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First race of the season for me at Taunton. Rookie mistake of not starting nearer the front meant navigating the traffic for several laps. Dry, dusty, and horrifyingly quick.
You were going well today, ferrals, good work.
I on the other hand had a shocker. Who knew that a newborn child, sleep-deprivation and a skinful at the club awards dinner the night before wasn't good prep 😀 Began to find my feet then had a stupid crash in the sandpit when I was dismounting but my left foot remained in the pedal as I tried to run with it... whoops. Mashed my knee and hand and just took the go out of me.
Bring on Hereford next week.
Can't wait for Hereford, really enjoyed that course last year.
On of the Bynea guys took some footage of the seniors race
Had my first stab at cross in Llanishen. Pleased with how I went and happy with making up time on the obstacles.
Not sure where I finished but felt string right through considering my lack of riding and felt my lap times were pretty consistent.
Easy going bunch and the weather made for an enjoyable event!
Did the Yorkshire Cyclocross Association race today at Templenewsam... came 27th/38 in the vets section... happy with that time be honest... my peak heart rate got to 209... that's quite a lot, isn't it? I suppose racing with a cold isn't a particularly bright thing to do 😳
Double post!
Thanks ferrals, annoyed I didn't ride the sandpit seeing that! Everyone around me was running it.
I ran it as well, rode it in practise but minimal time difference and I came to the conclusion I'd probably face plant! The Welsh league is really friendly, only my second season but I really enjoy it. Glad you had fun, are you going to do the others?
Made the mistake of over pacing myself and finished with a lot left in the tank
😯 In that case you were going even better than I thought you were. I on the other hand literally crossed the finish line and fell over I was so done in.
I reached a point in practice where I could ride the sand consistently, first lap of the race I ground to a halt in the middle of it and lost about 5 places 😆
Cheers David, you were tantalisingly close for a couple of laps! Just couldnt bridge the gap and decided to concetrate on defending my position and avoid loosing any places rather than gaining them.
As usual I spent to much time looking at the heart rate monitor and overthinking tactics rather than embracing the pain and grinding myself into a useless wreck 😳 😆 once a scientist always a scientist 😆
No plans to enter any others at the moment as I don't want to get a new set of mud tyres this year but I might be able to do a last minute entry for next week if it stays dry.
[quote="ferrals"]If it actually prevented the extra kilograms of mud attaching to the frame/rims I'd give it a crack but I'm not sure it would.It does.
Ok, i've not tried that particular stuff (rain x) but a coating of light spray oil (WD40/GT85) or furniture polish on the main tubes, stays and forks does slow the build up quite noticeably. Or anywhere else that mud can build up. I've even used it on cranks, cassette and pedals (spray oil, not furniture polish).
Sometimes needs a bit of encouragement if the mud has lots of grass in it, so i used to ride through a puddle if it got too bad. You could then see the muddy water beading up on the oily (or waxy) surfaces and then running off.
Probably worth a try even if you do have two bikes. (Not that i have that sort of luxury any more, hence mucking around with oil/wax and puddles)
Second round of the Welsh league for me today. After last night deluge I thought we'd be in for a mud fest but by the time our race started it was lovely and tacky dirt in the fun bits.
Much happier than last week. Actually started ok for a change, and went all out, blew a bit on the last lap and think lost a place or two (unless they were lapping me) but at least I knew I'd given it everything unlike last week.
Funny old course at Foxley, I love bits of it (the little drop off, singletrack and the first steam crossing) and hate other bits the bumpy field! Great days racing though.
Yep - Foxley always a good race; 80% out of seat pedalling - too bumpy to sit.
Pembrey next week should be a fast course.
Sounds right up my street. One to try and get to for next year.
It's a good course and a lush setting, well worth doing.
Pembrey should be good, think we're using a new bit of the park. Better brush up on my sand riding this week!
Good to see you again Mooman. You too ferrals. I had a far better race than I was expecting to, but blew around the 45 min mark. Still I really enjoy that course. Once I'd got to the front of a small bunch I was able to get a clear run into the bottom stream to ride it instead of getting baulked by everyone else running it. Got a good gap going til I popped. Hey ho. Not sure I'll be at pembrey yet.
Was a great day out, yeah good to see you too. And results out already 🙂 Chuffed with my result, plus it looks like I lost two places on the last lap so would have been my best ever 'cross result if I'd held on to that (best so far was Carmarthen when a third of the field DNF'd with snapped mechs so maybe doesnt really count!).
Definately think the difference between 50mins last year and an hour this year is noticeable!
