the Cyclo cross racing post

DavidBelcher

Benjamin Hall wrote:

simon t wrote:

It might be worth getting the tub repaired

I was thinking about that, any ideas as to where?

DavidBelcher wrote:

Good blog post there. Not sure I agree with the view that the blokes at the back of the field are solely there for a lark, though - I suffered like anything yesterday just to come 5th or 6th from last out of a field of 30 seniors. Looking back on it, I did enjoy the race however, since I chucked everything I had at it and didn't slacken off at all, so was pleased with my efforts from that point of view. As an added bonus, I found out this afternoon that my endeavours will also be getting a mention plus photo in the local paper (mainly 'cause of being the only senior from the promoting club than actually doing a noteworthy ride; in contrast we did have a decent presence amongst the juniors & vets)!

Hello mate, I didnt mean to belittle any riders in any way. There are always some guys there who really are just riding for a laugh. Or at least there have been at the races ive done.

I dont want to break it to you but if you are giving it all youve got to make up places then you fall in to the middle category so its time to buy yourself a skinsuit and some dugasts!

Thanks for reading folks.

No offence taken, I didn't mean to sound deadly serious in my last posting - admittedly I have done a few races where there are other back markers doing cross as a "taster session" and/or purely for fun (plus a few road specialists trying to eke a bit more racing out of the end of their season). Due to my modest income mostly being spent on keeping a roof over my head and stopping the cupboards from being bare, Dugasts are out of my reach for now at least (likewise a pair of "best" tub wheels for racing only). And speaking of tubs, Peter Burgin in Rotherham is your man for repairs - he advertises in the CW small ads pretty much every other week, but now also has a website with a comprehensive price list: http://www.tubular-repairs.com/

Hope the link proves handy.

David

Pross

Anyone riding my club's round of the National Trophy this Sunday? I should be there marshalling in the afternoon and possibly the morning.

MikeWW

Pross wrote:

Anyone riding my club's round of the National Trophy this Sunday? I should be there marshalling in the afternoon and possibly the morning.

Yes I will be there. Riding in the Grand Vets so 10.31 am start. Will be in the Lichfield CCC/ZipVit kit. Should be a good day of racing

DavidBelcher

Hemel Hempstead for me this coming Sunday. Never raced there before, any pointers from hardened Central League campaigners are thus much appreciated....

David

hammerite

David, I like the Hemel race. It's a school field, but there's a bank with the usual ups and downs, chicanes and off camber bits. The fun bits are two wooded sections with little bits of single track, and a tricky chicane around a hedge on a slope.

I think I crashed 3 times in my first race there, but really enjoyed it.

The going has been firm the two times I've raced there, although last year I think I remember the grass being damp and slippy. Could be very interesting if muddy!

DavidBelcher

hammerite wrote:

David, I like the Hemel race. It's a school field, but there's a bank with the usual ups and downs, chicanes and off camber bits. The fun bits are two wooded sections with little bits of single track, and a tricky chicane around a hedge on a slope.

Bit like Chiltern Edge School plus a hedge on a slope, then? That sounds OK to me - I always seem to get stuck in at Sonning Common and do OK there, so I should be fine for Sunday!

David

VamP

Benjamin Hall wrote:

Sundays race, Round 3 of the Western league. Not the best result, but it's all good training.

http://ifonlyiwerebelgian.com/2012/10/0 ... s-is-like/

Nice write up. I was able to fix a slightly smaller gash in my FMB Super Mud with Tufo Extreme Sealant. Worth a try before you send off for repair.

From another skinsuit wearing tub riding eternal midfielder

VamP

DavidBelcher wrote:

Benjamin Hall wrote:

simon t wrote:

It might be worth getting the tub repaired

I was thinking about that, any ideas as to where?

DavidBelcher wrote:

Good blog post there. Not sure I agree with the view that the blokes at the back of the field are solely there for a lark, though - I suffered like anything yesterday just to come 5th or 6th from last out of a field of 30 seniors. Looking back on it, I did enjoy the race however, since I chucked everything I had at it and didn't slacken off at all, so was pleased with my efforts from that point of view. As an added bonus, I found out this afternoon that my endeavours will also be getting a mention plus photo in the local paper (mainly 'cause of being the only senior from the promoting club than actually doing a noteworthy ride; in contrast we did have a decent presence amongst the juniors & vets)!

