Fred Whitton 2008 - Sahara Conditions

15/05/2008

Getting started.

Driving from Kendal to the start of the FWC at Coniston Sports Center I was really surprised to see some lads were already starting the ascent of Kirkstone Pass, this was at 6.45am!….looks like folk are starting earlier every year!. In hindsight this was a fairly wise move, it was already reading 17oC on my Car Temp Display and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and not even a whimper of wind, all this at 6.45am in the UK?….a real rarity. We got our bikes sorted out and registered our numbers then prepared ourselves for our date with Hell. Me and my 2 good mates (Stu and Dave) were gathered at the gate entry to the Sports Center at 7.30am..we had our dibbers ‘bleeped’  and off we went..and we already knew this is what awaited:-

A very special ride begins

Earlier discussions had already confirmed that we 3 were going to be sensible with the pacing, a very steady effort throughout the entire day, we had already banked on good weather so I had already covered myself with Sports Factor 50…wise move!  Last year I had ridden around with Stu and when we were approaching Hardknott I started Humming the Star Wars theme to really get the daunting feelings going…this year when we were approaching Hawkshead Stu started to whistle the Theme…and we still had 100miles before we hit the bloody thing…however it does show what’s in the mind from the off with this event! We hit Hawkshead and I always think this is important as it shows straight away how the form is….Hawkshead is not an easy climb…its manageable in the middle 39/42 front ring but it still kicks up steeply at bits…anyhow I was feeling well ok and Stu and Dave were dancing here aswell, not too many on the climb when we hit it, much busier last year, up and over this and onto the real fast descent into Ambleside then around the one way system there heading for Windermere…

Kirkstone Pass

Just before the town we take the left at Holbeck lane and the start of the Kirkstone Pass Climb…immediate drop to Granny and 3rd on rear..30x 21 I think….this kicks up sharply to start with then it levels a bit before kicking up rather steeply to Troutbeck…I could have pushed up in the 39 front ring but no way was I wasting one ounce of energy at this early stage! Dropped down steeply onto the A592 and the main drag upto the Kirkstone Pass…there’s a section here that says 16% and I again dropped to 30x21 for this small section then kicked it back to 39x27 for the rest of the climb….

This was taken at a nice pace and not much passed us by…the place was gorgeous…very little cars…no wind…not too hot (yet)…feeling strong…oh yes this is what cyclings about!. ..Heard a few lads behind us saying it was there first time in the Lakes and couldn’t believe they were already in bottom gear…I was fairly alarmed at that I must say….I was in 39x27 and feeling comfortable but I knew my 30x27 was the mother gear on this ride and was the gear to get me through! We topped out here and then had a fantastic traffic free fall off the fastest descent in all the Lakes…what a speed!…we regathered around Brothers Water then headed around Ullswater…off passed Glenridden and Patterdale…I must admit I don’t like this section of road for some reason?…I just don’t!...

Matterdale End

Took a left (then a non hiding peestop) then onto the climb of Matterdale End, this was also taken with the 39x27 but it is desceptively steeper than you think and I always feel the start of this is steeper than Kirkstone…about 1km up I heard Stuboy shouting to a guy standing by the road…turns out it was his mate from work and he had brought Water etc with him…great!…I was well worried about the 50miles in heat before the first feed so I thanked him big time for filling one of my bottles up….Superb!.Off again and soon afterwards this climb starts to relent then all off a sudden your in ‘great cycling’ mode again…up through lovely countryside and small hamlets…Us 3 were cruising up here…all in good spirits…its got a great descent before the rise to the A66 and Stuboy flew passed me on the descent and I thought he was gonna get it with an oncoming car…that man just likes to descend FAST….up the rise to the A66 with the sound of the lass with the Cow Bells and other well wishers – great stuff!

Onto the A66 section…not much chance of group formation here…there wasn’t as much people on it as last year…so we 3 headed along at speed, I was feeling strong and was pounding the gear but Stuboy chastised me and remembered me “ Nice and steady bigman”, I agree I was getting carried away…so we did a good run down here, which is just as well as it’s the most horrid part of the entire route…I HATE it….huge big cats eyes (which my bro found out all too soon are dangerous) and massive artics flying passed you…oh I really hate this part.

