the Cyclo cross racing post
Comments
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Did you need your mud wheels in the end then VamP? It was a lovely day for it in Basildon, thankfully because that off camber would have been a nightmare in the rain! It seems they had a bit of a wet one further up the east coast though so I guess we were lucky!
No, no. File treads all the way!0 -
Carmarthen, Welsh league. Field of about 120. About 20 broken mechs and hangers. Mud and grass city. Tremendous fun.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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Sounds good! Mistley was quite well packed for a change. The usual boggy sections in the woods and a couple of the hills were easier to run, but the ruts created by the vets made a lot of it much easier than last year.0
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I tried my flat bar out yesterday as well. I know it's not purist. Bloody excellent. To the extent that I can't see the XLS getting another outing this year.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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Seemed a low turnout at the central race at Zappi's in Didcot0
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Riders at the second round of the National Trophy series maybe? It was a brutal course though I thought, the field was lumpy and the hills were tough but maybe that's just my fitness levelSeemed a low turnout at the central race at Zappi's in Didcot
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Riders at the second round of the National Trophy series maybe? It was a brutal course though I thought, the field was lumpy and the hills were tough but maybe that's just my fitness levelSeemed a low turnout at the central race at Zappi's in Didcot
The slippy chalk mound and off camber chalky turns were very tiring, and the synchrotron section was so bumpy it was difficult to pick a line and maintain pace. Great atmosphere though with the running commentary/music system.0 -
Very much a course of two halves. If you could convince yourself to empty the tank by the top of the hill, you had all the way through the start/finish line to the hurdles to recover. Once I started thinking of each lap as a 3-4 minute hard effort with a 2-3 minute recovery, it felt a bit easier to go hard, especially if you could find a fast wheel to follow on the concrete bits. The chalk actually seemed pretty grippy to me (with intermediate tyres).The slippy chalk mound and off camber chalky turns were very tiring, and the synchrotron section was so bumpy it was difficult to pick a line and maintain pace. Great atmosphere though with the running commentary/music system.
Somehow the track into the spiral seemed to be a lot bumpier than the track out (or maybe it was the other way round). The younger kids found the bumpy terrain pretty tough going...Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
Well what a day out at the Central League yesterday. The vets and women really chewed the course up for us in the seniors. About 20 minutes into the race gear changes became a lottery and I had about 3 gears I could use. Good job it was flat and could keep it in the big ring as I don't think my front mech would be able to shift with all the grass/mud. This is where I wish I was good enough to justify 2 bikes and having a pit buddy. The rhinos did a good job in hunting the grip though.
Spent about an hour cleaning the bike last night. Think I'll have to do a bit of a strip down later and clean and re-grease some parts.***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****0 -
You're welcomeWell what a day out at the Central League yesterday. The vets and women really chewed the course up for us in the seniors.
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What you want to do is join a club with a large cross base. We had two petrol powered washers, three electric ones, three runners and 3 or 4 pit crew for every race at yesterday's league race. Brilliant!
And the great thing is that everyone can take advantage of the support, so it's no longer a question of 'am I good enough'.0 -
I've been trying to drum up interest from my club but sadly apart from our one lady this year the rest of us are mid pack at best so the road riders (who to be fair are doing very well) are getting everyone in the club excited with their exploits. Also the first time we have an event close by that our riders can just turn up and watch isn't till mid Dec. Oh well, I'll keep tryingWhat you want to do is join a club with a large cross base. We had two petrol powered washers, three electric ones, three runners and 3 or 4 pit crew for every race at yesterday's league race. Brilliant!
And the great thing is that everyone can take advantage of the support, so it's no longer a question of 'am I good enough'. 0 -
Well what a day out at the Central League yesterday. The vets and women really chewed the course up for us in the seniors. About 20 minutes into the race gear changes became a lottery and I had about 3 gears I could use. Good job it was flat and could keep it in the big ring as I don't think my front mech would be able to shift with all the grass/mud. This is where I wish I was good enough to justify 2 bikes and having a pit buddy. The rhinos did a good job in hunting the grip though.
Spent about an hour cleaning the bike last night. Think I'll have to do a bit of a strip down later and clean and re-grease some parts.
I was there too! My first time racing cross. I decided just to leave it in the small ring but TBH wasn't doing much shifting... Cleaning took forever, much to the other half's annoyance.0 -
Well what a day out at the Central League yesterday. The vets and women really chewed the course up for us in the seniors. About 20 minutes into the race gear changes became a lottery and I had about 3 gears I could use. Good job it was flat and could keep it in the big ring as I don't think my front mech would be able to shift with all the grass/mud. This is where I wish I was good enough to justify 2 bikes and having a pit buddy. The rhinos did a good job in hunting the grip though.
Spent about an hour cleaning the bike last night. Think I'll have to do a bit of a strip down later and clean and re-grease some parts.
At least you made it to the end, a mate of mine lost his rear mech hanger racing with you this weekend.
