Fred Whitton thoughts

So as I'm sure most of you know it was the Fred Whitton a couple of weeks ago (therefore not the quickest update but hey...) Rather than detail the whole trip / ride (because I know a lot of you already know the details) I'll explain how it felt compared to last year, along with a few overall impressions.

I will be honest and say that I was a little nervous about this ride this year. Although I had lots of indicators that I was in much better shape this year than last, I had gone no where near to this distance in training or come close to the climbing. I had done last year so knew that worst case I'd get around. While I didn't doubt I would this year it still felt like more of an unknown (if that makes sense).

I felt the preparation was just about perfect the days before, I felt rested, energised and ready. On the ride itself I felt like a completely different rider to last year. I felt strong and comfortable. Last year I spent a LOT of time zig zagging up hills (and not just the steep ones) where this year I did not once, I wasn't trying to prove a point I simply didn't need to. A few spectators commented how fast and smooth I looked (made me smile!). When I stood up on the steep climbs it was never a problem and while hard there was never any question of stopping. Cadence was very low at times having to watch where riders in front were going and then get around them but it was always ok, and if I had to quickly sprint into a gap ahead I was able to. My lowest gear (34/27) was more than low enough, I could have gone up a gear at times on the climbs but I preferred to save myself a bit and have the more comfortable light spinning than heavy grinding.

At around 65-70 miles my legs started to feel it a bit, nothing awful, and certainly not risking a bonk, but they didn't feel quite as fresh. I did ease off a fraction because of this, but some caffeine sweets later they perked up a bit. Most painful part of the standing climbing was my shoulders, they've never hurt like that before! Maybe I haven't been able to stand for that long before…..

All in all its hard to compare the rides, especially how I felt after. Monday was rough but generally that was it, last year I was f****d for days.

I've seen a picture from this year taken at the same point (top of Newlands) as last year. I can't post it here because I haven't bought it (and don't want to get told off) but lets just say that where last year it was very much elbows out, teeth gritted, bike swinging kind of thing, this year shall we saw I looked rather more composed :-)

As for the ride itself, my memories are (in no particular order):

- All the hills are longer than I remembered.
- The top of Kirkstone was bleedin cold.
- I was very conservative on the descents, but after last year's near miss I felt I'd be quicker overall by not crashing.
- Some guys know the roads very well, or they simply have a death wish on the descents.
- The group I was in for about 20 miles along the A66 and to the bottom of Honister was fantastic.
- The bottom of Honister is horrible, very steep and straight up. At least Hardknott has switchbacks.
- I spent quite some time chatting to other riders on the climbs.
- Oddly Hardknott was not as bad as I remembered, and I got up this year in one go.
- Cycling is a dangerous sport, those bikes are just not built for stopping in a hurry, and if you do come off you're going to land on either rock hard road of sharp pointy bits of metal.
- I hope the guy who crashed in front of me on Honister (his rear tyre came off then the whole wheel folded) is ok.
- I was amazed (and very pleased) with my 1st Class time of 7hr 29min 41.

I guess all this bodes well for the main goal of the Marmotte, now less than 7 weeks away. It must be getting serious now as my weights sessions have changed style and my coach has even got me doing a 6 hour training ride next week!

Now I am off to enjoy the sun as its stunning outside. Can't even think of it as training on a day like this, just going out to enjoy the weather. Just happens to be on the bike!