WHEELBASE STAFF TAKE ON THE FRED WHITTON CHALLENGE

Sunday the 19th of September saw the re-scheduled Fred Whitton Challenge in the Lake District take place; entries for the original May 2020 event were first carried over to May 2021 and then moved again to this September in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Fred Whitton Challenge is the most infamous road cycling sportive in the UK, famed for its tortuous route that is over 100 miles in distance and takes in all of the most gruesome mountain passes in the English Lake District. Starting and finishing in Grasmere village the 112 mile route takes riders over Kirkstone Pass, Honister Pass, Newlands Pass, Whinlatter Pass and Cold Fell before taking riders up the truly awful Hardknott Pass featuring gradients of up to 33% and coming at 94.5 miles into the route. An extremely steep, rough descent off Hardknott means there’s no time to relax or loose concentration before riders take on two more passes – Wrynose Pass and Blea Tarn before finally heading home along an undulating valley towards the finish back in Grasmere.

Jack from Wheelbase customer services climbs Newlands Pass early on in this gruelling event.

 

This year’s event passed during mixed weather; riders really did see all conditions from driving rain to sunny spells. Besides the route the thing that really makes this event is the crowds at the sides of the road, with supporters at key locations to offer their support with cowbells and shouts of encouragement. It’s a really friendly event that captures the spirit of the local Lake District community as well as social side of cycling with all abilities taking part on the same roads and sharing the sense of achievement collectively.

Wheelbase Digital Marketing man Johnny Dodgin on Newlands Pass; is that a smile or a grimace?!

 

As well as supporting the Fred Whitton event, Wheelbase sent a small number of staff to take on the challenge this year…

• Jack from customer services who is normally more focused on mountain biking and gravel riding who was riding with a fairly significant wrist injury.
• Johnny (me) digital marketing man at Wheelbase.
• Super-fast Sam who is responsible for building and tuning our mail order bikes as well as happening to be a particularly talented racer on the road.
• Luke who has worked for us as a part time sales assistant but is about to go off to University; he is an incredibly talented cyclist both on and off-road.

Fast lad Sam, one of our Wheelbase workshop technicians (who also races for our team) set one of the fastest times of the day.

 

Congratulations to the Wheelbase lads who completed the 112 mile Fred Whitton Challenge in the following times:

• Sam Lashley 6.03.43 (5th place)
• Luke Tamblin 6.20.31 (13th place)
• Johnny Dodgin 7.03.09 (66th place)
• Jack Peate 8.51.13 (644th place)

Wheelbase part time sales assistant Luke excels on any bike, road or mountain. At the Whitton he danced up the climbs and finished in 13th place.

 

Sam emerges from the mist at the top of Hardknott Pass;  he would go on to finish the Fred Whitton Challenge in a brilliant 5th place.

 

The relief is palpable as Johnny approaches the high point of Hardknott Pass.

 

Wheelbase lad’s chosen bikes for the Fred Whitton:

• Sam rode his Cannondale SystemSix
• Luke rode his Trek Emonda ALR
• Johnny rode his Trek Emonda ALR
• Jack rode his Cannondale Topstone Carbon

 

Congratulations to all of the competitors who took part in the Fred Whitton Challenge this year; big thanks to the event organisers for such a well-run event and a MASSIVE thanks to all of those who took the time to support the riders from the side of the road. Wheelbase look forward to supporting this event again next year which raises a considerable amount of money for charities including Macmillan Cancer support, Great North Air Ambulance, North West Air Ambulance and The Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team.

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by Steve Fleming

 

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