Fred whitton

[huw williams]

Glad to see that ACC riders Tim, Aoden, Hal and Maria are listed on the fred whitton results site - Tim was 12th, awesome ride.


http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/ ... esults.htm

Reports as soon as you can type please guys?

[Sylv]

& ex Acc Rory in 26th

[quote]Glad to see that ACC riders Tim

[Maria David]

Wow - that Dartmoor ride sounded fun-packed Huw - hills, punctures, rain and needles in your eyes ??!! Well done on sticking in there. And you're actually going back ! Chapeau !
Sounds like one to try in the future.

I'm only just back from my Cumbrian capers - Fred Whitton was great - hard work though.

But what's all this talk of rain ?? Aodan and I got caught in a shower on the Saturday morning. We also had rain at night, but apart from that it was glorious. In fact this time yesterday we were basking in sunshine on a boat on Coniston Lake !

During the Fred Whitton we had great views when bombing down Kirkstone Pass, spectatular scenery going through Derwentwater and Borrowdale.
The main disadvantage of the weather meant the day was clear enough for me to see the looming view in the distance of the cars and riders stuggling up Hardknott Pass !

Once on the dreaded climb I had to walk the 30% ramps and ride the rest. Most people around me did the same. One guy managed to ride the whole thing, and even did a track stand while an unskilled driver who had stalled his car had to reverse somewhere less steep to re-attempt the drive up !
Other's who made valiant efforts to ride up it, having run out of cadence just fell over.

I just got within spitting distance of riding all the way up Wrynose, but my quads cramped and had to put a dreaded foot to the ground.

Everyone knows that Hardknott and Wrynose are tough, but I think Honister is a bit of beast. Also doing that with Newlands and Whinlatter passes in quick succession was a bit sapping.

There was real camaraderie going on during the ride, with people offering words of encouragement. At the end of the ride there was a delicious Chilli meal care of Wilf's cafe, and a bar. We got chatting to a few of the local folks, including Mrs Whitton (Fred's widdow), who was pleased with the running of it.
The winner did it in a blistering 5hrs 45. Some bloke from Ronhill Wheelbase. The ACC lads (Apples, Hal and Aodan) did well, and Tim Harris' time was amazing. Apparently if you want a fast time you set off with the 9am group with all the hardcore lot. Road race from the gun, with damage being done along the way with the real killing starting on Honister. (Ask Tim about it !)

For me it was a long day. It wasn't a race. Just a long ride round, and I hoped to get round comfortably without cracking - which is basically what I achieved. As I was able managed to smile when crossing the finish line, it only proves what my school teacher used to say to me - "must try harder."

It was a really good day out - great company, brilliant weather, well organised.

So I will be back, probably with a bit of training in my legs and hopefully the sun will come out to play once more !

[huw williams]

"brilliant weather" - Unbelievable! The irony is I've been so p***ed off with getting wet oop north for the past 3 years I decided to go south instead. Ah well

Well done - sounds like you had a great time

[Richard (Apples)]

You didn't look down far enough Huw


298 Richard Appleton 196 Addiscombe C C 7:55:31

[huw williams]

7.55 must have hurt Rich - how did you feel after it?

[Richard (Apples)]

Fantastic feeling afterwards......well 10 minutes or so afterwards. Next year I will definately fit a compact .

Posted my report on another FW thread . I'll move it over here.

[Richard (Apples)]

Quote:
By the way, any word from the Fred Whitton boys, or did they all drown?


I can confirm all the ACC riders finished as we met in the pub on Sunday night for dinner and a couple of celebratory beers

That was the hardest thing I have ever done on a bike

I travelled up to Conniston with two friends from Southborough Wheelers on Saturday morning and we arrived at the HQ at 4pm to sign on and collect our timing chips

After unpacking and putting our bikes together we headed off to town where we met up with Aoden, Maria and Hal .

In a small village like Conniston it was good to find plenty of pubs to choose from and with 800 riders setting off in the morning they were pretty busy .

It had been raining for most of the drive up and was a steady drizzle now. The forcast was saying dry first thing with more rain arriving around midday so we decided to be among the first riders off and start at 6am.

After dinner of pasta and apple crumble I set of back to my B&B for an early night,

The morning came far too quick for my liking and after a couple of quick last minute checks I was spinning my way over to the start where Hal and the others were waiting. There was no sign of Aoden or Maria at this point so we set off.

Amazingly the forcast seened to have got it right and although it was a bit misty and chilly there was no rain.

