Edge705
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Thornton Lancashire
I notice this one is gaining popularity there were plenty of top amateurs warming up for the Fred Whitton next month Believe me not many people have heard of this one but once you’ve done it you won’t forget it - If your into challenges give it a go next year - If you struggle at climbing give it a wide berth there just simply are little or no flat bits. Here's my take on it
Last summer I spent two days trying to conquer a volcano in Tenerife some 22 miles of vertical cycling at 6-8mph with a minimum gradient of 10 percent and several sections of between 15 and 17 percent the climb was unforgiving but the Spaniards it would appear were a forward thinking bunch they predicted one day two and four wheel vehicles would exist and would need to get up the mountain pass and so designed a road with that in mind. By contrast their English counterparts (the ones living in the lake district), another region not too unfamiliar with mountain ranges, predicted a much different future one which would be dominated by goats, sheep, and horses and so was born the up and over approach namely the passes of Wrynose and Hardknott so if I’ve not bored you already read on
The Start
5.45am dart and a 90 minute drive from the Fylde Coast saw me approaching New Dungeon Ghyll hotel buried deep in the heart of the Lake District the sun was shining the organisation was excellent and all that remained was for me to park up and register. I opted for a pre 9am start hoping to get back within 5 hours but by 8.15 I was all set to go so I approached the start matt and joined a group of 20 people setting off shortly after 8.20am.
Red Bank
I mentioned earlier the sun was shining but in contrast the temperatures were struggling to break the 2-3 degrees C marker and therefore my base layer, cycling top, and wind gilet, were complimented by leg, arm, and head warmers. In fact as we cruised out of Langdale someone commented how cold they were so how fitting it was the organisers planned a nice little 20-25 percent climb just several kilometres into the race it’s called Red Bank and I never expected to see people walking and gasping so early into a 70 mile loop. Red Bank as its named is a tiny climb some 6 – 8 hundred meters in length but it’s got some nasty gradients and steep switchbacks. In parts you’ll be fighting for a good breath so if anyone was cold at the bottom they had certainly warmed up before the top little did I know this was a mere taster of things ahead.
Whinlatter
After red bank we descended towards Grasmere and followed the road gracing Thirlmere Lake this was to prove the flattest part of the course and real nice undulating amble towards Whinlatter pass. Despite Red Bank I was feeling good and passed a bunch of Tri guys opting instead to keep the legs rotating and in doing so passed one rider after another before a young girl used me to drag her up to the start of Whinlatter. At this point I must state I had no idea of the course but I knew it had lumps little did I know I had reached the first real lump. Whinlatter is very much like the slopes of the teide which I had experienced the previous summer maybe a little steeper in parts but good road surface and plenty of opportunity to get a breather. However this was no easy climb and 90 percent of riders were swaying back and fore pushing hard on the pedals. Not knowing the course Whinlatter seemed to go on and on and on and even when you thought this must be the top it rose again until thankfully levelling out at the visitors centre. This first climb had the field completely fragmented I didn’t see anyone walk but by the same token I didn’t see many breeze up either.
Feed Stop No 1
The descent off Whinlatter was tremendous a real treat from what was a gruelling climb however if the legs felt strong as we approached Whinlatter they were now very much feeling the effects therefore the cake was more than welcome at this point. Incredibly I watched people breeze past the first feed stop choosing instead to crack on. Fair doo’s and each to their own but the previous 26 miles had taken their toll it was still cold and hot tea was just too good to pass up
Pressing On
The next 30 miles were perhaps the most enjoyable as we descended off the remaining slope of Whinlatter we made our way towards Gosforth where a little further on we would be able to refuel before the onslaught of Hardknott and Wrynose However I mentioned earlier this was a lumpy course and the ride between feed stops was no exception no sooner were you going down than you were going up again just like a roller coaster and some long ascents too which took their toll on your legs. In fact by the time I reached the feed stop several cups of tea were needed as the cold descents were now taking their toll even after putting on a second wind jacket
Feed Stop No 2
LOL not many people passed this one by there were plenty of riders taking advantage of the copious amounts of cake, tea, and coffee on hand not to mention a well earned rest. I met a couple of guys I didn’t catch their names but I mentioned I’d left my energy tabs back at base and was kindly offered a cola tab so a big thank you to the chap if your reading this.
