The Fred Whitton Challenge 2022 | Carnage on Hardknott Pass
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2022
- 2500 riders. 113 miles. 11,000 feet of climbing.
This is my experience of the Fred Whitton Challenge which took place on 8th May 2022 through the stunning Lake District in Northern England. It includes the legendary climbs of Kirkstone Pass, Honister Pass, Wrynose Pass, and the daddy of them all; Hardknott Pass
Billed as the UK's toughest sportive, I can confirm that it's the toughest day on the bike I've had so far, but I loved it!
Thank you to the organisers and the people of the Lake District who came to cheer us all on. I love you all!
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#Cycling #Sportive #FredWhitton - Спорт
Hardknot is probably the hardest 20 mins l have ever had on a bike 🙁🚵
Hi, I’ve got a ballot place for the Fred this year, and your video has been the most honest one I have watched so far and inspires me so much more to achieve than everybody who made it seem like just a tough ride, but I totally do-able one. I love that you left all the swearing all the fling and all the walking in the video. It makes it a real portrayal of how hard it is. Even for someone as fit as you. And I am 56 so this will be the hardest physical challenge of my life, even though I have done sport, competitively my whole life. Yours will be the video I watch before race day.
You totally earned those Haribos btw. Chapeau and Thank you.
Thank you so much for this comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video
I'm sure you'll do great on this ride, it is undoubtedly very tough but I think going into it expecting hardship will help you through. Let me know how you get on after the ride and enjoy the training too!
Magnificent. Congratulations.
A ride to be proud of. I would love a chance to come over and ride this event. It looks MEGA cool!!! Thanks for sharing your experience. You cheering the riders up the Pass hot you a subscriber. Greets from Austria!
Thank you! It was such a great day on the bike. I doubt the climbs are as long as you have in Austria, but I reckon they'd challenge for steepness!
Fab video mate , thanks
Well done fella, Hardnott is a tough one, I did it but for me it was the first climb of the day. I've been fortunate enough to ride some big/steep stuff in Europe and climbs in this country don't get the recognition they truly deserve.
Tough route,but beautiful scenery!! Enjoyed that video.
Thanks for watching!
I am 85 now but it does not seem that along that I was able to climb all the Lakeland cols without difficulty. I recommend for those who seek further challenges trying Le Brevet de Randonneur des Alpes. The dates and routes may vary. Milton Keynes Cycling had a team of four in 1983 and we all got round in less that 12 hours for the 260 kms circular route from Grenoble via the Croix de Fer and the Galibier. There are many other French challenges. In 1970s and 80s, when there were few British riders in these events, we were well looked after by the French.
I would love to ride in Europe at some point and that route you describe sounds amazing! Maybe one day I'll be able to put a video from the Alps up on this channel
Go for it. The French cols are longer but less steep than than the Lakeland ones. Pedal up in a low gear and no need to stand on the pedals. If you can get round the Fred the French events are well in your grasp.
Sounds awesome.
having climbed several of the iconic mountains in Italy - Spain - Austria - France and Switzerland - I can attest that Hardknott Pass is some of the nastiest sustained gradient soup you will find anywhere out there - I only did Hardknott Pass and Wrynose not the full FWC - I did not stop on Hardknott Pass but my time up was more than twice that of the record held by A. Feather - make no doubt - it's a beast of a climb at least comparable to the worst l'Angliru has to dish out - if you don't seriously pace yourself at the stiff bottom 1/3 - your deceptive recovery in the "soft" middle [ > 10% average ] won't help much as you will definitely blow massively in the last killer 1/3 - never in your life will 1 km feel like forever when mere metres agonizingly slowly drop away with maximum effort on the pedals - as to why there is a road to the summit? - it is the setting of an ancient Roman Fort !!! - now - imagine trying to conquer THAT not with a road bicycle but ... with arrows - rocks and hubris slung down on you ....
Nicely written!
Great description, thankfully everybody was on the same team that day and nobody hurling rocks at us!
Fantastic video, you have a nice easy to watch and listen to style Adam. I am a keen cyclist, but honestly could not complete this epic challenge so well done to you all😊
Thanks so much for the kind comment!
Well done. Beautiful video. Brutal route.
Thanks for watching! 🙂
Awesome effort, props to those in the event.
Many years past I stayed in Buttermere and my partner wanted fold up bikes to ride to the pub on camping trips, so we wandered up Honister pass until it got pushy and took some photos.
Job done we descended back towards Buttermere, at the bottom by the cafe were about 40 club riders getting coffee, the looks of astonishment on their faces was fantastic.
