Fred Whitton 2024
Discussion
Yep.
Missed the second cutoff by 3 mins.
TBF I think they would have let me continue but I was getting so slow on the hills that all the signage was starting to disappear.
I'm 108kg and that was just too heavy. My brother and mate who I did it with both finished. Circa 10 and 11 hours.
We forgot suncream
Missed the second cutoff by 3 mins.
TBF I think they would have let me continue but I was getting so slow on the hills that all the signage was starting to disappear.
I'm 108kg and that was just too heavy. My brother and mate who I did it with both finished. Circa 10 and 11 hours.
We forgot suncream
ChocolateFrog said:
CambsBill said:
Yep, i was there. Only did the Lion & Lamb route though. Great day 
Was that you in the PH top?
That was me!. Was that you in the PH top?I assume you were one of the 1500 or so that cycled past me
Good effort though. It was a warm one, humid too. Maybe 6th or 7th Fred, I've never seen so many people having to push up Hardknott. It was brutal conditions with headwinds all the way up Cold Fell (after Ennerdale), Eskdale and Hardknott. Well done folks!
Edited by redback911 on Monday 13th May 08:35
ChocolateFrog said:
Do clubs get tickets through a different process because it surprised me how any large clubs there seemed to be.
I thought after your first one it was quite hard to get a place. Although I did hear someone talking about registering under a different name.
Not that I know of, it should be random. Some of the local folks from BCW, Lakes Road Club, etc. did not get a spot and were disappointed. It has become hugely popular. I thought after your first one it was quite hard to get a place. Although I did hear someone talking about registering under a different name.
If your willing to pay an extra £100 you can get charity spot which opens up a few weeks before the lottery (£99 fee). Then you choose one of three Charities that extra £100 goes too. I usually choose North West Ambulance service - personally £199 is ok, considering the costs of Triathlons and running events these days.
For he folks that have not done The Fred, the level of support from locals and organisers is great. Plus some of the passes are closed to traffic so makes it much easier for folks in the event. Cycling with 2500 people is a great experience.
Edited by redback911 on Monday 13th May 08:44
Dsdans said:
Didn’t intend to participate, but did end up trapped in the middle of the pack (in the car) for a good couple of miles somewhere along the route from Cockermouth to Scale Force. 
Sorry. I do have some sympathy for car drivers on/near The Fred rout - Buttermere, Newlands, Honister, Seatoller, are usually the choke points for cars.
Last year was especially bad as it was sunny bank holiday weekend and even more people had come to the Lakes in cars, a few unhappy car drivers. But. The majority were quite supportive and just accepted the wait and gave encouragement.
redback911 said:
ChocolateFrog said:
CambsBill said:
Yep, i was there. Only did the Lion & Lamb route though. Great day Was that you in the PH top?
That was me!. Was that you in the PH top?I assume you were one of the 1500 or so that cycled past me
Good effort though. It was a warm one, humid too. Maybe 6th or 7th Fred, I've never seen so many people having to push up Hardknott. It was brutal conditions with headwinds all the way up Cold Fell (after Ennerdale), Eskdale and Hardknott. Well done folks!
Edited by redback911 on Monday 13th May 08:35
I think Zwift is more accurate on the gradients than I was giving it credit for
ChocolateFrog said:
CambsBill said:
Yep, i was there. Only did the Lion & Lamb route though. Great day Was that you in the PH top?
That was me!. Was that you in the PH top?I assume you were one of the 1500 or so that cycled past me
Big kudos to anyone who completed the course. Having missed couple of months training earlier in the year I'd already decided to do the Lion & Lamb & it was the right decision for me. Whinlatter & Cold Fell would have been OK but there's no way I was fit enough for Hardnott etc.
On a PH note, I had a bit of a giggle on the descent from Newlands - at a point where the road narrowed there was a sudden convoy of Ferrari, Lambo, Aston & Jag coming up the hill very, very slowly and looking like they were regretting their choice of route for a Sunday morning noon
I've done this ride 5 times now and I would say that the car traffic on the A66 in particular was the worst I've seen. Probably due to the weather being so nice and bringing a lot of people into the Lakes. One of those things, it's a public road event. And I do hold my hand up and admit to riding in such a way to annoy the drivers (overtaking cars who in turn were held up by slower riders) but you do get wrapped up in the event. I am normally a very law abiding rider - no red light jumping etc.
I was there too. I saw someone in a PH jersey between Kirkstone and the A66.
Following on from what has been said above, I think a lot of people could do with remembering that the Highway Code is the rule set that applies during open road events, not whatever local club etiquette they’re used to.
The amount of entitled, Alpha type, riders who thought that loudly shouting their club lingo would grant them the instant right to barge past other riders/cars was getting annoying at times. Thankfully it seemed to reduce once past Honister and Newlands climbs which seemed to split up a few groups (and temper a few egos). I wouldn’t normally mention such things, but it was easy to see why so many cars drivers hate group cyclists who behave this way.
Otherwise, a fantastic day out! Can’t believe our luck with the weather.
Following on from what has been said above, I think a lot of people could do with remembering that the Highway Code is the rule set that applies during open road events, not whatever local club etiquette they’re used to.
The amount of entitled, Alpha type, riders who thought that loudly shouting their club lingo would grant them the instant right to barge past other riders/cars was getting annoying at times. Thankfully it seemed to reduce once past Honister and Newlands climbs which seemed to split up a few groups (and temper a few egos). I wouldn’t normally mention such things, but it was easy to see why so many cars drivers hate group cyclists who behave this way.
Otherwise, a fantastic day out! Can’t believe our luck with the weather.
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