the Cyclo cross racing post
Comments
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BeaconRuth wrote:FransJacques wrote:Indeed Hillingdon (Central League) on for Sunday the 11th, but there is also this one in the Wessex League near Didcot http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events ... _container
I really struggle to understand how BCF rank it but it's National "B" which means slightly more points than National "C" which, for example, last weekend at Penshurst was, but not all LL events are. Go figure. Am thinking of the Didcot race b/c the old Vets start at 12:40 which is more sociable when you have people coming over for afternoon cocktails and buffet.
I'm planning on racing at Didcot as my brother works there so it's a chance to visit him and his family - it falls in a gap in the West Mids League which I usually ride. A brand new course, I understand, but the setting should be superb anyway. I seem to recall lots of nice lawns when I was last there so I hope they don't mind a few muddy tracks appearing over that weekend.
Perhaps they've got some wilder areas there that I didn't see!
AFAIK the classification of the races is as much about the facilities and course as it is about how hard it is to win points. All seems a bit pointless (in my case very 'pointless') given that some leagues seem to be all/mainly "B" events and others all/mainly "C" events. So there's no parity of any kind from one race to another as to how easy/hard it is to earn points.
Ruth
A really silly and possibly irrelevant question - anyone know if race attendees (whether watching, helping or competing) will need to check in with security beforehand, or is the venue outside of the main complex itself? Just wondered as I went for a job interview at RAL a few years back and both myself and the taxi driver had to sign in at the main gate and give his vehicle's registration number.
David"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
For those thinking about racing at Didcot (RAL) on Sunday I've gleaned a bit of info about the course. It seems it will be based on a great chalk mound which was created by some excavations for a new facility. This is what my brother (who is not a cyclocross rider!) had to say about it:
"Apparently the start will be a ride on tarmac through our south car park and along a road at the foot of the mound. I should explain that about 5 years ago they moved the mound of chalk that they excavated to build the ISIS pulsed neutron source about 500 yards to the south to make room for the Second Target Station, which was completed a couple of years ago. See this link for an aerial view from the south here and click on the photo for a full sized image. The race route is on the hill in the foreground. You can see the car park on the right and the road just above the clump of trees in the bottom right hand corner. When you turn off right from the road it’s up a very steep slope of maybe 100 feet in height...........the white areas are chalk and the bit at the top left will be particularly demanding.......... There is woodland at the end of the course, but it is not very big and is quite level. Being chalk I wouldn’t expect the top bits to be very muddy, but the bottom bits could be if we get a lot of rain. At the moment I guess it’s not too bad. The gradient up the mound I would estimate at 1 in 4, maybe even 1 in 3! The bit coming down off the mound on the left side of the picture is less steep than the ride up and there are some steps you could ride down, but there’s space to take the slope instead. I think it will be very demanding physically, but interesting to watch!"
Nice photo isn't it?! What are the chances of a blue sky like that on Sunday?0 -
Hammerite, is there another CX at the water-ski place this weekend? http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events ... yclo-Cross
Is it the same league as the last race or was the last one Central? This one is Wessex.
Did anyone write a report of what the course was like? Apparently was the first time it was used for 'cross.
EDIT, duh, can't believe I posted this just below the very detailed description above.
To be honest I think I'd rather do Hillingdon than zoom up and down a frozen chalk mound this Sunday. Best of luck to all who are out, it'll only be 3-4C, cross weather is here!When a cyclist has a disagreement with a car; it's not who's right, it's who's left.0 -
FransJacques wrote:Hammerite, is there another CX at the water-ski place this weekend? http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events ... yclo-Cross
Is it the same league as the last race or was the last one Central? This one is Wessex.
Did anyone write a report of what the course was like? Apparently was the first time it was used for 'cross.
The Central event this weekend is the league final at Hillingdon. Best get that new rear mech on order from Parkers [1] now just in case....
David
[1] Other mail order houses are available."It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
I quite like the idea of zooming up and down a frozen chalk mound
That plus the GF is not keen on going to Hillingdon again, so looks like Didcot is the one this weekend.0 -
DavidBelcher wrote:
The Central event this weekend is the league final at Hillingdon. Best get that new rear mech on order from Parkers [1] now just in case....
David
[1] Other mail order houses are available.