Anyhow after an eternity we came to the Roundabout which signalled the turnoff into Keswick…glad we were off the A66!…into Keswick and the usual madness with Cyclists / Cars / Traffic Lights etc then off around Derwent Water… We had just got out of Keswick when I heard “alright Big Richy?”…turns out it was Ashley Crozier (ASH68) , I’d ridden with him on the Ryedale Rumble Reccy and also a FWC Reccy only 3 weeks beforehand…real nice lad…had a wee blether…but we were approaching Seatoller and I just knew I wouldn’t see him after that…so I bid farewell to Ash as the 3 amigos pulled in to do our final ‘nervous pee’ before the oncoming trauma….and this was going to be even worse than normal due to the incredible temperature that was building up in the valleys…the Sun was now out in full glory and it was stifling hot for the time of day. Me/Stu and Dave are no stranger to Honister Pass but it still gets the sphincter going and is a horrific climb (IMO 2nd toughest on the FWC).

Honister Pass 

Into the small white village and onto the immediate 20% slope onto the pass proper….SOS…30x27 engaged…now to test the motor!  (looking back at the very start of the climb can give an idea of the gradient)

Dave and Stu were just in front of me and we were already in that ‘steep pedalling mode’ , turned the corner for a slight relent –18%? I took it fairly gingerly here as I know it goes up like an elavator before long…I seen the start of the really steep sustained ramp which goes all the way to the cattle-grid....I could see through gaps in the trees the lines of riders/pushers going straight on up!..And it was crazy to see as it really outlined the road and showed how fantastically steep this mother really is…It was nice being in the trees for the shade but it was so still and the heat was still there, my legs barked in defiance at the gradient and I was in my usual steady steep mode…it really is a killer section here, there’s not much steeper but as you can see the whole steep road in front it can mentally hurt…

I clambered myself to the Cattle-Grid and felt huge relief in the drop in the savage gradient…I must have been feeling not too bad as I immediately hopped into a bigger gear (30x21), Stu and Dave had taken a fair bit of time out of me here and were around 100 meters up…the heat had started to become unbearable and this is where I really started to see the effects of this unusual weather system!…I hauled myself along the flatter section and got myself prepared for the last 20% drag to the summit…wasn’t looking forward to this I must say but I managed up without too much difficulty…I regrouped with Stu/Dave at the top and we started the most deadly descent in all the Lakes….we all knew the score here and were very careful…no matter how many times I descend this it always shocks me the way it just drops off…scary steep!…you can get some speed here if not careful and then out the blue you hit a sharp right turn over a Bridge which has caught a good few out over the years…

We descended and rolled our way to the 1st feed at Buttermere…we were happy with our pace and all 3 of us were feeling good…so far so good!  At the feed I headed straight for the water cart…I got both my bottles topped up and immediately I drank one straight down – the whole lot…I was getting very concerned about the heat that was building and knew to take advantage here…I had many flapjacks and morning bars…no bananas on offer which was a pity…also put some flapjacks/bars in beside my Torq Bars/gels which I had brought along…I knew from here to the 2nd Feed was going to be an event in these conditions so I stocked accordingly. 

Newlands Pass

Off we set with 2 heavy water bottles for the IMMEDIATE slopes of Newlands Pass, take a right and bang…18% gradient…..30x27 again….steady pull up here, the body shocked at going from eating/drinking to severe effort…upwards this mother goes but after the gradients of Honister it doesn’t feel TOO bad…it then levels and your faced with a gorgeous panorama…

But it was very hazy and heat was incredible…it was hardly noon and it was already a furnace…so many were suffering on this climb…seen so many walkers…much more then last year…the heat was taking victims…after the flattening the climb then heads for the summit in the usual Lake District uncompromising manner..straight on up!…..hard and relentless this section is..I’d say always kicking around 15-20%…

I was steady here…Feeling not too bad at all….Stu and Dave were just behind me…I knew this with the heavy breathing.....It's one sore haul this and make no mistake its one of the tougher climbs on the Challenge, and for the ‘cherry on the cake’ it kicks to 25% around a sharp switchback to the summit…Stuboy came past me here but we all virtually summited together!....here's me at the top of Newlands with Dave just behind:-

Dave looked in good shape (he never moans) , Stu just hates Newlands directly after the feed…last year this is where he started to Bonk and I knew it was in his mind…he told me he didn’t feel too good on it again and thinks his body doesn’t cope well with a feed stop and then such a sudden effort…I know many riders like this but I seem to cope with this ok…I seem to feel stronger after a rest and fuel-up?  We dropped very steeply off this and it was great to feel all the buckets of sweat cooling us right off with the speed…and believe me this is the only time I felt any wind…when going above 20mph….apart from that it was one big muggy humid oven..after a bit of bobbing and weaving we entered into Braithwaite…

