The Three Peaks Cyclo Cross and Iron Cross Blog: Worth the trip for these alone (Final Part)

BRIEF HISTORIES & DESCRIPTIONS

The Three Peaks Cyclo Cross has been run every year* in the last weekend in September since 1961 over the 3 limestone elevations of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent in the Yorkshire Dales of the UK.

*excepting 2001 and 2007 when the race was cancelled due to Foot & Mouth.

Although the course length and layout - currently approximately 40 miles - has varied over the years, it has for most of its history traditionally featured Pen-y-Ghent as the final climb. The 'Peaks has always been the ultimate test for any self-respecting British Cyclo Cross rider (a 'must ride once') and for many years was regarded as the traditional pipe-opener for the winter 'Cross season in the UK.

Organised since its inception by John Rawnsley and the Bradford RCC (and indeed a large band of volunteers) the race is run over both public, and - with the co-operation of many local landowners; private land.

The Three Peaks is open only to riders using full Cyclo Cross bikes (no MTBs allowed) and although bike changes are permitted, the 'service' points are restricted to 3 only:- Cold Cotes, Ribblehead Viaduct and Horton-in-Ribblesdale and thus effectively preclude changes to bikes more suitable for the two quite extended road sections.

John Rawnsley won the first race in 1961 - and is the only person to have ridden and finished every edition.

The Iron Cross was first run in the Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania, USA in 2003 and directly takes its inspiration from, and is an effective homage to the Three Peaks.

Run during the second weekend in October, it's named for the region in which it's based - which was for a long time a centre of iron mining and smelting (virtually all traces of which have now vanished). The race was the brainchild of Mike Kuhn and the Yellow Breeches Racing Team - aka 'YBR' - based in nearby Carlisle.

Organised by YBR's Mark Laser the Iron Cross course is a 60 mile loop based entirely within the state forest and takes in a mix of single track, fire roads, stream crossings (illegal in the UK!) and blacktop - and includes two major run-ups; the most famous being the wonderfully named 'Wigwam Hill'... (aka 'Powerline Run-Up').

Unlike the Three Peaks, Iron Cross is open to both Cyclo Cross and Mountain Bikes (the latter are specifically excluded from the British race because of local environmental concerns) and indeed in 2007 the duo of Malcom Boyd & Judy Allison completed the Iron Cross course on an MTB Tandem in 8 hours 34 minutes!

There is even a specific class and prize list for people bonkers enough to attempt the race on a single speed bike - and there were 14 of those in 2007.

Bike changes are NOT permitted - you have to finish on the same bike as your start on. Also, navigation around the course is not really practicable (except with excellent local knowledge and a 4 x 4!) so individual race support is not an option.

However the organisation has 4 x checkpoints round the course which double as service points. These have 'dump boxes' brought out from race HQ into which riders can have earlier placed drinks, food and spares at the signing-on prior to the race.

The 60 mile Iron Cross on Sunday is the climax to a full weekend of racing for all grades ("Iron Cross Lites"), pre and post race Barbeques, a 'Silent' Charity Auction and even a Religious Service on Sunday morning - all based at the Camp Thompson YMCA site near to Laurel Lake in Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

The Three Peaks Cyclo Cross and Iron Cross Blog

Wednesday, 3 September 2008

Worth the trip for these alone (Final Part)

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