Gaspipes 'R Us - The Way We Were...

(Photo: Chris Dallison. Click on image top view full size)

That last post about the Revel Romany 531ST - got me thinking about how things have changed in 'Cross, and how easy the young 'uns have got it now, with all that specially designed 'cross gear they have now an' all.

This is me at the Newbury Road Club Cyclo Cross in the winter of 1975-76. As I recall is was quite well placed (about 3rd or 4th) behind - and lapped by; a couple of Pros - probably Keith Mernickle and / or Ian Jewell.

I was a medium sized fish in a very small pond in those days.

Anyway - what we have here is a fairly standard rig for impecunious Amateur 'Cross riders in the mid-'70s. Raleigh 531 plain gauge touring frame, which I'd filed the mudguard lugs off to make it look racier (!), rattle-can sprayed in dark burgandy, with Dave Russell* decals attached...

GB Synchron side-pull brakes and I think the levers were GB too. SR / Sakae bars and stem. Heavily drilled Iscaselle saddle and a 'swaged' Raleigh-branded Sakae 42T single chainset with homemade ring guards and Lyotard steel cage pedals with Christophe straps. The rear cluster was a 14-28T 5-speed with a nasty Simplex plastic rear mech' and bar-end change lever.

Normandy large flange hubs on fiamme rims with either Wolber or more likely Barum knobbly tubulars (sew-ups)

I know that I was wearing a pair of pukka leather Cross-Country running shoes with ribbed soles (these worked v.well indeed for several seasons as the ribs were very deep and acted as shoeplate 'slots' and gripped not only the mud but the pedal cages too). They were absolutely the biz for the Three Peaks by the way.

And of course dig the crazy hairdo - no doubt inspired by Cross Pro' Barry Davies - the supremo of the Jason King lookalikes in those days (and now regular contributor to this blog) - and of course the 'easi-shrink' wool jersey and shorts.

I was 24 years of age and thought that a Professional career beckoned. No it didn't... Metephorically it was downhill all the way from here.

*Dave Russell was a very highly regarded lightweight specialist and frame builder (every frame with his name on was built personally by him - except the one above of course!) based in Slough and later Theale - just to the west of London.

Dave has now retired, but there are loads of his bikes to be seen in and around the Home Counties to this day. In fact I have a road bike made by him in my garage (another fleabay purchase).

I recall variously what a very affable chap he was, and that he sponsored not only a series of professional riders over the years - but also our local track league at Palmer Park in Reading. I also know that I could never afford to have a frame built by him - hence the fake above. No idea where I got the decals though - sorry Dave...

The Man with too many 'Cross Bikes (Part 2)

With only 6 1/2 months to go to the Three Peaks and 7 months to Iron Cross # 7 my thoughts have started to turn towards how not to get my bottom kicked in both races again. You'll probably have gathered that my long silence has because of the mental anguish suffered because of the sore arse I got in the Michaux Forest last October but I'm finally emerging from that dark place and deciding how to give myself the 'unfair advantage' that Colin Chapman (of Lotus F1 fame) was always looking for...

Training might be a start - so I've cobbled together another bitsa 'Cross bike to see me through the long miles / hours of road / off road summer / autumn training.

Here it is. An old (ex fleabay - for £30 / $45) Revell Romany 531ST touring frame*. No-name Shimano hub 32H wheels. Shimano STX 7 speed transmission (which of course now works correctly with the dreaded Powerpro MTB chainset - see below. Cinelli bars and quill stem. Suntour XC brakes with Exage levers and old Shimano bar end index changers. Bonty saddle.

Not likely that this beast will ever be raced in anger - as it's def' a bit chunky for competition, but it's a comfy ride thanks to the steel chassis and will probably be used for the audax (or 'cyclo-sportive' as the hipsters like to now call them) events that I normally ride to get the miles in at weekends...

NOTE: The cat is one of three we have here - and was just intrigued as to what his stupid dad was doing building yet another bike today. He's Cosmo and is named for the Seinfeld character Cosmo Kramer.

*If anyone knows where I can get Revell decals I'd be glad to know. Google is silent on the matter - so until then it's an Ian Briggs...

