robert sharp Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Fred Whitton Results Posted On there web site Very well done to all excellent effort Darryl 8.01 hrs Mark 8.01 hrs Chung 8.09 hrs Arvid 8.19 hrs David Mc Kellar 8.19 hrs Donald & Lesley 8.36 hrs Don't see any more Johnstone wheelers entries DNF DNS ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 It was certainly a ride to remember. I couldn't believe how steep Hardknott and Wrynose are! Cheers Mark and Darryl for keeping me company for a good part of the way. Leaving me for dead on the hills but hanging around at the feed stops long enough for me to catch up. It was nice to start off together and meeting up at various points with everyone from the club as well. I did ride up Honister pass all the way but was defeated by Hardnott and Wrynose at the end. Whoever decided to put those two at the end of the ride must be a complete b****rd! Most of the roads and lanes were nice to ride on, apart from the stretch on the A66 which was a bit scary sitting in a bunch of people you don't know and folk overtaking each other while the traffic is hammering past, and the decents of some of the steeper passes (thank f*** it was dry). There were even people at the roadside handing out water., and loads of folk cheering on top of Whinlatter pass. I thought the whole thing was quite well organised, feed stops, start and finish were excellent but the marshalling and signposts could have been a bit better. Chung might agree with me there (but it makes excellent reading on your second split). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Life Members chung Posted May 15, 2007 Life Members Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hi all, I've got to confess my sins right away, my time of 8 hr 09 mins is not correct because I did not do the full course like everyone else did. I took a shorter route, about 9 miles shorter to be exact according to my bike computer, more of that later. Anyway, all the JWCC got a 7.30am start which was nice, along with a bunch of Rockhard Mountain bikers from Glasgow also starting at the same time. Almost Immediately after the start there was a long climb which saw the split in our group with Mark, Darryl, Howie & Dave shooting ahead leaving me, Donald and Lesley setting our own pace. Having not slept at all the night before in the hostel, I wasn't feeling too good and with a long day ahead, my plan was to ride sensibly and at my own pace. The first 50 miles before the 1st feed station was quite differcult personally because of the amount of hills & the fact that I had no idea where to go which meant I was either trying to catch up with fast groups that was speeding past or I was easing off to wait for somebody to come infront who knew where they were going. By this time all the Johnstone Wheelers had past me and it wasn't until the feed station before I met them again. Before that I had made a couple of wrong turns and at one point on a large roundabout I took the wrong exit and ended up on a time trial route. I was warn before the start that the signage and postings are not very good, I didn't realise it was that bad. After having some food at the 1st feed and realising that it's only another 60ish miles to go, I felt better and eager to set off again. Straight out of the stop I could not see any cyclist infront or the back of me, as I looked around and spotted two blokes on bike down the bend I immediately followed and I found out later from Donald that It was at that point I should have taken a sharp right to go up the Newland Pass. Eventually I caught the two and chatted with them for a while before I suddenly realised that they did not have a race number on their bikes. Its obvious that I had followed the wrong guys and were now off the route, just as I was thinking of turning back and retrace the route, I spotted a large bunch speeding purposefully at the t-junction road ahead. So, i followed them and made sure that I was back on the route again, by which time the sun was out and I was feeling really hot. I was looking for any Wheelers at the 2nd feed station, but could not see any and thought to myself they must have all been and left. So, I just took a seat and enjoyed a quick bite before hitting the road again knowing that there was still the dreaded Hardknott & Wrynose to come. Out of the shaded tree and past the cattle grid was the f***ing Hardknott & Wrynose right infront of you, I tried riding the first section only to stop half way because I just simply couldn't. My legs were ok, but my lower back was killing me. All around me as I pushed hopelessly up the damn thing was carnage, one guy next to me who just fell off as he was not moving due to the steepness, another one swore and cursed himself relentless as he grinds his way over the top, there were poeple on tandams, mountain bikes and even a recumbant & on top of that there were a lot of cars trying to zigzag past stryggling bikers. One women with her kids in a Volvo couldn't get up the steepest bit as her clutch had burnt out and had to roll backwards down the slope, more than half the participant around me got off and walked it including myself. For those who rode up, my hats go off to them. I just cannot believe how steep it was, you got to see it to believe it, how do you train for climbs like that? After the passes were the decents, it was scary stuff as it was all so steep and twisty, sometimes you feel like you are going over the bar cause of the gradiant. I had my brakes on all the time and half way down we past a medic that was tending to a lady that had came off, it looked pretty bad where her bike had collided with the side of the road, but at least I think she was concious, I hope she was alright. That made me even more edgy and had to stop to get some food and juice in me and it was at this point that Mark & Darryl speed past me and asking me how the hell did I