Post by lisa on Sept 30, 2013 21:39:28 GMT 1
I've just returned from my third visit to Yorkshire for my now annual 3 Peaks Cyclocross race. Apparently it's the hardest cyclocross race in the world and I'm not about to argue with that claim any time soon!
Last year the worst weather conditions in over thirty years prevented me from finishing the race as I missed the final time cut off. Two Peaks doesn't have quite the same ring to it!
This year I spent more time practising shouldering the bike at Divis but the rest of my training consisted mainly of riding to work and the odd MTB race!
The forecast for Sunday was bright and dry but with wind and that's exactly what we got.
Peak 1 - Ingleborough
The race begins with a 'neutralised start'. It's basically a road race, but one with lots of people who haven't ridden in a group before - not great when there are 600 riders - but thankfully no incidents. After a couple of miles on the road we turned left on to farm land and began our climb of Simon Fell. For the first year, I saw it in all its glory. It has been shrouded in mist the last two years. It stands like a grassy wall in front of you and is a brutal climb. At the 'top' is a stile and the start of the climb of Ingleborough proper. The wind there was even worse than last year. I had to drag my bike by the handlebars as it was blowing away from me. Shouldering was nigh on impossible. The descent was uneventful, for me. One down.
Back on to the road and the first time cut off point. In the past I've made it with seconds to spare but this time, I had 23 minutes to play with.
Peak 2 - Whernside
Whernside is another long climb. The summit is reached by a seemingly endless stone staircase. It's a 'dig deep and engage autopilot' sort of climb. At the top the wind was, again, horrendous. The right side of my face was completely numb, like I'd been to the dentist, from the easterly wind. I rode a little along the summit ridge but the side wind blew me off the bike and I landed badly on my elbow, so I continued on with a bit of walking and running and rode again when I could. It's a technical descent, which is largely rideable but I had to be careful with the wind. It was blowing me away from my line, into the path of sharp stones and rocks and I couldn't risk a puncture. Before I knew it I was at Ribblehead Viaduct, where some friends were waiting with water and much needed Kendal Mint Cake. Two down.
Another road section. I caught a few people who I thought I could work with to conserve energy but they were going too slow, so a solo effort to the final cut off point - the point I didn't make last year. Half an hour to spare - words can't describe my joy!
Peak 3 - Pen Y Ghent
This is probably the easiest of the climbs as a good portion of it is rideable. But at this point, I was four hours in and was exhausted, mentally and physically. A couple of friends on the route and random Yorkshiremen and women (including Ali and Jonny Brownlee) shouting encouragement gave me an enormous boost. Head down, get on with it. Near the top I met some friends on the way down, each little 'hello' being like an energy gel! At this point my lower back was pretty painful and the middle toe on my right foot felt like it was broken (it always does after a few hours). But I dibbed at the top and began the descent. Another technical one, with swathes of large rocks/pebbles. Too slow over these and you will crash. Too fast and your eyeballs bounce about in your head and you can't see your line. Another crash, but nothing serious. Three down.
Back onto the road and towards the finish. I sat behind an American man but I soon realised we could make it in under 5:30 so I went up front and told him we were going for it. We did just that but then we hit two small inclines. Nothing more than bumps in the road but we had nothing left. We powered on as best we could and I crossed the line in 5:30:59. Then I had a pint!
A truly amazing race in a truly amazing place.
Last year the worst weather conditions in over thirty years prevented me from finishing the race as I missed the final time cut off. Two Peaks doesn't have quite the same ring to it!
This year I spent more time practising shouldering the bike at Divis but the rest of my training consisted mainly of riding to work and the odd MTB race!
The forecast for Sunday was bright and dry but with wind and that's exactly what we got.
Peak 1 - Ingleborough
The race begins with a 'neutralised start'. It's basically a road race, but one with lots of people who haven't ridden in a group before - not great when there are 600 riders - but thankfully no incidents. After a couple of miles on the road we turned left on to farm land and began our climb of Simon Fell. For the first year, I saw it in all its glory. It has been shrouded in mist the last two years. It stands like a grassy wall in front of you and is a brutal climb. At the 'top' is a stile and the start of the climb of Ingleborough proper. The wind there was even worse than last year. I had to drag my bike by the handlebars as it was blowing away from me. Shouldering was nigh on impossible. The descent was uneventful, for me. One down.
Back on to the road and the first time cut off point. In the past I've made it with seconds to spare but this time, I had 23 minutes to play with.
Peak 2 - Whernside
Whernside is another long climb. The summit is reached by a seemingly endless stone staircase. It's a 'dig deep and engage autopilot' sort of climb. At the top the wind was, again, horrendous. The right side of my face was completely numb, like I'd been to the dentist, from the easterly wind. I rode a little along the summit ridge but the side wind blew me off the bike and I landed badly on my elbow, so I continued on with a bit of walking and running and rode again when I could. It's a technical descent, which is largely rideable but I had to be careful with the wind. It was blowing me away from my line, into the path of sharp stones and rocks and I couldn't risk a puncture. Before I knew it I was at Ribblehead Viaduct, where some friends were waiting with water and much needed Kendal Mint Cake. Two down.
Another road section. I caught a few people who I thought I could work with to conserve energy but they were going too slow, so a solo effort to the final cut off point - the point I didn't make last year. Half an hour to spare - words can't describe my joy!
Peak 3 - Pen Y Ghent
This is probably the easiest of the climbs as a good portion of it is rideable. But at this point, I was four hours in and was exhausted, mentally and physically. A couple of friends on the route and random Yorkshiremen and women (including Ali and Jonny Brownlee) shouting encouragement gave me an enormous boost. Head down, get on with it. Near the top I met some friends on the way down, each little 'hello' being like an energy gel! At this point my lower back was pretty painful and the middle toe on my right foot felt like it was broken (it always does after a few hours). But I dibbed at the top and began the descent. Another technical one, with swathes of large rocks/pebbles. Too slow over these and you will crash. Too fast and your eyeballs bounce about in your head and you can't see your line. Another crash, but nothing serious. Three down.
Back onto the road and towards the finish. I sat behind an American man but I soon realised we could make it in under 5:30 so I went up front and told him we were going for it. We did just that but then we hit two small inclines. Nothing more than bumps in the road but we had nothing left. We powered on as best we could and I crossed the line in 5:30:59. Then I had a pint!
A truly amazing race in a truly amazing place.
