[Closed] 3 Peaks/CX Question???

Some people use a bit of foam padding on the top tube, some use the obligatory survival bag taped around the tube.

Neither of which makes that much difference...

It's all about the technique rather than the padding, and if you haven't started walking up the biggest hills you can find with your bike on your shoulder, you need to get a move on.

Standard cyclocross carry involves wrapping your arm under the down tube, and grabbing the handlebars and the end of the drops. That way you take weight on your forearm too.

For example, here's me with a couple of other chaps....

[img] [/img]

some pipe insulating foam from b&q. use one piece and bend it from the top of the seat tube around to the top tube.

some use emergency blanket too.

just tape one on (they do make it a lot easier on your shoulder IMO) plus they weigh nowt

I went without last year and the next day my shoulder was purple although I didn't really notice any discomfort during the race. This year I'm trying the lagging, it can't do any harm. A good hold was essential last year to stop your bike blowing away.

It is worth practicing carrying your bike with only one arm (you'll need the other to pull you up and balance) Also work out where you can put a bottle and still carry or if you want a hydration pack.

+1 for pipe lagging and practice.

Also I found that my camelbak strap provided an extra layer (I'm afraid I wasn't hardcore enough to fit everything into pockets and onto the frame so I used the smallest low profile one I have - and I was grateful for it).

It really does get easier and less painful with practice. Honest.

thats just the bottom of simons fell btw (the steep bit is out of view) 😈

Have a look through the Three Peaks photos:
http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk/photos.htm

Literally thousands of images from over the years, you'll see the different techniques people use.

Personally, I used the orange survival bag rolled into a tube and bashed flat which I then taped around the underside of the top tub and the top of the seat-tube. Looks shit but works well.

I also used a small Camelbak and the strap helps with padding.

Arm through the triangle, frame on shoulder then loop the arm over the bars. Not sure if this will work (protected photo) but try here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcyclingphotos/5028802941/in/set-72157625043763522
for an example.

Thanks for the great advice there, some really handy tips and Crikey i have started my training though will admit to not having started climbing up hills with the bike on my shoulder just yet but thats not far away! 🙂

Seriously fella, you have to take that bit seriously!

They will pull you out if you don't make the time cut, and walking up Simon Fell then Whernside will kill your legs if you haven't done enough training. If it's your first time, think about getting on for 3 hours of walking uphill with a bit of riding in between.

Simon Fell is steeper than the stairs in your house...

I don't know where you are in the country, but find the longest steepest hill you can and repeat it, over and over and over again.

is that Steve?

I know a few good training routes around rivi.

shoulder bike from belmont upto the mast - down the san marino decent - then repeat.

or from belmont rider over the top to the pigeon tower carpark - shoulder bike up lefthand path - when at the top turn left onto tracks - ride almost all the way down this horrible bumpy track and take a right over a sty - shoulder bike upto mast - descend san marino & repeat

some posts from last year

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/3-peaks-cc-whos-applied

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/anyone-done-the-3-peaks-cc/page/2

Yes, the next time you go for a ride look for some unpleasant hills and rough ground that you can't ride up. Or if you don't have that find some steps to run up. Don't get distracted by enjoying yourself 🙂

The grim bit is just as I get to the checkpoint on Whernside Rob Jebb is finishing and Craigy has probably just got back on to tarmac on the mainroad !!

When you get cramp that makes you cry keep walking up and down that hill for a couple more hours then ride home

I sewed a shoulder pad into the other half's jersey when he rode it. Plus he used pipe lagging on the frame.

The grim bit is just as I get to the checkpoint on Whernside Rob Jebb is finishing and Craigy has probably just got back on to tarmac on the mainroad !!

I think the best I've ever done, I was on the lower bridleway bit of PyG as Nick Craig shot past me going back down. Think I've only seen him twice, all the other races I've not even made it to PyG before he's back on tarmac and heading to the finish (if not actually sat in the pub having his Sunday lunch).

That's the soul-destroyingly depressing bit, seeing the time splits and realising that Rob Jebb could have got back to the finish, restarted and gone over Ingleborough again in the time it takes me to do three. 🙁

First year going up the steps on Whernside I had a balance moment and started to lean out backwards. Fortunately the guy behind me pushed me back forwards... Gulps.
I used foam lagging under the top tube and down the down tube - still hurt though, and a shoulder pad (as above) - a tip from Isla Rowntree years ago.

Im not doing this years as im doing Leroica the week after but I will be back as a 50 +vet next year

It is my first time and i don't and won't underestimate how tough this event/race will be, i have an OK level of fitness and i have been building up over the last few weeks with some off road running up in the Lakes and also on some local moorland, on top of that i have been getting some good distance rides in and starting this weekend i will be starting to carry the bike on my shoulder for some good lengths of time, hence why i am asking about padding etc for the shoulder, as said i won't underestimate this event/race.

