Fred Whitton Challenge, Coniston, 9th May
112 Mile Bike Challenge
Dave Shipman
Myself and a colleague from work completed the Fred Whitton Challenge on Sunday 9th May, so I can recommend it to any of the many Striders who have taken to two wheels as well as running. Its a daunting 112 mile circuit of the Lakes, starting and finishing in Coniston and taking in all of the major Lakeland passes - including Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands and Whinlatter, then at a hundred miles throws in Hardknott and Ryenose just for good measure to see off the legs completely.
So what was it like ... its reputation stands as the hardest one day ride in Britain, could well be, certainly after years of long distance and touring cycling it's the hardest ride I have ever done. There is an enforced cut-off at 12 at Buttermere Youth Hostel (about 50 miles), so our plan was to start early and ride steady, we were on the road by 7, cold and still, perfect weather thank god, as training in the previous weeks had been plagued by high winds and cold rains!! Pessimistic, my plan was to carry on as far as possible if I made the cut-off.
It was straight into the climbs outside Coniston, over the top to Ambleside then up from Windermere and the first serious hills of Kirkstone Pass - misty and cold on the top, with the first crowds, who'd gathered at various points in the early stages but had then evaporated after about 60 miles - probably gone off to do something more interesting than watch sweaty lycra crawl by!! Followed by a great descent and trawl round to Keswick, before Seatoller and the steep climb towards Honister. Feeling fine at this stage, but delayed by a puncture entering Keswick. Repair time allowed for extra food and drink, and the experience of hundreds of swifter cyclists flying by as I wrestled with tyre and new inner tube ...
Seatoller was the first 'Oh God, why am I trying to do this' moment, quickly followed by a rapid dismount and 50 yards of walking until the severity of ascent dropped to a manageable 1 in 4 !! A bit like in fell races. Buttermere Youth Hostel offered the usual sandwiches, bananas, mountains of flapjack, energy drink and water, but no tea and I was craving tea, but never mind. Onwards and very upwards, fell off at the top of Newlands, when desperate zig-zagging caused me to clip the grass bank, contributing to a stiff neck and shoulders later, but no real harm done.
Until about 70 miles I was still feeling pretty comfortable, but then it all started to go wrong, legs and head had gone as far as they wished for one day, I was clearly holding Alan back and slight rises were becoming big lumps in front and underneath my wheels. At the 85 mile checkpoint I had had enough and if there had been a broomwagon would have gladly got in it. There wasn't, the local taxi company said they would take me back to Coniston for around 50 quid - fancy saying that to a Yorkshireman - so it was time to take stock. Alan went on alone and I ate as much as I could, washed down with 3 mugs of tea. Twenty minutes and some sound guidance from local cyclists / volunteer marshalls and I was on the road again. Of course I walked up Hardknott and Ryenose passes, but even cars do that (though some of the top riders apparently ride the lot), wore my brakes out on the descents, then it was a pleasant-ish last few miles back to Coniston.
By then I had decided that I could and would finish, which was pretty pleasing, especially as that meant I would never have to do it again. EVER!!
Official time was 11 hours 17 minutes, average speed 10 miles per hour, thousands of feet of climb, which, taking in the puncture and several food and survival breaks, I was pretty pleased with. Because of the bad winter and the early time of year ( by September I am usually a lot fitter on the bike ) it was too far, and the relentless hills make it really tough - my longest ride in training was 70 miles, which was woefully short in terms of ideal training, but with the atmosphere and the camaraderie on the day you do get helped along. And then there are the views, you really do feel you have seen most of the Lakes and then some more by the end of the day, away from the passes there were some fabulous quiet lanes and spectacular scenes.
It took my legs at least a week to recover - jogging round the Snods Edge 10k was a weird and weary feeling - but now at least I know I will get round any other rides this summer!! Bring on the Darlington Festival Rides and the Cyclone, they will all seem flat after the "Fred."
Go on ,give it a go.