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul…

…at last an Iron Cross #6 report! (part une)

Apologies to all my ten readers for the 5 month silence, but for me (but certainly not for most) Iron Cross #6 was a trial of strength and many lessons learned – when I imagined that this was one race that I had dialled-in and was pretty familiar with.

The Gods of Michaux decided otherwise – and wreaked their vengance…

The first error I made was to over-estimate my ability to recover from the effects of having ridden the Three Peaks a scant two weeks earlier – and even regard it as some sort of warm up for Iron Cross.

LESSON ONE: Don’t under underestimate either race – they’re both nasty – and they both bite! It’s not without good reason that the Three Peaks is widely held to be the toughest cyclo-cross in the World. Arrogance led me to believe that a ‘modest’ 5+ hours of plugging around the Yorkshire Dales at (my) racing speeds, could be recovered from by two weeks of light training, plenty of sleep and ingestion of suitable food materials.

I spent the last few days before IC #6 pottering around Pennsylvania on the bike (see earlier posts), and felt absolutely fine. No aches, no pain, plenty of energy. However, 20 minutes into race at Michaux, and after the post-start adrenalin rush had faded - I knew I was in really big trouble. The tank was pretty near empty. My legs felt leaden, I was generally uncomfortable and [most importantly for this race], couldn’t get into any sort of climbing cadence. By the final checkpoint, at 4+ hours, and nowhere to go but on to the finish – I felt so bad that I was actually getting really bad tempered about the whole affair – you know, shouting at tree stumps and rocks etc.,.

If organiser Mark Laser had made the mistake of standing on the course on the last sektor, this would certainly have been the scene:

The “Three Peaks / Iron Cross double-header Effect” as we shall now call it, has since been a discussion point between myself and fellow-CBRCer Chris McBurnie, who had likewise done the ‘double’ and also suffered the torments of the damned in both. We’re not sure that it’s possible for mere mortals to recover enough to put in a sparkling performance in both events – unless you happen to be a professional endurance athlete and probably called called Rob Jebb. Maybe doing nothing at all on the bike for two weeks between the two races is the key – but as a cyclist that would never really feel ‘right’…

Now… if we could persuade John Rawnsley to hold the ‘Peaks one week earlier or Mark Laser to run IC one week later – that might be enough time…

The second error was not to follow my own good advice, “Don’t use new / untried equipment”. I did, and what a plonker I was…

LESSON TWO: Don’t use new / untried equipment! Just prior to leaving for the US, I’d put together an new bike based on a rather lovely Raleigh Special Products 853 frame (good choice), my trusty Fulcrum Seven wheels (ditto) and LX MTB 9-spd running gear (ditto – but only so far). The only untried bit was a ‘new - very old stock’ PowerPro MTB triple chainset with 175mm arm that I thought would be the dog’s bs for all the uphill riding involved on IC. I hadn’t tried this rig out in the stress of race conditions, just for some of that ‘light training’. I discovered too-late (at about 21 mins) that the spacing between the rings was for 7 speed and when used with a 9 speed chain, and changing down over bumpy terrain (lots of that at IC) the chain would jam solid between the rings. And I mean SOLID.

This happened twice and meant I had to completely dismantle the rings from the cranks to get the chain out each time. 20 minutes+ lost. Plonker… The second half of the race was ridden entirely on the middle ring as a result. My temper started to flare around about this time...

Third error: I thought I knew the course. Well I did, but the buggers had changed it just a little – and just at the point where I was mentally thinking “not far now – just through those gates in the fence over there, across the scrub clearing beyond and then we’re onto those easy sections of singletrack before the last climb, then it’s all downhill to the flag…”

LESSON THREE: Don’t assume you know the course - you cretin. The trouble was that the gates that we’d ridden through for the last two years were closed and we now had negotiate a very nasty piece of terrain right round the fenceline of the clearing – adding 5+ mins to the race time. Not a lot, true, but I was feeling out of sorts already (see above) and this was a final blow to my morale and any aspiration of doing a decent time. I refer you to picture above for the likely outcome had Mr Laser been nearby…

After the finish I mildly enquired why we had been sent down this new route and someone vacantly said that they thought it was because they couldn’t find anyone to marshal the gate so it had to remain closed. This seemed strange to me even in my weakened state – as there had been loads of marshals out on the remainder of the 61 mile course (?) Only later did the organisers admit to me that actually they did it for a laugh… (again the picture above refers…)

LESSON FOUR: The Iron Cross Organisers are basically EVIL.

