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one comedy dismount (sloppy flat corner, trying too hard) -
Yep.. i hit the deck twice.. Back wheel span out thinking I could get more traction with my wider racing ralph also got my bibs caught trying to remount (that cost me 2 places)
Think the start is crucial (if you've got the fitness to back it up).. I felt i didn't warm up properly
have to chuckle about getting your bibs stuck - lol - cx racing would be funny if it didn't hurt - mine was a front wheel (conti speed king) washout.
So re: starting, is the deal to get in amongst the 1st quarter of people and just get stuck in?
Entered my first cross race on Saturday, felt bit under the weather but was on my doorstop so made the effort. I started at the back of the field of about 170 and clawed my way up to bout 130, was relatively happy with that given I was on a ss until a single speeder lapped me 🙁
Mind you not sure my lungs or legs would have allowed more and I loved it. Just wish I had transport to get to more rounds
[b]acjim[/b] starting near the front can make a huge difference. Courtesy of doing every league race so far this season I have a reasonable grid position now 2nd row yesterday - way above my ability! I actually didn't cane it too much, and was probably a bit too polite on the first few bends. It meant I lost some places, but still didn't get held up on the first tricky sections. I rode reasonably consistent lap times as well.
Looking at some clubmates lap times who were also gridded they went off like a bat out of hell. But some of their 2nd/3rd lap times were way down, then they started to recover and pull away a bit.
The race before had 180 starters, I wasn't gridded, I had to wait stationary for about a minute at the first bottleneck, while the first 30 riders got through with no problems and were at least 1/4 lap in front.
I managed to latch onto the last of the gridded riders. I got towed round for the first lap with little effort and got around 48 seconds faster than my last lap.
I got called up for the grid at Hemel but the commisaire got my surname slightly wrong so I missed my first and possibly only ever chance of being gridded. I paid for that by having to walk a massive bottleneck on lap one. Ho hum.
New course at Stanmer Park was great. Hilly as ever at that venue but a real mix of grass, paths and woodland that led to some great close racing with various riders shining on various sections. Only disappointment was that it completely rideable.
I find gridding and the start makes a huge difference. Called up 2nd row, I was riding around in the group for 4th for a lot of the race and ended up 8th after the group split equalling my best results so far this season 🙂
thanks, will have to mtfu a bit and get towards the front next time.
i guess if i can find lap times then I can gauge myself more usefully against the other racers and see where I would qualify to start
acjim - I'm doing my first season. Being really out of shape when I started (6+ months off the bike this year), I've had all sorts of internal battles each race. I'm definitely way too polite at the start, generally lining up towards the back and then not giving it enough beans from the off.
It has crossed my mind more than once that a faster start would mean people have to come past me. Which is one of the skills to racing.
Also, each race is a new experience - I don't know any of the courses, so, other than the warm up, have no idea about the courses. I'll have a much better idea next year. And (hopefully) I'll be rather fitter..!
OMITN - I thought that this season. Sadly none of the races this season have used exactly the same course as last season, even when at the same venue. Some of them have used the same features, but run the course over them in a slightly more creative way each time.
Spent a couple of hours sorting the course out. I didn't go round the back of the mound which will be where there is most of the technical stuff, but the bit I was working on was looking good.
Was worried it might be bumpy but the bit I rode was pretty smooth. I was on my MTB but the suspension was locked out.
How muddy is it likely to be?
P.aul, top man. Another different course, all rideable but chalenging. Couldn't give it the berries on the flat sadly.
Sorry Jase, missed your message yesterday.
Thanks OG, and thanks for coming to race. Glad you enjoyed it. There's a few things which we'd do slightly different (not just on the course), but we feel it went quite well for our first go at organising a cross race. I have to say the support the BC guys give is top class.
I have to say after doing the course measuring lap this morning I was dreading it as I thought it was far too bumpy. But actually when it came to racing it wasn't too bad, I think everyone warming up, the U14/16 race had helped flatten it a bit.
Whilst it wasn't muddy it was nice to have a wet course with the ground a bit softer, you have to be a touch more careful on them bends!
Yep firm enough for slicks, but greasy enough to need muds.
Liked it, very Belgian'esque.
I snapped a spoke in my rear wheel on the measuring lap - heard some pinging, thought it was a twig caught only to find my spoke snapped. So I ended up with mud rear slick front, which seemed to work quite well some how.
Great weekend racing down in the south of Sweden, rounds 8 and 9 of the national series.
A somewhat disappointing 19th on Saturday, and a rather better 8th place today.
Gnarr, cross style!
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Looks very similar to our conditions SC!
The only thing I* would criticize today is the catering facility. Compared to other rounds it was a bit sparse. I guess this was dictated by the venue management though.
*Was actually my partner and daughter that complained.
