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I always take a pit bike now - couple of seasons back starting to race more regularly I had an exasperating run of mechanicals, was upgrading my cross bike anyhow, so decided to take two to races. Initially just left it in the pits in case of a problem, but now if my daughter is racing or I can drag my son out of the house I'll get a change. I do own a roly poly water carrier (extremely Boss) and a worx jetwasher, though, so I guess am invested in it.
I wouldn't give a shit about the indulgence of a bike change, I'd do it if I was fighting for 7th or 77th if I felt it would help - it's part of the sport. It is a palaver, though, with all the stuff, getting someone to pit for you. So I can definitely relate to people just wanting to keep things simple - just show up with you, your bike, and your lungs.
It's fun if your kids can do it, although yours may be a bit young if they're racing U8. My daughter managed great at the weekend and felt really proud of herself. Both of mine helping out worries me, though, as a pit crew that hate each other and a jet spray could cause a scene (but hasn't happened yet).
Personally I’d be happy to see the cash prizes go
Agreed. Total waste of money (not that I’ve ever won money in a cX race). But its BC specified amounts. When there was a novice race in our league even the novices got cash prizes.
BC doesn't specify any amounts (or event that the prizes must be cash) and as of this season there's not even a recommended number of prizes (it used to be 1 prize per 5 riders). The exception to this is youth races, where you must pay out 75% of the entry fees as prizes. [Source: page 187 of BC handbook]
For our club events this year we're doing minimal cash prizes for the top 3 in each category and giving any cash left over to charity (air ambulance).
We just try not to think about the cost.... £40 entry if we all race, plus league plus transponder purchase plus BC membership plus plus plus. But guess we don't smoke, don't drink huge amounts, keeps us fit and always fun battling with you boys (this year seems to be particularly close in the midfield dad's championship).
Pit bikes don't bother me (feel free to use what you want) and it can add to the race tactics as sometimes a bike change loses more time than the clean bike gains. I've gone to the extreme of making my own frame to avoid mud clogging and it hasn't yet failed to finish. Rear mech is still the potential weak link, but I've not resorted to the singlespeed or Sturmey Archer options designed into the frame (I'm sure the SA would cause much start line amusement).
The only thing I don't like is jetwash armageddon at National races. Would be much fairer and less abusive of race venues if limited to 2 bikes and bucket only washing - but can't see that suggestion going down well.
BC doesn’t specify any amounts (or event that the prizes must be cash) and as of this season there’s not even a recommended number of prizes (it used to be 1 prize per 5 riders)
Ah, my mistkae, I knew the recommended numbr of prizes had been dropped, but when we were discussing if cash prizes were needed, someone said it was stipulated amounts
R.e pit bikes, I also always take one. It's not a cost indulegnece for me as its just my old cx bike that I use as a commuter bike most of the year. come cx season the mud-guards and road tyes come off and the cx tyres go on. It has totally different geometry / contact points and feels very differnet when switching but I'd still rather have it than not. I dont have a pit crew but normally there is someone in the club hanging around who is willing to hand up a bike 2/3rds of the way through a race if things are a bit sticky. If its really muddy some of the kids in the club are happy to do be proper pit crew for pocket money, much cheaper than replacing a rear mech and bike changes every couple of laps does make a big difference when its really muddy.
No jetwashes would be a fine idea, Mick - basically you can get a bike change if your bike is fked and that's it. But like you say they're not going anywhere - part and parcel of elite cx racing and local / regional leagues feed into that.
N Wales league is single frameset only. Wasn't seeing the positive side of that when I snapped a chain lap one in a race there last year, but it's a nice counterpoint to the jetwash circus.
I'll say the opposite of everyone else and go with pits being a great idea. As a racer the idea of midwinter races being decided by who is the best at using a stick to clear out grass/mud/leaves at the side of the course isn't very appealing!
I can see why lots of jetwashes aren't a desireable thing in local races as regards noises and that ever-present pit-area raincloud, but given that most people riding are relying on the goodwill of teammates/long suffering spouses/children I can't see how making things harder for them will really progress the sport...
(And as noted above, they are part and parcel of National and International level racing, so lets get people used to that standard if they have the kit)
I've got no issue with pits, the tactics of when to change bikes is all part of the sport. I don't have a jet wah but at club level you don't need a jet-was per person anyway, I've always been able to get use of one.
The pit area rain cloud does remind me that when we tape out our race to mark out a seperate bike wash area to make the actual pits more tolerable!
Well worth watching the superpresitige from Boom today on GCN if you haven't seen it. cracking race!
First race in 8 years tomorrow. Overweight and underprepared due to 7 month old son, so should be “fun”. At least it’s on a golf links, so recent rain shouldn’t be a problem.
First race in 8 years tomorrow. Overweight and underprepared due to 7 month old son, so should be “fun”. At least it’s on a golf links, so recent rain shouldn’t be a problem
Montrose?
