2025 Fred Whitton

[ChocolateFrog]

Any other PHers doing the Whitton this year?

I'll be doing it again. Lost about 15kg since last year so I'm hoping for a slightly easier time of it although I'm still far from fit enough.

I'll be slow as hell so I'm aiming to be towards the front for the start so if you are doing it you'll almost certainly pass me at some point.

I'll have my PH jersey on.

[flight147z]

I've done it twice but not in this year. It's a great day out, enjoy it

[JungTheForeman]

Good luck!


I entered the ballot but didn't get in this year (did it back in 2023) so have entered Tour of the Peak next weekend and Dragon Ride in June

[Robertb]

Not the ‘official’ one, but I keep thinking of doing the route one random day as I’ve a friend who lives locally.

Enjoy and let us know how you get on!

[Chicken Chaser]

Best of luck, it's going to be a warm one so plenty of fluids.

[Steve vRS]

Not this year but I was marshalling at the mini roundabout entering Keswick. Some absolute fkwittery riding and driving on display.

I’ll be riding it next year for the sixth time. Sadly at my age my sub 7 hour goal is no longer practical but I might see how I feel after Christmas

[ukbabz]

It was a tough day. I guess that was you in the piston heads jersey? I did say ello on the a66!

Finish time of 8:15 after a massive cockup on nutrition. Something didn't agree with me and spent the last 80km wanting to vomit and struggle to eat. A few sit downs trying to pull myself together (moving time 7:20).

Stunning weather and amazing support from the locals. One hell of an event!

[CambsBill]

I think I was in front of you in the queue for food at the end (two small children?)

Awesome ride. I was just happy to finish and get up Hardknott & Wrynose without walking. Done it now so probably won't feel the need to do it again . . . at my age.

[ukbabz]

Nah my kids are back in Oxfordshire!! I was the chap in blue and orange didcot kit

[ChocolateFrog]

ukbabz said:

It was a tough day. I guess that was you in the piston heads jersey? I did say ello on the a66!

Finish time of 8:15 after a massive cockup on nutrition. Something didn't agree with me and spent the last 80km wanting to vomit and struggle to eat. A few sit downs trying to pull myself together (moving time 7:20).

Stunning weather and amazing support from the locals. One hell of an event!

Yes it was. Quite a few people spotted the Jersey, I was surprised. One guy called it a classic and said he binned his years ago.

Got round in 10hrs, about 9hrs moving, more than happy with that.

I got through 7 water bottles and I've still got a banging headache today. Had so much isotonic drinks and gels that couldn't trust a fart for the last 3hrs or so.

Other than that I actually enjoyed it. Didn't see much bad riding although did see a crash on the descent of Wynrose.

A few dhead drivers. A minibus trying to push his way past on Honister, beeping his horn only to come to a stop and stop me, no chance of restarting. A few Honda Scooters trying to push their way past the road closed sign for Hardknott, not sure what they were trying to achieve, no chance of passing 500 wobbly cyclists going up there and a Morrisons delivery driver driving way to fast up Cold Fell, must have delivered somewhere near the top because he passed me on the way down too. Other than that everyone was great.

Always impressed how well run the event is.

[ChocolateFrog]

CambsBill said:

I think I was in front of you in the queue for food at the end (two small children?)

Awesome ride. I was just happy to finish and get up Hardknott & Wrynose without walking. Done it now so probably won't feel the need to do it again . . . at my age.

Yes, that was me. Really helped having the cheerleaders. Got to restock at Whinlatter.

[ChocolateFrog]

CambsBill said:

I think I was in front of you in the queue for food at the end (two small children?)

Awesome ride. I was just happy to finish and get up Hardknott & Wrynose without walking. Done it now so probably won't feel the need to do it again . . . at my age.

That's a great effort. I'm not sure I'd get up Hardknott without walking even if it was the first hill.

[CambsBill]

ChocolateFrog said:

ukbabz said:

It was a tough day. I guess that was you in the piston heads jersey? I did say ello on the a66!

Finish time of 8:15 after a massive cockup on nutrition. Something didn't agree with me and spent the last 80km wanting to vomit and struggle to eat. A few sit downs trying to pull myself together (moving time 7:20).

Stunning weather and amazing support from the locals. One hell of an event!

Yes it was. Quite a few people spotted the Jersey, I was surprised. One guy called it a classic and said he binned his years ago.

Got round in 10hrs, about 9hrs moving, more than happy with that.

I got through 7 water bottles and I've still got a banging headache today. Had so much isotonic drinks and gels that couldn't trust a fart for the last 3hrs or so.

Other than that I actually enjoyed it. Didn't see much bad riding although did see a crash on the descent of Wynrose.

A few dhead drivers. A minibus trying to push his way past on Honister, beeping his horn only to come to a stop and stop me, no chance of restarting. A few Honda Scooters trying to push their way past the road closed sign for Hardknott, not sure what they were trying to achieve, no chance of passing 500 wobbly cyclists going up there and a Morrisons delivery driver driving way to fast up Cold Fell, must have delivered somewhere near the top because he passed me on the way down too. Other than that everyone was great.

Always impressed how well run the event is.

Sounds like we were close around the course - I saw the Morrisons van on Cold Fell and the Hondas leaving Hardknott (way too fast for such a narrow lane). I'm guessing I passed you on Hardknott or Wrynose though as both descents were clear when I tiptoed down.

Being local I've ridden Winlatter many times now, but yesterday was crazy busy in both directions.

Funniest bit was just outside Lorton where two lines of cars were stuck in a lane too narrow for them to pass each other. Must have taken ages for them to get through.

What is it about gels though? Thought it was just me . . .

[CambsBill]

ChocolateFrog said:

CambsBill said:

I think I was in front of you in the queue for food at the end (two small children?)

Awesome ride. I was just happy to finish and get up Hardknott & Wrynose without walking. Done it now so probably won't feel the need to do it again . . . at my age.

That's a great effort. I'm not sure I'd get up Hardknott without walking even if it was the first hill.

I really wasn't expecting the encouragement from the walking riders on the way up Hardknott, thank you if you were one of them as it made that little bit of difference to get me to the top

[ukbabz]

ChocolateFrog said:

Yes it was. Quite a few people spotted the Jersey, I was surprised. One guy called it a classic and said he binned his years ago.

Got round in 10hrs, about 9hrs moving, more than happy with that.

I got through 7 water bottles and I've still got a banging headache today. Had so much isotonic drinks and gels that couldn't trust a fart for the last 3hrs or so.

Other than that I actually enjoyed it. Didn't see much bad riding although did see a crash on the descent of Wynrose.

A few dhead drivers. A minibus trying to push his way past on Honister, beeping his horn only to come to a stop and stop me, no chance of restarting. A few Honda Scooters trying to push their way past the road closed sign for Hardknott, not sure what they were trying to achieve, no chance of passing 500 wobbly cyclists going up there and a Morrisons delivery driver driving way to fast up Cold Fell, must have delivered somewhere near the top because he passed me on the way down too. Other than that everyone was great.

Always impressed how well run the event is.

I drank so much after the event, not all beer and still struggled to sleep due to feeling hot and thirsty. I got home and realised why I'd had stomach issues. Training rides I had 500mg tablets for electrolytes.. didn't realise I'd bought 1000mg on the day think just too much salt