Ever fancy an easy ride in the lakes?! Have a go at the Fred Whitton Sportive – 112 miles of all the big passes in the lakes and at the 100 mile mark you go up one of the steepest climbs in the country: Hardknott Pass (1 in 3!).

Chris and I rode the route last year on standard double 39/53T chainsets – I cramped up at the 1 in 3  section of Hardknott Pass  and a nice photographer took some pictures of me on the floor in agony (and in full team kit!). I had to have another go otherwise I would never hear the end of it from Chris…

We set off on yesterday’s ride with some fast riders (it’s not supposed to be a race!) – I only just about managed to hang onto the group up Kirkstone Pass and by the time we got to Honistor Pass, we were doing an average of 20mph which was way too much for me! There was no way I could keep up with them going up Honistor – they were a lot stronger than me on the climbs and they broke away. Good job really as I could feel cramp coming on which I think was from a combination of pushing hard and the cold rain that was bouncing off my legs. I rode the last 65 miles or so on my own – took it easy on the hills and hammered it on the flats, trying to save my legs for Hardknott Pass. Got to Hardknott and I only just made it up to the steep bit, though somehow I managed to push the pedals round and ride to the top without stopping – not very elegant with a cadence of 35 RPM! I had pains in my legs which I’ve never had before which I’ve still got today!

All in all, it was a great challenge, I cleared all the hills and with a finishing time of 6:39 I managed to knock 20 mins off last year’s time. If I do it again I’ll make sure my lowest gear isn’t 39/23!

final times are here, http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/results.php – I managed 27th quickest time of the day.

Last night was the first Cookson Cycles Guided Rides. Meeting at the shop around 6:30pm six of us set off at 7ish for an evening ride. We headed over to the trails at Prestwich and had fun playing on berms, dusty singletrack and rocky descents. Back to the shop just before 9pm there was no need more lights now the evenings are so bright.

The rides run 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month and everyone is welcome. See the website or ask in the shop for more information.

So on Sunday I headed up with Shaun and Chris to Whinlatter for the enduro event being held there after some gentle persuasion from Chris. I’d had a good week of commuting but work was cancelled on Saturday so I was able to rest my legs. Not too early on Sunday the van turned up and we headed up the M6 into the mist and drizzle, this wasn’t the weather I had been promised! Still when you are basically racing you don’t notice the weather too much, or so I told myself! Getting there and it seemed to have stopped raining and walking to and from registration it even seemed warm. I made the decision then to ride in Jersey, Shorts, knee warmers and arm warmers and hoped I wouldn’t regret taking my base layer off.

Soon we were heading up to the start and trying to get a little closer to the start, nearly 400people meant this wasn’t easy. The next thing is we’re off. Chris and I put our heads down to move up as much as possible in the fireroad, I soon lost sight of him and Shaun soon came past me as well. Into the first singletrack and it was walking pace, still nice to catch my breath after the initial sprint!

The drizzle was soon back and the course seemed to be steep fireroad climbs followed by rocky slippy singletrack descents. I took a while to feel like I could descent, at first I must have looked like I hadn’t ridden a bike before. But soon I even managed to find some flow, before missing a corner and leaving the track for a while. Round the first lap and out onto the second, it was temping to go right for the finish with the wind and rain not being particularly pleasant. But I’d come all that way I had to do the 31miles. In the second loop I was catching some people up which always helps with motivation and was actually sad when I finished.

The course was pretty tough with 1000m of climbing. But great fun. I’d definitely head up again next year.

I finished in 3:30 which put me 4th female, the boys stormed round in 2:42 (finishing only 40seconds apart) to finish 14th and 15th.