I know I've only raced cross for 2 seasons, but Hillingdon has done me in twice in three races. End of season race last year I lasted half a lap before ripping my rear mech off, and snapped a chain on my last lap last time (although managed to finish). Still got a knackered achilles as a result.0 -
Ha! Anyone else on here tried the Wessex event at RAL Didcot because they thought it might be kinder to their bike than Hillingdon??
Nope! That course is tough tough tough! Mechanicals everywhere, one rear mech broke right in front of me on Lap 1! Slippery, hilly, long off camber sections... this was definitely a challenging day. Seeing as today wasn't about points, but about experience gathering it definitely was the right decicion to go there. Loved it, but it was definitely tough.0 -
Same sentiment here - but I was very disappointed to see the chequered flag unexpectedly - I didn't realise I'd been lapped by the leader after he got the bell. I was all set to do another lap and give it everything.VamP wrote:Loved it, but it was definitely tough.
Brilliant job by Andy Smith of the Swindon RC who designed the course. My first impression was that it was utterly brutal but it grew on me. Plenty of tight, tricky turns, loads of steep (i.e. bottom gear) short climbs - including probably three that the vast majority had to run. Good descents too including a long, straight slippery one with a tight corner at the bottom. Not too much mud (and I don't think there ever would be on a chalk mound of that size). I hate to be contrary VamP but I don't think it was a typical rear-mech-breaking day - not if you stayed upright anyway.
Big thumbs up to Swindon RC and the guys who made the event possible. Loads of parking on the completely private site, hot showers, good catering in a nice warm bar area. It was even good for spectators if they were prepared to brave the cold on the top of the mound because they could see probably two thirds of the course from up there.0 -
Didn't enjoy today's race at Hillingdon. I didn't feel "on it" most of the race anyway, but with 3/4 of a lap left after taking the bell my curse of Hillingdon struck and tape got caught up ripping my rear mech off. So 3 out of 4 races there in 2 years have led to mechanicals. Still ran the rest of the lap with bike on my shoulder, until I decided to just stop and free everything up so I could wheel the bike.
Ended up last finisher, but not last overall. If I'd realised I was going to lose so many places I'd have just pulled out on the spot.
Worse thing was the tape was blowing across the course, I tried to get round it, but it caught on my foot. I managed to get it off my foot, looked behind to make sure the tape was still on the course and not wrapped around my bike - I was relieved to find it was.... then crunch. Seems some had snapped off and buggered the whole lot up. Seriously considering giving the Hillingdon races a miss next year!!
Well done Ruth, I see from Velo UK that you got the win. You didn't need the last lap to give it full beans it seems :-)0 -
BeaconRuth wrote:I hate to be contrary VamP but I don't think it was a typical rear-mech-breaking day - not if you stayed upright anyway.
Big thumbs up to Swindon RC and the guys who made the event possible. Loads of parking on the completely private site, hot showers, good catering in a nice warm bar area. It was even good for spectators if they were prepared to brave the cold on the top of the mound because they could see probably two thirds of the course from up there.
Well done on your win Ruth.
Totally agree it was well organized, with great facilities, and amazing cakes too :shock: .
I admit that the course wasn't specifically tough on mech's, so my view was coloured by the guy who lost his right in front of me, but there were tons of punctures which I think was the cause of the majority of the mechanicals. No long grass, or leaves/mud building up so it was kind from that point of view.
I could ride all of the course in the initial laps, but had to keep adding running sections as the surface deteriorated with the race and the rain. I managed to overcook it on the steep descent you mention on the penultimate lap, and just carried straight into the tape and barriers at the bottom, withthe marshall's down there yelling ''Old school, old school!'' and my wheels locked upin the mud
Also suffered an embarassing wardrobe malfunction, when I tore a 10 inch hole in my bibshorts on the razor sharp wire on that fence lining the long straight at the bottom of the course, queuing up for the warm up while the Youth race was going on. Had to patch it up with drawing pins - very bondage look!
As for the spectators at the top of the mound, there were tons to begin with, and none at all by the end. It was really exposed up there
I seem to have come in 19th, which was a little disappointing, but I just couldn't go any faster :oops: 0 -
hammerite wrote:Didn't enjoy today's race at Hillingdon. I didn't feel "on it" most of the race anyway, but with 3/4 of a lap left after taking the bell my curse of Hillingdon struck and tape got caught up ripping my rear mech off. So 3 out of 4 races there in 2 years have led to mechanicals. Still ran the rest of the lap with bike on my shoulder, until I decided to just stop and free everything up so I could wheel the bike.