Over in the Eastern League the seniors race was cut short, a mysterious incident on one of the slippery tight corners (I went down a few times, apparently I managed to slide 3m on my knees one time) meant that an ambulance was called (very quick response, arrived within one lap) and the race abandoned. Seems the lad is ok but not sure how it happened. Cleaning up my bike yesterday it's probably a good job I only did 4 laps, there was a lot of grass in my mech so I'm sure I'd have had problems later on.0 -
Ah but will you be back?Well what a day out at the Central League yesterday. The vets and women really chewed the course up for us in the seniors. About 20 minutes into the race gear changes became a lottery and I had about 3 gears I could use. Good job it was flat and could keep it in the big ring as I don't think my front mech would be able to shift with all the grass/mud. This is where I wish I was good enough to justify 2 bikes and having a pit buddy. The rhinos did a good job in hunting the grip though.
Spent about an hour cleaning the bike last night. Think I'll have to do a bit of a strip down later and clean and re-grease some parts.
I was there too! My first time racing cross. I decided just to leave it in the small ring but TBH wasn't doing much shifting... Cleaning took forever, much to the other half's annoyance.0 -
What you want to do is join a club with a large cross base. We had two petrol powered washers, three electric ones, three runners and 3 or 4 pit crew for every race at yesterday's league race. Brilliant!
And the great thing is that everyone can take advantage of the support, so it's no longer a question of 'am I good enough'.
I think there's enough people in my club to be able to get a pit buddy to power wash. The problem being I'd need to get a second cross bike. Now I have no problem with that at all, in fact I do want another cross bike. My other half on the other hand......well let's just say I'd be pushing my luck. I think I'll get a new bike for next years cross season, gives me time to sweeten her up.***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****0 -
Ah but will you be back?Well what a day out at the Central League yesterday. The vets and women really chewed the course up for us in the seniors. About 20 minutes into the race gear changes became a lottery and I had about 3 gears I could use. Good job it was flat and could keep it in the big ring as I don't think my front mech would be able to shift with all the grass/mud. This is where I wish I was good enough to justify 2 bikes and having a pit buddy. The rhinos did a good job in hunting the grip though.
Spent about an hour cleaning the bike last night. Think I'll have to do a bit of a strip down later and clean and re-grease some parts.
I was there too! My first time racing cross. I decided just to leave it in the small ring but TBH wasn't doing much shifting... Cleaning took forever, much to the other half's annoyance.
I'll give it a shot... targeting Twickenham and Welwyn. Getting up as far as MK or Kettering gonna be a struggle and already got plans for the other days.0 -
You need to drill them like a F1 team so you can just ride in, have a spray down or wheel swap and sprint out againWhat you want to do is join a club with a large cross base. We had two petrol powered washers, three electric ones, three runners and 3 or 4 pit crew for every race at yesterday's league race. Brilliant!
And the great thing is that everyone can take advantage of the support, so it's no longer a question of 'am I good enough'.
I think there's enough people in my club to be able to get a pit buddy to power wash. The problem being I'd need to get a second cross bike. Now I have no problem with that at all, in fact I do want another cross bike. My other half on the other hand......well let's just say I'd be pushing my luck. I think I'll get a new bike for next years cross season, gives me time to sweeten her up.0 -
A second cross bike has to be the easiest N+1 ever. Identical bikes, think about it. Just need to make sure they're never in the same room together.0
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A second cross bike has to be the easiest N+1 ever. Identical bikes, think about it. Just need to make sure they're never in the same room together.
Apart from the fact my current bike is last years model and they've changed the colours this year. And the fact I'd want an upgrade of course which means a different bike colour. Plus the fact my other half must be related to Sherlock Holmes somehow as nothing gets past her.***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****0 -
All black is the way to go. I have 5 bikes. All black. She has no idea0
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^ she does now...All black is the way to go. I have 5 bikes. All black. She has no ideaPannier, 120rpm.0 -
^ she does now...All black is the way to go. I have 5 bikes. All black. She has no idea
Zero chance she reads this forum. She could be posting a similar thread on that mumsnet about her vices!0 -
Finally some decent CX conditions for the central league race in Kettering, well for us Vets anyway maybe not for the seniors who had to deal with this https://www.facebook.com/nigel.bennett.7/videos/963698090335724/0
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I slid down that slope (once) in the V40 race. Looks like it got better /worse! Great fun today.0
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Now that's what I'm talking about! Fingers crossed for Southampton tomorrow.0
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I slid down that slope (once) in the V40 race. Looks like it got better /worse! Great fun today.
Me too, not intentionally, managed it to ride it on earlier laps but slid down on my backside after coming off later on. Great course!0 -
Kettering yesterday was immensely enjoyable. Shame I snapped my rear derailleur on the last lap of the seniors. At least I had got a decent ride under my belt prior to that. Too far to run it so first ever DNF for me0
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It looked fantastic!Kettering yesterday was immensely enjoyable. Shame I snapped my rear derailleur on the last lap of the seniors. At least I had got a decent ride under my belt prior to that. Too far to run it so first ever DNF for me
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Yea the central league was fun on Saturday. I did another sighting lap before the start of the seniors and was surprised how bad the course had become from the vets. The last corner was a tricky off camber that was just about rideable but now it had become a dismount and gingerly run/walk trying not to fall down.
Was a very long lap though but suppose it mixes it up from other events. Finished with my best result of the season so quite pleased with that ***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****0
