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A first timers view on Yorkshire’s ’special’ cross race.

Lined up on the start line with a 450 or so other riders and a slightly fuzzy head.  I hear my name been called and I squeeze past a few riders to join Amy for a brief chat about pre-race tactics. Although I had heard stories and been given ‘handy hits and tips’ by vets of the race I really didn’t know what to expect from Britain’s most infamous Cross’ race*.
*This would be my first cross’ race and fourth ever cross’ ride as the bike was purchased a couple of weeks ago.

Click-Clunk

I don’t hear the start signal but the sound of hundreds cleats click-clunking into pedals and squealing brakes as the chaotic group winds up to a quick pace following the leadout car.  I was told that this first road section should be used to get as far through the pack as possible before the route turns off-road and bottlenecks. This was difficult in such a large pack with many riders wanting to do the same and an idiotic bunch of motorcyclists intent on overtaking the entire field.  Caution outweighed the need to gain a few places and I decided to more a less stay where I was.

Simon Fell

We hit the offroad section and before long was pushing up Simon Fell, the steepest section of the course and it was ‘bloody steep + 1 ©’ on the steep-a-meter, having to lean forward and grab at tussocks of grass to stop falling backwards in some sections - it also went on for fair bit.

It was steeper than it looks and it looks steep (photograph by Wig Worland)

Gaining one or two places but generally plodding up the ascent wishing I’d done more fell races this year, calves already feeling it.  But pleased that my new technique of carrying the bike across my back was a lot less painful than ‘the bruised shoulder method’ I’d been trying out on my few practice rides.

Ingleborough descent

The peaty moorland plateau* at the top of Simon Fell was windswept and covered by cloud but my and my calves felt relieved a to be back riding rather than carrying. Descending Ingleborough (to my surprise) I started passing riders, the bike actually felt quite good (again to my surprise, as it had felt horrendous on any ‘proper’ descents during practice**) .
*Probably not actually  a plateau at all but it felt like it after Simon Fell
**Raising the stem and fitting top levers - made all the difference I reckon

Picnic

I hit the next road section feeling good but with the first twinges of cramp in my thigh when out of the saddle.
I concentrated on drinking more.  At Chapel-Le-Dale I met with my ‘feed team’ who had brought sandwiches, cake, fruit - an entire picnic basically (thanks Jill, Nick, Fi !). After a quick chat I explained that I couldn’t really stop to enjoy the feast; downed half a can of coke, grabbed a bottle, felt a bit guilty and headed up Wherneside trying to reel back any riders that had passed me during ‘lunch’.

Whernside sketch-a-rama

After riding as much of it as possible, the push/carry* started and I plodded up the untidy rock steps, although I tried a couple of efforts to increase the pace my legs were saying no - claiming they were not used to ascending steep hillsides quickly.
*Sam from Sett Valley Cycles who placed in the top 30 at last years Three Peaks advised me to only carry only you have to - which seemed to work well, the majority of riders seemed happy winging their bikes on their shoulder at every opportunity when the terrain was still push-able - which seems like a waste of energy to me and no quicker?

Stoopid grin

The descent off Whernside was for me the sketchiest of the three, I had started to cramp again and wet slabbed rock path and large stone drainage channels felt ‘rough’ to say the least on 32mm tires inflated to 70psi. I managed to ride most of it (miraculously) without crashing.

Pen-y-Ghent

The cramp in the thighs was now really kicking in on the next road section Pen-y-Ghent and I had to stop briefly to drop a couple of Nunn tablets into my the Torque juice - it tasted potent but seemed to do the job.  As the legs felt much better as I started the ascent of Pen-y-gent, actually enjoying the climb as:- It was ridable (to around halfway), there was plenty of support from spectators, it was the final climb and had the added entertainment of been able to watch the fast guys razzing down the hill as the descent follows the exact same path as the ascent.

After ‘dibbing’ at the summit I tried to recall the best lines through the loose, rocky descent but generally ended up following who ever happened to be in front or just looking for anything remotely less rocky. Again I was surprised how well the Ridley handled itself, only having to dismount and run one or two technical section. Out of the lane, Big ring, out of the saddle - push hard into the finish - Woooohooo!

Eh? This isn’t the finish?  There is another road section?! But I just used up the last of my energy in my ’spectacular sprint finish’!   I got on with it, cursing my goldfish brain and ambled around the final road loop finishing in a very unspectacular, been put in my place time of:  04 hours 31 minutes 52 seconds  Placing at around 250 ish

The Three Peaks was one of the hardest races I’ve ever done and I think also the most captivating. I’m already scheming on how I achieve a sub 4 hour time next year.  Now where’s me fell shoes….

Further Reading

Plenty of others have written about this years race:-
Trio
Richpips
Terrahawk
Twinkly Dave
Dave Haygarth
And a site dedicated to the Three Peaks cyclocross race
Dave Haygarth’s Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross Blog