Part Deux Follows…

(Top pic courtesy of the excellent Charles M. "Chuck Armstrong - www.elementoftheeye.com )

Iron Cross # 6 - 3 days to go. Live in Pennsylvania

Only 3 days left until the sixth running of YBR's 60 mile Iron Cross in Michaux State Forest, and I'm here in Pennsylvania, wondering where the start might be...

Actually, and for the benfit of Civil War buffs, this is the memorial to General G K Warren on the summit of Little Round Top at Gettysburg. For further FYI - the IC6 start is about 30 miles distant in the blue ridge directly behind Genl. Warren's head. I've been lodging in Gettysburg since Monday evening and will be moving on to my B&B near Michaux tonight. The Raleigh 853 is all set up having arrived safely courtesy of Virgin Atlantic's baggage handlers and has had a couple of excursions onto the local battlefield in the last few days (below).

Given that I'm now moving out of a 'wireless' zone for the race - I'll probably not be back here until after the event - so best of luck to all the Iron Crossers, and see you there.

09.44hrs Sunday 28th September 2008

Just prior to the 'off' last Sunday morning. No other caption required, except to say that I can only see three former winners of the 'Peaks in this picture - and I'm sure I should be able to see four?

(photo: Bina "Snapper" Briggs - click on the image blah, blah, blah)

Roger Ingham MBE & John Rawnsley, who deserves one.

I just really love this picture. It shows the 'Voice of the Three Peaks' - the very wonderful Roger Ingham MBE. Roger provides both the riders and the spectators full value entertainment with his inimitable commentries every year. Here he is, with our equally wonderful organiser John Rawnsley at the finish line, apparently momentarily taken aback to be photographed himself, while an admirer looks on.

I suppose I really could have cropped myself out of the shot - but what the heck; and I promise it's the last pic of me for a little while.

(photo - as you might imagine; Bina Briggs. Click on image to view full size)

The man with too many 'cross bikes...

And this is the one that I'll be packing up in a bike bag tomorrow for the trip to Iron Cross #6.

Ex-ebay Flam-blue Raleigh Special Products 853 frame*. Deore LX 9-spd transmission / Tiagra levers with a Powerpro triple MTB chainset 46/36/24 (blue anodised to match the frame*). White* Selle Italia C2 gel saddle. Classic ITM Eclypse steel quill stem (these used to be the stem of choice for any self-respecting 'cross racer), 3T bars and Specialized Roubaix padded bar wrap (N.B. this stuff is excellent and well worth the £10 asking price). Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels with Schwalbe Landcruisers and Froggleg brakes (red anodised*).

*Perhaps too much bling factor? - never mind, psychologically it might be worth at least .0001 mph next Sunday.

So someone does read this blog...

And here he is.

Just before the start of this year's 'Peaks I was feeling generally pretty pleased with myself (another year, another race - and all my metophorical ducks in a row) but part of that curiously anonymous throng of anxious lycra - when a fellow rider walks up to me and says "I love your blog".

Mark Churchill - Gloucester City CC. Thankyou Mark and nice to meet you - and I didn't even realise my missus had taken a picture of the moment until I downloaded the memory card this afternoon.

Now the dust has settled

(photos - Bina Briggs: click on image to view full size)

Having been 'in transit' for the last few days - and now preparing for our trip across the pond to the US for Iron Cross
http://www.yellowbreechesracing.org/ironcross/ , it has been apposite for us to remain briefly silent here.

For those who want to see simply 100s of pix and extensive gossip / views about Three Peaks 2008, there's enough to sate any appetite on the official website here:- http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk/ so it's pointless to add many more here. (see 'forums' and 'photos' in particular - but also spend some time going through the excellent results pages, courtesy of SportIdent).

Needless to say we would like to say a big thankyou to John Rawnsley, Bradford RCC and everyone involved in any way in the running of the race. It was a real classic this time, run in perfect weather and the course even more horrible than ever. So all the more amazing that Rob Jebb - Wheelbase UK (above) managed to shave even more time off his own course record...

