Final Shakedown & Bike Check before the Fred Whitton 25 | Ribble Valley, Jeffery Hill & Chipping

Just a week before the Fred Whitton 25, I took the SL8 out for a final systems check after getting it back from warranty work — now fitted with fresh tyres, a new rear derailleur, and fully re-indexed gears. This 30-mile ride around the beautiful Ribble Valley took in Jeffrey Hill and a chill stop in Chipping for coffee. Nothing too crazy, just a perfect pre-event spin to make sure everything was working smoothly.

Ride Highlights:
• Jeffrey Hill climb
• Chipping café stop
• SL8 updates: new tyres & derailleur
• Stunning spring countryside

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00:00 Introduction
01:50 Ride
02:45 Trough of Bowland
06:20 Jeffery Hill climb
08:49 Roman Road
09:52 Fred Whitton – outro

Welcome back to the channel. Right, you’re joining me today from the Ribble Valley once again. Eight days away now from the Fred Witten and some good news at last. Um I don’t know if you had watched my previous video on the Strata Sport, but I had to complete that ride on my winter bike, my Demane, which I borrowed my girlfriend’s wheels for. It did make the ride a lot better. Um, the bike does have issues. The derailer’s gone on that on the rear and the front derailer is playing up as well. It’s full of rust. I think that’s from winter’s whiff riding. But anyway, the good news is she’s back and thank you very much. I know we had the I had to go through the ball lake of sending my derailer back and being told it was going to be the 27th of May. It was going to arrive back. Specializing Chester sorted me out. Uh they had one left in the store and themselves they weren’t going to get any more till June. So thankfully there was one and they’ve swapped it over and when mine arrives from ShraMM which is the E1 I’m getting in return instead of a D1 which is really good as they’re around £675. Um when it does arrive they’ll just put mine in the box. So yeah, good news. We’re um hopefully ready for the Fred. This one’s a bit of a Today it’s just about 35 mi. It’s about bedding in new tires and checking the bike obvious, seeing everything’s ready for next week, so I won’t have any time now before uh before then anyhow. Yeah, kind of nervous, but I have been training for it for quite a while now, so we should go all right. And I’ve done a lot more training before I did it last year. Right. Anyway, let’s get on with this ride. Huh? Heat. Heat. Heat. Well, and these are views we’ve been waiting for all winter. You just cannot beat the Ribble Valley on a sunny day. It’s absolutely beautiful. You can see for miles up there. I don’t know if you can on the camera though. We’re going to drop down now to the inner white well, loop round, go to chip in, quick coffee stop, um, and then I think I might have a go at Jeffrey Hill and reverse and then head back, see how I feel. So, I’m only supposed to be taking it steady today. Just a quick run out on the bike, seeing everything’s all right with it. Um, to be fair, I could avoid the Roman road and head to Sabden and climb up. I can’t remember the road name, but segment up there. Yeah, you’ve seen it a few times on me channel. It’s usually what from when I drop down from uh Nick Pendle in reverse. Anyway, I am waffling on. Let’s get down this beautiful descent. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Right. Well, we’ve just come out of chipping in. Had a coffee. I was there a lot longer than I should have been. Uh a nice couple and two other lads that were on bikes. Had a good chat with them. Um, yeah, asking where we’re going. I think they wanted me to go with him toward Long Ridge, but not happening. I’m going to do Jeff Jeffrey Hill and I’m going to drop down to down Birdie Brow, make my way home. I don’t think I’ve got enough time to head towards Sabden and go that climb. It’s getting a bit late in the day. It was only just to test the bike out today. I’m not going to gain anything now before the Fred. No chance. This uh I must admit these new brakes are fantastic. A lot better than the old ShraMM red D1 brakes. Uh the ergonomics of these new hoods. Really comfortable. That one finger pull now on the levers. Splendid. Hey. Right. I think let’s get our way to Jeffrey. get up this horrible climb. Have just done one today then. All right. Here we go. Stop. Wow. Yeah. Well, that’s Jeffrey Hill done again. Felt good going up that bit of a confidence booster for next week. Hey, let’s see if got PR if I have pop it up here. Right, I’m going to make this quick. Let’s get down this fast descent and get back. Heat. Heat. Can’t stop. Heat. Heat. Help me. Woo. I think it’s definitely warmer brakes in today. Well, that’s me last proper ride done until the Fred. Yeah, I think the nerves are going to be kicking in this week. Um, I’m really looking forward to it. Don’t get me wrong. I have trained uh for it. Um, I am confident. Just hard not pass scares you. No, but it’s um for anyone who is going to do the Fred Whitten for the first time, whether it’s this year, next year, the year after, whenever it is, um just enjoy your day out. It’s spectacular. It’s the It’s the best sport team by far in the UK. The support from the locals. Um he’s just on another level. Um it’s even on one of the corners. I think it’s about 3/4 in or maybe 2/3 into the ride. I can’t remember the call. I think it’s something like team X, whatever it is. I’ll have to put it on here. But anyway, they’re partying on one of the corners, handing out Haribo drinks. It’s absolutely brilliant. And uh the event the day spurs you on like really does. Um yeah, and I’m really looking forward to that. It’s brilliant. You know, lots of cowbells going and I’ve never been on a sport eve like it. Um but yeah, I’m can’t wait now. But yeah, I am a little bit nervous. Anyway, I’ve done around 37 miles 3,300 ft for today’s ride, mate. I think in the last the last week, you’re not going to gain or lose anything, are you? Before the Fred, it’s uh what’s happened in the last month, few months, what’s matters, but I’m happy with the bike. The bike’s ready. The indexing’s fine. Tires, the new tires are brilliant. Uh brakes are brilliant. Ready in the new brake pads. Yeah, super happy. We’re ready for it. I’m also going to be doing some social media videos um in the run-up to the Fred and on the day when we check in, which is the Saturday. So, if anyone does want to see them or whoever’s on Instagram, um I’ll leave a link in the description below. But yeah, that’s it now. And me next video after this will be the uh aftermath. Well, the Fred Witten. Hopefully, I’ve survived. But yeah, anyway, thanks again guys for watching. Um if you could like and subscribe, that’d be brilliant. And I’ll uh I’ll see you in the next one.