The Fred Whitton Challenge is a 112 mile sportive around the Lake District starting in Grasmere and taking in the climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlater, Hardknott and Wrynose passes. The very top riders complete the course in just under 6 hours but 11 hours and over are not uncommon for the average sportive rider.
As the name suggests, it is run in honour of Fred Whitton, a popular member of the Lakes Road Club, who died aged just 50 in 1998. It is a very popular event and it has raised over a million pounds for charities in the 16 years that it has been running.
There is a link to the Fred Whitton Challenge website HERE
I have taken part in various sportive events in the last year and cycled up a lot of the classic cols in the French Alps over the last 10 years. The Fred Whitton Challenge is in another league though with about 3950 metres of climbing in a single day and a gradient of 30% to deal with at around the 100 mile mark!
I decided last autumn that I wanted to attempt the Fred Whitton Challenge and to get a guaranteed place, I registered for a charity entry and committed to raising at least £250 for MacMillan Cancer Support.
If you would like to help me raise money for this very worthwhile cause, please visit my JustGiving page from HERE or contact me on 0116 2709971.
Thank you very much!
Here's a few pictures of my bikes and me - sorry if some of the images are one their side - I'm still learning how to write HTML code!
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Cime de la Bonette - the highest road in Europe at 2802m |
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My Dawes touring bike and me at the top of the Col du Galibier - the first time I tried one of the big climbs in the Alpes |
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Mont Ventoux - the Giant of Provence |
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Col de la Cayolle - one of the lesser known cols of the southern alps |
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Setting out from home on my Dawes with full camping kit to cycle to Beddgelert in North Wales |
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Taking a rest at the top of Col Agnel at the border between France and Italy |
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My trusty Giant and the view from just below the top of Mont Ventoux |
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Col du Izoard |