So... what more to add? Perhaps only a single personal tale for the moment.

My CBRC team-mate Chris McBurnie flew in from Saratoga, NY USA to be with us, and finished in an excellent 4hrs 18mins. However to say that the 'Peaks was a bit of a culture shock for him would be a understatement of the largest type. The piccie above above shows Chris pulling in to pick up fresh drinks and food from my wife Bina at Ribblehead (aka Batty Moor). Apparently at this moment he is saying - "What the @!**&%$##@ next?!!" - but of course he's just experienced the horrors of the descent of Whernside - so 'nuff said I suppose.

He was also very impressed with the amount of animal faeces that he rode through - though quite where he found it I'm not quite sure... I didn't see very much at all.

After the race on Sunday evening, we were all sitting down quietly to dinner and Chris had by then recovered from most of the shock. But he was still pondering the sanity of anyone who rode this "Crazy Race" in full knowledge of what confronts the riders - i.e. - anyone who's ridden it more than once. A longish pause - "You know" (another pause) "I guess all you guys are just tough"...

We can all take a bow then... and Chris himself plans to be back next year with another CBRC rider to make up what we think will be the first ever US-registered club to field a full team of three in the 'Peaks.

Off now to fettle my bike for Iron Cross - Michaux State Forest beckons.

2 days to go... Live from Yorkshire

Hardware

I can't decide whether my 'lead' bike should be the 1985 Alan Super Cross with MTB 9-spd triple transmission [1 to 1 low gear] and Spinergy Spox wheels above (super light by my standards - but so whippy it's like riding jelly on springs) or my 2007 Specialized TriCross, again with 9-spd triple 1 to 1 hardware and Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels below (super rigid and directional - but about 2 - 3 lbs heavier). Both sport Schwalbe Landcruiser tyres. Hmmm..... I'll decide on Sunday morning about 09.30 hrs...

My CBRC team mate Chris McBurnie from Albany, Upstate NY, USA has come with this lovely Redline Conquest above, with Redline & Ritchey kit and Maxxis tyres. 36 chainring into 27 block. Very nice and a mid-weight by modern ' Cross standards. I want one.

Weather Report (not the Jazz combo')

The vista today at 13.30hrs across Batty Moor to the Ribblehead Viaduct and Whernside beyond. The weather for Sunday is forecast to be cloudy clearing later, warm (ish) with possible showers at times.

Programme (note: cover in colour for the 1st time)

Finally the Three Peaks 2008 Race Programme, collected from the Pen-y-Ghent Cafe this afternoon - very nice indeed... Jebby in full flow.

4 Days to go... The dawn of the age of Lycra

(photo - Barry Davies Collection - click on image to view full size)

Our last 'Davies Archive' photograph for a few days as we'll be leaving for God's Own Country in the morning - but our thanks to Barry allowing us access to these images. There are in fact some more pictures to display but they'll have to wait a little while - and all these photos will be posted here in a picture gallery in a couple of weeks.

Now. Some of us are old enough to remember the unadulerated joy of wearing saggy & smelly wool shorts and jerseys for racing - and don't even ask about what happened to tracksuit bottoms in the rain...

Barry was the first rider in the UK to wear a lycra skinsuit and coloured shorts - and almost got himself banned by the British Cycling Federation as a result (in fact the requirement to wear black or dark coloured racing shorts remained formally in the rule books until relatively recently).

Here he is in 1980 riding for Trumanns Steel wearing the offending togs near the top of Pen-y-Ghent.

5 Days to go... Pen-y-Ghent lane

(photo - Barry Davies Collection - click on image to view full size)

No apologies from us for using another from Barry's great archive of 'Peaks images.

This one is by way of illustration (exclusively for 1st timers, 'cos old hands will know full well what to expect) of the delights that lurk on the approach to Pen-y-Ghent.

Here he is in 1975 on the way to his third straight win, about half way up the lane from Horton-in-Ribblesdale to PYG before turning right through the farm gate and onto private land at OS map ref. 823743. Beyond that it gets even worse!

