the Cyclo cross racing post

Mark Alexander

Well, my season seems to have been scuppered by several bit's of bad luck.

APIII

Some good racing today at the Central League event at Aston Clinton. The fields seem to get bigger every week
A few pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/51617596@N02/
I took loads though, so if you were racing pm me with your details and I'll post them up.

bigpikle

^^ Looks really good and some great pics. Its looks a good course in the woods etc and I really wish I went to that and not the LVRC race yesterday. That will teach me again... :roll:

hammerite

You've not had much luck recently have you Bigpikle?

Was a good race today, not as technical as Hemel or MK, and a bit more open. I felt pretty good though and reckon all this work is making me stronger.

APIII - I thought the field was a bit smaller today than previous weeks, but then it's difficult to say.

Quick note on next weeks Central League, the race is in Reading, not Newbury now, apparently the school in Newbury have changed their minds about using their grounds. Worth checking the Central League website for change of details. I won't be there, not enough time to get from our Go Ride session to Reading. Will be back for the mudfest at Hillingdon though.

hammerite

APIII good photos, one of me in there too

bigpikle

Hoping to be there Saturday at the new venue - Sonning Common IIRC...

This weekend was OK and a good hard mud workout and knackering a wheel meant I got out on a family day today instead, and earned a few family points that will get me out another day 8)

TBH I'm regretting not getting out to the first few races in Oct when the weather was so much better. Not getting my act together early enough and then getting struck down with a bug means I'm looking at wet and muddy only for my racing this year. Still, I'll be all set for every early race next year and just back from 12 months preparing for the Raid Pyrenean should see me much faster and fitter than right now...

hammerite

Yep, Sonning Common BP. Venue:- Chiltern Edge School, Reades Lane, Sonning Common, RG4 9LN (North of Reading)


I know what you mean about being ready for the start of the season. I just rocked up to my first races without having done any training, and just been ticking over doing minimal work on the bike. On the drive back yesterday we were talking about the plan for late next summer/early Autumn once the Evening League TTs have finished to get ready for cross

What started out this season as a way to keep fit over the winter seems to be turning into a bit of a focus for next year!

APIII

hammerite wrote:

APIII good photos, one of me in there too

Cheers Hammerite. There were quite a few Beds road jerseys there yesterday!

As an aside, It's funny how a picture of a cute girl on a cyclocross bike gets twice as many views as most of the other pics

bigpikle

hammerite wrote:

I know what you mean about being ready for the start of the season. I just rocked up to my first races without having done any training, and just been ticking over doing minimal work on the bike. On the drive back yesterday we were talking about the plan for late next summer/early Autumn once the Evening League TTs have finished to get ready for cross

What started out this season as a way to keep fit over the winter seems to be turning into a bit of a focus for next year!

I know that feeling!

I'm being coerced into doing some TT's next season so am hoping that some focused training for that during the year will rub off when it comes to 'cross time as well. What would be really useful is somewhere to do some early technical training as well as my bike handling needs to improve for the trickier sections... I was thinking of selling my MTB but maybe the answer is more MTB work during the summer?

hammerite

APIII wrote:

Cheers Hammerite. There were quite a few Beds road jerseys there yesterday!

As an aside, It's funny how a picture of a cute girl on a cyclocross bike gets twice as many views as most of the other pics

You mean the photo of my splendid form hasn't seen as many hits

We had a good turnout yesterday, 6 in total - 4 in club kit. I don't think anyone at the club had ridden a cyclo cross race in years until this season. Some of us are trying to branch out a bit, and it seems to be rubbing off on others - all good.

Bigpikle wrote:

I'm being coerced into doing some TT's next season so am hoping that some focused training for that during the year will rub off when it comes to 'cross time as well. What would be really useful is somewhere to do some early technical training as well as my bike handling needs to improve for the trickier sections... I was thinking of selling my MTB but maybe the answer is more MTB work during the summer?

My MTB has seen more action in the last 6 weeks than it had in the previous 7 years of ownership! Any MTB or cross work over the summer will help I reckon. I'll be looking to ride the bridleways and wood trails nearby, using my cross bike or my MTB.
Maybe throw in a really steep slope with some carrying and some hurdles/fallen trees.