Hardknott Pass
I left the feed stop after 20 minutes or so and looked forward to a gentle amble towards Hardknott preparing myself both mentally and physically for the challenge ahead but first and in keeping with the theme of the course profile there was some more lumps and a nasty climb out of the feed stop taking any respite immediately out of your legs. Indeed for the next several miles much would be spent out of my saddle. Approaching Hardknott seemed to take an age I was purposely going easy psyching myself up for what was to come I had rehearsed over and over again in my head. Don’t look up, drop your gears, take a gel, break the climb into 3 chunks of 10 minutes, don’t fight the bike, and so on until the phone box, the infamous phone box and 30 percent sign appeared. Bang it immediately kicks up we had not gone 10 yards and people were walking, pushing their bikes, cramping up I just wasn’t mentally prepared for this I was ok but I kept glancing at the side watching these riders glancing at me in amazement as I soldiered on. I was immediately in the max heart rate zone the steepness had doubled, the guy in front was going slower, I was fighting for road, In fact I was fighting for anything and then after 10 minutes 30 percent ramp hits you like a brick wall just when the legs felt like Jelly it was just soul destroying. I had to make a choice and make it quick I knew if I dismounted I would not get back on for 50 meters I also knew if I carried on I was would be past my limit and would not get up the next wall of gravity so at this point I decided to get off the bike my first dismount and a bitter disappointment. I watched as riders battled with their steeds grunting and groaning I watched as riders who were seemingly going well just grind to a stop a few minutes later and duly dismount. I could not believe what I was witnessing almost everyone walking or resting the pass was awash with bodies but for some riders an incredible feat they just battled and battled. At this point it’s worth pointing out my Garmin registered me at 2.5mph walking up the pass and I was going quicker than some riding their bike that’s how brutal this climb was. Even walking up this monster is a challenge my calf’s by this time were spent but I had reached a passing place where I seized the opportunity to remount and soldier on. Suddenly I’d found strength and a second wind I was making good progress and dropping riders until suddenly bang another wall of gravity just absolutely soul destroying surely I must not dismount again c’mon quick decision what are you going to do get off you sissy or grind out 25 meters of 30 percent I opted for the later but now I was at the limit I had nothing in my legs it was as if Rigamortis had set in they would not move and then just as I was recovering another 30 percent wall of gravity I just could not turn the pedals and quickly dismounted for the second time. I was pretty peed off by this time and decided to walk more than I did before to at least get the steep bit out of the way. Amazingly Hardknott levels out a bit I had never been so grateful to see 15-17 percent in my life as I did towards the third part of the climb from here it was plain sailing to the top surely it could not get any worse than this but oh yes it could descending Hardknott is every bit as challenging as going up except this time gravity is on your side and I may add too blinking much. Descending was awful the bike was bouncing all over the place shuddering on pitted pot holed tarmac the combination of holding the brakes tight on and keeping the bike remotely stable was a task in itself however we were lucky today was a dry day and at least we had that to be thankful for that or so I thought. Hardknott accomplished now all that remained was a steady ascent up Wrynose (NOT)
Wrynose Pass