Whinlatter Pass

Sharp left then straight onto the cooler shaded forest climb of Whinlatter Pass…I think every year this climb gets steeper! Its not a steady ‘alpine’ climb as described…it starts off very steeply ~ 16%…and goes on for a fair bit…it then relents but there’s a middle section that must be 16% for ages…I was in 30x25 here…and the devastation we witnessed was incredible…many, many lads struggling to get the smallest gear round!…Real suffering!…the heat was taking this event to a different level entirely….

I was feeling good here but I’m bloody glad as that climbs really hard…its got many sustained steep sections and it goes on for ages…we turned a corner and I could see the last steepish ramp to the top where crowds of well wishers were gathered…felt good here but I still needed my 30x25 for this last ramp…and I was out the saddle!…many good words of encouragement here from many spectators and the usual Cowbell ringing again…so nice!  We started the descent of this and it wasn’t long before we were back in the full blaze of the Burning ball in the sky…Jesus it was getting scary!…..we started the West Coast part of the ride and was I not looking forward to getting to Cold Fell for that ‘permanent’ breeze off the Irish Sea…but it was 20 odd miles before I got there!..I really like this part of the ride…beautiful and very traffic free…it’s the unspoken part of the Challenge but believe me it's jam packed with sharp rise and falls…we were still feeling ok and our plan of steady pacing was reaping rewards, I knew I was way stronger than tons of other riders and it was comforting as all through the ride uptil now Stu was whistling the bloody Star Wars theme…and I just couldn’t get Hardknott out my head…I honestly feel that bloody climb forbid me from fully enjoying myself through the entire 1st 100 miles…

Fangs Brow

We started the climb of Fangs…this is signalled with a long steep (18%) straight…you then turn a corner and it just drags on up even steeper for quite sometime…30x25 for this part…I was feeling very comfortable but this reduced many riders to there feet…and I thought to myself “If this is whats happening at 70odd miles what’s going to happen at 100miles on Hardknott, and then Wrynose?”….I spun up here and Stu and Dave were not far behind..Stu had a game plan and that was ‘steady’ and no pacing from anyone else was going to budge him – clever!. We really worked well together and were always looking out for one another…and I reckon that’s a smart way to tackle this ‘most difficult’ challenge…it makes it more bearable and comforting…I cannot put the temperature into words or phrases…It would burn a hole through you…and it was still getting hotter! We skirted over the lovely fell roads which Fangs morphs into and then dropped steeply onto the straight roads to Ennerdale Bridge…immediate left in Ennerdale for the climb of Coldfell..at last I would get a cooling breeze!…

Cold Fell

We saw the line of riders/walkers heading straight on up…this climb is fairly steep to start off with and I was back in my 30x25 for the steady steep drag upto the small wooded section…took a little bit of time out of Dave/Stu here but like I say no one was going to get paced too fast….I then dinked into my lowest gear 30x27 for the little steep 20% section upto the cattle grid…your then on a shallower Fell Road…got a bit speed here but theres still one steep section before it fully relents…this climb was killing guys…I even tried to talk with some “Nice Bike, Where are you from?, Do you like the route?” etc…but I swear some were just so destroyed that they didn’t even answer…it was as if someone had loaded some with tranquillisers then mounted them on a bike and thrust them onto the course…Zombies!...I seen guys who had phoned there girls etc and were throwing there bikes into the backs of cars…if ever the word ‘carnage’ should be used it was here on the 2008 FWC - it typified the meaning of the word!   Not long before the big easy drag upto the top of ColdFell….but where was the permanent cooling wind?...I’ll tell you where – NOWHERE!…it was absolutely scorching without even a whimper of a breeze…this is near unheard of up there…I was so glad I had drank so much at the 1st feed…I was now nearly out of water but I’d been sipping constantly (as well as eating constantly)…there was a very thoughtful lady handing out water bottles at the top of Coldfell and Stu and Dave took one…

I never bothered taking a bottle as I knew it was only really a descent down to the 2nd Feed at Calder Bridge…but I did end up sharing a bottle with my mate Stu (seen above)…more water equals more sense!

