3 Peaks Newbie

kevinharley

So, I got a place!

First time entrant this year ... and somewhat regretting my rash decision to apply!

But, in an effort to MTFU, looking here for some advice and tips ...

I kind of know what terrain to expect as I've run the 3 peaks fell race before.

And I've already *started some '3 peaks specific' training (ie shouldering my bike up some local steep hills / steps), the plan being to do (much) more of this in the coming weeks. Any other training tips?

Tyres? Likely to go for Landcruisers as they're the go-to cheap and tough option. I've a heavy bike anyway, so figure the extra weight over anything lighter is not going to really make much difference. But is there anything I should consider instead, and which are a proven 3 peaks tyre?

Hydration? I'm likely to be doing the event largely self-supported so can't rely on picking up liquid and fuel at various points around the course. Would prefer to use bottles, but there are problems with this - added weight on the bike = added weight on the shoulders, AND I can't get my head & helmet through the bike frame with the bottle cages attached! So ... hydration backpack? or stem / seat-post mounted bottle cages?

Footwear? I always ride clipless so had assumed the default option would be my spd's ... but knowing the terrain, can see the potential value in the grip afforded by my trail / fell shoes, but would that just be silly for the riding sections using these and flat pedals?

Anyone else doing this for the first time .. or any old hands willing to let us in on their secrets to success?

joey54321

"I can't get my head & helmet through the bike frame with the bottle cages attached!"

Er, you shouldn't be putting your head through the frame! I mean...you can, you can do whatever you like, but I can't imagine it's comfortable.

imposter2.0

As above, you should be shouldering the bike - not wearing it.

kevinharley

joey54321 wrote:

"I can't get my head & helmet through the bike frame with the bottle cages attached!"

Er, you shouldn't be putting your head through the frame! I mean...you can, you can do whatever you like, but I can't imagine it's comfortable.

OK - maybe I need to experiment some more! I'm sure that when I've done MTB Hike-a-bike's in the Lakes etc, I've done that so that the seat tube rests across both shoulders and the overall weight of the bike is spread a little more evenly ... :oops: :?:

fenix

Be a trail blazer and start wearing the bike. Who knows - this could start a trend ?

tgotb

Congratulations! I'm hoping (probably in vain) to get in from the reserve list.

I've only done it once, last year, but my feedback, for what it's worth:
Shoes - I have a pair of SPD shoes with Vibram soles that are almost like walking boots - these were ideal. If I didn't have those, I think I'd have just gone for my normal CX race shoes. There's still a lot of riding in 3PCX, and I reckon doing it in fell running shoes would be pretty uncomfortable.
Climbing - If you're a fell runner and fit, you're not going to have an issue with the climbs, they're no worse than the sort of thing you'll be used to. Just make sure you know how to shoulder your bike properly, and keep it as light as possible.
Tyres - Lots of people seemed to be raving about tubeless last year. Devhads, of this parish, had a pair and seemed to be very happy with them. I was on Tufo tubs at 65psi, and very happy with them, but that's looking pretty old-school now.
Descending - If you're a pansy Southerner like me, there's scope to lose a lot of ground/places going downhill. The reason none of the regulars mention this in their blogs is because they're all hard Northerners who don't realise that it's possible to be so cr*p at riding downhill.
Hydration - I had one bottle on the seat tube which didn't get in the way of shouldering, and picked up a new one at the bottom of each of the first two descents. If you don't have a helper, you could stash one quite easily; just leave a note with it, with your race number, saying that you'll collect it after the race; that way, no-one will mistake it for litter. Quite a few people do this with bottles and/or wheels.

joey54321

TGOTB wrote:

Congratulations! I'm hoping (probably in vain) to get in from the reserve list.

Me too I went to watch last year and was amazed by the whole event and couldn't wait to enter it. Fingers crossed!

devhads

On the waiting list too :-(

I'm going come what may, a few from our club all decided to commit to going whether we got in or not and booked a cottage basically on the route. It's a few hundred yards off the road between Ingleborough and Whernside. If i don't get a place I'll marshall for entry next year or just be support for my team mates (who all got in). Last year it was the opposite, I was the only one who got in at first but all three others finally got a place from the waiting list, the last one getting an invite 3 weeks beforehand. So, keep training!

Tubeless worked really well for me last year as TGOTB said. I used Bontrager CX3 which were a bit too aggressive. I'll be using Bontrager CX0 this year, basically a file tread. You don't really need conventional cross racing grip anywhere but the less aggressive tread will be handy on the road.

One bottle for me too with support but as said easy enough to stash bottles. Lots of people use hydration back packs.

I was thinking about getting some cleats attached to some good fell running shoes, but probably won't unless I get an entry at the first reshuffle. I forgot my shoes last year and borrowed some in the car park. They were really old and knackered, no stiffness at all and were fantastic. Definitely don't wear fancy stiff carbon soled shoes.

I guess I was somewhat of an intermediate at descending, a bit quicker than TGOTB but had people overtaking me. I guess that's because I hail from the Midlands ;-) It's not something you can practice if you don't have the terrain but if you have a short descent that's similar it does no harm practising it over and over, trying to get quicker each time and using the brakes less and less.