"The Definition of Pain and Suffering"

Here is an exert to give you a flavour of what the Fred Whitton Challenge is all about “The Fred Whitton Challenge consists of a 112 mile sportive around the Lake District, starting at Grasmere and taking in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott & Wrynose passes. The very top riders complete the route in just under six hours but eleven hours and over are not uncommon for the average Sportive rider. This is a very tough route and going on rider feedback the hardest one day ride in the UK, the event includes all the Lakeland passes, one with a 30% gradient and this comes at 98 miles”. Oh dear!

Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team are a charity funded solely by donations from the public based just outside Broughton in Furness. It comprises of 35 volunteers who are prepared to help others 24 hours a day 365 days a year in any weather to ensure their safety. They have survived on public support, working in partnership with the Fred Whitton Challenge, so when I signed up to this madness, I knew this was who I wanted to raise money for. I also figured that they're more likely to rescue me when I can't make it up Hardknott Pass and I am found sprawled on the floor, crying through the pain and despair caused by this very silly Sportive!!

Thankfully, due to the exceptional and lovely family run Champagne House, Lallier, I quite literally have "all the gear" even if I do have a large dose of "no idea". Francis Tribaut and his team have let me use their custom built, light as a feather, top spec road bike - as beautifully crafted as each bottle of Champagne that Lallier produce it has to be said! If the bike, your support and the promise of a glass/drip feed of delicious Lallier Ouvrage at the end doesn't get me over the line, then quite frankly nothing will. Wish me luck!

https://champagne-lallier.com/en/

https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/DuddonandFurnessMRT/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMpbgvdHI_o