The surface shown here is fairly typical of the whole stretch, though some bits are more treacherous still - and bear in mind that riders will be going up and coming back down this lane at the same time. With some of the faster (and nuttier) 'downhillers' reaching up to 20 mph, the closing speeds can easily be 25 mph... So on serious note for a moment then, riders climbing the hill should try and give way to those coming back down. Bikes really, really hurt when they hit you.

Centre Pull Brake Alert! - This time Barry's Ron Kitching team bike seems to be sporting Weinmann c/pulls with "Ron Kit" stickers. If not, they're quite excellent Weinmann replicas. Clearly it's time for centre pulls to come back into fashion for 'cross racing - if only because they were always less tempramental to set-up and use than cantilevers were (and still are) - and because I've got a whole workshop full of them here...

6 Days to go - When Harry met Barry

(photo - Barry Davies Collection - click on image to view full size)

Although not taken at the Three Peaks, we couldn't resist this brilliant picture because not only does it evoke fond memories of how cyclo-cross used to be (no-one - particularly top rank riders; ever seems to finish a 'cross looking like this these days - i.e. like a couple of mischievous and muddy schoolboys), but also because, with 7 victories between them, it shows two of the race's most prolific winners... well at least until Jebby came along that is...

1969 and both the event and venue are unknown - but here the future 3 x times 'Peaks winner Barry Davies (Sports Motors / Tower Cycles) has either just beaten or been beaten by 4 x times victor Harry Bond (Bradford RCC), who was famously outsprinted into 2 place by John Rawnsley in the first ever edition of the Three Peaks 'Cross in 1961.

Despite that initial setback Harry went on to win the 'Peaks in 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1967 - and nice to note that Barry freely admits that the Bradford rider is still one of his heroes.

Equipment Note: Professional Cyclo-Cross rider using bike with Mafac racer centre-pull brakes (or maybe Universals, hard to see for all the mud...) - NOT cantilevers!

One Week to Go - how to avoid this...

(photo: Barry Davies Collection - click on image to view full size)

One week to go folks! - and courtesy of Barry Davies (see below) the first of a batch of historic Three Peaks photos. This one amply demonstrates (1) the advances in equipment in the last 3 decades (2) how tough the 'Peaks course can be on hardware and possibly (3) the need for proper preparation...

This is George Mason from Wakefield-based club Calder Clarion. Taken just outside the famed Pen-y-Ghent Cafe in Horton-in-Ribblesdale High Street. George has clearly bust his wheel on the super-rocky final leg of the descent of Pen-y-Ghent. The exit from the lane off the peak is hidden in the trees in the left background, and given that in those days the start & finish was at the Sports Pavilion at the north end of the village - he has the best part of a mile left to get home on foot... (addendum 1: Barry Davies has just contacted me to say that he believes that the finish was situated outside the Pen-y-Ghent Cafe until 1975 - so this is a pic of George crossing the finish line and probably explains his relatively cheery visage...)

Failures of this type are rarely seen these days. The worst my 14 stone bulk has ever been able to inflict on a wheel is a small ding in a MA2 rim (but no puncture though - and I only discovered the damage at the finish). Nevertheless Pen-y-Ghent remains a bike wrecker if only because the descent is so fast and rocky.

Best advice would be to use good equipment and not to sacrifice strength for weight. Never use anything new and untried and make sure you are carrying at least a spare tube, repair outfit and tyre levers. Ideally a multitool too - and I always have a CO2 pump; rather than one of those joke MTB minipumps that inflate to about 10psi on a good day...

Barry is unsure exactly when this pic was taken - but the Mk1 Cortina at the side of the road indicates that it's probably late '60s - early '70s and shows a typical 'Cross bike of the time, very few riders at the time had access to specialised 'Cross equipment (in fact most of the stuff we use now hadn't been invented!)

So note the Woodrup touring / training frame with big clearances and clamp-on (?!) cantilever brakes and GB levers. Sprints - probably Fiamme; and tubs (sew-ups) with very little knobbly tread - these are likely training tubs with a heavy file tread at best. There's a single Simplex or Campagnolo bar-end gear change lever, Fiamme (or possibly a Milremo or GB clone) nutted stem and finally the ubiquitous 'bivvi-bag' strapped under a drilled plastic saddle. (addendum 2: A rather closer look at the photo reveals that the frame has actually got brazed-on canti' bosses - and so effectively represents the 'state of the art' for 'Cross kit in those days).