I gave them a cheery wave and rode on, they really thought we had come over the hill, no chance.
🤣 That's brilliant!
Really impressive bud. Smashed it. 👊🏻
That gradient looked intense….
Thanks, I can't overestimate how RIDICULOUS that road is 😅
Great clip, brutally honest. V good to see when considering building up to the event.
In all my research before the ride I don't think any showed just how tough Hardknott is. All riders said it was tough but they all still made it up.
I have no problem sharing exactly how challenging I may find things on this channel! Thanks for the comment!
Great Video, I was there in the background at the last food stop, also walked at the same places as you, decided to unclip rather than fall over (like the chap in your clip) on HardKnott and again not quite there for Wrynose, managed the rest. I think you were the only one to have as many colours on your top than me. Well Done
Got to be colourful, life's too short for boring jerseys!
That's the best Fred video I have ever seen mate!. Actually showed the full horror of it lol. The fact that Andrew Feather holds the kom for hardnott at 8.41 mins is unbelievable!!!. Quickest time for the event is 5hrs 40mins!!!. I would not manage that on an ebike lol!. Huge respect to all who completed the event.
Thank you so much!
It's mad to think that some people can ride that fast for that long over that elevation. As you say, massive respect to everyone who takes on the Fred!
and who was that fastest time a pro climber?
Brilliant, spotted at 12:30 in Hardknott... "Go on Bury" 😂😂 Brilliant video
Wow, fair play mate
Enjoyed that, thank you.
Thanks for watching!
I remember doing this in 2019. I was determined not to get off on Hardknott. Ultimately there were so many bottlenecks I was forced to a stop at one point, but in frustration did an awkward flying mount uphill and convinced myself it didn't happen, haha. Great climb, properly brutal
having only done a few 50 mile road rides I cannot imagine how hard this must be, the team spirit probably gets you through
liked the video mate, will watch out for more
Thanks for watching! The team spirit from the spectators and other riders makes a huge difference
Good work! Did the Tour of Pembrokeshire and these sportives are definitely a test of body and mind. 👏💪
Thanks! Tour of Pembrokeshire may have to go on my list for next year!
@@AdamRussellCycling it's a good challenge, super friendly set up and some great coastal views. 👌
Well done Adam, a really tough event that one.
It's funny how gradients never look quite so steep on camera, but those really did!
I had the "pleasure" of riding Hardknott and Wrynose passes years ago and remember being forced to unclip on Hardknott as I accidentally did a wheelie due to the gradient. I doubt I'd have made it up them if I'd have done the miles and climbing you'd already done. I remember those narrow, rough descents were pretty sketchy too.
A little tip if you don't mind... please blow your nose before doing a piece to camera (or edit it out), to save us hearing all the sniffling! 👍
"Accidental wheelie" 😂
We've all been there!!!
Loved the video and all power to your legs mate! I would never ever try to do what you did, especially not crossing hard Knott on a bike. I've walked it from both directions and only even driven it once, in the opposite direction to you, but I did enjoy that.
I'd be scared to even drive that road!
A couple of guys who were staying in the same hotel as me when I rode the Fred a few years back, got their bikes out in the car park and had mountain bike cassettes on the rear. They were having problems with the deraillure for obvious reasons. I smiled inwardly at what I thought was over the top precautions. I had a semi-compact set up. I walked up Hard Knott, they rode up it. Guess who was smiling back at the hotel afterwards.
Haha! 😂
I considered changing my cassette but the roads in Sussex just don't need it and I couldn't justify the cost of a new cassette just for one hill
Did the event once. fitted a cheap mtb cassette, but soon into the ride, the rivets on the cheap cassette fouled the type of wheel hub I had. ended up doing most of the route unable to ever freewheel. ( and still walked the steep bits)
Never done the Fred Whitten , challenge , tho I did Hardnot and wyenose on a Mtb with road gears on, a 55 mile loop riding with a mate , sitting on the nose of the saddle stopping the front wheel lifting off the tarmac , low gears or a triple chainset and SPD cleats/ pedals did it around 1995
The accidental wheelie when going up steep hills always makes my heart skip a beat 😂
Great video! I did the Fred for the 5th time this year, left calf cramped up badly on the first, steepest part of Honister Pass, recovered, then was fine for the rest of the ride until Hardknott where I just managed to dismount in time as another bout of cramp started so walked all of the very steep sections & to the summit. After that it was relatively plain sailing back to Grasmere. Don't think I'll do it again though!
There must be something pulling you back to have done it 5 times, I reckon you'll be back for a 6th time!
