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

Aw, glad to hear he's on the mend, thanks for posting

Hi - Didnt do the FW but know the chap who came off on Wrynose and thought you might want an update.

He lives in the Lakes, has done those hills several times. I have also ridden with him in Germany, Belgium and the Alps, so he is an experienced cyclist and he always wears a helmet.

He was in intensive care in Preston for a week and was released from hospital on Sunday (18th). As well as head injuries he suffered fractures to cheek, hand, ribs, shoulder. In his words his body is mending well. Still some head injury related dizziness etc, but in his words:

'....out of action for a few weeks - but on the mend'

Good on you mate, see you in the saddle soon

I once came down one of those nasty descents off the north downs (maybe Winterfold, can't recall) in the wet and made the classic mistake of allowing myself to build up too much speed at the top. I pulled brakes; water and grit on rims plus too much speed meant brakes did little to slow wheel but did manage to generate sufficient heat that tube blew from expanding so fast. By which point I was on tarmac and sliding into barrier on other side of road and rim was totalled. Car that would have hit me had this all happened 20 seconds later was kind enough to stop and lend assistance.

I don't profess to be a good descender, but my experience: sit (don't stand out of saddle), get into drops, don't carry too much speed into a descent you don't know, use flatter sections to scrub speed, try to stay off brakes whilst actually cornering (braking pulls bike back to vertical, which doesn't help), don't drag brakes (brake, then off, then brake again - better to avoid heat build up). I think you are better off with your weight in the middle of the bike rather than hanging off the back of your saddle too much, because moving your weight backwards will unweight your front wheel which brings risk of drift/wash out (which, unlike a rear wheel slide, can't be saved).

Just to update anyone interested I read on the Fred fb page last night that both guys are now recovering at home and have been discharged from hospital

Christ. The descent from Hardknott down into the valley was nasty when I was last up in the Lakes a couple of years ago. The surface was badly broken with gravelly patches everywhere. And I was out on a glorious day - must be pure evil when the weather closes in.

The descent from Wrynose down into Langdale isn't too bad. There are long steep sections, but it's not twisty and off-camber like the Hardknott is. Could be easy to build up too much speed with a lapse of concentration, though. I was 110k into my ride at the time. On the FW it's about 170k I think. Lots of people would be on the limit mentally and physically by that point.

I'm going to join in here -as one of the people who did the Fred Whitton yesterday -and enjoyed what was closer to mountain adventure racing than a road ride.

Nobody I saw was being aggressive on the Wrynose and Hardknott descents. There were marshalls just below the start of each descent calling out to anyone who was setting off over optimistically -myself included-, more down all of Hardknott (east side, not the west, which is a longer descent). Strava tells me at 10.4 mph I rank 2600 of 3100 -and I was tracking down the speed of everyone nearby. For reference: Conti gatorskin 23mm on the front and a schwalbe durano 23mm slick on the rear: no traction problems encountered. Not deflated either -I'm too prone to snakebites for that.

On Wrynose the road was closed while the Air Ambulance was out -everyone dismounted and walked past. Whoever came off had done it after a left hand turn; there was a tent just over on the hillside where they were fixing them up. But that doesn't say what happened, and nobody should reach for conclusions about skills, weather, speed etc. We don't know and to reach conclusions is as much victim blaming as the "were they wearing a helmet" comments you see in the local press whenever someone gets run over by a truck.

While it's easy to reassure yourself that with your skill, judgement, tyres etc. you wouldn't get into trouble, we are all vulnerable to what are called in mountaineering terms "objective hazards" -stones on the road, sheep, potholes, as well as at risk from the actions of others nearby. The only way to avoid such hazards is simple: stay out of the mountains.

So rather than judging the two who got injured, we should have
-praise for the on-hand mountain rescue team
-praise for the air ambulance crew and first aid
-praise for the doctors on the ride who were offering help -they were turning them away.
-praise for the organisers and volunteers who put a lot of effort into a wonderful day in the mountains.
-best wishes for all who were injured

I've done the Fred 3 times once in really hot weather, and on one occasion the last few miles (from the top of Wrynoss) just after a thunder storm with hail. Key to decending, don't let your speed build up and keep loose with your bum hovering over the back of the saddle.

I love ridding in the lake district, it's challenging but at the same time very rewarding. Decending these roads is all about balance, confidence, and planning ahead. Decent tyres help too.

A bike that's set up properly and fits your style of ridding is a huge factor too.

I wish all those unlucky enough to fall a complete and speedy recovery.

Yesterday was my 4th FW and I found the roads even more treacherous than during last years' deluge. I would regard myself as fairly experienced and thought I was riding cautiously but I did still have a few slidey back wheel moments off the back of the Honister. After which I took a few psi out of each tyre (@700c - this helps although don't take so much out you end up pinch-puncturing) and took it even easier. In addition to the seriously injured I saw quite a few minor injuries - it was one of those days when it was very easy to get caught out. Healing vibes to the two seriously injured and hats off again to the Lakes RC for a really well-marshalled event.

RE descending tips - Thanks all for some really solid advice. Looks to be a matter of not letting the speed build up too much - especially with my, erm, propensity for momentum! (and praying for no oncoming traffic)

@alexjones5

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?

+1 for that. Did my first Sportive yesterday in the Etape Caledonia and there were wrappers all over the place. A beautiful route, but not a way to keep locals onside (thanks to all of them for their support on the course yesterday!)

Passed two guys one on a stretcher but communicating with medics and another with a broken arm/collarbone. hope both are OK.

+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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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!

6) oh, and discs

Don't feed the trolls people.

Healing vibes to All FW riders this morning.

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.

700c: slowly and cautiously!

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

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?!