Crikey thanks for your concern and i have taken in your words and will be doing the 3 hours of walking in the next week or two once i have built up to it, thank you.

And thanks to everyone else for there input, much appreciated.

If you learn to carry the bike right you won't need any padding. I've done the Peaks 7 times now, sometimes quite well and never had a padding.

You should hold the bike near the headtube on your shoulder with your arm either wrapped around the headtube and holding the drops or under the down tube holding the bars. Lock the bike in to you body with your arm, this will stop the bike bouncing around and damaging your shoulder.

American footballers shirt - I dare thee!
Don't forget the armbands for PYGs "puddle of doom" if it's as wet as last year.
Spectating for me this year.

Do what I do and go singlespeed, the carry is easier then and I am not convinced gears would have made much difference.

+1 for the pipe lagging on top tube and seat tube. ..and say Hi to me on my Pompino (with legal bars this year)

cant imagine riding on the road on the 22/32 gear I needed to ride Peny Gent lane!

If you get enough practise shouldering you shouldn't need padding. A little bit of soreness the next day doesn't matter.
As others have said don't under estimate how hard the event is. I didn't find the riding hard but the climbing nearly killed me. If your bike fit concentrate on walking up the steepest climbs you can find with your bike on your shoulder. Walking mind, you wont be running. !!

a question for those who have done the 3 peaks-
how much (time wise) would you say is rideable and how much was carry?
I know a fair bit of the main hills are unrideable.
cheers 🙂

I thought a mate of mine was being a bit soft when he said that a lot of his training consisted of carrying his bike up the steepest local hill, and riding the bumpiest route back down, again....and again... And again.

Not entered this year but hoping to next. Will start my bike carrying training this winter..

A mate of mine who came top 15 in the running equivalent race, says Id be nuts to do it, as running was hard enough, and carrying a bike round is just stupid

Time wise will depend on how fast you are, obviously...

..but 34 miles of 38 is rideable, it's just that the 4 miles that are unrideable are really unrideable, not just fat delusional STW rider unrideable.

...and have a look at crossjunkies website, http://crossjunkie.blogspot.co.uk/
for a more obsessional point of view.

hi steve, we'll speak soon (maybe go out)

Horwich CC will be running there annual 3 towers ride (this this will give you a real good idea)

I did the 3 towers or some variation each week last summer.

anyway - I'll e-mail you about things (mobiles ancient - takes an age to text)

thought you did it last year btw? I thought thats how we first spoke?

Dave loves the peaks and knows a lot (as a lot of people on here do)

dont underestimate the climbing (with bike on shoulder).

its hard but thats why you'll be buzzing for weeks once you've finished 😉

anyway speak soon

oh - I'm riding out to Heptonstall again on Sunday.

Well I went out earlier to test my biker hike skills on a fairly rough and steep incline of around 1/4 mile and all in all i didn't think it went to bad, I didn't use any padding on either shoulder or any insulation lagging on the bike, decided just to man up and at first i thought i had made a big mistake as kept having to swap shoulders due to the pain! but i persevered and tried different techniques and i do believe i found a sweet spot on both shoulders where i could actually carry the bike with ease and without having to keep swapping sides!

I'm not saying i won't use any padding but i think Crikey(above) is on to something with regards technique and i shall keep practicing as the weeks roll on.

One thing i did change was the way i grabbed the handlebar, instead of holding the end of the handlebar at the drops i actually grabbed the top of the bar just past the stem and that seemed to work for me.

Anyhow as said i shall keep practicing and will be out to find steeper climbs as the event draws closer and if anyone fancy's some biker hike training then feel free to get in touch(Lancashire Area) 😀

Good stuff. I'd veer towards Blazin-saddles' advice on carrying. You see a lot of people with their shoulder bike nuzzled between the seat and top tube, hanging front wheel down (you can easily catch the front wheel on the ground doing this). Easier if it's more balanced and further forward on the top tube. Those of us in the back half get more time to reflect on this. Embrace the unpleasantness 🙂

As crazy-legs said, strapping your survival bag under the top tube works well. And for me with a pompino, that's a lot of weight to carry. I'd probably win if I went round with my cannondale now it's so light in comparison[1]

[1] Maybe second or third.

Done the peaks a few times now, finished in the top 20 a couple of times, I used a chammy from an old pair of shorts safety pinned to my base layer under my jersey, didn't move and worked a treat for the events themselves, I'm a skinny bugger and there's not much of me in the upper body stakes apart from bone 😉 so I found this approach worked well for me.