Silly commuting racing

errorist

TGOTB wrote:

Errorist wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

As luck would have it, we're organising a race at Bedfont Lakes, on 14 Oct. That would be the perfect place for you to atone for your sins...

You must be a fellow Wheeler then? Really want to do my first CX race so going to try and source a cross bike before the 14th. Might just be able to clear it with the other half if I tell her its also for commuting!

Excellent! If you can't get your hands on a CX bike, a MTB will do, and you definitely won't be the only competitor riding one. You'll occasionally see a MTB at the sharp end of a CX race, but this course has been specifically designed to favour CX bikes. If it's totally dry, you might even get away with a road bike.

Yep - I'm one of the race organisers - also the Wheeler who keeps popping up on the club forum going on (and on) about cyclocross ;-)

Once you have a bike (CX or MTB), get yourself along to some of the Thursday evening training sessions; all welcome, even Asprilla's triantelopes. Focus is on skills, but you'll get a good workout too..

Thought so! I think its great we've got some proper CX enthusiasts in the club, makes things more interesting.

Definitely going to see what bike I can get my hands on!

hopkinb

Veronese68 wrote:

Just practice getting on and off quickly without falling over.

See, this is the thing. Do I have to learn to do a proper CX dismount, or is that just for the people looking to win? I reckon I'd break my ankle trying to wrench my foot out of a clipless pedal whilst transitioning to a stagger. Are flat pedals allowed?

Also tyres - I have a CX frame already with discs and stacks of clearance for tyres and mud, I have a set of 37mm schwalbe g-ones on my spare wheels for messing about on gravel with the kids. Do I need to buy another set of tyres? Aren't there rules about tyres in CX?

veronese68

cjcp wrote:

V68 - just tell the Good Lady that you're off to a big shop. Or something.

I was considering something similar, or just guilt tripping her into letting me go. At least if I break something it wouldn't be from walking out of a pub without even having a drink. :oops:

hopkinb wrote:

Also tyres - I have a CX frame already with discs and stacks of clearance for tyres and mud, I have a set of 37mm schwalbe g-ones on my spare wheels for messing about on gravel with the kids. Do I need to buy another set of tyres? Aren't there rules about tyres in CX?

They'll be fine if it's dry, I've got some alternatives you can borrow if it's muddy.
Oh and just get on and off normally, lots of people were doing that as I recall. No shame in being a tail end Charlie, taking part is more than most people would do. Myself included by the looks of it.

cjcp

I think 33mm is the max permitted under UCI rules, but I think you'll be fine

I'll probably be using 33mm Clement Crusade PDXes.

Don't use flats - much better to stay in contact with the pedals rather than have your feet flying off everywhere. Just take your time on the approach to the hurdles, same when you remount. Especially when you remount...

tgotb

hopkinb wrote:

See, this is the thing. Do I have to learn to do a proper CX dismount, or is that just for the people looking to win? I reckon I'd break my ankle trying to wrench my foot out of a clipless pedal whilst transitioning to a stagger. Are flat pedals allowed?

Yep, flats are allowed, as are slow/incompetent remounts. The difference between the front of the field and the back is upwards of 2 mins per lap. Unless you crash, you're unlikely to be losing as much as 5 seconds on a "climb on your bike and start riding" remount vs a running one.

hopkinb wrote:

Also tyres - I have a CX frame already with discs and stacks of clearance for tyres and mud, I have a set of 37mm schwalbe g-ones on my spare wheels for messing about on gravel with the kids. Do I need to buy another set of tyres? Aren't there rules about tyres in CX?

There are rules limiting tyre width to 33mm, but they only apply at a handful of National level races. Those rules don't apply at local league races, specifically to make it easier for people like you to have a go. The front 60% of the field will almost all be on UCI-legal CX bikes, but there are plenty of wider tyres and MTBs further down the field. If you race on an MTB I'd suggest locking out the suspension, but you don't have to.

Some of the kids will be on bikes with baskets and streamers on the handlebars, it's not that unusual to see a doll's "baby seat".

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

I'll probably be using 33mm Clement Crusade PDXes.

