Recounting the Fred Whitton Challenge

added 21 May 2013

What was it like for those who rode this year's Fred whitton Challenge? Well you can read Ian Phillips' report on his day in the saddle in his write-up Recounting the Fred Whitton Challenge. A challenge it certainly was this year!

Cycle-SOS

Many thanks to www.cycle-SOS.co.uk, the Cyclists’ National Helpline, who have provided sponsorship for the 2012 & 2013 events. Cycle-SOS have over 20 years experience helping victims of bicycle accidents and providing advice on bike accident claims – up-to-speed legal advice from the solicitors who cycle.

Fred Whitton Photos

Photographs from this year's event are available on SteveFlemingPhoto.com.

Ride the hills with Fredrico

added 2 May 2013

For a bit of fun watch Frederico tackle the Fred Whitton course. Doing the Fred Whitton Challenge certainly isn't as easy as this fun YouTube animation makes it look! Many thanks to Russell Holden of local business Pixel Tweaks for introducing us to Frederico.

** Fred Whitton Cycling Jerseys Now Available **

added 6 Apr 2013

We now have all sizes of the Castelli Fred Whitton cycling jerseys available. For details, and how to order, see Jerseys.

Saddleback Fred Whitton on Facebook

Photos from Fred Whitton Half Million Dinner (27th October)

added 28 Oct 2012

Photos from the Fred Whitton dinner are now available on Steve Fleming's Flickr page.

This charity dinner was held to celebrate that in the 13 years since it started the Fred Whitton Challenge has now raised over half a million for the charities it supports. Special guests were Sarah Storey OBE (photo, right) and Barney Storey MBE, both gold medalists at the recent Paralympics.

Beforehand a group had an afternoon ride via Ambleside and Wray Castle, before returning to Kendal via the ferry across Lake Windermere (photo, left) and the Crook road.

Charity Contributions from 2012 Event

added 20 Oct 2012

If anyone still has any remaining sponsorship to send in, or hasn't yet let us know of some sponsorship that has gone to charity on behalf of the event, then please do let us know as soon as possible, so that we can finalise this year's total. Remember any rider raising over £500 receives a free entry into next year's ride.

added 28 Aug 2012

Many of us in the Lakes Road Club remember riding with Phil Smith (Terry's son). Well he's now in the Alps, running a new Morzine-based bike holiday company, offering a premier alpine riding experience – road and/or MTB – in the heart of Tour de France terrain. And although they're new, they've already nine years local riding experience working in the industry. The beautiful alpine village of Morzine has numerous famous Tour cols on the doorstep, and they offer detailed itineraries, fully supported rides and have a fully catered town center chalet with secure on-site bike storage and workshop facilities. Even better, Phil is offering a 10% discount on any booking for Fred Whitton competitors, friends and family. For more info visit ridemorzine.com .

Saddleback's Day of Service

added 18 May 2012

In the Fred Whitton it's not just the riders who get up early and have a long hard day, as shown by this fascinating 6 minute time-lapse film of Saddleback's day of Neutral Service bike fixing at the 2012 event.

Event Sponsors

added 2 Feb 2012

Many thanks to Greenhalgh's bakers, who are again sponsoring the meal we provide at the finish of the Fred Whitton Challenge in May.

And of course many thanks also to our main event sponsor Saddleback, the major importer of Elite performance cycling products.

If any other companies would like to sponsor parts of the Fred Whitton, e.g. feed stations, the timing system or first aid, or would like us to use their product on the ride, then please contact Donna Loftus on 01229 716130.

Broughton Accommodation

added 16 Jan 2012

Broughton is only 10 miles from Coniston and has a range of accommodation that might suit riders in the Fred Whitton, including hostel type accommodation at the Kepplewray Centre. For details see Accommodation.

Record Amount Raised by 2011 Event

added 10 Dec 2011

Huge thanks to everyone who raised sponsorship for their ride in the 2011 event – the final total raised for charity was £80,000, a record to date. £35,000 was donated to Macmillan Cancer Support, £20,000 to the Dave Rayner Fund, £7,500 to Mountain Rescue and £7,500 to the North West Air Ambulance, plus £10,000 that riders themselves have donated to special charities.