The kirkstone pass looks narrow, I can't remember it that narrow when I used to drive my coach down it 5 years running oh and one year up, lot of gear lever work needed then lol.
Great video, I must watch your San Francisco one soon. 👍
Thanks! I can't imagine driving a car up and down these hills, let alone a coach!!! Fair play to you!
Great vid, I got cramp too and wondered what the hell was happening to me. It was a great day on the bike. I would love to do it again next year.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Getting cramp is such a horrible sensation, I hope you were able to stretch it out and continue your ride!
I attempted hardknott pass back in 2017 during coast to coast and can confirm its unbelievably difficult. I got maybe 10 yards past the cattle grid at the beginning before having to walk the rest and even that was near impossible. The descent on the other side is also punishing on the forearms and brake pads, I could actually smell the pads burning on the way down. To this day I don't know how anyone rides to the top. I did however conquer wrynose pass to my surprise and delight.
Would love to do coast to coast one day! Well done on Wrynose! I still have unfinished business there 😅
Great vid! I was there - my first Fred! It was an amazing day. The only downside was being sworn at by an angry motorist on the descent after Honister Pass. I mean, not a great day to go for a drive, eh?! Although it took me 9.5 hours, I hit my goal of never dabbing a foot on any of the climbs. Hardknott is a beast, though, isn't it?
There's always at least one entitled motorist who thinks everyone else is less important than them unfortunately. Great job not dabbing a foot though, that's super impressive!
Brilliant video - inspiring and off putting in risk measure 😂 I'm so unfit these days I need a 34 cassette on the flats nevermind Hardknot!
😂
Great vid well done
Thank you for watching!
mate! Im soo happy I didnt do this with you! lol haha them hills! hahah
Crashed descending Hardknott in 2008 at very bottom. Broken arm. Also involved third party. Descents are worse than ascents. Agree gearing and pacing yourself most important. Need upper body strength as gradient means have to stand at some points. Good video of the experience.
Sorry to hear about your crash, some of these descents can be so sketchy!
Big lols on that fall
Great vlogg of an epic day, congrats on completing the FWC. Love the honesty... I suspect some would have had mysterious Go-Pro "malfunctions" on Hardknott! Would be interested to know how used to big hills you are. I live in the Cotswolds and there's loads of steep climbing around here... but nothing of that kind of duration. I've done rides similar length and elevation gain, but it tends to be a lot of smaller climbs (400 to 800ft). I've often wondered how I would go on the FWC.
My regular rides generally criss cross the South Downs to try and get some climbing in, but nothing compares to the hills in the Lakes for combined steepness and duration from what I've ridden
Hard as hell that, it's not the alps but it's a damn sight steeper!!!
This video is probably the most realistic and very common thing among many riders and that is walking up, suffering a muscle cramp, etc. Might as well bring your walking shoes. Anyone that attempts to do this, riding or pushing the bike should be commended.
Thanks Jerry!
I always think it's important to show the reality of these climbs, rather than try and sugarcoat the difficulty of them!
I did FW this year, my ride was practically identical to yours, including stats. All the reading and YT research still didn’t prepare me for the big 2 at the end. Walking was torture but riding just wasn’t an option for me. Much more training and experience needed for me.
Sometimes walking just has to be done. No shame in it.
You finished the ride and gained a ton of experience in doing so, and you'll be better prepared (even if just mentally) for future challenges.
I'm hoping to do the Fred again next year and even if I only walk 5 paces fewer it will be an improvement and feel like progress
I did a gravel/road event last year in The Lakes and there were folk pushing often, a combination of too high gearing & lack of (climbing) fitness. I’m an MTBer mainly and we realised a long time ago that not having bail-out gears just spoils your ride/day, why is it so many roadies still persist with ‘pro-level’ gearing?
I guess differnet folks have different motivations, some like the challenge of pushing a harder gear while others prefer to spin up more easily at a slower pace.
I have an 11-30 on my road bike and considered putting an 11-32 on for this ride but left it to too short notice and it would have meant buying a new cassette for 1 ride which I couldn't really justify.
I'll always wonder what would have happened had the rider in front not fallen and I had to bail (I also feel that the sharp twisting motion I had to do to unclip quickly caused the cramp later up the hill due to the surprise muscle movement) - Hopefully I get another shot at it in future years!
I agree though that when I saw people pushing on the very first climb I did wonder if they'd researched the route at all!
Great point b r, compact 50-34 cranksets don’t really cut it in the ‘gravel world’ and there’s a move towards 48/46-32/30 etc, which may rebound onto ‘road’ riding.