Had been looking forward to it but still off the bike, going to drive up to watch anyway, good excuse to get out the house anyway!
Aye, that’s the one monk. Live near Carnoustie so fits with family life. “Racing” V40 cat. If you see a fat sweaty man with weird handlebars and an interesting take on a race shirt, give me a cheer.
My pit bike again is just my second cross/winter bike.
I’ve currently got Maxxis Mud Wrestlers on- I’ve seen some Limus’ for £30 a pop and am wondering if they’ll make that much of a difference in muddy conditions? Anyone got any experience?
First CX race in a long time for me too today, I've not done any high intensity riding for ages so it'll be Type 2 fun for sure. Western Leagues, Stroud round, I'll be on the SS Kona Private Jake, it's my doorstep race.
Ooft, remember why it’s 8 years since I did one!
Didn’t comes last though. Yup, some poor sod had to go to his nearest and dearest and tell them he was beaten by the guy in “that” shirt.
Great course and good conditions.
Monk, was that you filming in the dunes with your phone? Heard my name a few laps, but didn’t recognise anyone.
Day out for me at the SW league in Taunton due to the Welsh league cancellation. Nice dry, slightly sunny day, pizza oven by the finish line and lots of tape round a couple of playing fields. Great course with some super fun offcamber stuff and a little run up, a tiny bit of wooded stuff and a small sandpit. Loved all the technical stuff, there was also a lot of long straights which current fitness could have done without 🤣 just enough mud to ball up the tyres and make it slippy but not affect the bike or gears.
No results yet but went from right at the back to I guess somewhere in the middle, paced myself too much to start, but then still blew up with 10 to go as I've got used to racing 50 minutes not an hr.
CXNE was an absolute mud bath. Was late to the start so ended up on the back row, not the front. Still managed to claw my way back up to fifth. Struggling on one bike though. Ended up in the big ring to avoid chainsuck issues but then was over geared. Had to resort to a pit stop and just stand there while someone helpfully jet washed my bike with me holding it.
I think we've settled in for a muddy season so I'm going to have to look at options. I'm thinking of removing my pompetamine from sale and pressing it into CX service.
Monk, was that you filming in the dunes with your phone? Heard my name a few laps, but didn’t recognise anyone.
Yep, made the drive up to watch, glad I did, awesome course! Very jealous of the riders.
Not filming, just photos, will look through later and see if I got any decent ones
I did the Western Leagues, Stroud round yesterday, they were most generous and gave us an extra 20mins of racing for free (glad I found out on the start line!). Did my usual thing if starting at the back, no idea where I came as the results aren't up yet, but had a superb battle with one other rider for most of it, until I slid off course in the woods with 2 laps to go & then he and a couple of others made a gap I couldn't close. I was second to last to come in, but not sure about how many laps others did, I got lapped a few times by the fast guys. 60mins was ok, I had a good hour if racing. Claggy grassy mud.
I'd be interested to know peoples tips for racing one bike in the mud. I feel I've got a good handle on tyre choice, tyre pressure, power, line and general skills. Without a pit crew and spare bike I'm always let down by mechanical issues when everything get's choked up.
I try to get the drive chain spotless and very well lubed. Polish on the frame where mud accumulates. GT85 on on mechs, jockey wheels and pedals to help as well.
Any other tips?
Ride a modified MTB? Stick some 35c tyres on a 29er and you have mud clearance for miles!
Slightly worried about upgrading to a proper CX bike, clogging that big an issue?
Had read something about trying to always shoulder the bike when running, rather than pushing and picking up more mud!
I've got a few ideas to practice. There are two leagues up here, this season I'm doing both and the TLI one I'm treating as B races - the BC one I'm more serious about. So I'll have a practice. Going to try the SS pompetamine but I might also try a mtb at some point. 1/2 a lap on a sub optimal bike will be enough to let someone hand me my cx bike back clean. I think I can persuade someone to do that for me in return for a day marshalling their race.
There was one guy ahead of me running the deeper stickier mud. About the same speed but I think it was to preserve his bike as he is a good enough rider to have ridden through it.
Also on longer runs you can clear the worst of your mud with your hands.
I'd certainly run 1x on my next bike. I saw a few of them drop chains but overall I think it is better. Less clogging. Also you can run a tighter chain as there isn't the jump at the front. Slack chain = chainsuck - I got into the big ring to stop it.
Yesterday was particularly bad for mud though. The only bit of the course that wan't a couple of inches deep or more was the tarmac section near the finish line.
Did Wessex yesterday, given the amount of rain it was surprisingly dry. Lots of greasy corners, fun little wood section & a couple of soft grassy uphill slogs, but I enjoyed it, in a type 2 kind of way.