We descended very quickly off this (through dangerous hairpins etc) and not before long we were at the 2nd Feed…again I just drank gallons of water/orange diluting juice…I stuffed my face with Sausage Rolls (nice change)…more Flapjacks (I was starting to struggle with these due to the amount I’d been eating), and alas Bananas!..went to do a pee in the toilets there and there were many guys running the cold tap over there heads…I understood big time…..but I had other things on my mind now…all what was racing through my head was…"Oh No…only 10miles until Hardknott!".. And even though I felt very strong I knew this was going to be a rather special experience in this ever increasing heat!  I had been sharing my ZYM tablets  with Stu/Dave....supposed to ward off cramps...dissolved them in the water/orange juice...

Gut wrenching and foreboding!

Started the emotionless ride out of Calder Bridge heading for Gosforth…up that long slow drag on the main road before the descent into Gosforth…straight through Gosforth for the Death March…but the Death March took on a new meaning...I'm pig bloody sick of feeling so scared....we had been dreading the ascent of Badboy since Hawkshead..and it was soon gonna be a reality!....the relatively small ascent of Irton Pike was taken easily...but it destroyed most riders I saw...after this it just gets personal don't it?.... Stu started putting on the anchors and mentally preparing himself...Dave stayed with Stu....but I just headed on at my pace...I was totally sh*ttin it...even though I'd did a clever ride uptil that point...don't matter... that stretch of road mentally murders you...only one guy passed me there in the full 6miles....My heart rate quickening all the time....my stomach churning...feelings of hopelessness....morale and confidence faltering....yes it can only mean one thing....I'm closing in on one of the most frightful sights and experiences ANYWHERE in all of cycling...the one and only HARDKNOTT PASS:-

Hardknott Pass....what can one say? 

Seeing this with the Naked Eye after 100miles of insane effort is a very unique experience! 

I saw the dreaded Red Phone Box...Looked up and not one (NOT BLOODY ONE GUY) on his bike!!!!! Just went for it...well I cannot put my experience into words ...it was desperate...however I had strength and I clambered from one passing place to the next....and the lads pushing (around 80 on the first section alone) were so encouraging towards me...so many phrases of  "F*ck me...on you go"..."Great Effort"..."Make way for this hardened soul"...all I could do was grunt in reply....the effort required to heave up that first dreadful section is simply frightening…and at this stage of the game the legs can easily cramp up with such an extreme effort.....I personally reckon the first section is as disgraceful in its gradients as the upper steep sections....here's a few photo's of my 2 mates on the first steep section...riding Tandem...Glenn and Allan...

I managed to crawl my way to the 'flatter middle section'....this was even worse than the first steep section...I swear it!...the heat was suffocating...God knows what temp it was...I was nearly shaking....I immediately emptied half a bottle of sticky juice over my head!...I then gazed up at the diabolical 2nd steep section...I just frowned as it looked totally impossible!...I started to have moments where I didn’t know where I was or what I was doing –crazy!  The self doubts were on red alert....I was entering unknown territory...reaching reserve levels which should only be used in Life or Death circumstances....A car had bumped on the Chicane at the start of the 2nd mega steep section...I had to take the outside lane...f*ck me, that must be around 45%...my legs near caved in with cramping...I managed round to the sharp left bend and onto the insanely steep 35% ramp...and as you can see it's just a wall!

Somehow I made it up this no problem?.....I took it very slowly around the outside of the hairpin at the top of this near verticle slope...even a few micro seconds releif makes a huge difference with this beast......it was around here I started to think "Christ I think I'm gonna make it"......the last 2 ramps to the top were achieved more on 'home beaconing' more than anything else.....I reckon those last 2 ramps to the top are the worst of the climb.....the 1st one is around 25%.....but the 2nd and final horror is around 30%.....(heres the last awful ramp)

Even the last gentle ramps to the top were a mind boggling effort!...it really is the toughest of climbs...I had got my photo taken at the top punching the air but deep inside I wasn’t Jubilant at the success...I was appalled!...too hard!...I slumped over my handlebars and had a few private moments to myself...Stu crawled his way up a few minutes later and I asked him if he got up...Stuboy hadn’t even the energy to reply...the fella just slumped off his bike against the rock face and couldn’t even talk to me for 2 or 3 mins...and here's why...his work mate had parked up on Hardknott with camera in hand to witness his ordeal:-

  Yeah...feel the pain!

Its simply awful!            