Ended up last finisher, but not last overall. If I'd realised I was going to lose so many places I'd have just pulled out on the spot.
Worse thing was the tape was blowing across the course, I tried to get round it, but it caught on my foot. I managed to get it off my foot, looked behind to make sure the tape was still on the course and not wrapped around my bike - I was relieved to find it was.... then crunch. Seems some had snapped off and buggered the whole lot up. Seriously considering giving the Hillingdon races a miss next year!!
Well, that's better than I managed yesterday - I was out 1st lap with a puncture!! Shame as I'd made a half-decent start and felt strong even in that biting wind, with morale boosted by some nifty bike-handling to stay upright and moving after a Team MK rider hit the deck right in front of me - it was shortly after that that the flat happened. Foolishly left spare tube and mini-pump back at the HQ rather than in my jersey pocket so not allowed to do a repair (even in the pits) and rejoin the race. The only positive to come out of it all was the egging-on and support from spectators and marshals (much appreciated folks
) as I ran the rest of the lap with the bike on my shoulder round to the start/finish area! I'd really been looking forward to the afternoon, too, needing a bit of escape after a dire week at work. As it was, £27 down the pan and an early train home.
Currently raring to go come next weekend's race though (Herne Hill or Wareham depending on circumstances)!
David"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
Thanks Hammerite and VamP - bit different this week compared to getting a massive 7-minute kicking from Hannah Payton, Louise Robinson, Lucy Garner and Isla Rowntree last week - all current or former national or world champions. Somehow I doubt I've suddenly become a great 'cross rider in the course of a week.
I agree the puncture risk from thorns was probably quite high VamP. I wasn't sure just how much if any of the course had been cleared especially for the race. Don't think I've ever ridden over so much thick moss before. The other distinctive feature of the course was all the off-camber terrain - tons of it! (Which I suppose I should have expected riding on a massive mound of chalk!) If it wasn't steeply up or steeply down then it was just about all on a camber except for the flat track along the bottom into a block headwind.
I was particularly proud of the cheer from my supporters as I remounted from the lower side of my bike on that very thick-mossy camber. It took quite a leap to get back on! I really must practise dismounting and remounting on the wrong side........
Well done on your 19th, VamP. At least you had a good race and finished unlike Hammerite and DavidBelcher - commiserations guys!0 -
Well done Ruth.
I was up at Bradford for the National Trophy-slippy or what!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... T0kNL-wV0I
I'm on at 0.36 -not my best moment0 -
BeaconRuth wrote:Well done on your 19th, VamP. At least you had a good race and finished unlike Hammerite and DavidBelcher - commiserations guys!
Thanks for the message of commiseration, and congrats on your win yesterday!
So much for the self-sealing inner tubes I installed ready for the new season - hurriedly now back to using regular tubes with Slime tyre liners which served me really well last season but are more awkward to install when fitting new tyres (think they may also offer a tiny weight advantage over tubes with goo in them, though).
David"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
BRILLIANT! Thanks for posting Mike - an inglorious moment but nice to have been part of it I should think? Just out of interest did you get down it safely on other laps? Great to see how it's done properly at the end!MikeWW wrote:I was up at Bradford for the National Trophy-slippy or what!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... T0kNL-wV0I
I'm on at 0.36 -not my best moment
How did Alex's race go - I see he got 5th - and did Chris not race this time?
Ruth0 -
It was good to be there but certainly a new experience. Ran it on the other laps as it got worse!!!!!As always with these things its a lot steeper than it looks. Slippiest race I have done ever I think. Alex got through to 3rd then had a couple of big (long) falls went about 20m without his bike at one stage so ended up a disappointing(for him) 5th. Jo Moses had a well deserved victory which should secure him the yellow jersey (Alex had to beat him to stay in contention) Chris was full of cold so didn't race-I've learnt with the boys that racing under the weather just makes recovery far longer.BeaconRuth wrote:
BRILLIANT! Thanks for posting Mike - an inglorious moment but nice to have been part of it I should think? Just out of interest did you get down it safely on other laps? Great to see how it's done properly at the end!MikeWW wrote:I was up at Bradford for the National Trophy-slippy or what!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... T0kNL-wV0I
I'm on at 0.36 -not my best moment
How did Alex's race go - I see he got 5th - and did Chris not race this time?
