I’m Maria, and I’m hoping to ride the Étape du Tour – 138km from Nice to Col de la Couillole. It’s been a long time since I did this type of event – 20 years in fact. So I will recount the highs and lows of how I’m getting on in my preparation for this event on 7th July.
My route along the Fred Whitton short course (Lion and Lamb ride).
Once again I made the trip up to the Lake District for the Fred Whitton Challenge. The last time I was there, two years ago, it was a good day out. In fact, whenever I go to this stunning part of Cumbria, in north-west England, with its beautiful mountains and lakes I always ask myself why don't I come here more often.
When I arrived at Grasmere to sign on for the event the sun was out and lots of folks were out sunbathing or having picnics in the surrounding fields. Crikey, a heatwave had come to the Lakes - 25 degrees Celsius is not normal!
Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the following day, when the ride was taking place, wasn't looking great. Heavy rain was due to hit the area in the mid-afternoon - right when I would be cresting Hardknott and Wrynose Passes. Well, I really didn't want to be caught up in that.
Those hills are bad enough in the dry. I wouldn’t know how to tackle the 30% climb of Hardknott Pass or the 25% climb and descent of Wrynose Pass in the wet – or at least not safely.
I guess I could avoid such issues by setting off with the speedy bunch of local riders who do a really fast chain gang up Kirkstone Pass and blast around the 180km (112-mile) route in six hours and be finished by lunchtime. In my dreams!
Not wanting to ride around with nagging thoughts about the weather, I decided to ride the Lion and Lamb route like I did last time around. This would be a 118km (73-mile) variant taking in Kirkstone, Honister, and Newlands Passes, then returning to Grasmere via Keswick.
The initial part of the ride was a fast spin along the main road towards Windermere. Then after five miles (8km) came the first difficulty of the day, Kirkstone Pass, via Holbeck Lane. This climb is easier than The Struggle, but harder than starting from near Windermere.
Those couple of steep stretches above 10%, were a rude awakening for the legs, especially at 8am on a Sunday morning. Once Holbeck Lane joined the main Kirskstone Pass, the road to the summit at 454m gave great views across the wide valleys, and that helped take my mind off the hard work on the rutted road surface.
Shortly after the Kirkstone Inn the road plunged into a beautiful descent on smooth roads and sweeping bends. Then after a short stint through Patterdale, I was climbing again to Matterdale End. Along this climb I was entertained by a couple of spectators belting out Europop on a sound system and cheering me on madly as though I were Wout Van Aert. Sorry to disappoint you guys!
When the Fred Whitton Challenge comes to town everyone in the Lake District knows about it and the locals are always very enthusiastic and supportive of the riders, cheering us on, applauding or giving the thumbs up as they pass by in their cars.
After Seatoller, the road ramped uphill suddenly, just as a guy passed me, saying "This is where the work begins". I knew what was coming, having suffered there in the past. Welcome to Honister Pass. My main strategy was to twiddle in the lowest gear and at the lowest cadence I could get away with just so that I could save a bit of energy to deal with the 25% hairpins.
However, the work wasn’t done after the steep, tight, left-hand bend. A series of further 25% ramps just when I thought it was over were enough to sap my resolve. I was prepared to take on this fight though, including wrestling the bike to the ground if it tried to pull a wheelie, such was the gradient.
Finally, as we reached the Slate Museum the road levelled off and I heaved a big sigh of relief. It's fair to say the descent from Honister Pass is not to be underestimated. I had to use my mountain biking skills to the max. I kept my body weight so far to the rear of the bike that my bottom was almost resting on the back wheel! That was the safest way I knew.
Thankfully I got down the hill okay, and enjoyed a lovely twisty ride along a more reasonable gradient, towards Buttermere and into the feed station.
After stuffing myself with some tasty Ritz crackers I was back on the road and taking on my favourite of the Lakeland climbs on that ride, Newlands Pass.
The 2km climb is not easy, but it’s more like a steady climb where your legs can relax, peppered with a few short 10 or 15% ramps at intervals. When you finish you feel pleased to have done something challenging, but not so hard that it's not doable.
Newlands was the last of the steep climbs, and my route took me down to Braithwaite, before I headed back to Grasmere via Keswick.
Crossing the finish line with the exhausted fast guys who had done the full distance, I looked suspiciously fresh, and felt compelled to admit to the marshals that I had only done 73 miles.
In fact, I could have done the full Fred as the rain stayed away. I certainly felt fitter than when I did this ride last time. So I really must do the full route next time around.
I hope to see you on Hardknott Pass in the not-distant future.
Read the long version of my experience of the Fred Whitton cyclosportive on my blog.