A few questions from a 3 Peaks virgin.

[duncan b]

I am doing the three peaks for the first time this year. I went did a lap of Ingleborough today on the roads with dog-legs up the bridleways towards Whernside and P-y-G. What are peoples' thoughts and experiences of the following:-

Descending Whernside - do people stay on the man-made stepped path or ride down the little grass margin between the path and the fence?
Close all gates behind you?
I guess its pretty easy to go too hard down the road from Ribblehead to Horton and have no energy for Pen-y-Ghent?
Do people race with a downtube water bottle and holder? I found it dug into my back when carrying.

Thanks,

Duncan