Three Peaks Cyclo Cross 2010

The Three Peaks Cyclo Cross has for some years now been something of an emotional roller coaster for me. It is the most magnificent of events and one to which I have always aspired to. As a road racer and time triallist I have always been little more than a club rider with a string of results like a rats tail. The savage terrain of the Yorkshire Dales seems the most unlikely of places where I might choose to improve upon this standing.  Click on the map to enlarge the profile and see for yourself. 

This year was my 7th ride in the event which I first rode in 1988. You soon become aware that you are well off the pace the first time you reach the agonisingly steep slopes of Simon Fell. By the time you have scaled the mighty Ingleborough and rejoined the road at cold Cotes, the race for the podium has long gone. All of those who follow in their tracks have their own agenda. To beat a fellow club mate, to nail a personal best time or even just make it to the finish.

The winners very often dip just inside the three hour mark and occasionally, a few minutes over. A good time for the event is within an hour of the winner. Ultimately, a sub four hour ride.

The riders at the finish will complete times up to six and a half hours from the start time at Helwith Bridge. Mental and physical states vary across the spectrum of tired, very fatigued and broken.

The race requires a good level of fitness and stamina. You don't have to be a great runner but the ability to stride confidently across the difficult and very steep ground is crucial. You must also have reasonable bike handling skills and good judgement. The descents are treacherous and gravity ensures that speed is never far away. Rocks, boulders, steps, slabs, culverts, bogs, streams and frighteningly steep drops come at you fast and furiously. The concentration required to pick good lines and physical demands of soaking up the punishing pounding are intense. Add to the mix 500 riders competing along side you, the constant danger of falling and you have huge variation for things that can and do go wrong on the day. Did I forgot to mention the subtle blend of mental strength and stupidity.

My times for the course seem to have averaged somewhere around the 4 hours 20 minute mark over the years. Only once have I broken the 4hr barrier in 1999 with a 3hr 59 minute ride. I rode the worst bike I have ever owned, carried my spares in a bum bag and wore a rugby shirt beneath an Atom cycling jersey that was two sizes too small for me. I have since ridden the event with a much better bike, sturdy wheels and substantial tyres but the 4hr barrier becomes a bigger mountain every year.

During my attempts in 08 and 09, I began to stretch my abilities on the descent to frightening new levels. Short sections of complete lack of control were buoyed in my faith that speed would carry the body of the rider across even the worst of terrain. And to some degree it worked beautifully with a new understanding of how the really fast descenders are able to seemingly float across even the most impassable of terrain. I hoped it would be the key to unlocking a new fast time but it was a flawed plan. My skill levels were brought into question too many times and the bike paid a heavy price for bad lines, bad choices and sometimes, just bad luck. Once you puncture, you are going nowhere and when you run out of tubes you are riding on the rim which soon becomes a cart wheel. Whilst your helpers do there very best to put you back on the road, it is too late to beat the clock.

Experience now tells me that the winning formula is fitness, concentration, some caution and a little bit of luck. 2010 saw me try and put this new game plan into action for another attempt at the 4hr barrier.

There were five Will's Wheels riders in the event. Hugh, Greg and Tall Paul were all Peaks virgins with Phil and myself being the other two. I was really hoping that Phil could put in a good performance and that he might drag me somewhere not too far behind to a good ride also. Greg had only built his over geared bike up the day before and Hugh was looking to doing a half respectable time in relation to other Will's Wheels riders who, at least once attempted the race with finishing times that didn't really reflect their abilities as bike riders.

From the start we battled our way through the big field to as close to the front as we could get. The bunch is squeezed through a farm gate and the race hits the rough stuff after around 4 miles. Phil got a good run through and Greg was right behind him. I was in trouble and lost a bit of ground straightaway. In fact I realised very quickly that my form was very much in question. When Hugh passed me on Simon Fell I was struggling. Trying to keep up with him was difficult and the rideable section at the top couldn't have come soon enough.

The ground coming off Ingleborough was wet and it is notorious for its very boggy holes. Greg steamed down there like an express train but was soon stopped in his tracks. I also succumbed to the bog, sailing through the air with the front of the bike firmly stuck into the hillside. In fact I came off several times. By the time I hit the road at Cold Cotes, I knew it was going to be a tough battle with myself.

I had to nail it on the road to Whernside to catch up with Greg who was putting on a storming show. Greg later would receive an unofficial prize for the biggest chainrings in the event.

Going up Whernside was good for me whilst Greg's large cycling legs began to say "no" to walking up lots of steps and rocks. My biggest fear was the descent from Whernside that was the scene of myself hurling tyres and tubes around in a great rage some 12 months previous. Today, I wasn't going to succumb to punctures. I didn't either but I have to admit to doing some pretty pussy bike dismounts and avoiding bits that others rode across.

Despite a head over heals dismount and twisted brake lever, I left the iconic Ribblehead viaduct behind me without too many problems. The wind was favourable along the road to Horton in Ribblesdale and I was soon climbing the long flanks of Pen-Y-Ghent. My steam was well and truly running out and despite making steady progress, I was doing all I could to stay out of the red.

When I saw Phil coming towards me he was looking good and it was a fair estimation that he was on for a sub 4hr ride. It's easy to loose concentration coming off the last Peak and run into difficulties. I have in the past suffered two punctures on this descent and it was utmost on my mind. "Don't puncture" I shouted as he came steaming by. A little caution now might well see you to the finish safe and well.

Coming down I followed a bad line into a rut and spectacularly tumbled with the bike sailing through the air. From there on my concentration died and cautiously, I dropped down to the road with several riders passing me. In truth, I was knackered and on the road to the finish, despite a mechanical free run, I knew that 4hrs had passed.

Somebody decided to pass me just before the finish but I wasn't that stuffed. I went on his inside around the last bend and made sure he didn't come past again. I electronically signed out and mega cross rider Chris Young took our numbers and helped us through the finish area.

Phil was raging. Just after I'd seen him at the top of Pen-Y-Ghent, he punctured. He grappled with the air cylinder and after some assistance from a bystander with a pump, got on his way again. He perhaps didn't lose too much time but it was the difference between 3hours something and the 4hrs 10minutes that was recorded on his certificate. But that's the Three Peaks and you have all the more respect for the riders who win and make the top ten in this gruelling event.

Hugh finished strongly and passed the melting Greg somewhere on the slopes of Pen-Y-Ghent. In the end, I clocked 4:12:12, Hugh did a storming first Peaks with 4:30:47. Greg did a grinding 4:38:46 with his 53/42 chainset and Paul clocked 4:57:27 to bring all the Will's Wheels riders home between 4 and 5hrs. A creditable club performance.

Many thanks to Mike who was there at the bottom of all the climbs with spare wheels, food and encouragement. Thanks also to Danielle and her friends who shouted up during some dark moments. Huge thanks also to John Rawnsley and Bradford RCC for stunning organisation of a remarkable event.

Roll on next year..........!

Chris Riley.