Completing My First Fred Whitton Challenge 2024!

[@grahamthecyclist]

Welcome to my first KZbin video and my first-ever Fred Whitton! I managed to complete the whole ride without stopping on any of the climbs, feeling very proud. Did anyone else do the Fred Whitton? 😊🚴🏽‍♂🏔

[@robertpaul6576]

I enjoyed that video, especially getting to see the views I was too breathless to take in at the time! 2024 Fred was a fabulous event and you’re an inspiration to others. Big 👍🏻

[@grahamthecyclist]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you, that's very kind of you to say 😃🙏🏼

[@lukemedia]

Well done Dad, that’s an incredible achievement! 🚴🏼‍♂️👏🏼🎉

[@davidthomas9079]

Chapeau, great effort. I`ve done it twice, first time in 2022. The Fred was my big challenge after having brain surgery to remove a tumor in 2020, i did it in 8hrs 34mins which i wasn`t expecting . Respect to anyone who gets to the finish regardless of whether or not they walked Hardknott Pass....that`s a big as at 90 miles.

[@grahamthecyclist]

Wow, congratulations! I hope you're all okay from the surgery in 2020. That's an amazing effort! Yes, definitely, it's a tough one! Will you be there next year? 😄

[@davidthomas9079]

All went well with the surgery, they managed to remove all of the tumour. I have to have a MRI scan every year to make sure nothing is coming back. All good to date. I did the Fred again in 2023 not sure if I'll do it again. Next June I'll doing the Coast to Coast in a day 150 miles from Seascale to Whitby.

[@grahamthecyclist]

@@davidthomas9079 great to hear! Good look with the coast to coast, I hope you have a great ride. 🏅🚴‍♂️

[@youngdave1963]

Great video, tough tough ride - 4 th time for me, I say never again until the ballot comes round in December. I enter hoping I might not get in again - and then I do, so then has to be done! I get more worried about Hardknott the more times I do it. One of the most beautifullly stunning rides anywhere in Europe imho

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thank you, it's a very tough one indeed. I'm definitely going to give it another go next year, as hard as it was, I want to do it a second time (must be mad). You'll smash it again, the views really help! You're right about that one, it's a beautiful place, the Lake District! 🚴🏽‍♂️

[@JohnButler-iq8rl]

What a lovely bloke 😊 clearly got some talent too don't know wether he's come from another sport background but he looks in extremely good shape 👍.

[@grahamthecyclist]

Hi there, many thanks for your comments, most appreciated… Been cycling for a long time.. and amazingly feeling fitter at 60 than I was at 50! Hope to keep going for as long as I can!…

[@stuartvh4562]

Chapeau indeed! Congratulations on a great video, and completing the FWC, without stopping on the climbs too! So pleased the weather was good to you, despite the head wind.

[@grahamthecyclist]

Many thanks! I'm still in shock that I was able to do it, especially with it being the first time. Yes, the weather was good to us that weekend... a bit of a shock having sun, but definitely not complaining 🤣🚴🏽‍♂️☀️

[@andymoss]

Brilliant mate!

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thanks Andy!

[@gerrydunphy5748]

👏👏👏👏great effort

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thank you Gerry!

[@elleffeff]

Beautiful event! And a great first video.

[@grahamthecyclist]

Yes it was! Thank you too 😃

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thanks for your comment , still can’t believe I did it . Maybe again next year😳

[@LakeDistrictcyclist]

Well done on hardknott not many stay on 😊

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thanks! I can't believe I did it 🙏🏼

[@MattRootsTube]

Epic first video and well done for completing the challenge. You deserve a gold Blue Peter badge for Hardknott💪

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thank you, much appreciated. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the post haha😆✉️

[@PW-CreakySaddle]

great effort, well done and thanks for sharing. I still walked but cycled a bit further up Hardknott this time :-)

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thanks for your comment, I still can’t believe I did it. Congratulations on completing the ride, it's an amazing achievement, maybe you'll get Hardknott next year! 🙏🏼

[@OliverBird-d3i]

Amazing effort, well done 🎉🚴🏼‍♂️💨

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thank you! 🙏🏼😊

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thanks for watching , much appreciated🚴‍♂️😀

[@robinrdale8318]

I did the Fred way before covid weather was a shocker 20mph winds I had to pedal down hills , people getting blown over hedges took like 10 hours , had a slow puncher, but watching this may have to do it again

[@grahamthecyclist]

That sounds brutal! Pedalling down the hills must have been awful... I'm glad it's helped motivate you to give it another go. I'd definitely like to have a go again next year.

[@jasonmainwaring7420]

Phenomenal achievement and a very good time given the amount of climbing you did. Seriously impressed as a similar aged cyclist.

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thank you, I'm really pleased with the time, especially with it being my first go. That's very kind of you to say 🚲

[@PW-CreakySaddle]

i love your woo and nice each time the view of the fells opens up :-)

[@grahamthecyclist]

Had to be done 🤣

[@davidmailander8165]

What was your approach to your small ring cassette going up Hardnot?

[@grahamthecyclist]

I went straight down to the 32 and kept spinning till 25% ~ 30%, then I just kept grinding away to the top. Next time it will be a 34 or 36 cassette 😳👍

[@davidmailander8165]

@@grahamthecyclist That’s a tortuous angle to be attempting to stay up right. Particularly where it is placed in the ride. Many years ago, I completed the 3 State / 3 Mountain here in the states …Chattanooga TN. On the hard climbs, particularly Lookout Mountain you had to focus on ignoring the walkers when the grade reached a paltry 17%. I was probably running a triple a few times and was glad I had it. Congratulations again to you.

[@darrantee4929]

Fantastic achievement, Graham well.

[@grahamthecyclist]

Thank you! 😃

[@samupton7654]

I love your analysis of Hardknott at the end. Almost word for word is what I said after first doing it 😂

[@grahamthecyclist]

I was surprised I managed to do it all without stopping, the front wheel was lifting up in places 🤣 It's a great achievement getting to the top, well done, you must have felt very proud to have done it! 👏🏼

[@samupton7654]

@grahamthecyclist Such great memories and you're spot on in everything you say. The sensation of the front wheel starting to go is something else! And going through the pedals on the steepest parts feels like an extreme leg day at the gym 🤣 Love it 👍

[@grahamthecyclist]

@@samupton7654 For sure! It was an odd feeling having the wheel lift up... not experienced that before. It sure does feel like a leg workout in the gym doesn't it 🤣

[@Skilledcarpenter]

Well done , can I ask what rear cassette gearing you used ??

[@grahamthecyclist]

Many thanks… and it’s a 11/32 rear cassette with 50/34 chain set… in hindsight I wish I’d have gone for a 36… 🙄

[@stevenfreeman7798]

What a brilliant effort!!. You must be superfit to get up those horrible climbs without walking!. How much training did you have to do for the event and what gearing did you use?. Once again well done!.

[@grahamthecyclist]

Hi Steven, thank you for the kind comment, I really appreciate it! I started training for this event in December, all my rides were hilly and I'd built up slowly from 2.5 hrs, progressing to 7 1/2 - 8 hours by April / May with no stopping. Gearing was 50/34 - 11/32 ⚙️😊

[@stevenfreeman7798]

Only a 32!!. Brilliant effort!.

[@grahamthecyclist]

@@stevenfreeman7798 Yep! Thank you haha😁