DavidBelcher

Thanks for the updated info about Saturday's Central League event - actually easier (and cheaper) for me to get to than Newbury, so quite pleased about that.

TTing is good preparation for cross since the workload is similar (i.e. pretty much all out effort from start to end) although I've TTed a lot this summer and it hasn't improved my cross performances as much as I'd have liked. Having said that, after a bad start at Thruxton on Sunday I got my second wind after the half-way mark and started to catch up with and drop a few of my fellow back-markers so I must be doing something right!
If you've got a mountain bike, worth hanging on to it as a fun off-road training aid - saves the cross bike getting worse for wear before the season's even started.

David

Surfr

Looking forward to Pembrey this Sunday. Weather looks to be around freezing for the race so should make for a fast pace. Only my 3rd cross race of the season and this one I plan to do without 10 pints of 'carb loading' the night before. Watch out Mark Alexander, I'm gunning for ya Who else is coming out to play?

softlad

I would have been there surfr, but I'm moving house the next day...have fun...

sheffsimon

Riding Norton Wheelers cross at Graves Park on Sunday.

Just noticed that there is a separate vets race, and its only 40 mins. Happy days, less times up that finish hill the better

Scene of my first ever race, as a schoolboy. Crashed into a tree, wrecked bike.

bigpikle

looks pretty frozen solid for today's race so what tyres will be better?

All round knobbly or something with less central tread that will roll a little faster with some knobbly edges for cornering?

Surfr

Bigpikle wrote:

something with less central tread that will roll a little faster with some knobbly edges for cornering?

This is what my speed kings are like after a bit too much tarmac use anyway. Looks like I'll have a good setup for once

lyn1

Bigpikle wrote:

looks pretty frozen solid for today's race so what tyres will be better?

All round knobbly or something with less central tread that will roll a little faster with some knobbly edges for cornering?

File treads
http://is.gd/hQ393

bigpikle

lyn1 wrote:

Bigpikle wrote:

looks pretty frozen solid for today's race so what tyres will be better?

All round knobbly or something with less central tread that will roll a little faster with some knobbly edges for cornering?

File treads
http://is.gd/hQ393

thanks - not too dissimilar to my CX Comps although they have vertical stripes rather than a true file tread.

Turned out to be thick gloopy clay mud rather than properly frozen so went for my Griffo's instead.

bigpikle

anyone ride the Central League at Sonning Common today?

Had the best race yet and for once stayed clear of mechanical demons. Think I got a solid 'middle order' finish having finally ridden to my fitness levels today. Damned cold and lots of thick mud but went home very happy for once!

Surfr

Great race at Pembrey todAY. Temp never got above 0 so the course was rock hard and 70psi was a bit rough on the wrists by the end of the hour. Spotted Mark Alexander of these shores and Ogmore Valley Wheelers at the start line so made him my man-to-pass after our ding ding at Penperlleni. After a traffic ridden first lap I eventually got passed and promptly dropped by chain after the boards. He got back in front and it took another lap to reel him in and finally get passed for good. After a couple more laps and a few more positions gained I found myself in a bit of a no-mans land with nobody ahead to pass. I would get lapped by the leaders once in a while but nobody else seemed to be on my lap. Bell lap came just as Ben Simmons passed the line in front of me and I managed a good sprint to the line only to find a rider come from behind and pip me at the line. He shook my hand and I proceded to hunt out friends for a post race chat. Great fun but probably my last of the season due to the distances involved to get to any races for me.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/58202393

Bronzie

Bigpikle wrote:

Central League at Sonning Common

Pics by Guy Swarbrick on his Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swarbrick/ ... 355288681/

bigpikle

Bronzie wrote:

Bigpikle wrote:

Central League at Sonning Common

Pics by Guy Swarbrick on his Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swarbrick/ ... 355288681/

thanks

BeaconRuth

DavidBelcher wrote:

................. The plan is: Central League at Newbury on the 27th followed by train up to my parents in Wolverhampton, ride the West Mids League race at Cannock on the 28th then train home to Winchester on Sunday evening and in work for 8:45am on the Monday morning!!