Hello mate, I didnt mean to belittle any riders in any way. There are always some guys there who really are just riding for a laugh. Or at least there have been at the races ive done.

I dont want to break it to you but if you are giving it all youve got to make up places then you fall in to the middle category so its time to buy yourself a skinsuit and some dugasts!

Thanks for reading folks.

No offence taken, I didn't mean to sound deadly serious in my last posting - admittedly I have done a few races where there are other back markers doing cross as a "taster session" and/or purely for fun (plus a few road specialists trying to eke a bit more racing out of the end of their season). Due to my modest income mostly being spent on keeping a roof over my head and stopping the cupboards from being bare, Dugasts are out of my reach for now at least (likewise a pair of "best" tub wheels for racing only). And speaking of tubs, Peter Burgin in Rotherham is your man for repairs - he advertises in the CW small ads pretty much every other week, but now also has a website with a comprehensive price list: http://www.tubular-repairs.com/

Hope the link proves handy.

David

Thanks for the link David, gone straight into my bookmarks.

Pross

MikeWW wrote:

Pross wrote:

Anyone riding my club's round of the National Trophy this Sunday? I should be there marshalling in the afternoon and possibly the morning.

Yes I will be there. Riding in the Grand Vets so 10.31 am start. Will be in the Lichfield CCC/ZipVit kit. Should be a good day of racing

How did you get on? Looked a good course in the afternoon but I understand it was a bit more muddy early on? The BC officials seemed to think it went well and have asked if we'll do it again next year! It took a fair bit of pulling together and I felt lazy not being there to help in the morning.

MikeWW

Pross wrote:

MikeWW wrote:

Pross wrote:

Anyone riding my club's round of the National Trophy this Sunday? I should be there marshalling in the afternoon and possibly the morning.

Yes I will be there. Riding in the Grand Vets so 10.31 am start. Will be in the Lichfield CCC/ZipVit kit. Should be a good day of racing

How did you get on? Looked a good course in the afternoon but I understand it was a bit more muddy early on? The BC officials seemed to think it went well and have asked if we'll do it again next year! It took a fair bit of pulling together and I felt lazy not being there to help in the morning.

Was gridded 4th from back but got through to 13th in very slippery conditions. Was very muddy for our race (had 2 bike changes) and course was pretty tricky. Dried up through the day and was riding well by lunch time. It was a good course and well organised so would say pretty much spot on.

DavidBelcher

Liked the Central course at Hemel yesterday - lots of technical stuff to get stuck into with moist ground making it quite cut-up in places as the afternoon went on, especially the woodland sections. Having been a bit over-zealous with the front brake I not only I hit a tree but also went over the bars at one point through said woods around half-way through the race (apologies to the 2 blokes behind who got held up as a result)! Managed to recover from that episode and went all out to make up even more placings and roll home 92nd of 123 finishers including a dash for the chequered flag to catch one last fellow back marker almost on the line. Crash aside, in terms of riding technique and physical effort it may be one of the best races I've managed in years.

David

MikeWW

Road R5 of the WMCCL at Elmdon Park, Solihull yesterday ( Grand Vets)

Very slippery conditions meant it was going to be tough!!!
Was lined up on the front row and though I had got away OK but then missed my peddle as I tried to clip in and nearly came off. Was back to about 30th with it all to do but got through the field and ended up 2nd Best result so far for me but legs have been in pieces today

DavidBelcher

I don't think there were any easy races anywhere during the weekend just gone! I was at Wessex League Round 6 held at Prospect Park, Reading - this is a very demanding course anyway, but the huge amounts of rain during the week made much of the course into a cut-up, boggy mudbath with few if any easy sections. Some of the usually (just) rideable slopes turned into parts where running was necessary, whilst the toughest running section became more of a walking section for the less proficient riders like me!! I managed to not only finish but also not scrape home last (27th of 33), without any repeats of the tree-related incident I suffered at Hemel. A major clean-up operation for both me and my bike was needed on arriving home. And as for the train journey home, the inspector on the ticket gate at Reading station didn't believe my brakes still worked and the wheels still went round when he saw the state of the bike....

I'm taking on a probably over-ambitious double-header this coming weekend, Brackley (Central) on Saturday and Harwell (Wessex) on Sunday. Luckily I have Monday off work to recover.

