Marginal Gains

[Helwith Boy]

Quite possibly most of us had not heard of marginal gains 12 months ago, but since it seems to be the 2012 buzzword of cycling just thought I would mention a couple of terrain improvements that may be of benefit to some.

Where the race proper starts as we leave the road to head to the farms and Simon Fell has now been tarmaced up to the first right hand bend. There is also another short piece of tarmac a hundred yards further on after the left hand bend and before the second right hand bend - between the banks where a lot of spectators stand. Probably of most help to those at the front and the middle of the bunch jockeying for position.

Much further along, near Ribblehead viaduct, there is now a gravel footpath across the bit of bumpy grass land that links the track and dibbing point with the T junction on the road. Again no real help to backnarkers like me, but you elite lot may save a critical couple of seconds.

Have been out today with John Rawnsley seeing the farmers and looking at some parts of the course. Generally it is wet. We have had almost continuous rain round here over the summer, with more forecast in the next 24 hours. All grass areas are quite water logged and may remain that way.

Anyone else who has been out and about please feel free to chip in with any other spotted changes and comments.

Martin Hanson
Helwith Bridge

[lanterne rouge]

Thanks, Martin. I noticed the improvement at Ribblehead when I was up there in the summer. For those of us concerned about the cut-off times these marginal gain just could be important. I've heard that Penyghent Lane has been improved as well.

[oldtim]

I ran up and down the Pen-Y-Ghent lane to the Summit in early September and it has been improved. They also seemed to be doing some work at the end of the Bridleway as there was some machinery there. Whether this was for the route up to the summit or the bridleway I am not sure. However, the path up to the summit seemed smoother than I remember, but that could be the fact it was dusk and foggy or that I was running it fresh from Horton and not after 3.5 hours and on my last legs.

Suspect the track from Ingleborough to Cold Coates will be interesting !

Roll on the finish line

[cmyk]

Unless they decide to tarmac the whole 38 miles, I don't think these marginal gains will help me...

[Helwith Boy]

They also seemed to be doing some work at the end of the Bridleway as there was some machinery there. Whether this was for the route up to the summit or the bridleway I am not sure.

This will be for a new path that goes off to the left of the gate at the end of the bridleway, looking up with the summit path going to the right. This is for the benefit of the 3 peaks walk, and will cut out a messy/boggy piece of the route which is environmentally sensitive ( Black Dub Moss ).

Martin Hanson
Helwith Bridge