As the ride progressed, the sun actually came out, and it got quite warm and we were treated to some of the most fantastic views of the Lake and its surrounding mountains

Then we hit the first of the ridiculous climbs

Kirkstone Pass (454m), 5 km at 7.0% (max 25%)

Followed by

Honister Pass (358m), 3 km at 7.9% (max 25%)

Then

Whinlatter Pass (318m), 4 km at 5.7% (max 25%)

All the time I was thinking that the worst was yet to come and when it did I could not believe it .

It was like trying to ride up your stairs

Hardknott Pass (393 m), 2 km at 15% (max 33%)

I was pushing a 39x27 and in places I have to admit I just couldn't turn the cranks over any more and had to walk before getting on for another go.

Then it flattens out and you get a brief restbite before getting to

Wrynose Pass (390 m), 3 km at 5.7% (max 25%)

My legs and lungs were burning, my brain kept saying what the but I eventually made it to the top where someone said "well done mate, it's all down hill from here"

Exhausted and near collapse ( ) I'ts then like throwing yourself off a cliff as you drop over the other side of Wrynose.

My arms and fingers were screaming from all the bumps and breaking , you litterally have to hang off the back of the saddle MTB style or you'd go over the bars

The last few miles to the finish were a relief but even then every little up was an effort,

Then I turned the corner into the finish past the cheering spectators , over the line and I'd done it....

I shuffled through the clubhouse to collect my certificate and then on to the FOOD.

I'm very pleased with my time as I managed 7:55 just under 8 hours which gives me a 1st class

I'm coming back next year . I'm gonna break 7:30 and I'm gonna ride that Hardnott Pass right to the top[quote][/quote]

[Toks]

Well done Rich(apples). You'll need that 39/27 again in July I reckon

[George]

Top one Richard and Maria I bet it makes the South Downs and Surrey hills look tichy.

Tim that is a top finish! looks like you were first of the Souther Softies riding with guy's from T'North wit ferrit downt trousers lad

[Tim H (liquigas)]

The most Militant ride I have ever done!

I thought this was meant to be a charity event! Last year I set of in the same 'fast' group but it was far more leisurely (or should I say less militant) for the first 50 miles.

This ride is really serious stuff for the boys up there! They take it very seriously.

I set of at 9am with Matt Bridge and the rest of the fast group as they call it. Traditionally all the guys that want to gun it go at 9. I wasn't keen as I hadn't ridden over 80 miles for a good couple of months. But Matt insisted. So off we went - no warm up - but shouldn't need one as it’s a 112 mile steady ride right!!? Wrong!! 3 guys attacked as we left Conniston - one a time trailist who was apparently riding for his mate (apparently he does a 20 something 10!). My heart was in my mouth for the first 2 miles working with the rest to real the 3 in… the start is probably the easiest bit - but I honestly nearly got dropped 3 times within the first 5 miles.. I thought great this is going to be a long day alone!

After a while it settled down but the pace was still like being in a hard 2,3,4 race and this was only at 20 miles.. Still 92 to go!..... Just to give you an idea of how seriously they take it.. 2 of the teams had support cars - well one a support car - 1 has a support motor bike - handing the bottles and food every few miles.. Personally I had to carry all my own stuff… 2 bottles full - 4 energy bars.. Makes a difference when you are trying to sprint up hills after a load of Northern mountain goats!

Anyways I managed to hold on until it settled down and started to feel strong again once I had warmed up.. Kirkstone pass put my heart rate up high again - don't do HR monitors I am afraid - but it was in my mouth if that helps.. The descents were mental but really good fun.. You can make up or lose a load of time on them… when we hit the short section of dual carriage way 4 riders attacked again and were flying at about 35 mph doing through and off to catch them.. my legs were already in pieces and we had only done 45 miles...The group then settled down as we approached Honister - which is where 'the selection' is made.... The 2 winners got away here - danced up the hills with compact chainsets.. I was heaving a 39/26 using my arms legs and anything else I could… I honestly though I was going to have to get off and walk but managed to grab the wheel of Barry Clarke (ex 3 times mountain bike nation champion) and get over the top..

The was now 4 or 5 groups that had split - 2 winners - about 5 or 6 that did 5:57 then another group which I was in of 3 riders including Barry Clarke.. And the rest were all over the place.. At the first checkpoint we dibbed in - no stopping for water!! And tried to chase the leaders who were about 2 mins in front.. I started running out of water but kindly one of the guys riding with our group of 3 was in a team with a support car.. I pleaded for a bottle and he told his mate to pass me one - although I didn't drink much as it was far too sweet!!

