the Cyclo cross racing post
Comments
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Yep, that was a great race at Kettering. For me, the quickest way round that corner was to stay high, put both feet down whilst continuing to straddle the bike, and sort-of waddle the bike round the corner. Felt pretty secure with studs, and as soon as you were onto proper grass you could start rolling again with a height advantage over everyone else. I reckoned it gained me about 30 yards on the guys who successfully rode the low line, and obviously a lot more on anyone who fell. I considered a drive-side dismount, but mine's a bit unreliable!
Definitely a course for two bikes. I felt my mech starting to misbehave towards the end of the second lap and swapped; many thanks to whoever grabbed my old bike from where I dropped it, and put it out of the way! With a pit crew and pressure washer, I'd definitely have been changing every lap.
Next weekend's Central race sounds good; apparently it's on a disused golf course (I'm amazed such things exist!)Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
Well cycling is the new golf so the place is just being rebranded
Next weekend's Central race sounds good; apparently it's on a disused golf course (I'm amazed such things exist!)0 -
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
That's me in the middle ;-)0 -
Excellent! Fair play that looks bloody fantastic.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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Facebook? No. Just say no.0 -
Did my first two cross races this weekend. Was fairly uncompetitive on the Saturday, but the Sunday was a vast improvement. I have only had my cross bike for 4 weeks, so still really getting to grips with it all.
My average HR was 174 bpm on Saturday and 167 bpm on Sunday (very similar course, just some parts reversed and a few different lines), and it certainly felt better - I was struggling to recover during the race on the Saturday, and couldn't put the power down on the flat/straight/easy parts, but I was able to do all of that on Sunday :-)
I was experimenting a bit on different lines and really improved my technique over the whole weekend. Watching the better racers in the other races during the days gave me some tips as well as something to aim for. Already signed up to a more casual race this Saturday, as well as two more the week after (although I am worried there will be snow and frozen ground for them - any advice?)!
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ActiveBeans - A Veggie Lifestyle Blog0 -
Well cycling is the new golf so the place is just being rebranded
Next weekend's Central race sounds good; apparently it's on a disused golf course (I'm amazed such things exist!)
Our fixture (Cotswolds Veldrijden) is on a disused golf course - makes for brilliant cross terrain!
Looks like this might be popular as two neighbouring leagues have cancelled. Anyone know what rider limit Central imposes?
If I can shake this lurgy I'll see you there!0 -
Markeaton park Derby in the Notts and Derby league.
One of the joys of only having the one bike today was it started off weighing about 17lb ended up weighing about the same wheigt as a Norton commando. It's been my third race this season since I ragged in twelve years ago and I'm loving it.Tail end Charlie
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.0 -
Shame you couldn't make it; was a great race on a fast course, in what sounded like the only non-waterlogged venue in the Southeast...If I can shake this lurgy I'll see you there!Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
It wasn't fast the way I rode it.....
Shame you couldn't make it; was a great race on a fast course, in what sounded like the only non-waterlogged venue in the Southeast...If I can shake this lurgy I'll see you there!0 -
It wasn't fast the way I rode it.....
Shame you couldn't make it; was a great race on a fast course, in what sounded like the only non-waterlogged venue in the Southeast...If I can shake this lurgy I'll see you there!
LOL it wouldn't have been fast had I gone either. Did a little test ride on Saturday and it wasn't pretty. Sounds by all account like a really good venue.0 -
Very well-organised too. Nice for the kids to get a proper CX course, rather than the 12-lap grass crits that seem to be in vogue this season...
It wasn't fast the way I rode it.....
Shame you couldn't make it; was a great race on a fast course, in what sounded like the only non-waterlogged venue in the Southeast...If I can shake this lurgy I'll see you there!
LOL it wouldn't have been fast had I gone either. Did a little test ride on Saturday and it wasn't pretty. Sounds by all account like a really good venue.Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
I did Henley too and it was a great course in what was my first race on a cross bike (did the novice race on an MTB a few weeks before).0
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Haha, you're hooked now aren't you?I did Henley too and it was a great course in what was my first race on a cross bike (did the novice race on an MTB a few weeks before).0 -
Thoroughly enjoyable race at Ipswich yesterday. Veeeeery windy - at times it seemed more like a fragmented road race; riding up the start/finish straight, you did not want to be on the front.
Question: My girlfriend has a graze on her leg, as a direct result of me throwing a bike at her because it wasn't clean enough. Is this acceptable?Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
Thoroughly enjoyable race at Ipswich yesterday. Veeeeery windy - at times it seemed more like a fragmented road race; riding up the start/finish straight, you did not want to be on the front.
Question: My girlfriend has a graze on her leg, as a direct result of me throwing a bike at her because it wasn't clean enough. Is this acceptable?
Completely unacceptable. The bike should ALWAYS be clean enough.
Ipswich sounds interesting. I have raced there lots, but never in a gale.
Regionals next week!0 -
Phew, that's more or less what I told her!Thoroughly enjoyable race at Ipswich yesterday. Veeeeery windy - at times it seemed more like a fragmented road race; riding up the start/finish straight, you did not want to be on the front.
Question: My girlfriend has a graze on her leg, as a direct result of me throwing a bike at her because it wasn't clean enough. Is this acceptable?
