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The
Fred Whitton Challenge - A Personal Account.
By Mark Wilson
The Fred Whitton challenge is regarded as possibly the hardest organised
single day ride in the UK, and for a long time I had been attracted
to the challenge it presented.
In the last 20+ years I had spent 2 weekends a year in the Lake
District and had ridden all the major passes but the prospect of
riding them all in 1 day is a frightening prospect!
In 2002 Eric Maymon announced his intent to attempt this 109 mile
epic and along with Tom Sheehan I was similarly foolish enough to
volunteer to come along on this escapade.
Details of the actual route were sketchy until a Cycling Weekly
team rode the event and published an account which confirmed our
worst thoughts. Pictures of elite category riders walking up climbs
did nothing to deter us.
In 2003 Eric entered Tom, myself, Andy Cargill, Dave Sharples and
Robert Waterhouse. The event was scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday,
5th May. I travelled up with Andy Cargill and we arrived in Coniston
for the ‘depart’ at 8am.
At the signing on it became apparent that there were over 250 similar
minded lunatics on the start sheet also along for the fun. There
was a mixture of road and mountain bikes and quite a few females
ready to start. Bill Nickson was also spotted and we had a quick
chat with him. At 8:15 the 1st group of 100 including ourselves
started en masse and were led out of Coniston behind the lead car.
A later group were due to set off at 9:00am
The pace was rapid with the bunch splitting in 2 immediately. Within
2 miles we started the 1st climb - Hawkshead Hill and the lead group
attacked it hard. This was no ordinary tourist ride or Audax, it
was an unofficial race! There was prize for the 1st rider back,
1st team, 1st lady and prizes for finishing in less than 6, 7 &
8 hours.
The lead group were charging away up the climb but Tom and myself
hung back not because we could not hang on, but simply because there
were 105 miles still to go and at this speed we would not survive.
Over the top and down towards the Drunken Duck Tom and myself ambled
along, through Clappersgate, through Ambleside and along Windermere
south towards Bowness. We had not seen Eric and the rest since the
start and we assumed that they had held back even more than us.
As we turned left up Holbeck lane to start the Kirkstone pass, Eric
and the rest caught us up. Slowly we pedalled up the steep lane
and past the Mortal Man Inn to join the main Kirkstone road half
way up.
Andy Cargill had dropped off and as we later discovered no matter
what speed we all went Andy would go slower!
Up & up we rode to the summit were we met Toms wife who was
driving round the route feeding and watering us. A quick stop for
nature and a removal of some layers saw us descend in to Patterdale
and on to the climb of Matterdale common. On Matterdale it started
to drizzle. Just before the A66 we took the old coach road that
runs parallel to the A66 and comes out further along the A66 at
the White Hart Inn. Traffic forced us in to single file and a very
strong head wind made the going tough. In the distance we could
see the Borrowdale valley was as black as night and raining. We
rode through Keswick and out south along the Borrowdale valley and
the rain came down in buckets.
In those 3-4 miles we got absolutely soaked. We crept along to the
foot of Honister pass very wet, very cold and very miserable. Honister
starts full in you face with 25% gradient immediately.
After we had ascended about 50 meters I glanced back to see a huge
bunch of riders breathing down our necks - it was the 9:00 am group.
We had been caught for 45 minutes in 40 miles. What we all saw next
was quite incredible. The whole group sprinted past us like there
was a million pounds on the line half way up. They were going at
an absolutely mental pace and what was even more impressive was
the fact that they were being lead by a woman - sat in the saddle
– MTB rider Caroline Alexander. The 50 or so riders now climbing
the pass caused a huge traffic jam. Riders all across the road prevented
cars going up and down. It was pandemonium. This required our group
to climb up to the cattle grid using only 2 ft of road between the
stationary cars and the verge. The smell of burning clutches filled
the air and you could sense the driver’s frustration.
Tom lead our group with Dave and me just behind. At the summit it
was very windy and very cold, the descent was quite hairy as the
road was a river and the surface is very cut up.
The headwind in the valley bottom made it slow going to the checkpoint
at Buttermere youth hostel. By now the rain had stopped but the
damage was done.
At the checkpoint there was a woman frantically making sandwiches
and I was eating them as fast as she made them. 15 minutes later
we were off again and we immediately turned right up the Newlands
Pass, scene of the national hill climb a few years ago. The sun
started to appear and I began to feel a little less miserable. We
all went over the top together (except Andy) with no real problems.
During the long descent to Braithwaite the sun came out and the
clouds cleared. Once in Braithwaite we turned left to start the
long forest climb of the Whinlatter Pass.
I felt rough immediately and crept along. My guts were churning
and my legs felt like lead. I realised I had now reached approximately
55miles which is my weekly distance achieved riding to the cafe
and back on a Sunday. I was now entering unknown territory. Even
though I was feeling rough Andy managed to still go slower.
Thinking of what lay ahead made me feel even worse. Once over the
top we all freewheeled down bypassing Lorton on the gated road to
emerge 2 miles from Mosser fell.
We rode on past the turning for Mosser fell. From this point I had
not experienced the 20 miles of road that lay ahead. Eric told me
that the next climb was called 'fangs' and that it was not even
listed on the route but that it was steep.
He was correct, soon the 28 sprocket was engaged and Robert and
I rode together. Ahead of us Tom and Dave were very strong and easily
rode away. We were now heading due south and riding in to a chilly
headwind but at least the sun was shining.
After ‘fangs’ a short descent led to Croasdale and on
to Ennerdale Bridge. I found the whole area very depressing and
not at all pleasant which combined to make my mental state worsen.