Modern "standard" road bike gearing has been getting lower (52/39 with 12-25 cassettes now replaced with 50/34 and 11-32), but most people don't have the 20-30% gradients found around the Lake District. I had a 50/36 with a 12/27 cassette and got up on the 36/25 or 27 out the saddle and struggling ...that was without the previous miles/elevation of the FW ride!
You'll still need a certain level of strength or fitness on those super steep climbs as if your gear is too low, you might turn the cranks, but won't have enough forward speed to maintain balance ...and will just fall off ...and won't be able to restart!
I do agree though, that most people would benefit from researching the route and lowering their gearing slightly.
@@Fudders ‘researching the route’ 🤦♂️ Quite right, however, the FW being the most notoriously steep & hilly sportive in the country maybe all the research you need 😂
EDIT: Sorry Dom meant to say, you obviously had confidence in yr legs with that gearing.
Chapeau!
Fair point, but it's a total ball ache installing super low gears on a road bike. I did Wrynose last year on my gravel bike, 34-34, bloody horrific. A motorist stopped to check I was okay at one point 😅
Great video! Shows the true horror of Hardknott Pass. You must have been going at a good pace, I set off at 6.09 so you passed me at some point. Looks like I came back past you at 10:46 in your video (middle of the 3 riders) while you'd stopped. I've posted a video with snippets from the whole ride, but will probably put another on up with the whole of my Hardknott ascent, you should be able to see yourself on that one!
Oh nice, I'll look forward to that video! I enjoyed your video of the ride, there really were some stunning views weren't there!
@@AdamRussellCycling thanks 😊 Yes, it really is an incredibly beautiful ride! Some of the most stunning scenery anywhere in the country
@@AdamRussellCycling new video is up, I think this is you 7 minutes 58 seconds, ua-cam.com/video/-3VE4kP0IVw/v-deo.html
Great effort, well done to all 👍👍 looks brutal to me. What upgrades did you do to the orro ? Just for the Fred , and for normal roads.
No specific upgrades for the Fred, and only change from stock are longer stem and fizik antares saddle.
I have a new bike day video on the channel if you want see in more detail
"Angry brakes" we all had them buddy
😂
hats off to anyone that does the fred.....big hats off to anyone that gets up hardknott.....i did the coast2coast in 2021 and, luckily, has hardknott within the first 15 miles....i mad it up...but still...its a hard climb.....whenever you do it....sadly once youre off you wont be getting back on, youre walking, plenty do....but anyone making daft noises climbing up a hill, jesus, get yourself under control....
Coast2coast is definitely one I want to add to my list!
Nice Jersey hope that guy who came off his bike preventing you from trying to do the Hill is ok. Imagine being the worker's who cemented that hill climb.
Wrynose pass, pronounced rhinos pass.. good video.
I really don’t understand why people fall off. Put on a 32t cassette & stay within yourself. Done this twice & potholes & rough roads spoil it.
The first time I saw Oliver from GCN.
Might be a silly Q; what gearing set up is recommended for this beast of a ride? I currently got a 50-34 chainring and 11-34 casette
I think the recommendation is as big a gear as you can fit!
I had a 52-36 chainring and 11-28 cassette so sounds like you have a good set up already for this
Great work well done ! How did it compare to the Dragon ride ?
Definitely tougher than the dragon ride, just down to how steep the hills were.
At least on most of the dragon you can just get into a nice rhythm and slog your way up!
@@AdamRussellCycling I'm doing the Dragon this year off the back of the Fred so this is welcome news!
I thought the roads were closed for the FWC? If not it's mental riding it with the prospect of traffic around you and on coming collisions. Had hoped to ride it one day but not if roads aren't closed. Hardly worth it, do it some other time on your own start very early on a sunday morning in mid summer and you should be ok.
Would Gran Canaria be good training for this as I just came back from 2 weeks riding in the mountains of GC?
Nevertheless well done to you for finishing the FWC.
The road is closed from the bottom (start) of Hardknott all the way through to the end of the Blea Tarn descent in Langdale.
Doing it on your own wouldn't be the same. The crowd support and camaraderie of your fellow riders really sets the Fred apart from any other ride I've done
@@AdamRussellCycling You think so? I guess it wouldn't, but you wouldn't have the risk of other riders falling or crashing into you as they got off or gave up. The solitude in such beautiful surroundings would be good though. I guess it is, once done, you've done it, got the jersey as it were. It does look hard. For me low gearing is key. The descents you can just freewheel down, take a rest, but the ascents you have to spin up thus the need for low low gearing.
Anyway chapeau to you for completing it.
Epic effort. What cassette did have on?
