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3 Peaks 2015?

edited September 2015 in Cyclocross/Offroad
I suddenly remembered while we were serenely floating round the velodrome yesterday that it was 3 Peaks day at the same time with all the chaos and mayhem that goes with it.

Did we have any CCA up there? Im assuming our resident 3Peaks expert was there?

Must have been an absolutely glorious day for it.

Comments

  • Well I was there! Quite simply perfect weather. I'll post a report in a bit.
  • edited September 2015
    Injury, illness and circumstance had conspired against me to mean I was woefully ill prepared for this year’s 3 Peaks Cyclocross in terms of running. Really I should add to that list that my training plan was also poor – I didn’t figure in the risk of setbacks. So I was in the unpleasant situation in the week leading up the event wondering if I should go or not. Of course I went!

    The weather was simply perfect. It was warm and sunny, which is an advantage, but he trump card of luck was almost no wind at all. The hot air balloon of Hope was launched from the HQ field and it did drift a little but then hung in the air only moving gently upwards. I said hello to a bloke called Tony who recognised my CCA jersey and asked after his university friend Vince! (Wherever I go I meet people that know Vince from university!)

    Knowing I was probably going to do a worse time than last year I tried some things differently, including climbing Simon’s Fell by hanging onto the fence at the steepest section, rather than staggering freeform away from it. I think the fence option is slower, but you need good form to leave it’s reassuring support.

    Banter is scarce in this event, especially at the start, as everyone is at their limit. However as we reached the summit of Ingleborough someone did manage to say “It’s said on a clear day you can see Rob Jebb from the top”. The multiple winner (11 times) was out of sight though, but the views were glorious; thick swathes of cloud filling the valleys below lit by the brilliant sun in the blue sky where we were.

    It was quite wet in the bog land on top and this lead to some amusing moments when both wheels were axle deep in the mire; momentum alone go me through these traps.

    The lack of wind on Whernside made progress there relatively easy. The flagstones (by now dry) were somehow less frightening.

    I was able to ride the whole ascent of Scar Lane (aka Pen-y-gent Lane) which I was pleased about. I was flagging though as we neared the top. I commented to an Isla Bikes rider how nice their 953 cross bikes are. The chap racing that one told me he “welds ‘em up for the team”. Nice! Isla’s herself is polished. (Note, these are not available to the public sadly).

    The descent from Pen-y-gent is always sketchy and no less so this year. I managed to only lose 14minutes on last year’s overall time and still got in inside 5 hours (just). Shame though, I did the race in perfect conditions with less than perfect form!

    My bike worked very well and the Tufo Cubus tubular tyres completed their third 3 Peaks without incident (3.5bar).

    Rob Jebb came second, to his team mate Paul Oldham. All hail the new king!
  • edited September 2015
    Cycling Weekly have a nice pictorial summary here LINK
  • Well done Daniel. Glad you were able to do it. You still beat my last years time which was also in perfect conditions.
  • well done indeed Daniel. True hard man.
  • Nice one Daniel. Riding the whole of Pen y gent lane is an impressive feat in itself!

    Rob Jebb didnt win?! That cant be right he always wins. things are not right with the world, im now worried the sun might not come up in the morning.
  • All this on the day NASA announce evidence of liquid water on Mars
  • When I heard Jebb hadn't won I did start to think Daniel had been kidding us about his training not going well!

    Well done Daniel, great effort.
  • Respect Daniel and more than a hint of envy. The CW photos spectacular!

    Would love to have a go at this.
  • Some awesome photographs taken from the balloon, really shows the landscape (and the quarry!) LINK
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