From Ennerdale Bridge the road goes for 10 miles to Calder Bridge
over Cold Fell. This starts very steeply and then turns in to a
simple fell road. The wind got stronger coming straight off the
Irish Sea on our right. I was with Eric for these 10 miles with
Tom and Dave way in front and Robert and Andy behind. I started
eating energy bars to cheer myself up. It did not work!
For the last 5 miles of Cold fell you look down over Sellafield
nuclear power station until you descend to the main road at Calder
Bridge. The road sign said 2m to Gosforth were Toms wife would be
waiting with more food and water.
Depression came down over the group as the 2 miles turned in to
nearer 4. Eventually we arrived in Gosforth and there was Tom’s
wife with the car boot open and more food and drink. As I dismounted
my legs began to buckle and I started walking like Max Wall.
I now employed my secret weapon - a gel pack given to me by Andy.
It was like drinking wallpaper paste but as long as it worked I
was not complaining.
We set off after about 20 minutes rest. We now headed due east riding
inland with a strong tailwind. The road was flat to start with but
the climb out of Santon Bridge made us all realise how bad our legs
were getting. Once up this climb the road flattened out and thoughts
turned to the penultimate climb and allegedly the steepest in the
UK - Hardknott Pass to be climbed from the steepest side!
Fortunately you cannot see the climb until you are practically on
it. It starts with a little bridge over a stream and immediately
it is 25%. The road winds up for quite some distance before easing
ever so slightly. On this 1st section Andy took up his customary
rear position with Dave Sharples way out in front and Tom, Eric
and Robert not too far behind.
From my position I could seen Dave reach the start of the 2nd section.
Here the road turns sharp left and immediately goes to 35%. From
my position lower down you could visibly see the incredible gradient
as you look side on at it. As I watched Dave attempting this section
it was like watching somebody attempt the final push to the summit
of some Himalayan peak.
Dave struggled and heaved and eventually got up this steep middle
section. Next to try was Tom but only having a 26 sprocket Tom dismounted
as the road turned left. Robert was next and armed with a lower
gear and now feeling ‘good’, successfully made it. It
was my turn next and I was fully expecting my legs to buckle on
this section but somehow I managed to crack it with not too much
difficulty but I received some very strange sensations in my right
thigh muscles in the attempt. The muscle was telling me not to try
that again!!!
As the road then turned right for the last 200m to the summit it
eased back to 25% but the damage had been done on the previous section.
Now my right thigh was in permanent spasm and I had no alternative
to dismount to join Tom on foot.
Below Eric had engaged his lowest gear from his selection of 27
and was doing a storming ride and came past me just after I dismounted.
Further down Andy got off well before the steepest section and was
also plodding up on foot.
I was able to remount 100m before the top and rode over and down
the other side. On the 2nd hairpin down my back wheel locked up
and I went side ways. I released the brakes and it straightened
up. I was now hurtling towards the edge and a large drop. I was
convinced I was coming off but I applied the brakes again but both
wheels locked this time and the bike went sideways again. On and
off the brakes again and the bike slid round the hairpin sideways
in the loose stone at the roadside. I realised that due to fatigue
I was not concentrating nearly enough but what could I do?
At Cockly Beck at the bottom of Hardknott Pass at I got off to check
my back tyre. Luckily the rubber was still intact. To get back on
my bike I lifted my right leg over the saddle and immediately cramp
struck in my right thigh.
I leapt off the bike in absolute agony. I tried again when the cramp
had eased, but it was no good it came back worse than ever! What
could I do? It was 10 miles back to Coniston and Wrynose Pass still
lay ahead.
I had a brain wave. I walked round to the other side and got on
by lifting my left leg over and hey presto it worked.
Next problem was that my right leg would not turn the pedals so
I pedalled with just my left leg in bottom gear. Slowly I eased
my right leg back on to the pedal and within a mile I was able to
slowly get going again.
The next and final hurdle lay at the end of the valley - Wrynose
Pass. Luckily this is the ‘easier side’ and the tailwind
would assist me.
But looking at the road as it climbed in to the sky it still looked
a daunting sight. I engaged the 28 sprocket right from the start
and began a slow absolute minimum effort zigzag ascent.
I was convinced that the cramp would return and I would be left
to walk to the top. But it never came and eventually after another
battle with gravity I was riding over the summit and down to start
the fast steep descent in to the Langdale valley.
After the descent I ambled on past the 3 Shires Inn and saw Tom
and Eric up ahead. After a bit of effort I eventually caught them
on the Coniston road with 4m to the finish.
I had dreamt about this road since 8:15am that morning. We were
soon in Coniston heading down to the lakeside finish line. As we
approached the finish line some guy attacked us so for fun I went
after him and found I was able to sprint with some considerable
ease.
All the pain and cramps had gone and I felt quite good. I can only
imagine that the gel pack was at last having some effect - all too
late.
We recorded an elapsed time of 9h 26m for the 109m. Andy said that
his computer recorded 8h 45m of actual riding so with me Tom and
Eric coming 5 minutes ahead I rode for 8h 40m.
We were amazed to find the 'winner' had recorded about 6:15 and
Caroline Alexander 6:26 for 34th place. Bill Nickson recorded 7:15.
Last year they said Gethin Butler had gone round in 6:09.
We all said afterwards we would never ride it again. Personally
I did not really enjoy it possibly because I felt crap for most
of it and possibly because I am just not really up to it on a diet
of Sunday Mornings to the cafe and back.
I am absolutely amazed how anyone can get round so fast and obviously
they never stop. It is a race there is no doubt about it. But it
is like the London marathon with a couple of dozen in the real race
and the rest just competing against themselves and the clock.
For those interested I rode a double with 39 x 28 as my lowest gear
whereas Eric on a triple had 34 x 28 at his disposal which he used
frequently.
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