Three Peaks Cyclocross report

[spike]

I managed to complete - more accurately survive - the Three Peaks Cyclocross Race on Sunday in 5h43 - rather longer than I'd anticipated but this was partly due to the conditions and partly due to the nature of the route. This was my first attmpt at this historic event, now in its 50th running. All 50 editions have been organised by the same man. To give you an idea of its appeal - albeit to a limited number of people - some have finished over 20 races now.

The course itself is quite unique. Unlike most cyclcoross races it is a single "lap" and covers three big hills in Yorkshire. It is advertised as being 61km long of which 28km is surfaced and 6-8 is of it is not rideable - on the day probably more even than this as it was so wet. As such the top athletes are usually accomplished fell runners rather than pure cyclists.

The first climb (Ingleborough) was particularly hard. The climb is in three main parts over a grassy, marshy fell. There are short sections of dirt track between and rideable bits but essentially most of it would have to be cimbed on foot even in ideal conditions. Towards the top of Simon Fell (the middle part of the climb) the slope is so steep that 99% of the competitors make for the fence on the edge and use it to haul themselves up the slope.

The descent off Ingleborough was nearly as bad. It is a mixture of grassy slopes and rocky tracks. I fell twice whilst trying to negotiate the grass slopes on foot and once actually overtook my mate by sliding past him on my butt. That did mean having to crawl back up the slope to fetch my bike though! There are rideable bits but I came off at least twice during these.

Eventually we passed the checkpoint and knocked off the road link to the next climb - Whernside. After a small river crossing you head up a rocky slope which quickly becomes too steep and rocky to ride. Soon this changes into a long series of steps, getting bigger and steeper as you get higher. The descent off Whernside is the most technical section of the race and will remain imprinted on my mind for some time. It is very rocky and also has a number of drainage ditches built into it - these are made of parallel rock slabs embedded into the trail to create a ditch between and protrude 3-6 inches above the trail - requiring a timely wheel lift to avoid slamming into them and pinching the tyres or going over the front. I consider myself to be a reasonably competent descender on the mountain bike but this section stretched me considerably.

Another slightly longer road traverse brings you to the final climb - Pen-y-Ghent. This is more rideable than the other two but again gets very steep and rocky higher up and requires a fair bit of running or walking. The descent would be mostly rideable on a normal day - certainly after the first quarter anyway - but my brake pads were now worn entirely through and with the wet conditions I had to tackle a lot of the steeper bits on foot. The small ford at the bottom was a new, temporary feature I think. It was apparently 18 inches deep early on in the day, but three feet deep by the time we hit it.

After that I was very pleased to hit the final road section to the finish line.

Given that it was my first attempt at this race and I am new to cyclocross as a whole and am no runner this was always going to be a challenge but the weather conditions amplified it considerably. Nine time winner Rob Jebb (who completed in an insane 3h09) has said it was the worst conditions he'd seen. Supposedly the gusts were hitting 50mph on the tops of the climbs and the rain was heavy and horizontal. When carrying the bike the wind was pushing you over the whole time and tended to twist you sideways making it even harder and at times I got blown off the track. One chap just ahead of me got blown off the track and nearly down a near vertical slope - couldn't see how far he would have fallen as it disappeared into the fog.

In spite of this I found myself enjoying the ride tremendously. Partly because of the challenge i think, partly because it was such a new and unique experience but also a lot to do with the people involved, both fellow competitors and supporters. The event seems to attract a particular breed of nutter, very friendly, tough but also down to earth and unpretentious. Despite the conditions nearly 600 of the 700 entries started and just over 500 finished. The supporters were out in numbers and very vocal and friendly. I will definitely be back next year!

Route info [url]http://www.justgoride.co.uk/content/Routes/Viewer.aspx?id=476[/url]

and a video [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQmVqxVJvao[/url] - rather nicer conditions than we'd had!

[Alan M]

well done Spike - pretty scary stuff!

[Andrew G]

Well done Spike, this is an absolute legend of an event. Would love to give it a go at some point.

[Roy Green]

That's the sort of ride you'll always remember! Congratulations.

[Sylv]

Looks like you picked a tough year for a first time at this event - well done. Can only get easier next time.

I've seen crazy photos of people more than waist deep in puddles.

[Andrew G]

Conditions were tough for you...but at least you didn't faceplant in front of a camera .

[youtubewww]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Hluv6Nzwg[/youtubewww]

[Grahame]

Good work, and a great write up.

I still have (occasional) nightmares about doing the 3 peaks on a mountainbike in 1997.