Did you come and race in Cannock yesterday David? There weren't many there this week, partly because of a clash with the National Trophy, maybe partly because of the cold too. It was a lovely day for a 'cross race though - beautiful sunshine throughout. Just a tad on the cold side, but I took my knee warmers off after warming up as all the layers I had on up top were keeping me nice and warm. The cold is the last thing on your mind once the race is underway!

Ruth

DavidBelcher

BeaconRuth wrote:

Did you come and race in Cannock yesterday David? There weren't many there this week, partly because of a clash with the National Trophy, maybe partly because of the cold too. It was a lovely day for a 'cross race though - beautiful sunshine throughout. Just a tad on the cold side, but I took my knee warmers off after warming up as all the layers I had on up top were keeping me nice and warm. The cold is the last thing on your mind once the race is underway!

Ruth

No, I gave it a miss in the end, having remembered that my folks were in for quite a long day on Saturday (early start for Christmas shopping in York and a late-night arrival back home) so figured the last thing they'd want was an 11th-hour gatecrashing from me needing to get grubby kit washed on Saturday night and requesting for a lift from Dad to/from Sunday's event. As it was I spent the best part of 7 hours standing around in the cold, marshalling at the National Trophy event in Southampton and helping to pack up afterwards. Brrr. I did get a fiver towards lunch expenses from the race organisers, though, which was nice.

David

DavidBelcher

Bigpikle wrote:

anyone ride the Central League at Sonning Common today?

Had the best race yet and for once stayed clear of mechanical demons. Think I got a solid 'middle order' finish having finally ridden to my fitness levels today. Damned cold and lots of thick mud but went home very happy for once!

Considering the last-minute change of venue I was very impressed with the organisation and the course layout - good technical stuff which I coped with better than I probably would have done this time last season, so I must be doing something right! Managed a fairly solid finish although I didn't place highly overall; even had something left for a sprint to the line against someone of similar ability (but lost it by about a wheel or so)! Still found some corners a bit tricky despite my mud-orientated tyres. I'll swear that part of the course was still frozen at 1pm in the afternoon, too - was glad I left the house with plenty of layers on! Comfy chairs in the race HQ afterwards was a nice bonus

David

celbianchi

Deep snow in the north east for yesterday's race at Durham. A couple ot the national trophy chaps who hadn't made the long trip to southampton rode so we all moved down a couple of places. Hard work but a good laugh. 11th.

Harry B

Bronzie wrote:

Bigpikle wrote:

Central League at Sonning Common

Pics by Guy Swarbrick on his Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swarbrick/ ... 355288681/

There's some of me in there (looking knackered :oops: ) :roll:

Harry B

BeaconRuth wrote:

Harry B wrote:

I've got my first cx race this Sunday at Aston Clinton. Part of me is looking forward to it but another part of me is a little bit nervous :oops:

Good luck - come back and tell us how you got on.

Two races for me this weekend - the LVRC event and the West Mids League at Shipston. Anyone else doing either of those?

Ruth

Well I did the Aston Clinton race. Unfortunately I had a stonking hangover which was not the best prep in the World. I also did Sonning Common on Saturday, this time without the hangover. I enjoyed both events. They were well organised and everyone was pretty friendly. Sonning Common had a quite technical section with switchbacks up and down a hill. Most people ran this section but I did see the leaders go through there on their bikes which was very impressive. Unfortunately I will have to miss the next one at Hillingdon but I hope to do more races in the future

mentalalex

Well my weekend wasn't the best concerning results.

Raced Koksijde world cup for GB on sat! just wasn't on form! not a good ride at all!
and sunday raced national trophy, felt better, but crashed on first lap, and lost contact with main bunch, and lost my rhythm.

you win some you lose some!

need to get by fitness up for nat champs

dub2

Some racing went on at Ashton Court near Bristol on Saturday. Only watching and taking pics unfortunately

Heres some pics - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-L ... 1906854651