With 60 miles up hill and down dale now firmly imprinted with pain in the legs and every ounce of energy wiped out from the ascent of Hardknott I now had the unenviable task of Wrynose the organisers described the pass as such “The climb up Wrynose pass starts at 62.5 miles and its severity is not close to Hardknott” However by now the as we approached Wrynose riders were off their bikes on the flat completely overwhelmed by cramp some were bent over their bikes as if to say on no what’s that ahead of me If Hardknott had not dismounted them it had left its mark there was no way were they getting back on their bikes anytime quick. I pushed on passed the spent riders to the ascent of Wrynose. Wrynose Pass is a little bit like Whinlatter but unlike Whinlatter Wrynose does not shade any of its ramps and no sooner have you conquered one of its steep gradients you look at another in the distance chuckling away saying c’mon baby bring it on (if you’ve got the legs) However I was now both physically and mentally shot I thought what’s another dismount between friends I’ll just pop off the bike walk 50 meters and get back on again job done. After remounting I completed the last part or Wrynose in good speed passing many slower guys who’d not opted to dismount and by now the Garmin was registering just 4.5 miles to go but any thoughts of a descent into Langdale were quickly dispelled on the next nasty climb
Blea Tarn
What made this sportive challenging was the lumpiness of the course even with Whinlatter, Hardknott, and Wrynose conquered not to mention the big dipper territory between Whinlatter and Gosforth the last thing you needed was another nasty climb before the finish one which matched and bettered the one at the start. Blea Tarn and yet another 25% unsuitable for vehicles sign OMG not another one! As soon as I got off Wrynose the course switched back almost immediately and started to climb slowly but steadily over Blea Tarn towards the finish and by this time 65 miles in the legs I wasn’t that fazed. Of course I was out of the saddle but going ok then a slight turn and just pure gravity I had hit the 25 percent part some 60 meters of pure pain I just about managed it and the worst was over all that remained was a bumpy descent into Langdale and the finish matt.
Summary
All in all a decent challenge. This sportive is 70 miles of pure slog yet at the same time 70 miles of the nicest scenery in the uk Its not a sportive you can go round with the family and kids in toe In fact most of the riders were pretty good club riders with top of the range bikes I can see why this one is given a wide berth by many recreational riders. For me it was a last minute thing I needed to occupy my Sunday with a little more than another training ride but If your into climbing then this one is right up your street and if you ever enter the Fred Whitton you could do a lot worse than to ride this as a taster. Incidentally the fastest time was Just under 3hrs 50 with the slowest over 8 hrs Between 5 and 6 hours seemed to be the norm which gives you some idea of the profile
Last summer I spent two days trying to conquer a volcano in Tenerife some 22 miles of vertical cycling at 6-8mph with a minimum gradient of 10 percent and several sections of between 15 and 17 percent the climb was unforgiving but the Spaniards it would appear were a forward thinking bunch they predicted one day two and four wheel vehicles would exist and would need to get up the mountain pass and so designed a road with that in mind. By contrast their English counterparts (the ones living in the lake district), another region not too unfamiliar with mountain ranges, predicted a much different future one which would be dominated by goats, sheep, and horses and so was born the up and over approach namely the passes of Wrynose and Hardknott so if I’ve not bored you already read on
The Start
5.45am dart and a 90 minute drive from the Fylde Coast saw me approaching New Dungeon Ghyll hotel buried deep in the heart of the Lake District the sun was shining the organisation was excellent and all that remained was for me to park up and register. I opted for a pre 9am start hoping to get back within 5 hours but by 8.15 I was all set to go so I approached the start matt and joined a group of 20 people setting off shortly after 8.20am.
Red Bank
I mentioned earlier the sun was shining but in contrast the temperatures were struggling to break the 2-3 degrees C marker and therefore my base layer, cycling top, and wind gilet, were complimented by leg, arm, and head warmers. In fact as we cruised out of Langdale someone commented how cold they were so how fitting it was the organisers planned a nice little 20-25 percent climb just several kilometres into the race it’s called Red Bank and I never expected to see people walking and gasping so early into a 70 mile loop. Red Bank as its named is a tiny climb some 6 – 8 hundred meters in length but it’s got some nasty gradients and steep switchbacks. In parts you’ll be fighting for a good breath so if anyone was cold at the bottom they had certainly warmed up before the top little did I know this was a mere taster of things ahead.
