2013-05-12 Fred Whitton Challenge

So anyone in the book for this? I've done it before and planning on getting my entry form in again today. It's a tough ride and well worth the effort of getting up there. For £40 I think it's great value too and all the proceeds go to charity. Overall it's a 112m sportive that takes in all the big climbs in the Lake District, some going up to 33% gradient! Be warned!

http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/enter.php

Entry went in the post on Saturday. Really hope to get a place after riding and loving it last year (http://www.100climbsfor2012.blogspot.no/2012/05/fred-whitton.html)

Hopefully returning with a few friends and would love to smash the 7 hour barrier - i.e. I will be bringing a 28t for Hardknott/Wrynose...

yes i'd like to have a go at putting in a good time, altho for me its mostly a jaunt with some mates who won't be taking it as seriously so will be pushing the 10hr+ barrier.

good idea on the 28t for the steep climbs. i saw one guy snap his chain trying hardknott. poor fella slide down the road still clipped into his bike! i couldnt manage it myself and ended up walking. managed wrynose though somehow.

bit of a disappointment with the weather in 2011 tho and i ended up getting three punctures and having to buy a spare inner tube off a spectator!

This is a top ride through superb cycling scenery. It's definitely worth a go.

Don't skimp on snacks, they'll save from being sent squiffy by the last couple of climbs.

bah curse my skintness, would love to do this. Sounded a good laugh, probably the wrong word, from Airtime's description of it on the Chrimbo Cracker ride.

Also possible to do it [a] free (well, apart from getting up to the Lakes and accommodation there) and [b] year-round, using a self-timing system - looks like a possibility

http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/fourseasons.php

Yep. Did it last year, for the first time. Bloody hard, but worth it.

I have an entry for this, but due to diary cock-ups, cannot go...anyone want it off me?

I've wanted to do this for some time. Alas, one of the few of the longer TTs are on that weekend.

Dibs til 08.30 in the morning, pm,d thanks .

Put me down as a reserve spot should Tonyme not take it!

dam you jimbo

^ hahaha sorry Al, but that's the dream ride for me! Skinny guys on mountain passes FTW

Yep that's a definite for me.....pm'd

Cheers Tony, Pm'd back.

Anyone interested in taking my place on this year's ride. Myself and a friend have both entered, but would now like to do an alternative event happening on the same weekend.

You'd need to pay the entry fee sadly, but if would guarantee you a place on this highly over-subscribed and amazing event.

Drop me an email at stewed {underscore} brain {at} hotmail dot com if you're interested

Please bear in mind that when you're registering the day before at the Fred Whitton you will be asked for photo ID. If it doesn't match the person who's got the place, you won't get a race number, a dibber or anything other than a polite indication of where the door is.

That's very true and I hope my post wasn't misconstrued. The organisers do allow people to transfer their entries, but again to reiterate the transferee will need to pay the entry fee directly to the organisers.

So basically all I am offering above is the potential to ride the event; this is something that is not guaranteed if you enter the ballot. Even if I successfully transfer the entries, I will still have to pay for the event again next year should I decide to enter

Anyone doing the 2016 event?

Yep. @Cycliste and I have got our places confirmed. Fifth year in a row for me.

Nice - really looking forward to it. Doing it with 2 mates who live up that way who are regulars.

How do you usually get there (assuming you are London based)? Need to look at train options and get things booked.

I usually drive, as I normally have to pick up @Cycliste from Manchester or Liverpool airport on her way into the country. Not London-based though - although I work in London's famous London, home is in the Fens. Booked the hotel in Grasmere a few months ago.

Not to many training weekends to go!

Hardknott Pass is keeping up at night.

Yep, not far away now. I'm doing the Mallorca 312 the weekend before as a warm up. The ride up Hardknott Pass is tough, but if you've got sensible gears it's perfectly doable. And if you have to walk, well, you'll be in good company as there are plenty who do.

The descent on the other hand can get a bit puckerworthy, especially if it's raining.

In terms of gearing, what are you going with?