Completely unacceptable. The bike should ALWAYS be clean enough.
Ipswich sounds interesting. I have raced there lots, but never in a gale.
Regionals next week!
Weekend off for me; too lazy to drive all the way to Somerset, and I don't have the appetite for Hog Hill's endless singletrack...Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
Phew, that's more or less what I told her!Thoroughly enjoyable race at Ipswich yesterday. Veeeeery windy - at times it seemed more like a fragmented road race; riding up the start/finish straight, you did not want to be on the front.
Question: My girlfriend has a graze on her leg, as a direct result of me throwing a bike at her because it wasn't clean enough. Is this acceptable?
Completely unacceptable. The bike should ALWAYS be clean enough.
Ipswich sounds interesting. I have raced there lots, but never in a gale.
Regionals next week!
Weekend off for me; too lazy to drive all the way to Somerset, and I don't have the appetite for Hog Hill's endless singletrack...
I'm driving all the way to Somerset, although obviously it's not as far for me. Promises to be an utter mud bath.
The London Phoenix guys behind the Hog Hill race assure me it won't be very singletracky. I'm actually a little bit jealous that I can't go there, I seem to go well at Hog Hill.
I am not sure why, but I always really enjoy the Regionals - must be the Cat A billing
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Yes.Race is run to Cat A rules so unlike earlier Hog Hill events, there will be no single-track. There is a nice greasy run/ride up by the heckling tents, a massive double pit, 2 sets of hurdles (not the usual ones), steps, adverse camber and a tarmac finish up the Hoggenberg.0
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Except when you have a mechanical.I'm driving all the way to Somerset, although obviously it's not as far for me. Promises to be an utter mud bath.
The London Phoenix guys behind the Hog Hill race assure me it won't be very singletracky. I'm actually a little bit jealous that I can't go there, I seem to go well at Hog Hill.0 -
Except when you have a mechanical.I'm driving all the way to Somerset, although obviously it's not as far for me. Promises to be an utter mud bath.
The London Phoenix guys behind the Hog Hill race assure me it won't be very singletracky. I'm actually a little bit jealous that I can't go there, I seem to go well at Hog Hill.
I managed to forget that one. Denial works.0 -
Rats! Wish I knew about the improved Hog Hill course configuration; I've now committed to accompany the GF to some social occasion :-(
I'll have to think of it as payback for smacking her with the bike on Sunday...Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
Hog Hill turned into an utter mud bath. Great course though. Anyone else race there? I thought I liked mud, but this was the sticky kind that clogs everything up - after a while my wheels were unable to turn and I had to stop and de-clog. At one point I resorted to carrying my bike but had to put it down as it was too heavy! I've reached the conclusion a spare bike is essential in those conditions. Preferably with disc brakes, as my (canti) brakes seemed to be where the mud built up most. I guess that's what everyone else already knows.0
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If you're racing at Hillingdon this weekend I'd expect more of the same. Last year there were kids in tears as they couldn't get their wheels turning due to the mud.Hog Hill turned into an utter mud bath. Great course though. Anyone else race there? I thought I liked mud, but this was the sticky kind that clogs everything up - after a while my wheels were unable to turn and I had to stop and de-clog. At one point I resorted to carrying my bike but had to put it down as it was too heavy! I've reached the conclusion a spare bike is essential in those conditions. Preferably with disc brakes, as my (canti) brakes seemed to be where the mud built up most. I guess that's what everyone else already knows.0 -
This is the one real advantage of disk brakes over cantis for amateur racing, but it only seems to occur in certain conditions. Less of an issue for pros, or for amateurs with two bikes; by the time it gets to that stage they'd likely have changed bikes anyway.Preferably with disc brakes, as my (canti) brakes seemed to be where the mud built up most.Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
The Hog mud is special. Extra sticky!
Racing this weekend after a three whole weeks off! Can't wait!0 -
Last year there were kids in tears as they couldn't get their wheels turning due to the mud.
Only the kids? That was pretty much me at Hog Hill.
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The Hog mud is special. Extra sticky!
Racing this weekend after a three whole weeks off! Can't wait!
The same for me, pretty much the only riding I've done since my last has been my 2 mile commute so I think I will struggle!
Are you doing Chantry Park, Ipswich? I popped over there on Saturday to look at what to look forward to, there are more hills there than I expected but I couldn't figure out where the course goes even with the map
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The Hog mud is special. Extra sticky!
Racing this weekend after a three whole weeks off! Can't wait!
The same for me, pretty much the only riding I've done since my last has been my 2 mile commute so I think I will struggle!
Are you doing Chantry Park, Ipswich? I popped over there on Saturday to look at what to look forward to, there are more hills there than I expected but I couldn't figure out where the course goes even with the map
I'm doing Wessex now that I have moved, but Chantry Park is a legendary venue from the past! Used to host a round of the National Trophy, you can find videos on youtube if you do a search. Not raced there but it is a well regarded venue, and I'm sure Paul will put on a great day.0 -
Oh Paul has been very organised already, we all got sent an email with info on parking, the route etc this morning, very handy stuff.
I'll have a look on youtube then, surely he has followed some of the previous routes, there seemed to be some pretty well worn paths as if a cross race had been there before but I think the last one was 4 years ago so you would expect it to have cleared up by now.0
