Viewing the race as a good bit of training for the upcoming 3 Peaks Cyclocross race, as I’d only ridden the CX bike off-road a couple of times since the winter. The main aim was to just to finish the race - I didn’t.

Pre-race visions of the CX riders joyfully, skipping up the steps, bike on shoulder winking at miserable down trodden mountain bikers unclogging their 35lb mudcatchers were, well a daydream.

The course was split into two pretty distinct halves; weatherproof, tight, twisty blue grade trail centre-ish on one half and muddy tracks on t’other, overall it better suited a mountain bike, throw in 8 hours of pedaling and the solo CX riders had their work cut out.

The race started with a ‘orrid run up and down some steep muddy banks to break up the field, finishing the run in 15th-ish position I grabbed the bike and followed a couple of dimwitted others missing a well signed turn, the resulting detour costing a few minutes. Halfway through the lap I realised I’d forgotten shove a spare tube in my jersey so took things a bit easier, pitting at he end of the lap to frantically search for one.

Lap two:- Went fine with a few wish I’d bought the mountain bike moments.

Lap three:- at the beginning of the manmade section I decided to give it a bit more welly as I had a fair idea of what was to come around each corner. Not enough care taken on a slimy slab of stone and the front wheel washes out. I hate this type of crash, you don’t see it coming, there’s not even time for a ‘Oh Cack!’ moment. I remember my helmet hitting the ground, thinking I came down hard seeing a few of those ‘floaty wispy thinggies’ and a forearm coated in blood/grit mix. I got up and knew that was pretty much it for the race and toddled off to find the ambulance. Thanks to the St John’s Ambulance who took time out of BBQing to give me the once over.

This is the first ever race (most likely through luck) I received the big DNF.
In retrospect, the chances of doing the full 8 hours on the CX bike may have been a struggle (I don’t think any solo CX rider finished?) but was up for trying. On the upside it was good to see a race from the pit. And its also a nice excuse to buy a new helmet.

An ace day with nice people, well done to Jason and the other organisers for another great event. And chapeau to Dave for predictably winning.

Up. By 5.30 two bikes have been squeezed into the car & I’m off to get my pit helper for the race.  Seb had offered to drive so I could get some sleep.

Zzzzzzzzz…. The change in speed wakes, a much fresher me, as we turn on to the bendy roads just a few miles from our destination.

Stepping out of the air-conditioned car into an already very warm Newcastleton and it’s only 9am.

3 hours later and I’m beginning my first solo 24 hour race. It’s now hot and even though my pace is purposely slow I’m uncomfortable, my first brief pit and the bottle of Torq I’ve consumed isn’t enough, still thirsty.  

A few hours later and I’m trudging on, swapping places with Matt Carr as he catches and passes me on steady climbs (on his singlespeed) & I pass him on descents and the steeper climbs. Its now HOT +1 and the my mind is focused only on the shade of the next set of trees in and the sun going down. My pit stops are still short(ish) but after 8 hours I’m feeling less than good, especially my arse. Swapping the SDG Fly saddle to a ‘ahhhh that’s better’ Charge Spoon & USE suspension post gives some light relief.

8 hours 13 minutes and 9 seconds into the 24 hours of Exposure Race

As the day reluctantly cools, I mash on.

I had heard a lot about ‘the dark places’ your mind visits during during the small hours of a 24 hour race but I never really encountered anydark moments - my mind was mainly occupied with “ow my back/arse/legs hurt(s)” and “I hope Seb has that brew ready for me in the next pit”.

Seb was ace - super chirpy, food and brews at the ready and generally sorting me and the bike out every lap.

And so it went on, I kept eating (far to much) and riding.
During the morning I was told I was in 20th postion, then 16th as the final lap came round I pitted looking forward to a couple of minutes rest as Seb lubed the bike but was greeted by Seb, Phil and Dave handing me a fresh bottle, gel and telling me 15th place was only a few seconds behind and 13th a few in front as I was pushed out - I hammered the last lap working with the Vet leader for most of the lap (my 2nd fastest of the race(!)) and grunted into the finish in 14th place in my category (open male).