Agree Jase. We'd asked for cakes, sandwiches etc... to be on sale, they have a facility they can open up which was closer to the race, but for some reason they didn't. Shame as the food in the restaurant is top drawer so we were hoping that they could knock some nice stuff up. Maybe next year we'll sort some catering out ourselves closer to the course.
We also asked for the toilets to be opened in the boat house where signing on was, but they never did.
[url= http://www.velouk.net/2011/11/20/result-central-cyclo-cross-league/ ]Provisional top positions[/url]. No idea what's happening with full results, hopefully we'll get them out soon. No idea who any of the photographer out on the course were either.
That would 5 degrees and a nasty cold wind then. bbrrr.
Hey Jase, you'll have to come up north. We had latte and everything at the Bingley CX today. Anyone else there?
Muddy off-cambertastic and steps of doom for my third cx race. We left sunny Todmorden and were enveloped in mist for the rest of the day - usually the other way round.
[img] http://www.flickr.com//photos/britishcycling/sets/72157628066963483/show/ [/img]
Can I just add the changing facilities were spotless.
SC - It wasn't quite so cold, and no wind - it was quite foggy as a result. Looks similar underwheel conditions though.
Jase - just heard that the venue ran out of bread/bacon for sandwiches as demand was higher than they expected! They've hosted events before (mainly triathlon) and got in as much as they usually sell, seems us CXers (and supporters) like our food more than the triathlon crowd.
[url= http://www.centralcxl.org.uk/?q=node/98 ]Results up already [/url]
Crap weekend for me. Rolled my rear tub off at furthest point from pit!
First DNF of the year!
Paul. Are you and the team racing this weekend at Sonning Common?
Yes I'm racing. Not sure how many others from the club are, I'd imagine a few will.
I'm hoping some of the clubs up our way will think it's too much of a trek and not bother, could do with some more league points!
Was off doing 'Remembrance Sunday' stuff - hope to get to Ashton Court
Just found out the ashton court scramble cross has been cancelled this sunday
https://sites.google.com/a/severnroadclub.co.uk/severnroadclub/Home
😥
could do with some more league points!
Indeed, I was picking up double figures. Now I'm lucky to get one point.
I don't expect to see much marker tape still in place today.
The end is nigh.
Wonder what Hillingdon will be like this season. First race this season to need mud tyres?
Really disappointed to see the forecast change from dry to rain in the last day! I'll be heading to Hillingdon to do a 'cross there for the first time but I'm worried about my rear mechs.
Anyone doing the Welsh Sunday?
Nope.. riding the western league on sunday
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/75008/Giant-Cross/Western-League-Round-10
Well that was amazing fun. 1st cross race on a proper cross bike. Was lent this by someone in the club
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So much more efficient than my mountain bike. Great fun in the corners trying to find traction. Got 6th place which i'm well chuffed about.
A pro Simon richardson won it with my fellow VC Bristol rider coming 2nd.
I can see me getting hooked on cross racing. I love the way this bike handled
Anyone else race today?
Took my daughter down to race at Hillingdon, she won the girls U10 overall.
I ride at Hillingdon today, it wasn't the best of days for me, as it confirmed that the bone I fractured on the 3 Peaks is still fractured. Nice 7 mile ride home via Osterley, long hot bath and maybe a beer in a minute.
Congrats Jase to your daughter.
19th in the final race of the national cup, ended up 12th overall.
Great video of me hitting the deck at around 1:20 here:
i thought Hillingdon was dreadful today! One of the worst courses I have ridden.... PERIOD!
Was it just a bumpy mud fest today bigman?
It's difficult to make that venue interesting but at least
in good conditions it's fast.
The regional champs last w/e was good though, excellent course.
About a million flat switchbacks at zero mph...
Had sod all flow, just stop go stop go!!
Don't mind mud (there was not much) and it was not bumpy either!
Don't like that sort of course either. I rode Southampton Nat Trophy and it was all 180degree turns on slippery corners. Us 6ft + riders don't do corners.
Well done to your daughter Jase - not only winning the girls U10s, but would've been 3rd U10 overall (boys & girls) in the league, excellent work. Did you race?
Didn't enjoy today's race at Hillingdon. I didn't feel "on it" most of the race anyway, but with 3/4 of a lap left after taking the bell my curse of Hillingdon struck and tape got caught up ripping my rear mech off. So 3 out of 4 races there in 2 years have led to mechanicals. Still ran the rest of the lap with bike on my shoulder, until I decided to just stop and free everything up so I could wheel the bike.
Ended up last finisher, but not last overall. If I'd realised I was going to lose so many places I'd have just pulled out on the spot.
Worse thing was the tape was blowing across the course, I tried to get round it, but it caught on my foot. I managed to get it off my foot, looked behind to make sure the tape was still on the course and not wrapped around my bike - I was relieved to find it was.... then crunch. Seems some had snapped off and buggered the whole lot up. Seriously considering giving the Hillingdon races a miss next year!!