Can someone please post a link to the Foxley Cross Results, i can't seem to find them anywhere?
I'm missing you guys! 😆 I'm working Sundays, so can probably only get to the Abergavenny race.
Dave M arrived in Llanishen to be told that entries had closed because they'd run out timing chips. He protested that he'd driven for two hours to get there so was allowed to enter, minus chip. They charged him £18 (£10 race entry, £3 for absent chip surcharge plus on-the-day?). Dave got twentieth in V50 - should have been 19th because there was a lady in the results who is most definitely not male or over 50. So much for chip timing!
You were going well today, ferrals, good work.
I on the other hand had a shocker. Who knew that a newborn child, sleep-deprivation
Congratulations. It carries on for a couple of years and then you have your second. Repeat.. 😉
llanrad - Member
Can someone please post a link to the Foxley Cross Results, i can't seem to find them anywhere?
They are on the Welsh Cyclocross Facebook page.
Edit : I may be premature - they don't seem to be posted yet.
Yes Thom, that extra bit of time in seniors seems to be making a lot of difference. Very few looked like they were racing the last 15-20 mins of it.
How is the fewer numbers in the race affecting yous? there seemed to be big gaps, and lots of guys kinda in no mans land of having nobody close enough chase ... and just doing enough to not get caught by those behind.
I dropped two positions in the last lap when somebody in front of me cut into my line as we went into the 1st stream ... bit too heavy on the hydraulic brakes - straight over the bars lol
lots of guys kinda in no mans land of having nobody close enough chase ... and just doing enough to not get caught by those behind.
This is why I eased off and eventually stopped racing 'cross years ago. With a field of under 50 people it's very easy not to see anyone for big portions of the race, and so it doesn't feel like a race. It was also why I was disappointed with Lovecrossed. I've loved the big fields of the last few years. There was always someone close by to push you, or to hunt down.
That's the issue with xc these days too. Someone should ban enduro!
I much prefer the seniors being split so far, still been 60 odd in the race. I've had good battles with people both rounds so far and feels like a proper race when knowing who you are racing against. I've had gaps open up in the last couple of laps and have been relieved when they do!
Think the fields are biggest in the vets race Jon so you'll have plenty to race against when you do make one, much more than at lovecrossed
Llanrad - provisional results on Welsh cx Facebook page
big fields are fun but small fields can be fun too, it only needs one or two around your level to make a race of it, big fields increase the odds i guess. But big or small field if you get unlucky and you're miles slower than whoever in front and miles faster than whoever behind its a bit of an individual time trial through no mans land to finish and not racing, ill give you that.
Anyone doing any of the scottish series? did local south lanarkshire series last year but think this is another level. got a new bike coming too this week 🙂 to replace my heavy genesis cdf
Pembrey should be good. I'm doing Tide2Tide the day before so might have to give it a miss!
I'm thinking of having a go this year at a race or 2 around Lincolnshire. I don't really know know the courses though, but I fancy riding something a bit more....trail like than just hacking around a field. Can anyone recommend a round/venue to have a go at?
The Boston Wheelers round of the Lincolnshire CX league at Ostlers Plantation is a great course, in a wood with plenty of singletrack. That's on November 13th
I prefer the vets getting our own race - fields were way too big last year.
Had fantastic races last two weeks ... half a dozen of us swapping positions first half of race, then down to 3 of us last couple laps.
Pembrey will open it up though ... the roadies will get opportunity to make time up on the open bits.
[b]Coming soon:[/b] [i]What tyres for Ostlers Plantation CX race?[/i]
That looks ace, I'm going to enter. Only got an Escapade, so not exactly a race whippet, but I'll have a go. Could genuinely do with some new tyres though.
Mooman; I'm still undecided on the field splitting so far. I just turn up and dig in and it'll be what it'll be. When I was feeling good on Sunday I was catching Ferrals up, which was a far cry from the previous weekend, but then I wasn't feeling so back so I went 😀
The numbers are still ok I think, although the fields in total don't seem to be as large as last year yet. I don't think it has the loneliness that Lovecrossed had towards the end when it seemed you'd see someone briefly and then that was that. It generally settles down after the first couple of laps on a technical course like Foxley, everyone seems too pooped to continue digging in. Less so at Llanishen where the flat and openness means more space for the faster boys to make the gaps.
I used to enjoy the mid field battles with the Vets and ladies; but I'm never going to be one of the front runners anyway so I can see why some of them were getting miffed.
