Completing My First Fred Whitton Challenge 2024!

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  • Опубліковано 16 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 57

  • @grahamthecyclist
    @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +8

    Welcome to my first UA-cam video and my first-ever Fred Whitton! I managed to complete the whole ride without stopping on any of the climbs, feeling very proud. Did anyone else do the Fred Whitton? 😊🚴🏽‍♂🏔

  • @lukemedia
    @lukemedia 7 місяців тому +10

    Well done Dad, that’s an incredible achievement! 🚴🏼‍♂️👏🏼🎉

  • @robertpaul6576
    @robertpaul6576 2 місяці тому +2

    I enjoyed that video, especially getting to see the views I was too breathless to take in at the time! 2024 Fred was a fabulous event and you’re an inspiration to others. Big 👍🏻

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  2 місяці тому

      Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you, that's very kind of you to say 😃🙏🏼

  • @grahamthecyclist
    @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +2

    Thanks for your comment , still can’t believe I did it . Maybe again next year😳

  • @davidthomas9079
    @davidthomas9079 2 місяці тому +1

    Chapeau, great effort. I`ve done it twice, first time in 2022. The Fred was my big challenge after having brain surgery to remove a tumor in 2020, i did it in 8hrs 34mins which i wasn`t expecting . Respect to anyone who gets to the finish regardless of whether or not they walked Hardknott Pass....that`s a big as at 90 miles.

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  2 місяці тому

      Wow, congratulations! I hope you're all okay from the surgery in 2020. That's an amazing effort! Yes, definitely, it's a tough one! Will you be there next year? 😄

    • @davidthomas9079
      @davidthomas9079 2 місяці тому +1

      All went well with the surgery, they managed to remove all of the tumour. I have to have a MRI scan every year to make sure nothing is coming back. All good to date.
      I did the Fred again in 2023 not sure if I'll do it again.
      Next June I'll doing the Coast to Coast in a day 150 miles from Seascale to Whitby.

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  2 місяці тому +1

      @@davidthomas9079 great to hear! Good look with the coast to coast, I hope you have a great ride. 🏅🚴‍♂️

  • @Jgarnett0007
    @Jgarnett0007 2 місяці тому

    Great video and massive chapeau to you Graham for doing it and smashing Hardknott in the process! I haven't done it yet but very tempted to try for the ballot

  • @Teen_Spirit_91
    @Teen_Spirit_91 2 місяці тому +1

    What a great video and well done for an amazing effort. Well shot and edited and roads I know well but never managed all in one like you.

  • @JohnButler-iq8rl
    @JohnButler-iq8rl 7 місяців тому +2

    What a lovely bloke 😊 clearly got some talent too don't know wether he's come from another sport background but he looks in extremely good shape 👍.

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +2

      Hi there, many thanks for your comments, most appreciated… Been cycling for a long time.. and amazingly feeling fitter at 60 than I was at 50! Hope to keep going for as long as I can!…

  • @youngdave1963
    @youngdave1963 2 місяці тому +1

    Great video, tough tough ride - 4 th time for me, I say never again until the ballot comes round in December. I enter hoping I might not get in again - and then I do, so then has to be done! I get more worried about Hardknott the more times I do it. One of the most beautifullly stunning rides anywhere in Europe imho

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  2 місяці тому

      Thank you, it's a very tough one indeed. I'm definitely going to give it another go next year, as hard as it was, I want to do it a second time (must be mad). You'll smash it again, the views really help! You're right about that one, it's a beautiful place, the Lake District! 🚴🏽‍♂️

  • @LakeDistrictcyclist
    @LakeDistrictcyclist 7 місяців тому +2

    Well done on hardknott not many stay on 😊

  • @andymoss
    @andymoss 4 місяці тому +1

    Brilliant mate!

  • @stuartvh4562
    @stuartvh4562 7 місяців тому +1

    Chapeau indeed! Congratulations on a great video, and completing the FWC, without stopping on the climbs too! So pleased the weather was good to you, despite the head wind.

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому

      Many thanks! I'm still in shock that I was able to do it, especially with it being the first time. Yes, the weather was good to us that weekend... a bit of a shock having sun, but definitely not complaining 🤣🚴🏽‍♂️☀️

  • @MattRootsTube
    @MattRootsTube 7 місяців тому +1

    Epic first video and well done for completing the challenge. You deserve a gold Blue Peter badge for Hardknott💪

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому

      Thank you, much appreciated. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the post haha😆✉️

  • @PW-CreakySaddle
    @PW-CreakySaddle 7 місяців тому +1

    i love your woo and nice each time the view of the fells opens up :-)

  • @OliverBird-d3i
    @OliverBird-d3i 7 місяців тому +1

    Amazing effort, well done 🎉🚴🏼‍♂️💨

  • @darrantee4929
    @darrantee4929 7 місяців тому +1

    Fantastic achievement, Graham well.

