A big congratulations to fellow Lakes Road Club riders Jack Talbot on winning his category for raising money for air ambulance at the first ever cycling weekly awards and to Jon Brown who won the competition the Norway Haute Route it was a great evening 🎉🥂 ... See more

Most of us have been following the Dynasties with David Attenborough thanks to Lindsay McCrae a cameraman on this series who has rode the Fred on a number of occasions, we even get some advertising. See the link below to see Lindsay sat taking in the beauty of the penguins while trying to keep warm drinking from his Fred thermos mug.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2hX2Wt4VmV1PdD3JpTFH6b/exploring-our-new-home ... See more

By Will Lawson

It’s nearly time for the entries for the Fred Whitton Challenge
Do you have the stamina? can you push yourself to the extreme!
Though we can’t guarantee sunny weather, your journey of 112 miles through the lake district will provide some amazing views while taking in some of the local iconic climbs including Kirkstone, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose Pass.

Pre-entries are being sent out 1st December for the volunteers and riders deferred from 2018 and riders that raised over £500.
Special charity entries will be available for 2019.
The main entry opens 7th January 2019 for 2,000 places.
For further information check out our website from 1st December www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk this will include details of how to enter as a team.
Photos by Mia Boyd and Steve Fleming ... See more

More ladies please

Why ladies should ride the Fred

Three years ago I borrowed a road bike and started cycling. I had friends who were cyclists and had ridden the Fred and I regarded them with great respect, never believing I could aspire to such a challenge.
Five months before the 2018 Fred I contemplated the possibility of riding the route at my own pace
sometime during the following summer. My friends advised me to apply to ride the Fred and start training within a month, they told me that I wouldn’t regret it and so with some trepidation I entered the ballot and started training as soon as the new year turned. The longest ride I had ever done was a flat 65 miles, so I set realistic goals of steadily increasing my weekly mileage to 100 and then more. When my ballot place was confirmed I added one longer ride a week, initially 40 miles building up to a couple of 100 mile rides towards the end, adding in
steeper climbs when I could. My two fellow cyclists, Billy and Mac rode the Fred with me, our strategy for the day was to set off early, take it steady up the climbs and most importantly enjoy the miles. I was incredibly nervous at
the start lining up with hundreds of seasoned cyclists all around me, but Billy and Mac reminded me to approach it like any of our long bike rides and as soon as we set off I felt much better. It took me over ten and a half hours to complete the Fred and there were some tough moments. I
walked on a couple of occasions when my very tired legs refused the tougher inclines of Hardknott and Wrynose and I made the schoolboy error of falling off my bike while trying to get back on while the gradient was still too steep, no injuries other than a few grazes and a dinted pride.
However these incidents were far outweighed by all of the good ones. The encouragement from spectators, many with cowbells, some in fancy dress, some playing musical instruments including a banjo on the momentous ride up Whinlatter which was crowded from bottom to top like a stage of the tour. The comradeship between the riders and the hundreds of volunteers involved in running
the event including marshals, medics and those facilitating the refreshments and administration, supporting the riders to achieve their goals. Passing through the breathtaking Cumbrian scenery of mountains, moors, forests and lakes and the sheer delight of a long descent after reaching the top of a climb. The joy of seeing family and friends along the way offering kind words, food and drinks, but most of all I remember having a smile on my face from the very start of the ride until the end, accompanied over the last few miles with an overwhelming sense of achievement.

I later discovered that out of the 2500 riders, only 150 were women. Perhaps this low number reflects the reputation the event has of being one of the most difficult sportives around and whilst this is true I would encourage all those ladies out there who have ever wondered if they could do it, to give it a try. When I have been asked to describe the experience objectively I say it is a brilliant experience, it’s not easy but it’s do-able definitely do-able. It is important to remember that first and foremost this is a bike ride, yes it is a route that will test your resolve and stamina but it is still a bike ride that will attract all sorts of cyclists on all sorts of bikes. You will see top of the range bikes, vintage bikes, the occasional tandem bike and everything in between. Everyone has the same sense of purpose and the vast majority of riders will be there to just have a great day out riding their bikes. The experience has propelled me to a new found confidence in cycling. There’s not much to be scared of once you’ve ridden the Fred so all of a sudden it opens up new possibilities. The outcome of my Fred experience is that I’m fitter, stronger, faster and enjoying my cycling more than ever. I only planned to ride the Fred once but here I am contemplating whether to apply again for next years ride. Come on ladies, get your applications in when they open in January, you can do it,
you know it makes sense. Hopefully I’ll see you somewhere along the way.
Tracy French

Photo (Mac, Biily and myself at the finish) ... See more