Fred Whitton route now any day timed challenge

One of Britain's toughest and best know sportive rides, the Fred Whitton Challenge a 112 mile one day sportive ride over some of the toughest roads in the Lake District can now be done any time during the year – and riders can get a time for their rides too.

The gruelling one day challenge is held each year in May in the Lake District and is a ride for charity run in memory of Fred Whitton, starting and finishing at Coniston, with the route including the climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott & Wrynose passes. The Fred Whitton was one of t

But thanks to organiser Paul Loftus, Cumbria Tourism and the Lake District National Park the ride will be available all year round, and it will be called the Four Seasons Fred Whitton.

With the one-day event always over-subscribed, Mr Loftus, of the Lakes Road Club, said: “The Four Seasons Fred Whitton gives riders an opportunity to try the Fred Whitton Challenge route at any time of the year and they could take one, two, or three days to complete it.

“The timing system is programmed to take notice of an overnight stay and would only give the riders actual riding time.”

The challenge, sponsored by Lake District bike shop Biketreks, was one of the first and one of the toughest sportive rides in the country, and now you can do it during the summer or winter, it’s up to you.

The timing system has been produced by Sportident to enable riders to self time with the use of electronic boxes placed around the full route, which starts and finishes in Coniston. There are checkpoints at Kirkstone Pass Inn, Buttermere Youth Hostel, and Gosforth.

On arrival at Coniston the rider’s time is automatically recorded and then placed on www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk, where a completion certificate can be downloaded.

The start date for the facility is Saturday, August 1 and full details of how to enter are available on the Fred Whitton website.