Not seen in this image is the drive train. This is probably a single 40 or 42 tooth ring with home-made ring-guards on either side and a wide ratio 5-speed block at the back - plus steel platform touring pedals with double clips and straps.

George seems to be wearing a pair of leather winter cycling boots which have almost certainly had football (soccer) studs nailed into the heels. Other popular footwear for 'cross at that time were football boots with the front studs cut off and cross country shoes with heavily ribbed soles.
Note also that there's not an inch of lycra or advertising in sight. Wool or viscose club jersey, wool shorts and a long-sleeve shirt underneath.

Unless you were licenced professional rider, to attempt to wear a trade jersey or shorts in those halcyon days might have been an invitation to be officially declared a 'professional' sine die - not a practical option for most club men then*. Hence the poliferation of black duct-tape on shorts and jerseys in some pictures of the time.

*However it must be said that 'Cross in the UK was then run by the BCCA (British Cyclo Cross Association) and not the BCF. Let's just say that the BCCA had a rather more 'pastoral' view on these matters than did the BCF...

Mr Davies regrets...

Over the last few months I've had the pleasure of an exchange of emails with Barry Davies - former Professional ' Cross rider - in fact one of the UK's premier cash men of the 1970s and 3 times winner of the Three Peaks (1973, 1974 & 1975).

Barry is really taken with the Iron Cross concept and had fully intended to ride the event this year.

Sadly circumstances dictate that he won't now be able to make the transatlantic trip this October, but does intend to be on the start line at Camp Thompson in 2009.

Nevertheless, all is not lost because in the meantime Barry has offered to send us some images of the Three Peaks from his halcyon days in the race - and not (he's promised) all of him!

Presumably most of these pix has never been published before, so they should be an interesting addition to the 'Peaks currently rather scant pictorial history.

Watch this space...

Three Peaks / Iron Cross Hall of Fame

Seven riders who have ridden both the Three Peaks & Iron Cross Cyclo Cross (listing below is in date / alphabetical order):-

Albert Greene (USA) - Yellow Breeches Racing ('Peaks & IC both in 2005)

Keith Bontrager (USA) - Bontrager Wheelworks ( 3 x 'Peaks + IC 2007)

Ian Briggs (UK) - Capital Bicycle Racing Club (12 x 'Peaks + IC 2006 & 2007)

Gary Hill (UK) - Capital Bicycle Racing Club ('Peaks 2005 + IC 2006)

Stuart Bowers (UK) - Cycle Sport Magazine ('Peaks 2006 + IC 2007)

Rob Jebb (UK) - Wheelbase (13 x 'Peaks + IC 2007)

Andy Peace (UK) - SIS (14 x 'Peaks + IC 2007)

Top Left: Andy Peace - Science in Sport, Wigwam Hill, Iron Cross 2007 (photo - Bina Briggs). Above centre: Andy Peace & Rob Jebb, 27 x Three Peaks and 2 x Iron Cross between them (photo - Ian Briggs - and as per usual click on images to view full size).

Lance Armstrong NOT riding the 2008 Three Peaks!

But here are four Americans who are... (photos - Bina Briggs. Click on image to view full size)

Keith Bontrager (Bontrager Wheelworks) - MTB guru, framebuilder, wheel designer, innovator, all-round Endurance Cross / MTB expert and 3 times Three Peaks competitor. Coming in from California. *And I've just realised that Keith qualifies for the Three Peaks / Iron Cross 'hall of fame' - as he rode IC in 2007...

Chris McBurnie (Capital Bicycle Racing Club) [centre]. My esteemed team-mate from Battenkill in darkest Upstate New York. Three Peaks debutante and is flying in especially for the event. He (like me) sports a most excellent moustache - or he did when I met him, so he must be an all-round really great bloke...

Alex Anderson (Santa Cruz County CC). Another Three Peaks first-timer from California.

Mark Michel (Bicycle Trip - AKA 'Bike Trip'). This is Mark's 8th time at the 'Peaks. He also is travelling from Cally to be with us again.

Sorry. No pix for the last two riders (despite extensive 'googling' - and the fact that Mark is a 'Peaks veteran, I can't ID him on any of the usual picture galleries) - so if you're out there guys - c'mon, send me a photo...

