I arrived at Leeds Childrens Home in Silverdale on the Saturday night. Deserted of children, all now back at school after their summer holidays. The photos of the children having fun in the canteen gave the place a great warmth and depth. I was tired after a long, but worthwhile, drive up from the south. I went to bed early. Around a dozen of the hundred or so participants opted to stay in the dormatories at the home. I had the whole place to myself for hours while the others went to the pub for dinner. I found the bathrooms and had a long nice soagk and got my head down for an early start. 
The view cross Morecombe Bay I was up at 6am sharp, gear laid out, like a real "Anal Annie". Bumped into Dave Lloyd who was sporting his new hand made custom carbon fibre frame from northern Italy. In fact later in the ride, his bike was referred to "Dave's Anti Gravity" bike. God it was light, a few kilos at the very most - don't tell the UCI! 
Dave Lloyds "Anti Gravity" Bike I set off at around 7:15 am. A bit chilly. Dawn had just broken. 4 other chaps including Chris Moore, aka "Banana Man". We worked together on the rolling climbs and flat lands as we headed north out of Lancashire and into Cumbria. We picked up the bike path towards Ambleside, which was nicely worked into the course. 
Chris Moore (aka Banana Man) on the Front Soon we hit the bottom reaches of Kirkstone Pass. Off to the right we could see the higher slopes. Yikes! 
Kirkstone Pass The weather was awesome. Warm, sunny and not a cloud in the sky. We hit the steeper gradients of Kirkstone at around 16%. I stuck to my game plan and paced myself. My compatriots decided the pace was fine and we all crested Kirkstone together. The marshals did a great job directing us off, down one of the hardest climbs in the Lakes, "The Struggle". 
"The Struggle" Concentration and descending skills were required for the descent. Pretty steep with an "S Bend" hairpin section and a bit of climbing, we quickly dropped down into Ambleside. A "car push" was coming up the very bottom of the climb and the local constabulary and marshals were on hand to keep us all moving. Thank you! We regrouped and rode tempo towards Grasmere Lake. Everyone was dreading the next climb at the back of the lake, the only way was up. Red Bank lived up to it reputation, with gradients of 25% in several places. It split the group up very quickly. Luckily we arrrived at the first feed station and I tucked into some malt loaf, a few gels and topped up my bottle. As we left, Dave Lloyd and a few others slipped into the feed station. The descent down through Great Langdale was great fun. People attending church at Chapel Stile moved aside and waved us through. Dave Lloyd and a few guys caught us just at the base of Blea Tarn. I shouted out to Dave "see you in the oxygen tent at the end". He laughed. Then all hell broke loose and the 10 of us were on the rivett, maxed out on the 25% gradients at the bottom. It pitched down to around 15% and then back up again. A long climb. That certainly softened my legs up and burnt my lungs. Everyone was strung out all over the place! The descent was just as hard as the climb! At the bottom I hesitated, but knowing Wrynose was sharp right and then seeing the sign on the dry stong wall, I knew I was still on course. I backed off a bit and recovered. Wrynose lay ahead and pretty soon I was on the lower slopes. Knowing the climb, I still paced myself. 
Wrynose (East Side) The climb gets steeper as it goes. I could see riders strung all over the climb. Every man and women, for themselves! The last 150m is horrific! So steep. A car behind had to stop. It's clutch was burning. He left me to it. A few in front unclipped and started walking. No way was I getting off! I "just" made it over the top. Just to left you know, the Romans built the Wrynose and Hardknott passes and the reminants of the fort can still be visited on Hardknott pass. Wrynose was cobbled back in 1950-60s (organiser Terry Bell can confirm), they had 47 x 23 tops on 531 frames with 5 speed 14-23 using benelux gears. The Wrynose descent isn't so bad as you enter the scenic Dudden Valley. I enjoyed it while I could, as fear and loathing entered my head for the next assault - Hardknott Pass! Over the cattle bridge the road sign warns all those who pass of what is ahead. 
The Bottom of Hardknott Knowing the climb, and now, many others might agree, it takes a certain skill to conquer this side of the climb. The first real test is at the next bend. It's so steep you have to attack it, like a sprint, just to barely get over the 30% ramp. One guy in front didn't stand a chance and was unclipping, barely halfway. I gave 110% and just made that too! Track stand. Recover. Next Bend. The next 3 bends are horrific. Any cars? No go for it! 110% round the next bend. Track stand. Recover. Light pedal. Repeat. Repeat again. So far so good! Car coming down. Car stops. Move to the left. Oh no, back wheel hits sheep dung. Back wheel spins. Slip off the saddle! Its 20%! Leaning sideways! Just keep it together past the car. Phew. Legs and lungs burning. It's still a long way, still 20%+. Head down, keep going. Range Rover behind. Comes up, realises I'm not stopping. Stops. 50m to go. Made it. Phew! Immediately hit the descent. Hard on the brakes. More front than back. Glad to get off. Hands hurting from braking. I've made it! I don't really remember the next 5 miles. I was busy reflecting on making it to this point. I rode for awhile with Geoff Crowther from Goring-on-Thames, who had come up especially to ride the event too. We spread out as as we hit Birker Fell. A long, towering climb with some steep pitches of 20%. It must have been 2 or 3 miles long! I stopped at the top to catch my breath and admire the view. It was all worth it! I hope you agree? 
Top of Birker Fell On a gorgeous sunny day, I could see for ten's of miles in all directions. Truely worth all the effort! The view is to the north. Somewhere in there is Hardknott Pass. A sweeping exposed descent led me into the next valley. I really hated the next part. Ulpha Fell was steep. Steep for ages. I really suffered. My legs barely turned the 34*25 gear. I could have done with a 27. I was so glad to get to the top. It seemed to take ages. Off Ulpha Fell and I was at the second feed at 66 miles. I took some time here, had a cup of tea, some cakes, sandwiches and gels. More energy drink. I left behind a small group a 3 and kept them in my sights until we all stopped at a junction. Unfortunately someone had taken down some signs. A marshal was already alerted and on the scene and showed us the right way. The ride changed from monsterous climbs of the more travelled roads, to very quiet lanes. The Oxen Park climb at 15% for a mile really alerted me to the severity of the effort I had made. My legs were very sore. There were several small and sharp roller coaster climbs that took untold damage. I was relieved to get closer to Grange Over Sands where the lanes opened up and the ride flattened out. It was still a battle into a headwind for 15 to 20 miles before I eventually reached signs for Silverdale. I was glad to finish! I managed 7 hours and 30 minutes for gold standard. It was a tough ride. "any of us agreed that it took us longer to do this course than the Fred Whitton. The Fred has 900m more climbing and 12 more miles. I've done the Fred in 7 hours? It was great to hang araound and chat to everyone at the finish. Two ladies ,so I believe, did the whole course. I saw Rebecca Easthope finish. Many blokes commented on her awesome effort on Hardknott, as she rode past "seated" mostly - much to the amazement of everyone else! I think Dave Lloyd was the fasted around the course, with a ride time of around 6h 30m ... Amazing. He's 60 pretty soon! I'm so glad I rode, it was hard, but rewarding. I spent the day in the company with new and old friends from across the UK. What a weekend! Thanks to Terry, his wife Sue, friends and family and volunteers who supported the event. What would we do without you? Link to results, photos etc - http://www.cyclosport.org/article.aspx?id=1181 Mark Harding |