replacing a tube in a CX race is pretty much the same as not finishing, it would put you a lap down on where you were, at least.

I’m running clinchers this year due to cost. slime in the tubes, and a spare pair of cheap wheels with an old pair of CX tyres in the pits is the best option.

Yeah, fair enough, I just figured since I wasn’t going to be chasing any sort of significant placing, I’d rather get my money’s worth out of the race and keep riding!

Will probably stash tubes and a pump somewhere, not got the time, inclination or money to go for tubs or tubeless, hoping latex tubes, wide rims and ‘old school’ pressures do the job… 🙄

£18? Is that going to be the price of every round in the Welsh series? I may change my mind about racing this year.

Of course. And I think we discussed this on last years thread as well. 😳

Took part in my first ever CX race at Hoghuton Tower on Saturday. Quite a different kettle of fish compared to my usual XC scene! Had a right laugh! Very similar to the manic sprint off the line in XC but that intensity seem to continue for the next 50 minutes…

I’ve had an easy month or so since finishing the XC season so my fitness is definitely not quite where it was but suffering is suffering and I’m pleased to have come 25th / 63 in the Senior race. Think i’ll be a little better prepared for the next one.

Our regional series has just posted up the dates for the new cross season. There was talk of a new sponsor for the series but it seems the series has now split into two competing series with nine rounds for each series. So from November to the end of December it looks like it is possible to race on Saturday and Sunday every weekend! I definitely won’t get that passed Mrs Stern but it looks like I’ll have to cherry pick the best courses from both series. But I’m sure there will be one or two crazies who will be doing all of them.

Twiddling as fast as my little legs will allow:

[/url]18/37 V40 WLR2 Gloucester Boating Lake by martinddd, on Flickr[/img]

😉

this. And me n Munqe-Chick have both loaned pit bikes to racers without spares who’ve had a mechanical – in her case despite the bike being way too small it was quicker than him running and carrying for half a lap (snapped Di2 Mech 😯 ) and he actually managed to maintain his placing and was sufficiently chuffed to get a finish line pic with MC and her tiny pit bike 😆 In fact thinking about it MC has also finished a race on a borrowed bike when we didn’t take spares.

Spare wheels are a cheaper option, but spare bikes seem to be more abundant in pits than ‘just’ wheels.

I’ve had 1 puncture in 2 seasons on clinchers – a front pinch flat from insensitive riding – and (Sods law no pit bike that week) I managed to finish on it as it as on the last lap, and with a reasonable placing.

I got my first puncture in 3 years on Saturday. Along with another rider we’d got half a lap on the main field and were engaged in a private battle for the win. I attacked on a long drag and as I rolled the corner at the top nearly rolled the tyre off. As it was the last lap I shouldered and ran in losing one place.

Any earlier and I would have abandoned as I’m not interested in minor places as the league is best 5 from 9 races. Back when I first started I left gas and tubes in the pit so I could carry on racing. Was never going to trouble the winners so it was all about getting in as much racing for my money. It is still fun trying to work your way back up the field.

Never had a spare bike.

In a complete change of subject – anywhere doing good pro race coverage. I miss Svenness and there doesn’t seem anything to fill the void. Don’t speak Dutch or Flemish!

My routine –

If the weather is bad have extra kit so I don’t start the race cold and wet.

Normally 3 laps or 1 lap + the equivalent else where if restricted access.

First lap easy, look at the course and get the legs moving. Done from behind the barriers on foot if needed. One flying lap, probably about 75% mid race pace. Get the heart pumping and see if my line choices were good. 3rd lap, steady. Maybe hit a few sections hard that I got wrong on the previous lap.I like to have a few sharp efforts. That way the start is less of a shock to the system.

Then just gentle pedaling until the start. For the NECCL it isn’t gridded officially. These days people just move over and let me on the front row but in the past it usually meant standing around for about 5 minutes or ending up at the back.

Food wise our races start at 1.30 and normally involve a drive or ride out.

Normal Breakfast. Light carb based lunch before i set off. Banana or bar on the way upto about 1 hour before. Sips of water or hot flask if cold. Gel on the start line (not sure it helps physically but it is part of my race routine for CX/HC/RR/TT and helps me mentally prepare if nothing else).

This is an ideal case. Last year as one of the organisers my race routine at more than half the events involved getting up at dawn, wondering around in the cold putting out tape and hammering pegs. Not eating or drinking then doing sign on before running over to the line last minute.

Take3Tri have posted some prelim details on floodlight night race.

21st October – 7-10pm.

facebook link

I removed the rack, mudguards and road tyres from my trusty V-braked Crosslight 5T commuter, fitted a set of cyclocross tyres that had been lying in my shed for the past 13 years and headed to Hoghton Tower for a first attempt at cyclocross on Saturday.

The Vets race was well-subscribed.

It was great.

Ok, disc brakes would be better, lower gears for the climbs might help and tubs might give more traction, but the actual bike wasn’t the limiting factor.

…my rear wheel came out of the dropouts (QR not tight enough) half-way through the race and pedalling/pushing became “difficult” -I thought that the axle might have snapped and carried on, discovering at the end that the wheel had been retained in place by the V-brakes 🙂

It is a pity that XC racing through the summer isn’t as popular as CX seems to be nowadays.

It would make a difference. The shorter lap/smaller footprint of CX courses possibly helps keep the price down.

Midweek Madness XC entry wasn’t much different price-wise to NWCCA races, if I recall.

CXNE have the results from all races available on the day, sometimes within 30 mins of the last race, online, using chips.

Smartiming do the NDCXL, NE, Yorks and Trophy chip timing and as said above get the results out online almost instantly (Not necessarily at Trophies as the UCI cat results have to go to the UCI first).

A day licence is £3.

Splitting the fields was a mistake. Most of us who have raced for years like having to someone to actually race against, which means having a bit of aggro on the start line. 30 riders feels like riding a muddy time trial. Splitting the field seemed to be demanded by new riders who couldn’t cope with so many other bikes around them.

Chip timing? Completely irrelevant for cross because it’s not a time-based discipline. All I need to know is my position and the position of other riders I’m competing with. Paying for a club to use chips because it makes their day easier isn’t something I want to do.

Paying a surcharge to enter online also annoys me. I’m a BC member – why am I being charged extra to use the frankly appalling BC website?

Not at all surprised that entries are dropping. These things add cost and complexity that isn’t needed.

Anyway, I feel like I’ve got tonsillitis today. I’m off work lying on the sofa and have nothing better to do than be grumpy! 😆

I know it’s not strictly the point, but what else can you do for an exciting hour that costs <£20 ?? I’d rather the promoting club was able to pay the volunteers some fuel money and put on a class event than scrimp around.

I don’t think any races should take place without chips in this day and age, the ease of use and speedy results (in theory) are worth a couple of quid. Then you can give out cool stuff like a table of lap times etc which all adds interest. Especially as Garmin autolap normally gives you about 7000 laps on a cross course 😆