:shock:

You might want to take a look at the long-term weather forecast, which is for the same weather we're having now.

Last year the call was between file treads and intermediates, with files probably the better call. PDXs are the second-most aggressive mud tread ever made in a 33mm width...

cjcp

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

I'll probably be using 33mm Clement Crusade PDXes.

:shock:

You might want to take a look at the long-term weather forecast, which is for the same weather we're having now.

Last year the call was between file treads and intermediates, with files probably the better call. PDXs are the second-most aggressive mud tread ever made in a 33mm width...

I was going to use the file tread Clements, but the PDXes are a bit like a comfort blanket....

Used them last year, and I don't like change. Change is bad.

tgotb

File treads with side knobbles are surprisingly versatile. Try them on a wet day sometime (not in a race, obviously); you think they'll instantaneously transform you into a helpless Bambi on ice, but they're not that bad. You wouldn't choose to use them on a muddy day, but if they're all you have you'll get round the course just fine.

hopkinb

Thanks for the patient replies chaps. I'll see if I can get a pass for "trying to avoid last place in a bike race round and round a muddy field" on the 14th.

tgotb

Link to enter
If you don't have a BC licence, day licences will be available from the sign-on tent for £3.

matt.j

hopkinb wrote:

Thanks for the patient replies chaps. I'll see if I can get a pass for "trying to avoid last place in a bike race round and round a muddy field" on the 14th.

I’ll be at the back with you. Can’t miss it after last year’s front row seat for CJs stair ride. Memorable first race, particularly watching him get straight back on and drop me!

I can’t recommend CX highly enough. It’s incredibly friendly and the races don’t take up huge amounts of your weekend. The Hillingdon race on 9th December would be another good outing for your new bike. Last year it snowed, preventing half the entrants from getting there, allowing the rest of us to fight it out for 10th rather than last place

It will also open up a world of fun when you realise you can get from London to Eastbourne off road...

asprilla

Are you folks doing the old fogies ride, or mixing it up with the young 'uns?

I think 40 minutes is enough for me.

veronese68

Asprilla wrote:

Are you folks doing the old fogies ride, or mixing it up with the young 'uns?

It’s all relative :?

sgt.pepper

Went the long way home.

I'm a terrible photographer - couldn't figure out how to get it all in focus :?

cjcp

Nice!! Whereabouts in relation to Wellington is that?

@Asprilla - yep, old dudes' race.

sgt.pepper

cjcp wrote:

Nice!! Whereabouts in relation to Wellington is that?

@Asprilla - yep, old dudes' race.

Past Karori, heading towards Makara. I somehow made it look a bit average, just can't use a phone/camera. Is pretty brilliant having that sort of scenery a 15-20 min ride from the city.

cjcp

A shout out to the chap on the old skool-ish looking blue/green fixie who took a tow all the way from BB to Lambeth Bridge this morning, said 'thanks' and told me my rear wheel was warped (broke a spoke).

Oh wait...

tgotb

Asprilla wrote:

Are you folks doing the old fogies ride, or mixing it up with the young 'uns?

Neither for me. I got into trouble last year; turns out there's a rule that race organisers aren't allowed to enter their own race. Shame, because (for some inexplicable reason) the course plays to my strengths. I normally ride the V40s though, we get bigger fields...

cjcp

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Nice!! Whereabouts in relation to Wellington is that?

@Asprilla - yep, old dudes' race.

Past Karori, heading towards Makara. I somehow made it look a bit average, just can't use a phone/camera. Is pretty brilliant having that sort of scenery a 15-20 min ride from the city.

Blimey, even Google Maps took a while to find that place!

anonymousblackfg

Had to get rid of the arm warmers after only about 4k this morning, much warmer than planned. Cold, Diet, poor filtering choices and a lack of manning up, meant I didn't make some numpties who should have been a long way behind me dissapear from view.

hopkinb

My CX ambitions for the 14th Oct have been dealt a blow by my wife, who will be on a jolly in Ibiza (I did know, just forgot), leaving me to entertain the children that weekend. I asked them if they wanted to race their bikes in a muddy field, and then watch daddy do the same. I got the eye-rolls. I will keep working on them though, or try and enlist the aid of their grandmother.