Overall the course, organisation and ‘vibe’ of the race was awesome - I started the race fully expecting never wanting to do another - I finished wondering if next time I could go top 10 with some decent training…

I consumed an impressive amount of scran during the race - here’s the list:-

• 20 x Torq gels
• 16 x Bottles of Torq juice
• 4 x rounds of egg butties
• 6 x Cheese & onion pasties
• 2 x tins rice pudding
• 1 x tin macaroni cheese
• 1 x tin fruit salad
• 1 x large portion pasta
• 6 x mini baby bells
• 3 x cans coke
• Brews
• 1 x Bacon butty
• Numerous energy bars

Voodoo Bokor out of retirement (for the time being)

I’ve booked a physio appointment early next week which will hopefully shed some light on what I’ve done and how to fix it. I’m worried that I’ll be ordered off the bike to rest up so getting an easy spin in tomorrow just in case.

I plan on finally doing my first ‘traditional’ CX race next weekend so lets cross those fishfingers…

As the only bike that wasn’t in bits the decision was made for me to ride it on the singlespeed. I’d ridden two of the three races at the Quarry earlier in the year on the Genesis iO so knew what to expect; a hard, uncomfortable race.

Lee Quarry is nearly all singlespeedable (just) there is no let up it, no real rest points. Each climb is just on the limit of do-able and the descents all require full concentration, the rider needing to really move the bike around. To sum up its knackering.

I also elected to go for the all or nothing approach to kit (no tools, no pump, no tube) due to it been a short race at around 1.45 and I’d not punctured in the 3 previous races at Lee Quarry (tempting fate you say?).

er ?! GO!

A good 10 minutes hanging around getting cold on the start online and apparently we were off, which took me and others by surprise (what happened to megaphone and countdown)? In the middle of 70 or so bikes scrabbling for grip on the loose rocky hill start approaching the first corner and narrower section. I went out relatively hard (its either that or push if your riding a singlespeed starting a race on a steep loose hill) and by the first narrow section was towards the front of the field.

The fast start soon caught up with me and the familiar breathing hard and feeling ‘orrid kicked in. I was passed by a few other riders which continued for a while eventually finding a bit of a rhythm 3 laps or so in and not feeling quite so bad and started to pass others again. The iO as always excelled at the swoopy and rocky stuff, although the frame is built around 100mm fork it feels confident and is surprisingly quick at Lee Quarry type terrain.
I didn’t have the heart on the final lap for long slog of a climb (the tramline) and pushed/ran part of it, jumping back on to ride the final climb to cross the finish line feeling pretty much done in.

I was 2nd singlespeeder to a very fast guy from the Wheelbase lot and came 10th out of 52 in my ‘Weekend Warrior’ category which I was pretty happy with.

One gripe with the otherwise ace event is the category set up, there are three categories overall:-
1. Have-a-go-hero (beginners)
2. Weekend Warriors (done quite a few races but don’t have a race license or owt)
3. Racer (fully licensed up racer)

In the first series the starts of each category were staggered, so all made sense. In the second series the ‘Weekend Warriors’ and ‘Racers’ start at the same time AND the winner of the ‘Weekend Warrior’ race would have been placed second in the ‘Racer’ category?! The self-seeding obviously does not work - what’s the point?
If the two categories had been amalgamated I would have finished in 24th position overall - Racer cat. for me next time.

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

New Bike! It arrived just in time for the The Three Peaks (my first ever CX race) which happens this Sunday.

The Crossbow was purchased from Sam at the very helpful Sett Valley Cycles who specialize in Ridley bikes - highly recommended.

Only ridden about 3 times so far, a 55 mile hilly, sportive ride around the Peaks and a couple of short local off road rides. And its ACE!

I took Rich up on his offer of a lift to Kielder and we arrived around an hour before dusk, enough time to register and pitch my tent (on a steep incline to avoid the bog in flat part of the campsite which in retrospect was a mistake).

After a restless night of sliding to the bottom of the tent I woke around 5.30am. After the usual last minute faff and rushing about I rolled up to the start line dead on 6.30. After 5 minutes delay/being eaten for brekkie by midges, we were off following the lead out car out of the Castle.

Reassuringly there seemed to be quite a few other singlespeeders about.  I started eating pretty much straight away and kept that up for the entire race, I also drank alot more than I usually would mixing Torq juice in one bottle and plain water in the other.