Ruth
Cannock Chase Sunday, then Alex off to Belgium to race in a Prestige.
I'm planning a few races(well as many as my wife will let me get away with) over Xmas including the Macclesfield SuperCross on the 27th Should be good0 -
BeaconRuth wrote:I was particularly proud of the cheer from my supporters as I remounted from the lower side of my bike on that very thick-mossy camber. It took quite a leap to get back on! I really must practise dismounting and remounting on the wrong side........
Oh yeah, that was a hilarious section. First time out (warm up) i stopped there and must have looked quite a sight as I scratched my head trying to figure out how to remount. Just can't do it from the right at all.
Ended up with a kind of crazy fandango hopping exaggeratedly from left foot first, going all the way to the other side, then hopping back again from the right foot. Ugly. And then veering crazily from side to side, as suddenly my feet had no idea where the pedals were either
This was really the first race that I have done, to feature such heavy cambers, and for that reason alone it was totally worth going. But I also had a brilliant time, I always do at cross...
As to the punctures, I got the feeling they were mainly from all the rocks and gravelly hardcore strewn along the bottom section... I certainly overheard the commissaire asking (on lap 3 or 4) loudly, ''how many punctures is that?'' and I am pretty sure the marshall shouted back '''20''. There were three riders in the pits at that time, changing bikes/wheels.
It was a tough call on pressures, as the terrain was slippery, but the ground was very rocky in places. Wouldn't have fancied running clinchers there. I ended up running 28psi front, 30psi rear and got away with it, but would have liked less on the cambered sections (and more on the rubble ). 0 -
I wondered if it was a lot steeper than it looked on the video.MikeWW wrote:It was good to be there but certainly a new experience. Ran it on the other laps as it got worse!!!!!As always with these things its a lot steeper than it looks. Slippiest race I have done ever I think.
Should see you at Cannock.Cannock Chase Sunday, then Alex off to Belgium to race in a Prestige.
Ruth0 -
Agreed - it was a course to ride for practising on cambers.VamP wrote:This was really the first race that I have done, to feature such heavy cambers, and for that reason alone it was totally worth going. But I also had a brilliant time, I always do at cross...
Ah, OK. I didn't think it was all that bad but maybe I was just lucky.As to the punctures, I got the feeling they were mainly from all the rocks and gravelly hardcore strewn along the bottom section... I certainly overheard the commissaire asking (on lap 3 or 4) loudly, ''how many punctures is that?'' and I am pretty sure the marshall shouted back '''20''. There were three riders in the pits at that time, changing bikes/wheels.
I was on clinchers and I've no idea what pressure was in them. I gave each tyre an authoritative squeeze beforehand and decided "that's about right".It was a tough call on pressures, as the terrain was slippery, but the ground was very rocky in places. Wouldn't have fancied running clinchers there. I ended up running 28psi front, 30psi rear and got away with it, but would have liked less on the cambered sections (and more on the rubble ). 0 -
BeaconRuth wrote:I was on clinchers and I've no idea what pressure was in them. I gave each tyre an authoritative squeeze beforehand and decided "that's about right".
That seems similar to my own pre-race pressure testing method. I did mean to buy an Oxford digital gauge (which don't seem to be too expensive) to use in tandem with the mini-pump I take to races [1] before the season began, but never got round to it.
David
[1] No urgent need for a full-on track pump when you're not running 100+ psi, unlike road events."It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
DavidBelcher wrote:BeaconRuth wrote:I was on clinchers and I've no idea what pressure was in them. I gave each tyre an authoritative squeeze beforehand and decided "that's about right".
That seems similar to my own pre-race pressure testing method. I did mean to buy an Oxford digital gauge (which don't seem to be too expensive) to use in tandem with the mini-pump I take to races [1] before the season began, but never got round to it.
David
[1] No urgent need for a full-on track pump when you're not running 100+ psi, unlike road events.
That's what I used to do too
I now have a digital gauge, so tend to use it a lot. I am sure the novelty is going to wear off...