Just outside the top half, which for my second race I was pleased with, given the standard & pace of the league. I think if I wasn’t on the back row I could crack the top 50% a lot more easily. Tactical queuing required for the start next time 🙂
Jonba not a lot more you can do. Don’t warm up on course and start with spotlessesly clean seat Stays and chain stays. In race look for puddles, if there’s running try to clean the bike whilst it’s on your shoulder, run more than you might normally, don’t change gear as much and try to put the power down slowly out of corners to be ready for chain suck. But if it’s sticky clay mud and/or a flat course you’re knackered really.
I’d be interested to know peoples tips for racing one bike in the mud...….
I try to get the drive chain spotless and very well lubed. Polish on the frame where mud accumulates. GT85 on on mechs, jockey wheels and pedals to help as well.
Any other tips?
I use a wax based lube, Squirt to be exact, it doesn't leave residue on the drivetrain that attracts mud & grass so less stuff sticks to it. My frame and wheels are also waxed with a top end Silicon based automotive detailing product by a company called Naked Bikes, it's called Pro Wax, this helps a bit as wet stuff doesn't really stick, claggy stuff sticks to anything mind. Also a 2 second manual (fingers) clearing BB area when running can save more time in the long run.
NWCCA Rnd 5 at Heaton Park as ace, it was surprisingly dry and fast, bar a couple of places that were either wetter than an otters pocket or slippier than an eel, so it was flat out racing from the off. I went ok in V40 one minor tumble on lap 1 on one of the more slick off-camber sections, but consistent laps saw me come in 41st from 78 starters, which ain't bad really.
Son No. and No.2 were in the U8 again with No.1 back in the game after last weeks course of dread (in his head) and put in a proper strong effort to take the win again by nearly 22 seconds over his nearest rival, so that's 4 out of 5 wins so far this year and No.2 with some quality off the bike running that could put a lot of adults to shame, coming in 14th from 29 boys, which considering he's only 5 ain't bad at all.
As a bit of a bonus and to round the day off nicely I also picked up a 2nd / pit bike that was for sale there 🙂
Tactical running is key, also if there are edges of the course that are longer grass (but not cut) i ride through it to clean tyres a bit even thouhg it is more effort. Sometimes slwoer less muddy lines are the way to go in the long run.
Pleased with yesterday as results show I didnt blow up as badly as I thought - mush have just been mentally struggling! 9th/28 is also my best result so far this season, which from the back row of the grid after quite a hard training week suggests I'm getting a bit fitter... or more likely the off camber scetions suited me.
Heaton Park was great - course in great condition considering the deluge of rain we've had. Think I might have seen your tumble Steve (muddy section just past the pits?), a decent spill. Rolled in 33rd and felt good, but bike was running like an absolute sack of spanners - couldn't ride the hill as I didn't trust my gears.
Bike shop sold me the wrong size BB30 bearings on Sat and it went downhill from there, stripping bearings out of mountain bikes to try and get some that worked, misaligned drivetrains through swapping wheelsets - your usual Sat night race maintenance.
Break in the NW calendar for the trophy race next week - there's an excellent event at Minera lead mines in the N Wales series on the Sun, but it's pre-entry (by tomorrow I think). Might put my feet up and have a week off, though - work out a few niggles in the legs.
Think I might have seen your tumble Steve (muddy section just past the pits?), a decent spill.
Yup that was me, my front wheel just grabbed a tiny rut and I went right over the bars, most bizarre.
There's a Go-Race at Bebbington Oval for the kids on Saturday so I'm taking them there, and then it's the Fallen Leaves Rough Ride on Sunday in Stafford, 75k of mixed riding, so will provide a nice bit of base mileage and a change from max HR thrash 'fests
Felt a bit crap on Saturday so decided not to race on Sunday. Really regret that now as just want to get out and race again (plus felt ok on Sunday but was without the bike and a 3 hour train ride away)! On the plus side I fitted my new (to me) ST-R7020 105 hydraulic levers paired to deore calipers this weekend - wow what a difference, the front needs a bit of a better bleed but bloody hell they are fantastic! Gonna try to get to the west midlands league Worcester race this weekend and may do my own little one person CX race tonight round a local loop I've plotted to at least spin the legs out!
Shameless plug..If anyone is after a spare bike for the up coming season I have a caad x frameset in medium for sale!
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I’d be interested to know peoples tips for racing one bike in the mud.
I go single speed, I think CX is a great event for it.
#imnevergonnapodium
Looks like significant portions of England and Wales are covered in rain today so it will be another muddy outing this weekend 🙂
Whos racing? Newport for the Weslh League. I'm pretty excited as the course maps look good - though I've been tired with achey legs and struggling to get above threshold all week so thinking I might be about to come down with something.
@shedbrewed - still planning on files?!?
@ferrals yup still planning on intermediate front and file rear.
I’m chock full of cold this week so it’ll be more of a ride around than a race for me.