The photo shows three of Fred's grandsons – Ben, Rhys and Corey Birkett – presenting the cheque to the North West Air Ambulance.

The three prize-winners for the most raised were:

• Mike Arnold from Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale Kendal – raised £4,034
• Dougie Moore from Workington – raised £3,480
• Vinney Taylor from London – raised £2,525

Presentation Night

added July 2011

Event Photos + Event Reports

added May 2011

Various riders have written reviews of this year's event, including how wet it was at times! For links see our Ride Reports page.

Leon Did It!

added 22 May 2011

He's ridden the Four Seasons Fred Whitton Challenge every day for the last 10 days – his results are on the Four Seasons results page. And I can vouch that he did indeed ride up Hardknott today (as he has on all his rides) since I rode out to the top of Hardknott and watched him come up, before joining him back to Coniston.

You can read about his 10 rides and what they – and the weather – threw at him, on his enjoyable blog. I'm lost for words at his achievement – except one that comes to mind:

  Chapeau!

Pete Q

!! 10 'Freds' in 10 Days !!

added May 2011

As if riding one Fred Whitton isn't enough, Leon Bond is attempting 10 Four Seasons 'Freds' in 10 days (gulp!), starting on Friday 13th May. See his Blog for what it's like to train and plan for such an awesome challenge, and to follow his progress. Like our event, he's raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, so why not give some more to this really worthwhile charity – see the Just Giving Donate link on his Blog.

Good Luck Leon!

Wrynose or Bust Sportive

added Apr 2011

Whether you've got a place in this year's Fred Whitton Challenge or not, why not ride the Wrynose or Bust charity event on April 17th. As well as Wrynose Pass it includes plenty of other climbs and great Lakeland scenery, so it's a real challenge. For details see Wrynose or Bust.

Four Seasons Certificates Now Available

added Oct 2010

If you've ridden the Four Seasons Fred Whitton Challenge then note that you can now get a personalised Four Seasons Fred Whitton Challenge certificate, to print and keep as a memento of your ride. To get your certificate go to the Four Seasons results page and click on the printer icon at the left hand side of the row containing your results.

Fred Whitton on Lakes TV

added May 2010

A web TV report about the 2010 Fred Whitton Challenge is now on Lakes TV – see the Sports channel on www.lakestv.net.

Saddleback Sponsor the Fred Whitton Challenge

added Jan 2010

We're delighted to announce that for our 2010 edition of the Fred Whitton Challenge we're teaming up with Saddleback, the major importer of Elite performance cycling products, to support the event.

We're sure that Saddleback will help keep the The Fred Whitton Challenge up there as the no. 1 sportive ride on riders’ lists. One of the first advantages of Saddleback's sponsorship will be improved mechanical assistance for riders, at the start and on the route, since Saddleback will bring the expertise of SRAM Neutral Service and mechanics – the same ones that ran the neutral service for the 2009 Tour of Britain.

Four Seasons Fred Whitton

added Aug 2009

Our annual Fred Whitton Challenge Ride is so popular that we can't accommodate everyone who wants to ride. So we've teamed up with GoLakes and the Lake District National Park to launch a timed self-led challenge ride called the Four Seasons Fred Whitton that you can do at any time of the year, when it suits you, with friends or clubmates for example. Click HERE for details.

10th Anniversary Dinner & Photos

added Oct 2009

The special 10th Anniversary Fred Whitton Dinner was held on Saturday (Oct 10th), and photos are now available from the photographers – see the Kennedy Images website. Special guests included Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, and north-west cycling star Ella Sadler-Andrews, who recently won a Junior Women's Team Pursuit gold medal at the European Track Championships, plus Keith Lambert, Sid Barras, Dudley Hayton and representatives from all the charities that the event supports. For more details see our report of the 10th Anniversary dinner.

Cyclosport TV: "The Freddy Files"

added May 2009

Many thanks to Cyclosport, who joined our 10th year celebration by filming during this year's event.
See parts 1, 2 and 3 of their film and watch the riders (including Robb Jebb and James Dobbin in part 2) on the killer 30% upper slopes of Hardknott Pass, after 100 miles.