September 28th, The Three Peaks (with a cafe or two), A Spectators Guide.

It is some years since I`ve been to watch the Three Peaks Cyclo cross and having walked them on several occasions in my break from cycling I thought it would be a great day out to watch Chris and Will slog there guts out through the Yorkshire Dales and suggested to  number of other club members that we could go and seek out some alternative lanes and watch a great event in the process.

So early Sunday morning after meeting up with Mike and Phil Bridge we set off for the Dales.  We were soon in new territory and as the early morning mist cleared and a poetic moment about it been the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness passed we found ourselves in Horton in ribblesdale unloading our sparkling clean road bikes and paying £2 into the honesty box for parking in a farmers field. I think Mike felt obliged to cough up after talking to the bloke parked next to us who turned out to be the farmer who owned the field and who was glaring at the honesty box.

We were soon on our way along the Ribble valley heading for Selside where we followed a bridleway and rode as far as road bikes would allow us to watch the
cyclo crossers on the first part of the ride. We passed ex cyclo crosser Fred Salmon who was out to watch some of his former team mates and of course our intrepid boys. After a brief chat with Fred ( obviously got over my fear of Fred, but that is an entirely different story!!) we found a convenient wall and watched as the three peaks field wended its way up Ingleborough. Will stopped for a brief chat whilst he waited for Chris and then they disappeared into the distance, and we were asked were we cheerleaders! Must get some team coloured pom poms for next years event.

We then hurtled back to the road and headed for Ribblehead viaduct to see the intrepid duo again. We caught up with old friends Ann and Mike Workman out on there tandem and after a very hard and demanding 7.5 miles stopped for the first of what was to be many tea breaks of the day at the fabulous Ribblehead viaduct. We admired the view and whoever suggested bacon butties here went up in my estimation. Eventually we realised the boys would be sometime so went for an explore along the tracks below Whernside and soon caught sight of cyclists hurtling along about half a mile away but there was no way through. Back to the viaduct where we watched a new game of sit your child in the most dangerous position you can and see which extremely fast cyclo crosser can get them!! We watched as some rode down the banking, others went for the steps but the man who face planted his way down the steps
definitely won the how not to descend on the 3 peaks competition. Eventually the intrepid duo appeared and we cheered them on yet again. As they hurtled of to Pen Y Ghent we had another cup of tea before carrying on to Ingleton and Clapham where we stopped for lunch after 22 miles and Greg suggested cake and then sat with a smug grin as we all ordered and he said no thanks.

After lunch we headed back to Helwith Bridge  to try and catch up with Will and Chris but missed them and then a final 2 miles to Horton in ribblesdale where I managed to win the sprint for the sign!! Before returning home having managed 30 miles and 3 stops,   why can`t all club rides have this ratio of stops to miles.  The weather was brilliant and a great day out was
had by all with a suggestion that we make a weekend of it next year.

Danielle Riley.