got there so quickly, that just confirmed my short cut route. Finally rolled into the start / finnish village with my legs still feeling ok but knowing that I hadn't done it properly had put a damper on my sense of satisfaction & enjoyment. My time should be more like 9 hours if I hadn't stray off the route. Never the less it was a great day out and I strongly recommend everyone to give it a go. Well done to all the Wheelers and hope Frank is feeling better after missing the ride due to a bad cold infection. Would I do it again? Definetly! And do it properly. Now, I've got to go and get Ivan Basso's lawyers phone number to deny all this speculation of cheating. Cheers & thanks for reading Chung Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David McKellar Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Chung, don't beat yourself up you got round one of the hardest most sadistic courses I have ever riden. But is was a great weekend none the less, would have like to have been fitter to do the course justice but even though the climbs were hard the decents were terrific if a little scarry at times Honister pass was hard but as it was only 40 or so miles out it was not so bad but Hardknott and Wrystone were so steep 30% sign at the bottom and a head wind made it even harder. The cars jockeying for position on the climb and the bends just made it seem impossible but I felt great all the way round except for some of the climbs and finished strong in to Coniston. The only thing I found odd was that I recorded a ride time of 7hrs 34 mins and did not hang about at the food stations but official time was 8hrs 23mins Maybe I should buy a better computer as I only recorded 107 miles but the course was officially 114 miles. Anyone else notice the difference? Would I do it again, a definate maybe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Life Members chung Posted May 15, 2007 Life Members Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hi Dave, Now that you've done this. How would you compare this to the e-tap de tour that you also did a few of years ago? Would be interesting to hear your thoughts. Cheers Chung Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Blom Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Superb Reports guys , Next step Paris Brest Paris Hats of to you all Etape.... You should go for it Chung would be a superb experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mark Whitehead Posted May 15, 2007 Members Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 What a great event eh? That Hardknott pass was brilliant! Not easy with over 90 miles already in your legs at the bottom of it and a block headwind all the way up it, but it was amazing how you could see most of the hairpins straight ahead of you. I don't know about you guys, but I think I've worn out my 29 sprocket!! Anyway, it was great the way everything worked out for all the Johnstone Wheelers riders who made it on the day, especially when you think that we all managed to meet up at both the feeds, which was great. Chung - you are the jammiest guy I've ever known! Most people who get lost end up way off course, but you end up taking the best possible shortcut and still made the correct checkpoints to get a legal time!!! I've got to hand it to you! But hey, that climb you missed out wasn't up there with the hardest, so I think you can still say that you completed the event. Stevie Blom - how's it going? If you fancy doing this next year then I'll bet you a fiver that ye canny ride over the Hardknott pass in the big ring!!! Take it easy, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Blom Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hey man glad to hear you Maintained the Strain Am doing good only still recovering from copious amounts of Booz on that stagg doo @ magaluf Worth it though Catch you tonight if your out with the bunch. Stevie B> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mark Whitehead Posted May 15, 2007 Members Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Cheers Stevie, Yes indeed, the strain is well maintained! Being positive, you can say that the stag week was a good carbo loading exercise! I'll miss the bunch tonight but will be there on Thursday. So you don't fancy taking up the fiver bet?? You declined the same bet for the Tarsan dam climb a few years ago and you managed that in the big ring easy! :-) Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Blom Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 I can remember that well, turned with a hangover and got riddled into a betting frenzie to climb the Tarzan dam in the big ring ,,,, was daft enough to do it !. Dont have the same Strength back then See you thursday Hope to do it up Alpe D'huez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Somebody put a load of photos of the hardknott pass online here: http://www.photoboxgallery.com/fredwhittonphotos . I managed to spot most of the wheelers who were there. I actually remember wanting to get off the bike when I've seen folk taking pictures, so I just managed to stay on the bike until I was passed them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryCrum Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 you guys will like this and is that scally? http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=909850897 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Blom Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Lightening Legs Don that is classic piece of Footage there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Scally Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 It most certainly is. Also spotted Chung in the very last clip. Chung is that those 2 guys you wrongly followed!! and how did you manage to get the camera man to go off course as well Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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