Going to be interested to see how things change as people figure out how to go hard for the whole hour 😆
I've been saved by people blowing up behind me in both races, to the extent on sunday after trying a couple of mini attacks that didnt work I just thought, bvgg£r it I'll wait and hope they blow before i do.
Looking forward to see what the new Pembrey course is like, Dont think I'll do well though so am going to beast myself this week to try and boost fitness.
Pembrey will open it up though ... the roadies will get opportunity to make time up on the open bits.
And then show their awesome bike handling skills as they get off to walk down the sand dune. 😆 (I don't think he's including that tricky descent this year?)
Where was the tricky descent, Jon?
Oh and Ferrals; I worked out how to ride the longer time, but the 25 minutes gel had fallen from my short leg at 20 minutes! 😀
Where was the tricky descent, Jon?
Right at the end of the lap, just after the steps. Sandy, with a drop on one side then the next and a bit twisty. Lots of dismounts there to run down - not surprising, I suppose, when a few inches to the side had you off the track and over the bars.
The couple who tried to walk their loose dogs over there didn't help.
I don't think he's including that tricky descent this year?
I ran down that the first lap rather than sit in the queue of people waiting to ride it, passed about 10 people... not that it helped as I punctured 30s later.
Apparently its a differnet area and there won't be as much sand :cry:. Given that its got parking right by the start finish, some tarmac and as Matt's doing tide2tide the day before I wonder if it will start in the main area by the cafe? There's a horrible sand wall he sent us up on one of the winter xc events that would be a "great" belgium style run-up
Shedbrwed, I was close enough to vomming on Sunday without trying to force a gel down my throat mid race!
Very short course at Pembrey today. We were lapping riders as early as the 2nd lap.
Bit frustrated by one lapped rider who just blatantly blocked my path as I tried to overtake ... everytime I called Left or Right; he waited for me to start the manoeuvre - then did his best to push me off track ... I lost 30 seconds on that lap before I could shoulder past him.
Then on next lap got stuck behind a couple riders who washed out on descent towards start of lap ... had to tell them to pick bikes up instead of just standing there looking at them!!
Bit of a frustrating race today!
Outside top 10 this week I think.
I thought the race etiquette at pembrey was pretty good today.. Although wasnt overtaking like the fast riders.
Was a bit confused as to where to line up for the start. The 2 sandy step climbs seemed to bottle neck nearly every lap. No idea on how I did but took it far to easy on the first lap. Was a fun day out and great weather..
Had my sons naming ceremony yesterday afternoon up on the blorenge followed by many beers so was in no fit state to race today. Glad you had a reasonable race, Ant even if you need to sharpen those elbows 😉
Etiquette was great in the senior race IMO, but lesser traffic than the vets so felt like most of the time wasn't an issue.
The course was short but I really enjoyed it, nice to have something different. Kind of like some of the races you see on you tube.
Probably the hardest cross race I've done yet with those two run ups in close succession. Was struggling with cleats clogging with sand too.
super chuffed though as wasn't going to bother yesterday as felt so bad, woke up saw the sunshine and thought fvck it, and ended up finishing more or less surrounded by same people as last two weeks.
Hope naming ceremony wa good shedbrewed!
Bit frustrated by one lapped rider who just blatantly blocked my path as I tried to overtake ... everytime I called Left or Right; he waited for me to start the manoeuvre - then did his best to push me off track ... I lost 30 seconds on that lap before I could shoulder past him.
Note their number and report them to the comms next time. The onus is on lapped riders to surrender the racing line. Them's the rules.
Really enjoyed yesterday - another minute or so longer and the course would have been perfect (and I might not have got lapped!). I spent the first 3 laps locked in some very close racing with 2 or 3 others before things settled down.
Speaking of lapped riders, Matt Fratesi came past me with 2 laps to go, just before the tarmac section. I then caught him up again on the tarmac (I guess he was cruising by that point)! Seemed a bit rude to either draft him or unlap myself, so ended up pulling alongside and having a little chat!
another minute or so longer and the course would have been perfect
Agreed. I really really liked it, but think if we could have had a couple more open grass hairpins by the pits/finish area would have been absolutely perfect.
Sumners Ponds was nice and warm yesterday. I think it all went off well.
My lad did the Wessex CX yesterday, Under 10 catagory, he's recently turned 8. The course was brilliant though, lots of undulation, little droppy bits etc... was great fun riding round with him in practice. The lad did really well getting 6/38 and was really happy.
I don't think i'm ever going to be in a position to race the adults cat thoguh myself.