We had the last race of the series in this part of Germany last weekend in Chemnitz. It is the tradional last race of the series and is a pretty technical course. This year even more so as they had to change a large part of it becuase of building work in the outdoor velodrome. It was an absolute mud fest and one of the guys from my team managed to win it on a singlespeed cross bike with the third place also a singlespeed…that’s how muddy it was. I managed to roll part of my rear tub off the rim but still was able to finish 9th. Here is a video of the first lap if anyone is interested.[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNacJPd5dTo[/video]

Rode Crossmass V40. Nice course but I had a pinch flat on Lap 2 riding down the bridge due to the rungs! Rode a lap with a flat front tyre, including descending the steep side of the bridge (on the rim!), caught a lip and went down hard, so discretion being the better part of valour, I bailed after two laps. Looking at the results, my hope of a top 20 place was well-founded 🙁 .

Probably won’t ride any more as unlikely to register four finishes. Need some tubeless or tubs I guess. Bah! At least yesterday’s road races went better.

Was there yesterday too, keeping the bottom half of the senior field warm. Really enjoyed the course. The bridge definitely added some interest.

😀

😯

We all line up at the start and pedal (or occasionally run) as fast we can until somebody wins.

And the problem with this is…..? It’s as simple as: check BC website, find race, either enter in advance or turn up with a tenner* if its entry on the day. Checking directions to a venue I’ve not been to before, or deciding how many pairs of gloves to pack, causes me more logistical headaches.

Given that you race central league, why are you even so bothered how welsh league is run?!

*all unchipped races are still consistently a tenner, which is very good value compared to what other bikes races/events cost.

Crashtestmonkey- yes, that was me, i heard you gasp it then you were off…. I was out with the trainee comm to see how the course was riding out there. Was a long day yesterday, got there at 7:40, left at 4…
We had a lot of discussion over the bridge.

Ferrals come across the border! We have 3 central league, 2 Wessex league and Western league love
Crossed

because she’s Welsh, has a Welsh club (of which she was one of the founding members) as a second claim, and was 3rd Senior female in the Welsh National Champs? Is everyone involved in the Welsh League so defensive and reluctant to take feedback? We’ll be competing in races hosted by 5 different Leagues this year, so are interested to compare and contrast how different leagues run. Weirdly some of them even invite feedback in order to develop and improve 🙄

The feedback on the FB page is overwhelmingly positive, but there were a few crashes one of which created a logjam in the womens/V50 race and I can see it being a real concern if you were responsible for safety. I hope they include it next year, though I can see the steep side being made more shallow.

Just to clarify: I’m not involved in the Welsh League, by which I mean I don’t lift a finger to help with running things. I just turn up and race.

I do however appreciate that an awful lot of folk do an awful lot of running around to make these races happen, and they are doing it for the love of the sport and not much other reward. And when that’s the case, these people deserve praise and (bearing in mind that they are working with limited resources and time, and therefore an appreciation that not every detail might be perfect) constructive criticism. A lot of what I’ve seen on here, and elsewhere, recently isn’t exactly what I’d call constructive criticism.

all fair points and appreciate you defending their hard work, but M-C was asking genuine Qs about the league, not bashing it (she’s planning to come back for a NYE race there when I’m working, hence the Q). We have full chip timing in both local leagues (we overlap Central and Wessex regions) this year, they are managed differently and Central has live timing online and on a laptop and flatscreen on-site which has proved very popular and saves the commies/organisers being badgered by 300 riders for their placing. We both raced the Welsh Nats, and we’ve also entered Tang’s Lovecrossed and the Boxing Day race on Kenilworth Common in the Midlands so it’s interesting to see what’s done differently, what works better, how courses and fields compare etc.

Jonba we had a summer series this year which was pretty much a one-man-band organisation and ‘low rent’ – gridding was a free-for-all based on honesty and actually seemed to be good natured and self policing. The fields are small enough for it to be Juniors, Men, and women with no sub categories. It’s on the same site but the course varies every week, and they usually manage to get the placings on FB before the next round. No BC points, no prizes, no league position just hot, dry, dusty racing.

Ha Ha Mooman thanks. Yes I shall speak to the club then. Thanks for that! I was born right side of the bridge so all okay 🙂 see you there. Festive 500 around 2 CX races in that period is going to be fun!

Ooh, just added something else to the Xmas break diary! 😀

There’s a fun looking one in Newbury too! 3 difference races so a sprint fastest lap, a devil race (elimination) then a shorter CX race and combined times! Shame I’m off back to Cardiff and now no longer a CX race 🙁 guess I’ll have to schlep up the Garth for fun instead 🙂

The only fancy dress available to me is my wife’s elf costume! 😳

I’m helping the organisers of the New Years Day race in Newbury that Munge-chick mentioned above, it’s going to be great fun with a Cx sprint time trial, an elimination race and a normal but short xc race, points will be awarded based in your finishing position of each race and your final position will be based on you total points.

To add a little more fun I hear that a foam machine has been booked…

More information and online entry is here http://my1.raceresult.com/64947/?lang=en

Anyone doing the Boxing Day CX at Kenilworth? Or got top tips! Never been before saw it on FB looks cool so me and crashtesmonkey are off to burn off some mince pies and christmas cake 🙂

I raced Rockingham yesterday (V40), loved the course and no bike breakages between me and my daughter 🙂

Jase if you mean the Central round at Corby I raced V40 too, and MC raced wimmin. Glad to finish with bikes intact (that course killed all 3 of ours last year) but it took bike changes to do it – my decent bike has Sram which seems quite fragile so I’ve started relying a bit more on my pit bike with Tiagra 🙄 Small field too, lots of people put off by the weather.

edit; Qwerty, MC and I have already entered. We’re doubling up with saturday and sunday races the next 2 weekends 😯