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Some photos from our club champs in Leiden this weekend. I had a stinking cold which was my excuse (this week :oops:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidkneen ... 407881733/
Any (nice!) tips from some photo experts would be appreciated.....We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
BeaconRuth wrote:I was on clinchers and I've no idea what pressure was in them. I gave each tyre an authoritative squeeze beforehand and decided "that's about right".
I normally stick 40 psi in the day before, ride a lap or two of the course then decide they're too hard, squirt a little bit of air back out just before the race. No idea why, just seems right.0 -
hammerite wrote:BeaconRuth wrote:I was on clinchers and I've no idea what pressure was in them. I gave each tyre an authoritative squeeze beforehand and decided "that's about right".
I normally stick 40 psi in the day before, ride a lap or two of the course then decide it's their too hard, squirt a little bit of air back out just before the race. No idea why, just seems right.
Rode my 1st cyclocross race on a cyclocross bike sunday. Rode the 1st lap and was all over the place.. Bumped into my club mate who let out loads of air. The traction on for the race was amazing despite being really muddy. I could feel the rim on the flat sections and he said this was fine.. Certainly worked for me.. I got 6th
it felt like about 25psi in there0 -
Can't believe nobody's writing up the Herne Hill race!
I missed it due to family commitments, and now can't wait to hear stories of derring do and epic wipe-outs. Anyone?
Seems a lot of DNFs!0 -
The only epic wipeout I saw was FransJacques when he tried to come up my inside on one of the corners early on in the race. I stayed upright, but heard him crash behind me. He got up though and finished, what a trooper!
It was very, very muddy and grip was at a premium but I managed to keep the bike upright all race and finished 24th and 5th vet which I was very happy with. I rode with my head, ensuring I was consistent and not taking any big risks as it was the kind of day when wiping out was a very real possibility. The 24 DNFs, including some big London League hitters are testament to that.0 -
Thanks Andy.
Makes perfect sense that it was a ''head'' day. Well done on your result - but you've been pretty consistent around that kind of placing this season.
Fingers crossed that is the last of this season's races that I am going to miss.
Anyone doing the New Year's Madison?
And FJ: We need to hear your wipe out tale , dude!0 -
I'm hoping to ride the New Year's Madison, that was one of the most enjoyable races last season (I was paired with Mick Bell, so was at the sharp end for once).
I'll also be doing the London League round at Footscray on the 27th.0 -
andyp wrote:I'm hoping to ride the New Year's Madison, that was one of the most enjoyable races last season (I was paired with Mick Bell, so was at the sharp end for once).
I'll also be doing the London League round at Footscray on the 27th.
I should see you at both of those.
Re Madison, seeing as you have done it before. Are the pairings selected randomly, or can you choose? I was planning to pair up with my girlfriend...
Paired up with Mick Bell!! That must have been a great experience.0 -
VamP wrote:Can't believe nobody's writing up the Herne Hill race!
I missed it due to family commitments, and now can't wait to hear stories of derring do and epic wipe-outs. Anyone?
Seems a lot of DNFs!
Didn't have a chance to get near a computer from Friday afternoon until today, hence the lack of post from me so far.
Anyhow, in spite of the initial false start (course-marking error I believe??), Sunday's race was great fun. Even with a bit of pre-race fiddling with tyre pressure I did struggle for traction in a few spots and it took me a couple of laps to find my feet (speaking of which, that incredibly sticky mud made it possibly the only race I've done where my Time ATACs didn't always clip in first go) and get on terms with the slippery terrain whilst managing to keep both upright and moving! Once I'd managed that I actually started to enjoy the race and gave it my best shot - by my very modest standards I think I did an OK race, although I only rolled in a lowly 102nd out of 116 finishers (there were 24 DNFs, many apparently down to rear mech failures). Given the conditions I was grateful to have finished with both me and my bike in one piece. With such a big field and the tight course (especially the stretch by the railway embankment) there was a good deal of "traffic" - allowing the fast riders space for lapping whilst still riding my own race and keeping a reasonable line and maintaining some grip was quite a task in itself. As for that biting cold, once racing was underway I never noticed it! The post-race ride to Clapham Junction for the train home was a chilly one though!
All in all, a really good afternoon out and my final cyclo-cross race for 2011. After the previous weekend's anti-climax at Hillingdon it was good to end the year's competition on a positive note.
David"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0