Whinlatter
After red bank we descended towards Grasmere and followed the road gracing Thirlmere Lake this was to prove the flattest part of the course and real nice undulating amble towards Whinlatter pass. Despite Red Bank I was feeling good and passed a bunch of Tri guys opting instead to keep the legs rotating and in doing so passed one rider after another before a young girl used me to drag her up to the start of Whinlatter. At this point I must state I had no idea of the course but I knew it had lumps little did I know I had reached the first real lump. Whinlatter is very much like the slopes of the teide which I had experienced the previous summer maybe a little steeper in parts but good road surface and plenty of opportunity to get a breather. However this was no easy climb and 90 percent of riders were swaying back and fore pushing hard on the pedals. Not knowing the course Whinlatter seemed to go on and on and on and even when you thought this must be the top it rose again until thankfully levelling out at the visitors centre. This first climb had the field completely fragmented I didn’t see anyone walk but by the same token I didn’t see many breeze up either.
Feed Stop No 1
The descent off Whinlatter was tremendous a real treat from what was a gruelling climb however if the legs felt strong as we approached Whinlatter they were now very much feeling the effects therefore the cake was more than welcome at this point. Incredibly I watched people breeze past the first feed stop choosing instead to crack on. Fair doo’s and each to their own but the previous 26 miles had taken their toll it was still cold and hot tea was just too good to pass up
Pressing On
The next 30 miles were perhaps the most enjoyable as we descended off the remaining slope of Whinlatter we made our way towards Gosforth where a little further on we would be able to refuel before the onslaught of Hardknott and Wrynose However I mentioned earlier this was a lumpy course and the ride between feed stops was no exception no sooner were you going down than you were going up again just like a roller coaster and some long ascents too which took their toll on your legs. In fact by the time I reached the feed stop several cups of tea were needed as the cold descents were now taking their toll even after putting on a second wind jacket
Feed Stop No 2
LOL not many people passed this one by there were plenty of riders taking advantage of the copious amounts of cake, tea, and coffee on hand not to mention a well earned rest. I met a couple of guys I didn’t catch their names but I mentioned I’d left my energy tabs back at base and was kindly offered a cola tab so a big thank you to the chap if your reading this.
Hardknott Pass
I left the feed stop after 20 minutes or so and looked forward to a gentle amble towards Hardknott preparing myself both mentally and physically for the challenge ahead but first and in keeping with the theme of the course profile there was some more lumps and a nasty climb out of the feed stop taking any respite immediately out of your legs. Indeed for the next several miles much would be spent out of my saddle. Approaching Hardknott seemed to take an age I was purposely going easy psyching myself up for what was to come I had rehearsed over and over again in my head. Don’t look up, drop your gears, take a gel, break the climb into 3 chunks of 10 minutes, don’t fight the bike, and so on until the phone box, the infamous phone box and 30 percent sign appeared. Bang it immediately kicks up we had not gone 10 yards and people were walking, pushing their bikes, cramping up I just wasn’t mentally prepared for this I was ok but I kept glancing at the side watching these riders glancing at me in amazement as I soldiered on. I was immediately in the max heart rate zone the steepness had doubled, the guy in front was going slower, I was fighting for road, In fact I was fighting for anything and then after 10 minutes 30 percent ramp hits you like a brick wall just when the legs felt like Jelly it was just soul destroying. I had to make a choice and make it quick I knew if I dismounted I would not get back on for 50 meters I also knew if I carried on I was would be past my limit and would not get up the next wall of gravity so at this point I decided to get off the bike my first dismount and a bitter disappointment. I watched as riders battled with their steeds grunting and groaning I watched as riders who were seemingly going well just grind to a stop a few minutes later and duly dismount. I could not believe what I was witnessing almost everyone walking or resting the pass was awash with bodies but for some riders an incredible feat they just battled and battled. At this point it’s worth pointing out my Garmin registered me at 2.5mph walking up the pass and I was going quicker than some riding their bike that’s how brutal this climb was. Even walking up this monster is a challenge my calf’s by this time were spent but I had reached a passing