First thing he said "F*ck this Rich, that’s just out of order, hardest thing i've ever did, that climb takes me to places I've never ventured before!"..."I'm not doing this sh*te for a while now, bloody Hardknott!, I've had enough of that climb and the Fred Whitton"...why was it we both felt the same even though we got up?...Stu continued "Rich, I was watching you on the climb and if you had got off I was getting off, in fact I was actually wanting you to get off but you just kept going and going, then up the b*stard top section you went to the top and I just thought Oh No I'm going to have to do this aswell"...Dave had cramps and wheel spin on the start of the 2nd steep section and the poor fella was forced to a standstill...Me/Stu were the only 2 to make it on the climb when we experienced it....Dave arrived around 5 mins later and he was disappointed to have gotten cramps, he wanted to clean the climb but it was just impossible with the slipping and cramping....

Just a reminder...this is what happens to the vast majority....so think about your gearing!...as this climb is just insanity!

After a suitable rest we descended off Hardknott (more like free-falled of it)....it really is some descent...it's so steep and it's jam packed with atrocious hairpins...and as your absolutely bushed from the efforts previous it can make for a dangerous part of the ride...stay focused and alert!...you'll understand my sentiments:-

Came as no surprise to witness an ambulance ushering someone away at the bottom...onwards we strolled to Cockley Beck and I felt strong...started the gentle rise onto Wrynose...was in 39 front ring.....no problem.....UNTIL....a tightening in my right inner thigh....cramp!...then left...then front thighs...then calves...OH MY GOD!....had to stop...Dave stopped alongside me (Stu by this time was trying to bath in the stream)......I was trying to recover from the severe cramps when I heard Dave cry out...he started taking REAL bad cramps...he fell off his bike still clipped in and me and Stu had to take the bike from underneath the poor fella...after around 10mins of shaking and rubbing our spent legs we successfully managed to remount the bikes and finally managed to get onto the climb of Wrynose....this climb from this direction is not in the same league as Hardknott...it has one VERY steep ramp but you just have to use pure grit and determination to overcome it...It almost steepens to a 1:3 at the top of this ramp where it turns sharply off to the left...but like I say 'grit and determination'...

Wrynose Pass - the last hurdle

We hit the climb full on...and I felt not too bad at all considering...negotiated the steepest section without too much difficulty...and it's here that you always sense HUGE releif...as for mortals like me it signals the last of the climbs which could have had me off the bike...and thankfully I'd managed around again without walking...

Descended very wearily off this...its such a steep long straightish descent and your just so tired that you need to really fully concentrate...you have to try your best to control the whole plunge...your hands and arms are so sore by this time that the descent feels a big effort...

Just as we passed Fellfoot Farm Stu heard something wrong with his chain...turns out one of his links had started to disentegrate!...(thats what Hardknott and Wrynose do to a Chain) ...we repaired the chain speedily with one of those super quick links...this is when the Thunderstorm put the accelerator on...it started hoofing it down and the cracks of lightening were echoeing the claps of thunder...we didn't give a jot....in fact we all laughed and said "That'll be the icing on the cake getting struck with bloody lightening"...The rain had made the roads very slippy but it was a welcome relief to get a good ole soaking after our expedition around the Sahara Desert…we made the last ‘most unwanted’ climb upto Colwith Brow…then after a right turn we dragged on upwards for what seems a very long time before the final down hill section back to the finish at Coniston …back at last!  Time = 8.56…Goal managed for Me and Stu – No stopping or walking on any of the climbs.

To Summarise...

It's as simple as this for me...the FWC is the toughest bugger out...with hot weather it entered into Continental category difficulty...1 month ago I was cycling in Snow/Sleet with full winter gear on...last week was the first time I did a big run with shorts on...and then today we get 80degrees/97% Humidity, calm full scorchio...too much on the system to take....I'll defo be given it a by for a while...and a year will not change my mind....it's too hard too early in the year...maybe once every 3 years would be ok...but not every year...Stu and Dave want to do the Ryedale Rumble next year....and the White Rose in a month will be brilliant......and at least with that one I'll be able to enjoy myself.....no f*ckin Hardknott waiting to destroy the inner core of my soul at the end!  Legendary event, Superb Organisation, brilliantly sign posted this year, I was on great form for 95% of the entire run and we had all rode cleverly but the ascent of the incredible Hardknott Pass in that awful suppressive heat made this one of the toughest day's ever in the saddle for me, how can one climb change so much?  Long live the FWC!, just I’ll live without it for a bit