Things i've learned from the three peaks.

[dan_bo]

1/. Carrying your bike on your back for up to an hour at a time up very steep (>1:1 at times) is very, very, very difficult. Very. Especially when you try and do it more than once. One lad said he was just doing it for 'fun' at the start of the first climb. he took it back 20 minutes later.

2/. Doing loads and loads of road miles on the bike is NOT adequate training for the three peaks. Fell running with a baby cow on your back is a bit more like it.

3/. Just because there's an old feller on an old singlespeed in denim shorts and trainers doing it, doesn't mean he doesn't know what he's doing. He'll get round better than you (me).

4/. The three peaks is not a cyclocross race. It's a duathlon with a bike.

5/. There are few more beautiful sights in this world than the view from whernside on a sunny day. Heart-stopping, jaw-dropping.

6/. Just because you've spent a hundred quid on a pair of MTB shoes, doesn't mean they're any good for walking in.

7/. Some people ride the majority of the whernside descent.

8/. It can get cold at 700m altitude, even on the sunniest day.

9/. I am prone to existential quandries if I spend more than~5 hours with my heart rate above 150.

I didn't make it round to the base of Pen-y-Ghent in time to avoid the cut-off. I could have made it, but the base of my calves exploded some time on the way up the 2nd ascent (whernside) and I spent a bit of time taking in the viewrubbing away the cramp and tightness before plodding at my own pace down to ribblehead. In the end i missed it by about 7 mins. Oh well.


In all, it's not a thing I regret doing,even though i'm still in pain. I do regret not listening to advice (that's not like me at all). It's mad, but it's also exhilarating and it's got a real unique, friendly atmosphere. The organisation is very very good, and the marshals helpful.

I'll be back for more if I can spend more time getting appropriate training in- more running-more climbing hills. The road sections weren't a problem. Them hill walks are well stiff, mate.

 

[jpembroke]

Well, bl**dy good effort anyway. I spoke to a bloke at a 'cross race last year who'd done it. Asked him the obvious "so, what's it like?" question, in my bright eyed, enthusiastic way, expecting a "oh, it's amazing, you have to do it" reply. Instead I got "It's horrible, f****** awful. I'll never ever do it again".

I still want to do it of course. Mind you, I'm more of a fellrunner these days anyway. My fell shoes are caked in mud; my road bike has mould on the saddle.

Again, good effort. May see you there one day.

 

[RedBike]

You've got my respect just entering. I've done it (well tried it) once and I always swore I would never attempt it again. Strangely over the last few days i've started itching to try again.

I was forced to quit after killing my bike (can't remember what was wrong now). Although even if the bike had lasted I don't think I would of!

 

[yenrod]

1/. Carrying your bike on your back for up to an hour at a time up very steep (>1:1 at times) is very, very, very difficult. Very. Especially when you try and do it more than once. One lad said he was just doing it for 'fun' at the start of the first climb. he took it back 20 minutes later.

2/. Doing loads and loads of road miles on the bike is NOT adequate training for the three peaks. Fell running with a baby cow on your back is a bit more like it.

3/. Just because there's an old feller on an old singlespeed in denim shorts and trainers doing it, doesn't mean he doesn't know what he's doing. He'll get round better than you (me).

4/. The three peaks is not a cyclocross race. It's a duathlon with a bike.

5/. There are few more beautiful sights in this world than the view from whernside on a sunny day. Heart-stopping, jaw-dropping.

6/. Just because you've spent a hundred quid on a pair of MTB shoes, doesn't mean they're any good for walking in.

7/. Some people ride the majority of the whernside descent.

8/. It can get cold at 700m altitude, even on the sunniest day.

9/. I am prone to existential quandries if I spend more than~5 hours with my heart rate above 150.

I didn't make it round to the base of Pen-y-Ghent in time to avoid the cut-off. I could have made it, but the base of my calves exploded some time on the way up the 2nd ascent (whernside) and I spent a bit of time taking in the viewrubbing away the cramp and tightness before plodding at my own pace down to ribblehead. In the end i missed it by about 7 mins. Oh well.


In all, it's not a thing I regret doing,even though i'm still in pain. I do regret not listening to advice (that's not like me at all). It's mad, but it's also exhilarating and it's got a real unique, friendly atmosphere. The organisation is very very good, and the marshals helpful.

I'll be back for more if I can spend more time getting appropriate training in- more running-more climbing hills. The road sections weren't a problem. Them hill walks are well stiff, mate.

I feel like I've just listened/had to a convo. with Longers.

Good report - love listening to race reports esp. from people who've done'em.

Real shame 'bout that cut-off BUT: every bit of admiration for you doing this event as i know its critically hard !

I've always said cyclo-x is basically an event whereby you escort a bike around a field

I can think of a fair few other masochistic things to do other than these but respect those that wish to do them ! as ive done some in the past and found they're crazy/fun/alternative - but're generally weirdly crazy...

 

[fossyant]

Well done mate, I'm totally crap at walking/running, so would never have considered it....

 

[Aperitif]

Great stuff dan bo - I wouldn't dream about carrying a bike uphill for an hour...bad enough sitting atop it! Well done you!

 

[Amanda P]

I've walked it twice, and that was enough...

(Not twice at one go, you understand...)

 

[trio25]

Great write-up, I'm feeling tempted. Just need a cyclo-cross bike and to improve my walking up steep slopes with a bike on my back skills then?

 

[dan_bo]

Yep, that's about the size of it trio. You racing at eastlands/ the clough this coming weekend?

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/we..._class=&evt_cat=&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=20

the clough's my stomping ground- I used to live on the edge of it- been riding them trails since I was a wee 'un.

 

[Chris James]

I must admit I fancy it too. I just need a cyclo cross bike.

I am quite good at walking up steep hills carrying weight, it's just the cycling I am crap at!

 

[trio25]

I will be at one of the events at the weekend, which one is the problem. OH has made it clear that I can't do both. So not sure which one yet. take it you will be at the eastlands one?

 

[dan_bo]

i'm gonna try both, depending on wether I get the stairs wall plastered.

 

[trio25]

Should see you at one of them then. I was the only girl on a mountain bike at Bolton, so easy to spot!

 

[yogi]

Interesting stuff. I've wanted to do it for years but always bottled it, the closest I got was putting the cheque and entry in an envelope but didn't post. Big respect to anyone that's done it.

My wife's aunt lives in Dent Dale so I've been up Whernside and descended to Ribblehead. No problem with the downhills but whenever I've walked some of the climbs I've made a mental note never to enter the 3 Peaks!

 

[trio25]

I'm very tempted to have a go next year. But it will depend on lots of things. Seems like the sort of crazy challenge I would like to try.