lucky in the 2 times I have done it in that the weather was good, though this meant that it was too hot by the time I got to climb Hardknott. I haven't experienced any major problems with traffic, though this may be down to the fact that I started riding at 6.30 which meant that it was still early by the time I got onto the A66. There was one climb (Newlands?) where a car was trying to go up amongst all the cylists which was obviously unable to overtake and stuck at the pace of the slowest riders which created a logjam behind it. And as mentioned previously the run into Grasmere at the end, but that isn't a major issue as the road is wide and the traffic is slow anyway because of congestion.
I'm planning to volunteer this year to get a guaranteed cut-price entry for next year, unless I can get an entry off the waiting list for this year.1 -
I'm in! Bike due to have a "32" fitted at the back in coming days.0
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You miserable sod! I did it once, 2015 I think, and it put me off all other sportives, it was that good. Yes, I started at 6.30, and there was actually a traffic jam of cars and riders trying to get into the start as I rode out. The road surfaces aren't great, but the views are gorgeous and it is tough.skinnydog said:I really don't know why this event has such a revered following. It's a dreadful event - not the organisation at all - just a combination of the riding environment. The road surfaces are a shocker - busy roads , descents are so technical, not worth the enjoyment of just "letting the bike go", the weather is likely to be poor, and it's full of choppers that are woefully unprepared for the event, either physically or lacking riding skills, resulting in other cyclists being just as much of a danger to yourself, as the roads and cars.
Plenty of other massive events out there, that are just as challenging on better, quieter roads with great descents. I live in the lakes and ride 10 hours a week. The Dales, North Pennines and Wales are far better places to ride than here.
I've also done the Dartmoor Classic, which was pretty close to the Fred.0 -
why would you use alu wheels if its dry (or even if its wet, tbh)poptart242 said:The one time I climbed Hardknott I walked it back down. Reckon alu wheels this time round, and a prayer to the rain gods.
surely its an excuse to go out beforehand and learn to ride and brake whilst going downhill..The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
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Yeah I guess you're right. I don't know how to brake and it's a miracle I've managed so many miles and years huh. Bore offMattFalle said:
why would you use alu wheels if its dry (or even if its wet, tbh)poptart242 said:The one time I climbed Hardknott I walked it back down. Reckon alu wheels this time round, and a prayer to the rain gods.
surely its an excuse to go out beforehand and learn to ride and brake whilst going downhill.0 -
Maybe I'll buy some Hunts2
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Seems like they would suit you tbh. they'll have hit their target demographic straight on.
crack on and fill your boots fella..The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
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Harsh.Advocate of disc brakes.0
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Did anyone do this yesterday? I "popped my Fred cherry" (so to speak) achieving one objective (sub 8:30 overall) and failing in the other (riding all the way up Hardknott). But after several post-ride pies and beers, the former feels much more important.
I'm glad the weather was good. Even with disk brakes, some of the descents were a bit hairy for someone who is not a natural descender and at 53, unlikely to bounce very well.
I wore my triathlon club kit, so I could pretend to be a swimmer if things went badly, but thankfully didn't need this tactical option.
It's an amazing event. Every junction and dodgy corner was marshalled in at least duplicate. And the Johnny Cash impersonator at the event centre afterwards was "interesting".0 -
Noticed some fast boys in the CTT scene did it in 6 hours flat...left the forum March 20230
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I was off pretty much first thing and some of the teams starting later went past me like I was standing still. Chain gangs, skinsuits and all!ugo.santalucia said:Noticed some fast boys in the CTT scene did it in 6 hours flat...
I think the "winner" did 5 hours 40. The over 60s winner was 2 hours faster than me, as was his younger bro' who won the over 50s.
For info, what is the CTT? It's not a TLA I've encountered before.0 -
CTT = Cycling Time Trials, governing body for TTs and hill climbs in the UK1