Reasons to spend extra time in the Dales - 1 Cheese

Ah! Wensleydale Gromit...
Many people riding the 'Peaks arrive late on Saturday (even Sunday morning of the race) and depart straight after the finish, which is a shame because the area around the Three Peaks is stunning and most people miss out.

If you can spend some extra time in the area, there is much to see and we always enjoy a visit to the Hawes Creamery http://www.wensleydale.co.uk/

Hawes is a 30 - 40 minute drive from the Settle / Ingleton area and although the website above is a little uninspired, don't be discouraged it's worth a couple of hours of anyone's time, especially if you're a Cheese (and particularly a Wensleydale) lover.

The local delicacy (and real Wensleydale is only made in Wensleydale) is made most days of the week and the creamery tour allows you to see the process from start to finish if you have the time.

The on-site cafeteria restaurant is excellent and has, as you might expect, a 'cheesy' menu - "soup to nuts" as it were - though it's best to avoid it at the lunchtime peak as the wait for a table can be extended. There's a gift shop too, where you can buy... you guessed it - cheese! - and cheese ephemera.

Hawes itself is a attractive market town - if a bit touristy, and of course inhabited by loads hill-walkers and psuedo-walkers (the latter are the ones with immaculate "North Face" anoraks and slacks - and quite spotless hiking boots and usually the ladies carry a handbag). Hawes is also a focal point for a lot of the motorcyclists who love to come in packs to the 'Dales at the weekend and try and commit suicide on the local roads. Great for m'bike spotters - but try and avoid them on blind bends if you're out on your one-man-powered version.

If a cheese-based feast is not to your taste, there are loads of pubs and tea shops in the town where you actually eat meat-based products...

TIME TO READ THESE NOW...

Just over three weeks to go now - and the final start list for the 2008 Three Peaks Cyclo Cross has been published today (see below).

No patronage intended to the 'old hands' - or indeed the new ones, but it's perhaps an appropriate moment to remind first timers to read the Three Peaks race regulations very carefully, because they are unique to this event.

You'll find them here:- http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk/regulations%20for%20competitors%202008.pdf

and here:- http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk/instructions%20for%20support%20vehicles%202008.pdf

However in summary (ONLY - and please don't let it stop you reading both the above files):

1) Full Cyclo-Cross bikes only. No MTBs (modified to 700c wheels or otherwise). 35mm maximum tyre width.

2) Straight handlebars are allowed but must be no more than 50cm wide. Bar ends / extensions are not allowed.

3) Bike changes etc., are permitted, but there are 3 'service' points only - Cold Cotes, Ribblehead Viaduct (Batty Moor) and Horton-in Ribblesdale - and note carefully the parking restrictions for following vehicles in these areas. Riders found taking mechanical service outside of these areas will be disqualified.

4) Support vehicles must only follow the official route indicated on the map - i.e. Austwick / Clapham / Cold Cotes / Ingleton / Ribblehead / Horton / Helwith Bridge (for example, they are not permitted to drive from Helwith Bridge to Horton-in-Ribblesdale after the start).

5) Riders must carry a whistle and a Bivvi Bag* at all times. * Easily obtainable for approx £3 - 4 from all outdoor shops in the area.

6) Riders may be required to carry a lightweight waterproof jacket too - depending on forecasted weather (listen for tannoy announcements prior to the start).

7) 'Stop' times will be in force at Chapel-le-Dale (12.30hrs) and Horton-in-Ribblesdale at the entrance to Pen-y-Ghent lane (14.30hrs). Riders arriving after these times will be obliged to withdraw.

Note that any rider who is in breach of the published reg's (or indeed if a breach is committed by a support vehicle) they can be disqualified.

Now back to the funny stuff...

Final Definitive Start List for the 2008 Three Peaks Just Published!

Pen-y-Ghent looms through the cloud in the background as just 40 riders wait for the start at the first Three Peaks in 1961 [40 was the legal limit for massed start races on public roads in the UK for decades]. 400 will line up for the 2008 edition. See the start list below (Photo - John Rawnsley Archive - click on image to view full size)

It's here:- http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk/entry_list_2008.htm