place where I seized the opportunity to remount and soldier on. Suddenly I’d found strength and a second wind I was making good progress and dropping riders until suddenly bang another wall of gravity just absolutely soul destroying surely I must not dismount again c’mon quick decision what are you going to do get off you sissy or grind out 25 meters of 30 percent I opted for the later but now I was at the limit I had nothing in my legs it was as if Rigamortis had set in they would not move and then just as I was recovering another 30 percent wall of gravity I just could not turn the pedals and quickly dismounted for the second time. I was pretty peed off by this time and decided to walk more than I did before to at least get the steep bit out of the way. Amazingly Hardknott levels out a bit I had never been so grateful to see 15-17 percent in my life as I did towards the third part of the climb from here it was plain sailing to the top surely it could not get any worse than this but oh yes it could descending Hardknott is every bit as challenging as going up except this time gravity is on your side and I may add too blinking much. Descending was awful the bike was bouncing all over the place shuddering on pitted pot holed tarmac the combination of holding the brakes tight on and keeping the bike remotely stable was a task in itself however we were lucky today was a dry day and at least we had that to be thankful for that or so I thought. Hardknott accomplished now all that remained was a steady ascent up Wrynose (NOT)
Wrynose Pass
With 60 miles up hill and down dale now firmly imprinted with pain in the legs and every ounce of energy wiped out from the ascent of Hardknott I now had the unenviable task of Wrynose the organisers described the pass as such “The climb up Wrynose pass starts at 62.5 miles and its severity is not close to Hardknott” However by now the as we approached Wrynose riders were off their bikes on the flat completely overwhelmed by cramp some were bent over their bikes as if to say on no what’s that ahead of me If Hardknott had not dismounted them it had left its mark there was no way were they getting back on their bikes anytime quick. I pushed on passed the spent riders to the ascent of Wrynose. Wrynose Pass is a little bit like Whinlatter but unlike Whinlatter Wrynose does not shade any of its ramps and no sooner have you conquered one of its steep gradients you look at another in the distance chuckling away saying c’mon baby bring it on (if you’ve got the legs) However I was now both physically and mentally shot I thought what’s another dismount between friends I’ll just pop off the bike walk 50 meters and get back on again job done. After remounting I completed the last part or Wrynose in good speed passing many slower guys who’d not opted to dismount and by now the Garmin was registering just 4.5 miles to go but any thoughts of a descent into Langdale were quickly dispelled on the next nasty climb
Blea Tarn
What made this sportive challenging was the lumpiness of the course even with Whinlatter, Hardknott, and Wrynose conquered not to mention the big dipper territory between Whinlatter and Gosforth the last thing you needed was another nasty climb before the finish one which matched and bettered the one at the start. Blea Tarn and yet another 25% unsuitable for vehicles sign OMG not another one! As soon as I got off Wrynose the course switched back almost immediately and started to climb slowly but steadily over Blea Tarn towards the finish and by this time 65 miles in the legs I wasn’t that fazed. Of course I was out of the saddle but going ok then a slight turn and just pure gravity I had hit the 25 percent part some 60 meters of pure pain I just about managed it and the worst was over all that remained was a bumpy descent into Langdale and the finish matt.
Summary
All in all a decent challenge. This sportive is 70 miles of pure slog yet at the same time 70 miles of the nicest scenery in the uk Its not a sportive you can go round with the family and kids in toe In fact most of the riders were pretty good club riders with top of the range bikes I can see why this one is given a wide berth by many recreational riders. For me it was a last minute thing I needed to occupy my Sunday with a little more than another training ride but If your into climbing then this one is right up your street and if you ever enter the Fred Whitton you could do a lot worse than to ride this as a taster. Incidentally the fastest time was Just under 3hrs 50 with the slowest over 8 hrs Between 5 and 6 hours seemed to be the norm which gives you some idea of the profile
good luck you hit hardknott with 100 miles in your legs my tip would be to take a pair of running shoes nip them on, bike on shoulder, and fell run up the dam thing
. I pray you get a dry day the descent will be horrendous if you dont they have not made any reapirs good from last year and I beleive a few ended up in hospital as a result of that route
