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worth bearing in mind, that racings not about going as fast as you can.... its about going faster than everyone else can.
The biggest difference, IMHO, is that the best rider usually wins an XC race, whilst the cleverest rider wins a road race.
Sorry, but that is a load of rubbish!
The best rider will win either race.
i've won a few road races. i wasn't the best athlete in any of them, but it could be said i did the best ride. a decent turn of speed and the experience (and a bit of good luck) of how to make the most of it made up for average abilty.
i'm not very experienced at xc but know that its highly unlikely i could win one. i'm just not good enough.
so i think the comment above is badly worded but i know where its coming from
but your turn of speed and experience is part of your ability to win races. when you won, you were the best of the entrants on that day.
it's a bit like a powerhouse TTer getting a kicking in an XC race and saying that the best guy didn't win because the course was too technical.
i agree with you. theres a lot more to being the best rider than being the strongest at holding a high speed for 2 hours. sadly, riding to your strengths is seen by some riders as being sneaky or lazy (if your strength is sprinting). thats probably what was meant by "the cleverest rider wins a road race". but for me being clever is part of being the best rider, and theres more opportunity to be clever in road races.
Cross race sounds awesome Chas. I just don't have a cross bike and have no experience of riding a cross bike (let alone in a race)
If it's this Sunday I might come along and take a look.
just don't have a cross bike and have no experience of riding a cross bike (let alone in a race)
You are unlikely to need one - plenty of people (including me last year) ride MTBs. I know an rider who'd regularly thrash cross riders on his MTB. But then he is quite a handy road racer, too.....