After the first 50 miles our group set into a steady pace and we took turns until the second checkpoint - although the Wheelbase guy (3rd in our group) decided to ride off just before the checkpoint… Myself and Barry stopped at the 2nd checkpoint for 1 minuet - I stuffed down about 4 cakes all at once and grabbed some orange squash.

Then off the Hardknott and Wrynose - I thanked Barry for the ride before we got there as I knew I would struggle with my gearing.. I thing he was on a 32… managed to get up most of hardknott but I got cramp at the top after the steep bit and had to push up the last 30m or so.. That bit was fairly flat too - no excuses!

Got up wrynose - a little cramp made me turn sideways - but I re-engaged the peddle and danced up the rest.

Then I hammered it down the descent and hammered it back to the base… 6:10 - beat last years time by almost 30 mins…my legs are still in pieces

This is by far the best ride I have done in the UK - get involved - you will love it!

See you at Palace tonight!

[huw williams]

Nice one Tim, Barrie (sic) is an old mate of mine who was the only rider who managed to ride up Hardknott and Wrynose the year I did it - and that included a lot of SiS team riders including Keith Murray too! So no shame in that. He's also a former Milk race KOM

[Richard (Apples)]

Thats a fantastic ride Tim and a great report . Total respect to you mate

Are you now an onary norvenah

[Sylv]

Brilliant Tim - and very cool to be riding with Barrie Clarke. I think Rory trains with him a fair bit nowadays.

[higg]

Good reports guys, you've shamed me into adding a few words myself.

After hearing the weather forecast the day before the consensus among the group was to start early. I couldn't face the thought of waking up at 5am (I'm not a time-trialler, see) so I opted for the more relaxed start of 6.30. Headed down to the sports hall in the half-light saw no one around so dibbed and set off hoping to run into a reasonable group along the way.

I was riding through the sunshine along the shore of Derwent after the first two climbs when I realised the junctions were not signposted, I had no map and given the early hour there weren't many people about. I got directions from the riders I did see and thankfully made the right turns. Latched onto a group just before the A66 who guided me through Keswick, otherwise I'd have ended up in the outskirts asking any passers-by.

Into Barrowdale a quicker group came by so latched onto them until Honister where they disintegrated. On the descent a local rider came by so we got to talking. He had been part of the group leading up to Honister and given we were similar ability he was happy to show me the way for the next few passes and giving me prior warning of the dodgy corners. At the top of Winlatter my guide stopped to say hello to his wife so I carried on.

Argh, this is where the route started to dodge through backroads and I had no idea where I was going. But thankfully this was on the best signposted part of the route.

After a few miles, a single rider went by, riding strongly and looked like he knew where he was going. Good enough for me I thought. Even though he was going a bit quicker than I was conmfortable with I thought it was worth the effort to avoid taking a wrong turn. We fairly zipped through the lanes and over the Cold Fell (which was actually very pleasant) and down to the second feed station, which seemed to be just in front of Sellafield.

With full water bottles and a ham sandwich in my pocket, we headed off for the last stretch to the foot of Harknott. The pace continued until Eskdale green where I said my goodbyes and used the 4 mile run-up to the mountain to get some food down and prepare generally for the mountain ahead.

The first stretch of Hardknott was tough but just about do-able. I met Richard on this bit. He had gotten off to save his knees but was walking beside another rider who was still cycling but wasn't actually going any faster than him. To give you an idea for the pace I snailed past them a 4mph. I just about managed to carry on but having to practically track stand a few times just to get my breath back. Think the mountain scenes from Belleville Rendevous.

The descent was tricky trying to mange the rough rippled surface and the oncoming cars without actually being able to come to a complete stop. Next up Wrynose did actually beat me but I didn't care anymore. I saw a steep strech coming up, felt my legs beginning to cramp so got off and walked. A few seconds later the slope evened out again and I got back on and finished the climb. Couldn't have lost more than a second or two and thought to myself, Christ I should have done that on Hardnott and avoided the risk of my kneecap popping off.

More dodgy decents and a good quick stretch in Coniston and that was it. Got in and sat down for some of Wilf's chilli with the other ACCers who all finished more or less at the same time. Also ran into Rory Black (ex ACC MTBer) in the finish field. He had just completed in 6hr30 which did seem a phenomenal time.

Photos to follow.