David

Tom Butcher

Advice please. Did my first cross race at the weekend on a pair of somewhat worn (but not worn out) Michelin Mud 2s - went OK for half the race but the last half I really struggled for grip as I think the wheels were chock a block with mud. Was losing the front wheel all the time. I've got the option of fitting a pair of Schwalbe CX Pros for the weekend - it's a parkland course - worth changing or not ?

Monty Dog

I'm riding the vets race at the Muddy Hell CX at Herne Hill tomorrow night - look out for the Dove Bike!

andyp

I'm racing in the vets too. Just spent the afternoon helping put up the beer tent and marking out the course. It's definitely muddy out the back of the circuit and the hose was being prepared to flood muddy corner on the infield so be prepared.

I rode a lap on a fixed gear, short wheelbase, brakeless polo bike which was more fun than you'd expect.

Monty Dog

Muddy Hell? - probably the muddiest race since the National League at Southampton a few years ago - wasn't helped by the torrential rain for the hour before the start. Well, I'm pleased to say I go my DFL (Dead F***in Last!) at Muddy Hell - on 2nd lap slammed my pedal in to the back of calf muscle which mean I couldn't really push and then punctured my front tub hitting the bottom of the ramp just before the bell - it was so filthy and I was so far back I couldn't be bother to get my spare and just decided to ride the last lap on a flat front which made handling in the slippy stuff even more fun! Even the lights on my Dove wings died in protest.

OffTheBackAdam

Maurice Thepity

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

My entry in the caption competition is;

"Oh boy, this is going to get worse before it gets better"

bigpikle

went to spectate at Alexandra Palace today for the Rapha Super Cross - cracking event and good fun even for a 12yr with zero interest in bikes who didnt want to come in the first place! Sat by the supper steep and slippery corner descent watching riders fall over each other brought a big grin to his face as he spent all day rattling his cow bell.

Brilliantly organised and run event, weather stayed kind and some great racing from kids to elites. Will go again for sure! Well done to all the racers there today - looked a tough course on that hill...

bexslack

Monty Dog wrote:

Muddy Hell? - probably the muddiest race since the National League at Southampton a few years ago - wasn't helped by the torrential rain for the hour before the start. Well, I'm pleased to say I go my DFL (Dead F***in Last!) at Muddy Hell - on 2nd lap slammed my pedal in to the back of calf muscle which mean I couldn't really push and then punctured my front tub hitting the bottom of the ramp just before the bell - it was so filthy and I was so far back I couldn't be bother to get my spare and just decided to ride the last lap on a flat front which made handling in the slippy stuff even more fun! Even the lights on my Dove wings died in protest.

Yes it seemed quite muddy to me too from my vantage point towards the back of the ladies field. As a newbie to cross racing, I must confess to having been rather defeated by the courses and the elements in both my races to date. Perhaps dipping my toe in the water with the 3 Peaks followed by Muddy Hell is not the most orthodox introduction to the sport.

Thinking of returning to the day job trawling up and down dual carriageways...

mikenetic

Managed to ride both Muddy Hell and then the Supercross, with a quick bit of bike and kit washing in between. As my first two CX races they were a bit of a baptism of fire, but both were brilliant fun.

I rode the novice race at Muddy Hell. The rain made conditions pretty tough, but my costume survived OK! The Supercross was excellent, and being cheered on through the Tequila Shortcut by so many people was a right laugh.

Definitely going to do more, CX is great fun. Regardless of where you are in the field, you can race the person in front and the person behind (unless you're last or first, obv)

DavidBelcher

Did back-to-back races over the weekend as I'd planned, first time I've ever attempted that but seem to have recovered quite well.
Chilly both days, but once racing was in progress I didn't really notice that, and only felt cold during the before & after bits!
Despite some weather-based pessimism on the rather parky ride over from Kings Sutton station, the Central League race at Brackley on Saturday turned out to be a cracker - thanks to all involved for designing a brilliant course. Although my speed on the flat-out sections isn't up to much, I seemed to be OK at holding faster guys' wheels on the technical parts (especially the chicane/slalom stretch prior to the hurdle - that was good fun) and some of the banks too. Unlike some unfortunate competitors I also avoided hitting the deck on what was a slippery surface in parts as all of that recent rain which made Prospect Park at Reading such a mudbath obviously hadn't dried out entirely. I rolled home 62nd of 82, not bad by my standards. Provided I can get the Saturday off work again, then assuming A5 Rangers run a 2013 repeat, I'll be back for more!!
The following day's Wessex outing at Harwell was a different kettle of fish and I really struggled, due to the wind and the nature of the course (mostly designed around a huge mound of chalk & clay spoil dug out from when the Diamond synchrotron was built, apparently - on Sunday it proved to be exposed and windswept in an otherwise flattish spot) rather than any after-effects of Saturday. The super-steep ascents, barmy descents and plethora of off-camber stretches made for really hard work; somehow I fought the urge to throw in the towel and put myself through 6 laps of mild torture to roll in a paltry 33rd of 36. Probably a good decision in hindsight as none of my clubmates rode at Harwell allowing me to make up ground on them in the challenge for the club CX trophy. The journey home proved to be longer than expected thanks to First Great Western - I was glad to be finally home and out of the cold and rain around 8pm, rather later than I'd hoped.

