ON THE MAP: THE LAKE
DISTRICT
GROUND COVERED: 180KM
This charity fundraiser takes place
each year in May and has become
a major event with thousands of
cyclists signing up for the challenge.
But, if you’re an experienced rider,
you can also do a solo tour by
downloading the route from
fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk. It’ll
defs test your fitness courage – the
muscle-aching, lung-burning route
takes in six of the baddest climbs in
Britain (aka The High Passes). Expect
steep uphills and hairy descents, with
the toughest 30 per cent gradient
climb (Hardknott Pass) showing up
at around the 150km mark. The epic
view from Hardknott will make it all
worth it, though, we promise.Tackle It:
1 Service guarantee: The descents
from Honister, Hardknott and
Wrynose are super steep (we’re
talking around a 25 per cent gradient)
and really tricky. You don’t want your
bike (or brakes) to fail you, so make
sure it has been serviced thoroughly.
2 Layer up: The temperature and
weather conditions at the top of a
high pass can be very different from
those lower down. Even if it’s sunny,
pack lots of layers and snacks, too.
3 Pace yourself: You’ll need some
energy left in the tank to tackle
Hardknott and then Wrynose, near
the end of the trip. Don’t sprint up
Kirkstone (at 22km) like a keen bean
(you can thank us later).The Fred
Whitton
Challenge
127TravelFIT