Plodding

I wasn’t really sure how to pace myself having never done anything close to 100 off-road miles in one stint before so decided to ‘plod’ (not breathing hard at any point) to start with and see how I felt later on.  At the feed station around 47 miles in (complete with stem deep puddles) to my surprise I was still feeling relatively strong and upped the pace and started to overtake a fair number of other riders.

All continued to go well until about just after the mile 68 marker - there was a long muddy drag along the side of a river and felt the energy suddenly start to drain out of me and noticed I was been caught by a little group of riders this was the one really low point of the race for me. I stopped before been caught, faffed with my seatpost that had been slipping and sucked down another gel - this all took a couple of minutes and the group had passed me. I really thought that was it, I had reached the fabled bonk.  But after getting back on the bike, 5 minutes later I felt loads better and energy returned, I found that I started to pass riders again.

After the last feed station at around mile 88 I had my only (very minor) mechanical the chain started to make an odd sound, I stopped to tighten the very stretched chain and re-lube (thanks to the Muc-Off lube donating rider) - a nice silent bike again.

Having seen the gradient map beforehand I knew that there was a long steep climb from here onwards before a few miles of singletrack descent to the finish.  My knees were now aching but I started to push for the finish (perhaps a bit early as the climbing went on for bloody ages) and for the first time in the race I was breathing hard. The final descent was swoopy, fast, ace stuff (as promised in the rider briefing) and I rolled into the finish in a time of 11.5 hours*.

*I think* as I purposely didn’t wear a watch, results should be out soon but I ‘heard’ out of approx 200 starters less than 50% finished the race.

*UPDATE* The results are now out I came 51st in my category (Open Male) in a time of 11 hours 35 mins. 130 out of the 200 who started completed the race.

What I learned from riding 100 (very wet) miles

• Fitting a suspension seat post and forks was a good idea.
• I can consume a surprisingly large amount of food and water in a hundred miles.
• Kenda Small Block 8’s really are an ace tyre.
• I thought that riding this race would be; physically the hardest thing I have done on a bike up to now. It was defiantly hard, but I found other shorter races harder (I suppose due to racing at 100% effort).
• Maybe I shouldn’t ‘plod’ quite as much next time.
• I could spend a lot less time faffing at the food/water stations.

It was an ace event and will be back to attempt a sub 10 hour next year.

Read more about the Kielder 100 2009 race

xcracer.com report by Joolze
Singletrack magazine report by Rich

Genesis IO hides in the bracken, “no more, had enough thanks!”

2 months have passed quickly and I’ll be traveling up to Kielder a week tomorrow. Although feeling fit I’m not sure I’ve done enough training and never done anything close to 100 miles in one day (not even done 100k!) so really don’t know what to expect - I may blow up after 60 miles.

The race has given me an excuse to buy new kit:-

a new lightweight backpack (to much gear to use just a saddle pack) after a unhealthy amount of geeking out and researching I decided on a Deuter Race (to be reviewed)

Ergon GX2’s grips - I’ve wanted to try these for around a year or so only used them a couple of times so far, but not yet convinced. I’ve heard they take a bit of getting used to though - review to come.

The big decision is the bike. I can’t decide whether to ride my Genesis singlespeed or the lighter geared Voodoo, common sense would say the geared bike, but the singlespeed is the bike I ride most of the time and much more ‘comfortable’.

Mmmm decisions….

In other news Sleepless in the Saddle was ace! (and dry!). Our team also came 19th.

Rider 199 at Sleepless in the saddle 2009

I’ve also just signed up to the Montane Kieder 100 a one day, hundred mountain bike mile race on the borders of Scotland - I’ve not done an off (or on!) century before so quite apprehensive about it - and its in around 8 weeks time!

Been pretty busy with bike related events recently (and been a bit lazy on the olde blog) I’m hoping to do a decent catch up but the brief version goes like:-

In reverse order:-

• Grizedale (Pottle around the North Face Trail - stag weekend)
• SSUK 09 (ace!) (Joint 4th)
• Brownbacks final race in series (1st in singlespeed category).
• MCR 10k (slow)
• Dyfi Enduro (rode with a friend and didn’t ‘race’)
• Enduro 6 (82nd/135)
• Brownbacks Race 1 (11th in category)