Brave! I'd switch that rear out for Singleton next weekend! Though it was surprisingly dry when I checked the course over yesterday, and its forecast largely dry after this deluge.
I'm going across to Wrexham for the N Wales race - good course at the Lead mines. Actually meant to be dry on Sun, although it'll have taken on a lot of rain this week I imagine.
Be on my guard for drunken lines - if Wales beat SA in the rugby then half the field will be on the bevvy.
National Trophy weekend at Irvine, woop!
Mid-morning race for me tomorrow, then some hanging around til Tyred Jr races mid-afternoon. Was a brilliant event last year, hoping for more of the same this time around.
Good warmup for it last weekend with a Scottish round up at Montrose, with some beach sand chucked in - coming into the season colder than I normally would has taken a bit of adjusting to, but felt the best I have done so far on Sunday, and not far out of the top 10 with a 13th. Heading in the right direction.
Hob Nob
Did Wessex yesterday, given the amount of rain it was surprisingly dry. Lots of greasy corners, fun little wood section & a couple of soft grassy uphill slogs, but I enjoyed it, in a type 2 kind of way.
Just outside the top half, which for my second race I was pleased with, given the standard & pace of the league. I think if I wasn’t on the back row I could crack the top 50% a lot more easily. Tactical queuing required for the start next time
What race were you? - I was in V50 and we may have been side by side in that shitshow of a first half mile (nobody's fault but walking those wide-open corners was a disappointment)
What are the cross shoes of choice these days? And by choice, I mean cheap 😅 I need a second pair as the current ones are just constantly wet!
With all this rain i'm gonna have some fun in the mud at the Western Leagues, Shamcross @ Keynesham tomorrow, propper cross needs mud & there should be plenty!
Managed mid pack in Vet 40 last week, which i'm pretty happy with.
PS: Clement PDX here, it's either those or Nanos.....
What race were you? – I was in V50 and we may have been side by side in that shitshow of a first half mile (nobody’s fault but walking those wide-open corners was a disappointment)
I’m in the V40’s. but it was still a mess, I got stuck on the inside which was annoying.
Raced again this weekend, Wessex again at Southampton which was my local one. With the weather and some awkward banks I figured it would be a good one for me (relatively of course).
Back row again, as I was late to the start, but gave it the beans right round the outside & overtook loads in the bunch up. Had a fun 3 laps holding place, then flatted. No spare wheels or bike, so pulled out at the end of the 4th lap. Annoyingly, it turns out I was having a great race. The guy I was battling with ended up in 24th. Well into the top 50%. Oh well, always next time, just have to hope it keeps raining to appease my riding skills rather than my lack of CX fitness 😆
I raced Shamcross at Keynesham, definitely not the mud fest I was hoping for. I absolutely love what they've done with their course, a real pleasure to race, great features and so many turns. I had a blast. Once again the Western League gifted us an additional 20 mins of fun!
Proper mud fest in Tredegar for the Welsh league. Hub deep slop in places. Proper tractor-pulling conditions. I really liked the course and those sort of conditions normally suit me, but for whatever reason I just wasnt in synch. In warm up I couldn't get my HR abouve threhold and race HR was only just above threshold too. Couldnt decide on lines, fell off twice, generally felt like a complete rookie. Result-wise was the same as normal but I would have hoped for a good result in those conditions.
Massive thanks to one of our club members who pitted for me without a jetwash and just used hands and a screwdriver to poke mud away from the drive train to keep things turning allowing me to have at least half clean bike changes.
On to our club race in Swansea next weekend so no racing for me, looking forward to seeing how the new iteration races (which is more or less the same as last year)
Had a good race at Minera in the N Wales league - great event. Hard circuit, twisty through the trees with a bit of elevation so must have had 4 or 5 runs ups per lap, which featured deep mud and stony quarry. Got lapped by the leaders right at the end and I wasn't complaining, hamstrings were singing.
Fitted a complete new drivetrain on the Sat, as is my habit, with one of those ultegra clutch mechs - so there was potential for disaster bedding it in on a one bike muddy race. But it rode great, no problems at all.
Well I went with the mud tubs for the Tredegar race, same as @ferrals Wasn’t expecting much other than to just ride around as still coughing up big green cornflakes. Very sloppy course, and the first time I’ve felt cold this season. Using one bike meant I stopped 4-5 times to unclog and just managed to save the derailleur when that horrid crunchy sounds came on the last lap. Sadly lost a few places then as I valued my derailleur and hanger more than a result. Smaller chainring may have meant I could leave it in one gear but not sure if it would’ve made any difference in terms of cloggage.
First race using egg beater pedals and cleats and they seemed to work well.
Next up is the Singleton round so expecting a tough course again.
If there are any uphill hurdles again I’m going to kick @ferrals in the shins. 😄