Beaut morning, so tried to push on. Quite a quick journey, although not quite as quick as the other day, I hit a few greens, but also had to pull up sharply a couple of times - would have been a definite rlj rather than a burned amber. One manky silver pot on strava. I think I've ridden that route so many times, it needs to be a howling tailwind or a long run of green lights to get a pot. No competition.

asprilla

Rode home with Cambs last night.

Well, he was hanging off the back and catching up at the lights, natch.

Oh, and I've entered the V40 for KWCX.

veronese68

hopkinb wrote:

I asked them if they wanted to race their bikes in a muddy field, and then watch daddy do the same. I got the eye-rolls.

Ask them if they want to watch Daddy fall off his bike.

Took the daughter to Worcester Park this morning then ditched the car and rode in. That was hard work at pootling speed, last night's beer and curry on top of being very snotty probably didn't help.

kingdav

Do SCR'ists periodically meet for a pint?

rower63

From time to time I come across a biggish rider who is reasonably quick, but far far too competitive for any prevailing conditions. Quite a big chap, rides a red/white Allez which creaks and cracks badly as he’s riding along.

This morning I passed him in RP presumably shortly after he’d set off pootling before he’d warmed up. Naturally he latched on, I could hear this crack, crack, crack behind me all the way to Barnes. Along Priory Lane, while I was pushing on a bit, he made a couple of attempts to pass but couldn’t quite make it once in the wind. After the Priory Lane lights went green, we and a few others bore right into a congested queue of traffic, I, now in “heavy traffic slow mode” went up the left near the kerb and he took the right. He was evidently bombing it from the cracking sounds. He suddenly swerved from the right across the first meagre gap into the left and nearly took me out as he came across. I shouted “Woah!”. Half a second later he swerved again right, into the middle lane “gap” (it was now two lanes), where there was a truck. He smacked the truck’s large wing mirror with his helmet as he went past and may well have broken it, it certainly moved when he hit it. Truck driver produced a stream of profanity (understandably). If he keeps riding like that, he’s not long for this world.

hopkinb

kingdav wrote:

Do SCR'ists periodically meet for a pint?

Annually at Christmas. I met a few last year.

anonymousblackfg

Yes, I am always keen for a SCR pint but then never make it.

Am now trying to figure if I can rope grandparents into bringing kiddies to watch daddy race... I've a 3rd cat race licence, and am a couple of years off vets, what time do things start? what do I enter? and what tyres do I buy given i've a gravel bike with 42mm clearances?

kingdav

I'll look out for that then, thanks!

rower63

hopkinb wrote:

kingdav wrote:

Do SCR'ists periodically meet for a pint?

Annually at Christmas. I met a few last year.

It's normally reasonably well signposted in advance, often by V68. Everyone says they'll come, usually 3-4 actually make it, though it'll likely be less this year as Rick Chasey has now deserted us, as did ugo santalucia a while back. I didn't make the last one, but it's lately regularly been me, hopkinb, rmerriman, Rick Chasey and V68. And Ian.B though I haven't seen him for a while. Oh, and Dizzy Dane, haven't heard from her for a while either.
edit: OK OK APART from all those people who've turned up, only a handful have turned up.

veronese68

rower63 wrote:

edit: OK OK APART from all those people who've turned up, only a handful have turned up.

MTBidle threatened to make an appearance as well. His arm should be healed up in time to make it this year.
Forgot to say GWS reference that one.

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Yes, I am always keen for a SCR pint but then never make it.
Am now trying to figure if I can rope grandparents into bringing kiddies to watch daddy race... I've a 3rd cat race licence, and am a couple of years off vets, what time do things start? what do I enter? and what tyres do I buy given i've a gravel bike with 42mm clearances?

Hopefully you'll make it for a pint this time. It's still ITB's round.
TOGTB posted a link to the entry, probably on the previous page. I've got one or two spare sets of tyres that will do the job if you want something, I'm in Kingston, tyres for a pint seems like a fair trade then you've got to go to the drinks .