David

bigpikle

Wessex league at Oxford this weekend - anyone know what to expect at that venue as not ventured up there before?

BeaconRuth

DavidBelcher wrote:

The following day's Wessex outing at Harwell was a different kettle of fish and I really struggled, due to the wind and the nature of the course (mostly designed around a huge mound of chalk & clay spoil dug out from when the Diamond synchrotron was built, apparently - on Sunday it proved to be exposed and windswept in an otherwise flattish spot)............

I believe this is what you were racing on. I rode it last year and really enjoyed it although I concur with all you say about it.

Ruth

hammerite

BigP - I think I've raced there 3 times. Twice in Central League, once in Wessex.

The Central League had the course around the sports field and pitch n putt course, it was pretty flat and fast although some sections seemed to be a bit draggy.

When I did it as part of the Wessex League it was a bit different. They included the sports field bit, but also used a neighbouring woods. This involved a ditch hop (not riding), the woods included some narrow bits through the trees, it was pretty muddy in there and I had to stop a few times to remove mud/leaves just so I could keep the bike moving. I think it was a pretty wet day so that probably didn't help. Good fun really.

DavidBelcher

hammerite wrote:

When I did it as part of the Wessex League it was a bit different. They included the sports field bit, but also used a neighbouring woods. This involved a ditch hop (not riding), the woods included some narrow bits through the trees, it was pretty muddy in there and I had to stop a few times to remove mud/leaves just so I could keep the bike moving. I think it was a pretty wet day so that probably didn't help. Good fun really.

Probably going to be more of the same this weekend - the course hasn't varied much so far since they started using Harcourt Hill for Wessex races.

David

bigpikle

hammerite wrote:

BigP - I think I've raced there 3 times. Twice in Central League, once in Wessex.

The Central League had the course around the sports field and pitch n putt course, it was pretty flat and fast although some sections seemed to be a bit draggy.

When I did it as part of the Wessex League it was a bit different. They included the sports field bit, but also used a neighbouring woods. This involved a ditch hop (not riding), the woods included some narrow bits through the trees, it was pretty muddy in there and I had to stop a few times to remove mud/leaves just so I could keep the bike moving. I think it was a pretty wet day so that probably didn't help. Good fun really.

Thanks guys - looks like it might be more of the same this weekend then judging by the weather this week

DavidBelcher

Bigpikle wrote:

hammerite wrote:

BigP - I think I've raced there 3 times. Twice in Central League, once in Wessex.

The Central League had the course around the sports field and pitch n putt course, it was pretty flat and fast although some sections seemed to be a bit draggy.

When I did it as part of the Wessex League it was a bit different. They included the sports field bit, but also used a neighbouring woods. This involved a ditch hop (not riding), the woods included some narrow bits through the trees, it was pretty muddy in there and I had to stop a few times to remove mud/leaves just so I could keep the bike moving. I think it was a pretty wet day so that probably didn't help. Good fun really.

Thanks guys - looks like it might be more of the same this weekend then judging by the weather this week

Did you ride at Oxford in the end? I was in the Seniors event, and oddly I really enjoyed myself despite the ludicrous amounts of mud and standing water around the course, especially through the woodland section. Quite a chilly day, but as with Brackley the weekend before, I can't say I really noticed that once I was going all-out. Even accounting for a minor "off" about half-way through, I only finished a lap down on the winner rather than my usual 2 or 3 lap deficit, which was a turn up for the books.

David

PuttyKnees

Anyone race at the national trophy? The course looked good on Saturday and was great to see Wyman and Harris doing well, but by Sunday it was sodden.