Our annual Fred Whitton Challenge each May is so popular that we simply can't accommodate everyone who wants to ride, and sadly have to limit the numbers. But of course the route is on public roads and is available to ride at any time. 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. This is one of many activities that make the Lake District into the UK's Adventure Capital.

Timing System

One of our timing cards (actual size is smaller)

A timing system has been produced by SPORTident. And from August 1st you'll be able to register to take part, 365 days a year. You'll be loaned one of our timing cards, which you can then use to self-time your ride, using electronic boxes at the start and finish in Coniston and at various checkpoints around the route. You MUST then return our timing card, so that other riders can use it.

You can register and get a timing card in advance, and then do your ride when it suits you. All the boxes are on outside walls, so the buildings don't have to be open for you to do your ride. And after checking in at the finish box in Coniston you then hand in the timing card at the counter, in the store that kindly hosts the start and finish boxes., and your ride time will then be immediately uploaded to the Four Seasons results page. (If the store is closed you must post it back to us, but it's open for long hours every day.) Completion certificates will also be available.

(You might notice that the Four Seasons results page already has quite a lot of results on it. In fact these are not riders who've done the Four Seasons ride, which has only just been launched - it's simply that we've temporarily put on the results page all the finishers in this year's Fred Whitton Challenge in May, since otherwise the page would start empty. In due course these will be removed.)

You don't have to do the challenge non-stop. You can have a break at any of the checkpoints (some are at a pub/cafe), by checking in and then later checking in again at the same box, and the time in between won't count to your total ride time. This enables you to take the challenge in chunks, or take more than one day if you like. The ride times are recorded and uploaded to the web for interest - it's not a race, it's a challenge just to complete course, so riders of various abilities can have a go at it.

It's Free But Please Raise Money For Charity

Cumbria Tourism have kindly funded the set-up costs of the project, so we're starting by providing the Four Seasons service for free - there's no charge for registering or using our timing card. (Depending on ongoing costs, we might have to introduce a charge later.)

But as with our annual Fred Whitton Challenge event in May, one of the main aims is to raise money for charity, so if you do the Four Seasons Fred Whitton then please try to sponsor yourself and get further sponsorship from friends and family, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

More Details

The route for the Four Seasons Fred Whitton is the same as the route for our annual Fred Whitton Challenge event in May - see our route page for details - but there are differences in the checkpoints, and of course no feed stations are provided.

Click Here for full details of the Four Seasons Fred Whitton and how to register.