  • @elleffeff
    @elleffeff 7 місяців тому +1

    Beautiful event! And a great first video.

  • @jasonmainwaring7420
    @jasonmainwaring7420 7 місяців тому +1

    Phenomenal achievement and a very good time given the amount of climbing you did. Seriously impressed as a similar aged cyclist.

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому

      Thank you, I'm really pleased with the time, especially with it being my first go. That's very kind of you to say 🚲

  • @gerrydunphy5748
    @gerrydunphy5748 5 місяців тому +1

    👏👏👏👏great effort

  • @samupton7654
    @samupton7654 7 місяців тому +2

    I love your analysis of Hardknott at the end. Almost word for word is what I said after first doing it 😂

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +1

      I was surprised I managed to do it all without stopping, the front wheel was lifting up in places 🤣 It's a great achievement getting to the top, well done, you must have felt very proud to have done it! 👏🏼

    • @samupton7654
      @samupton7654 7 місяців тому +1

      @grahamthecyclist Such great memories and you're spot on in everything you say. The sensation of the front wheel starting to go is something else! And going through the pedals on the steepest parts feels like an extreme leg day at the gym 🤣 Love it 👍

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +1

      @@samupton7654 For sure! It was an odd feeling having the wheel lift up... not experienced that before. It sure does feel like a leg workout in the gym doesn't it 🤣

  • @PW-CreakySaddle
    @PW-CreakySaddle 7 місяців тому +1

    great effort, well done and thanks for sharing. I still walked but cycled a bit further up Hardknott this time :-)

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому

      Thanks for your comment, I still can’t believe I did it. Congratulations on completing the ride, it's an amazing achievement, maybe you'll get Hardknott next year! 🙏🏼

  • @NicholasBowring
    @NicholasBowring 2 місяці тому +1

    Fantastic effort! Did we meet you in Grasmere the day before (the couple on the tandem)?

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  2 місяці тому +1

      Hello, thank you, yes it was us. We had a chat in the Grasmere Gather Cafe!
      What a great event, and weather, hope you had a good ride, and decide to do the ride again in 2025.

    • @NicholasBowring
      @NicholasBowring 2 місяці тому

      @@grahamthecyclist Had an excellent ride, thanks. Might well do it again in 2025!

  • @robinrdale8318
    @robinrdale8318 4 місяці тому +1

    I did the Fred way before covid weather was a shocker 20mph winds I had to pedal down hills , people getting blown over hedges took like 10 hours , had a slow puncher, but watching this may have to do it again

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  2 місяці тому

      That sounds brutal! Pedalling down the hills must have been awful... I'm glad it's helped motivate you to give it another go. I'd definitely like to have a go again next year.

  • @davidmailander8165
    @davidmailander8165 7 місяців тому +2

    What was your approach to your small ring cassette going up Hardnot?

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +1

      I went straight down to the 32 and kept spinning till 25% ~ 30%, then I just kept grinding away to the top. Next time it will be a 34 or 36 cassette 😳👍

    • @davidmailander8165
      @davidmailander8165 7 місяців тому

      @@grahamthecyclist That’s a tortuous angle to be attempting to stay up right. Particularly where it is placed in the ride. Many years ago, I completed the 3 State / 3 Mountain here in the states …Chattanooga TN. On the hard climbs, particularly Lookout Mountain you had to focus on ignoring the walkers when the grade reached a paltry 17%. I was probably running a triple a few times and was glad I had it. Congratulations again to you.

  • @Skilledcarpenter
    @Skilledcarpenter 7 місяців тому +1

    Well done , can I ask what rear cassette gearing you used ??

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +2

      Many thanks… and it’s a 11/32 rear cassette with 50/34 chain set… in hindsight I wish I’d have gone for a 36… 🙄

  • @stevenfreeman7798
    @stevenfreeman7798 7 місяців тому +1

    What a brilliant effort!!. You must be superfit to get up those horrible climbs without walking!. How much training did you have to do for the event and what gearing did you use?. Once again well done!.

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому +1

      Hi Steven, thank you for the kind comment, I really appreciate it! I started training for this event in December, all my rides were hilly and I'd built up slowly from 2.5 hrs, progressing to 7 1/2 - 8 hours by April / May with no stopping. Gearing was 50/34 - 11/32 ⚙️😊

    • @stevenfreeman7798
      @stevenfreeman7798 7 місяців тому +2

      Only a 32!!. Brilliant effort!.

    • @grahamthecyclist
      @grahamthecyclist  7 місяців тому

      @@stevenfreeman7798 Yep! Thank you haha😁

  • @joelenero9793
    @joelenero9793 2 місяці тому +1

    Try to join toure de lamian 😅