Two cyclists airlifted to hospital with serious injuries during 2014 Fred Whitton Challenge

I rode the Fred today. Sorry to hear about the accidents, but the roads were damp and the descents very steep - I hope they are OK. Brilliant event though, very well organised and supported, and certainly a tough one. Lots of very tired people at the end.

That's the problem with these idiots who ride sportives half can't ride a bike next thing you know cycling down steep hills will be band cos two many of these clowns fall off!!

It's not a F'ing race!

Plebs

We drove back from a damp weekend in Langdale yesterday. The FW route would be tough at the best of times and the weather was atrocious so I doff the proverbial cap to all those taking part.

Thats awful to hear and I hope they make a full recovery..
I'm doing the coast to coast event next month and the descent on the wrynose/hardknott pass is worrying me slightly, anyone got any tips for descending 30% inclines in the wet?!

Riding sportive events are generally a personal challenge. Taking to the road for either a training session. , going to the shop is a risk so those making stupid, daft comments, should refrain.

Obviously conditions were poor yesterday(even in Suffolk were I completed my second 100 miler in high winds and rain)it's a real shame riders were injured, I hope they make a full recovery.

Life is for living not complaining about others achievements

700c: slowly and cautiously!

If you have one, get on your mountain bike and have a blast around some trails. It'll help your confidence on descents in my experience. Other than that, just prep your bike well by cleaning the rims etc. In terms of position, get right off the back of the saddle and keep pedals level.

Best wishes to those injured yesterday. If you've even half a brain, you'd realise it could be any one of us in hospital if you ever ride on the hills. Perhaps those criticising should realise that and go and troll somewhere else.

Don't feed the trolls people.

Healing vibes to All FW riders this morning.

6) oh, and discs

700c - The descent of Wrynose isn't actually all that bad, providing you realise it's steep and never build up too much speed. There aren't really any tight corners but the surface is bumpy. Fit some decent brake pads (swiss stop are my favourite) and tune the brakes up first. I've ridden it many times, including when it's been so wet it was basically a river, without any issues. Watch for the pothole on the last (tight) corner just when you think you're done!

To the naysayers: Have you never had a moment on a descent where you've thought "uh-oh, I might be in bother here"? Because it's a click of the fingers to go from there to being on the tarmac. I'm quite risk-averse, I don't descend anything like as quick as my clubmates, but if you've never even pushed the envelope, what would you know? If you have, then stop making stupid comments.

@700c - I think the mistake people make is that on the first bit of a really sketchy descent, they let the bike accelerate to the maximum speed they are comfortable with, typically on the nice straight visible bit at the top. Then it starts to get technical and suddenly they're hauling on the levers to scrub off the speed, at the same time trying to lean into a heavily cambered corner, avoiding the ditch, other riders and the oncoming car all at the same time. Add this to the shoulder tension that you get on descents, and it's a recipe for disaster.

If you know it's going to be hairy, dab the levers from the start - it might seem overly cautious initially, but you'll be far less stressed on the technical section. Then nearer the bottom, you usually find that the scarymeter stops pinging at you, you can start to see further ahead etc, but you're still descending. Accelerate here to obtain the free speed before the road flattens, and minimise the losses from descending slowly earlier.

Far better to be a good climber and a poor descender than the reverse.

I really can't believe some of the comments that are allowed on here.

My thoughts go to the two injured riders and their families.

krd51, get over yourself pal, I've seen plenty of crap riding in 3rds and 4ths road races so wouldn't limit your comment to sportive riders. At the end of the day, whatever you chose, we are all cyclists and all love the sport.

Sportives represent a reason for many to train and also to go and ride somewhere they may not normally ride. An organised event is a lot easier to do than deciding to drive up there, load up on food etc then drive back.

I do a few a year, race and tt cos I love riding my bike.

I passed the guy who came off on Wrynose being attended by the Mountain Rescue and he was sitting up talking to them so hopefully he (and the other chap) will be fine.

There was a few riders taking chances on the descents (on the wrong side of the road into blind corners), just not worth it is it?

Certainly where the guy came off on Wrynose it was at the top in the hairpin section, the problem is here (to the guy who asked about descending them) that you can pick up speed so quickly and then (especially in the wet) it's difficult to scrub it off. Start the descent on the brakes and stay like that if I were you.

The only thing that pissed me off yesterday was the number of gel wrappers and bar wrappers etc on the road. It's things like this that will get these events cancelled. The gel comes out of a pocket, surely the wrapper can go back into it?

In my experience of Hardknott, Wrynose etc even in dry conditions the difference between retaining control or not on descent is mighty fine line on a road bike. Even when dry these climbs are more challenging to descend than to climb.

In retrospect, I'm mighty glad my first experience of Wrynose/Hardknott etc was not in the wet like yesterday's FW riders. I doubt whether the tasteless comments by Krd51 are tempered by personal experience of these roads. I hope the two casualties recover fully and quickly

+1 on the comments above advising to keep the weight to the rear (slide your bum off the seat if needs), stay loose (don't lock your arms - keep your elbows bent), braking early, pedals level (on the straights), looking through the corner to where you want the bike to go, etc.

For bumpy roads I'd add: Hover your bum a little off the seat, this allows your legs to act as suspension for your body weight.

For wet/bumpy roads I'd add: In addition to earlier advice on wider tyres, make sure your tyres are *NOT* pumped rock solid. You *want* just a little bit of give and deformation in the front tyre, so it has a larger contact patch and so it can still mould itself to the road over bumps and pebbles and so still provide grip. Not too much deformation, but definitely not rock solid!

I can't emphasise the "stay loose" part enough though.