I have an 11-30, I considered fitting an 11-32 but I couldn't justify the cost just for one ride (11-30 is plenty good enough for the hills I usually ride)
It looks like the biggest problem on Hardknott was with the shoe/pedal cleats, riders could not easily put their feet out to steady themselves or change balance for the hairpins, then they could not walk the bikes up due to the cleats on their shoes slipping on the road surface so a pair of light walking shoes strapped to the frame would have saved a lot of sore feet.
Only been up there in a car. couldn`t see the road bonnet pointing straight up at the sky,2nd gear foot all the way down on the gas, just made it. Scary as f***k.
I just don't know why anyone thought this should be a tarmac road suitable for cars in the first place!
Looked as awful as I imagined it would. Good news was the scenery and the dry weather. The people descending like they are in the TdF or the struggling ascenders would and does drive me nuts. Walk or fit the lowest gear you can. I would prob have walked some of it. Kudos to those who take it on.
Gotta have the right gears to have a chance with this horror climb - for climbing I run 30/46 driving 11-30 with Absolute Black Oval Chain Rings. See many running 34 or 36 Chain Rings. Got up Butter Tubs, Winnats no problem & the Etape Du Dales - but this climb looks much worse than those
"Potholed, gravelled, bumpy" roads. That sounds like major highways to me. Imagine having some road BETWEEN potholes. With my roads they run out of room to put more potholes so they have to put potholes INSIDE other potholes just to fit the extras in.
Sounds like Surrey!
you live in Bucks too?!?!! 😅
I don't like waking up at 6am, but I don't mind falling asleep at 6am after a right bender hahaha, as much as I love cycling, 6am starts are a pain in the arse hehe
The alarm went off at 4:20 😴
@@AdamRussellCycling I feel your pain, I used to have to wake up at 4m for a 6am start for a 12 hour shift, so don't envy you hehe.
@@DeanPorterCC Oof, that's rough!
@@AdamRussellCycling so how often do you do rides?
@@DeanPorterCC I try and do a long ride every week (though haven't been since the Fred due to various other commitments) I also commute to work every day 11 miles each way
what was the % of that climb where that guy fell infront of you?
its nice to hear you complain about a hill.. hahaha you know how I feel every time! haha
The bit where the guy fell was 25%, but further up the hill there's a bit at 33%
@@AdamRussellCycling my god.. Not doing that haha.. That's not a hill.. Lol its a sky scrapper
@@avocado.cyclist 🤣
Torturous looking stuff! What was your gearing?
I have a 52/36 on the front with 11-30 on the back
@@AdamRussellCycling Thanks! Looks like a compact 50/34 with a 11/34 might be required for those climbs! Especially with the rough terrain. Fair play 😉
Usually Run a 32/11 Cassette in Cornwall but after watching that me thinks a 34/11 would be the way Forward..................Literally.
😅
Think i’d ridden back down and ridden back up Hardknot
Unlucky with the faller wot top is that🤔
Coloured jersey is from Campione, navy gilet from Band of Climbers, and rain jacket from Endura 🙂
Isn't it Wrynose Pass?
It is, I misread it and only realised the following day 🤦♂️
I was going to say it can't be an official race with decents like that accompanied with on coming traffic.
8:49-ish-mins that guy falling what on earth happened to him...? like his foot and arm forgot what they were doing, sorry had to replay that part...funny
It's not a race, but that will never stop people taking unnecessary risks because going a few seconds faster is more important to them than the safety of themselves and others
At @8:49 The guy suddenly loses traction and then struggles to get unclipped. At that point, with that gradient, you aren’t so much falling sideways off the bike, but backwards.
You can't see the elevation coming up🤔😂
F*** that lol, it was hard enough driving the pass.
Wynrose Pass? It's Wrynose!
Yeah I realised after the event that I'd misread it and had been saying it wrong all day 🤦♂️
It's Wrynose Pass, not Wynrose..... LOL.
Clipless pedals are dangerous on very steep gradients. Your going so slowly and if yr gear slips, chain breaks or rear tyre slips you can crash easily.
I would argue they are safer. Real risk of feet slipping off flat pedals.
even on my ebike I recon this is almost impossible...
Would love an ebike, been trying to persuade my wife to get one so she can come on the long hilly rides with me
@@AdamRussellCycling we both have ebikes, but dont think even with the extra battery (Specialised 1.1) we could do that distance. My theory range is 150km, done 118 actual real range with extra battery. Best run on built-in battery (Creo) is 107km....
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 maybe you'd keep the motor switched off on the flat and downhill stretches. Then only use it for the climbs.
Too many up the nostril shots. You can comment and show scenery