I rode the Fred Whitton Challenge again today. It’s by far he hardest day out I can imagine on a bike. It’s basically a route around the Lake District’s road passes, Kirkstone – Honister – Newlands – Whinlatter – Hard Knott and Wrynose. The ridiculous about of climbing (about 12,500 feet) takes its toll, but it’s somehow satisfying. Look at this video from the 2006 ride, filmed on Hard Knott pass, for an illustration of how severe it is (you can see me, too!). This year, I had a job to do, being a domestique for my team mates Lewis and Stuart, who obligingly smashed the course record.

For my own efforts, I was satisfied with shaving 12 minutes from my 2006 time for the 114 miles, reaching the Coniston finish in 6hrs 26mins. That was 14 places better than last year, too, 24th out of the 670 starters. I again somehow managed to avoid cramping up, unlike loads of the other 670 riders, whose bodies writhing in the roadside soon became a common sight.

Links:

• My blog post about the 2006 Fred Whitton Challenge
• My Google Earth file for the route (forgot to start my Forerunner and only switched on at Ambleside – d’oh!)
• Full Fred Whitton 2007 results
• Official Fred Whitton Challenge website

Selected Results:

1 Lewis Craven (Wheelbase) 5:45:48
1 Stuart Reid (Wheelbase) 5:45:48
3 Damian Smith (Honister 92) 5:50:04
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8 Barrie Clarke (Lakes Road Club) 6:08:36
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13 Ian Palmer (Wheelbase) 6:11:49
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17 Paul Trott (Wheelbase) 6:15:02
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24 Dave Haygarth (Wheelbase) 6:26:59
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110 William Bland (Honister 92) 7:03:22
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128 Simon Fox (Darwin Dashers IFB) 7:07:36
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131 Steve Clarke (Wheelbase) 7:09:58
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135 James Whittaker (Didsbury Tri) 7:11:01 (Holly’s family friend – first ride – great result)
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