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[Closed] The Racing Post - CX Season has begun

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Hammerite
Still got a dreadful cough so haven't ridden at all between races which isn't ideal.
I was occupied with clubs road race earlier, but did go and race afterwards rather foolishly.
Started at the back, in my state it wasn't fair on fit riders. I was walking on the first lap because of a bottleneck. Then I was taken down by a falling rider, but went on to pass more that thirty riders.
Still coughing now.
From Saturday
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 08/10/2012 6:56 pm
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Wolverhampton yesterday-ended up in 7th so got some work to do still

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 08/10/2012 7:03 pm
 dobo
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The wessex league eastleigh sotonia cx yesterday was excellent. I really enjoyed the course an got right in the zone, my cantis were bang on, locking into some bends on the rear and my chain didnt come off! trying to find the lowest safest psi for the mich mud 2's. i think i can lower a bit more to 35-37 psi on a course like that.
results not up yet so no idea where i came but felt good


 
Posted : 08/10/2012 9:48 pm
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Did anyone race thrunton CxNE series at Druridge Bay Sunday? Very sticky draggy course.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 7:18 am
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Not thrunton at all that's my iPhone autocorrect playing up. Should have said the.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 7:35 am
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Rounds three and four of the Swedish cup, placed 16th and 18th, so will drop out of the top 10 in the overall 😥

Great course up in Kumla, just a pity I had dire starts both days on a track where the start is ooh so important. Not many pictures floating about so far

Cool flyover though, (not me):
[img] [/img]

Photo credit to Henrik @ http://oijer.blogspot.se/


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 9:35 am
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Hope the cough clears up OG. Did the road race go ok?

cool photo SC.

and well done Mike.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 10:00 am
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First round of the Ulster CX series on sunday and my first ever proper CX race. 21st out of 43 starters, not so bad but not so great either. Have a few target men for the next round to aim for now 😉

By far the hardest form of racing I have ever done. And I have done no specific preparation for it either after a full season of XC and just riding around on my commute since that ended. You need a lot more top end for CX than XC, and I didn't have much when the XC ended!

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 10:38 am
 cp
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CX is just flat out from the gun... great fun!

I raced the North West CCA round 3 - Velocity Cross. Was brilliant fun, with plenty of claggy mud. Discs were a god send, if just for the quiet braking!

Never have I worked so hard to be lapped twice (by Nick Craig amongst others), and come 33/166.

Got the race face on 🙂

[url= https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HCBJgQ_4VH4/UHPzm-zNWyI/AAAAAAAAFA8/6Lt69b52z2c/s603/Fullscreen%2520capture%252009102012%2520105006.jp g" target="_blank">https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HCBJgQ_4VH4/UHPzm-zNWyI/AAAAAAAAFA8/6Lt69b52z2c/s603/Fullscreen%2520capture%252009102012%2520105006.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

No time for rest either

[img] [/img]

Can't wait for the next one 🙂


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 10:55 am
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It truely is flat out from the gun.
But its the nature of the power output that is hardest to come to terms with. Huge power spikes sprinting out of corners, jelly legs dismounting and remounting.

Plus I had serious gear issues!


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 11:32 am
 cp
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Plus I had serious gear issues!

+1! Selection got a bit random in places/non existent.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 11:47 am
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Velocity was my fist real cx race - great fun but hard!

mini v's completely clogged my wheels on a few laps making it impossible to turn the wheels - I think 40psi was a little too much as well!


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 11:47 am
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raced my first ever CX race on sunday; wessex league at eastleigh. Not a very SS friendly course. was 26th/ 27. great fun though.

hoping to do at least one more race this season.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 11:51 am
 cp
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I was running about 38 psi, 12.5 stone, 35mm tyres. Seemed a lot better than the pressure's I've run in the past for cross - think 80 🙂

Might try about 35 next time.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 11:52 am
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Well chuffed with my 17th place in the GWR evening cross last thursday. Loving cross at night. The course has no dismounts and is fairly technical in the woods

Finally met Mulletus Maximus who stormed round the course

Can't wait till this thursday now i know the course

Was running about 30psi in my tyres and they gripped amazingly well


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 12:03 pm
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are you 30-40psi guys running tubs?


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 3:53 pm
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whiles the mini - v's were a godsend for the peaks - in the mud they clogged up real fast - might have to put the canti's back on?

anyone else running v's?


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 3:55 pm
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I was running clinchers (toro cx's) i weigh 67kg


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 3:56 pm
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whiles the mini - v's were a godsend for the peaks - in the mud they clogged up real fast - might have to put the canti's back on?

anyone else running v's?

Funnily enough i'm about to put V's with travel adjust on mine for racing (on advice of clubber on here) cus my avid cantis are a bit rubbish - although weirdly they were fine for racing but I cycled bath to didcot off road on saturday across the ridgeway and i had terrible fork judder problems)

Can't afford the avid ultimates so going with single digit v's


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 3:58 pm
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When I'm forced to use clinchers I put somewhere between 28-32 psi in, tubs range from 22 upwards. 74kg here


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 4:03 pm
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trickydisco, have you seen the forecast for Thursday? It's going to be very wet. Should make the last technical section fun. 😀

Don't forget it's back there for Sunday too but pre entry only.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 4:07 pm
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40psi if dry, 30-35 depending if wet/muddy.

Not punctured yet in 3 seasons of cross.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 4:25 pm
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I've just returned to cx after 6 seasons of no racing. I can't believe the number of entries - 102 in Brecon on Sunday.

When I used to help organise events we'd rarely have over 50.

Brecon on Sunday was mainly flat, fast and not too muddy. After about 20 minutes I basically wanted to stop and die because the speed was so high, but I looked around and it seemed that everyone around me felt the same so I kept going. Disappointed in the end result, but I'll console myself that there were so many starters!


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 4:35 pm
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Only my 3rd cx race. It really is flat out from the start. One of the biggest surprises I have found is how long I can maintain my max HR.
It goes up to 180bpm within the first few seconds of race starting - then stays between 180 - 190bpm for the full time of the race ...

IdleJon - I think I talked to you as we signed on? were you in an Abergavenny jersey?


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 7:11 pm
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mooman, no I'm not with an affiliated club these days. (I used to ride for Schmoos years ago..)

I've been wearing a bright green Royle jersey, riding an old silver Jake the Snake and pottering in a worn out fashion about 2/3rds the way down the field. (66th on Sun)

If you were anywhere near the back at Risca you may have seen my somersault down the first steep bank - wiped out about 6 other riders in the process.. 😳

Where did you finish?


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 7:52 pm
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I was 39th at Brecon .. loads of excuses why I was so far back too 😆

Actually had my best race at Risca. 28th ( or as I dress it up - 4th out of the vet-cat).
I have had two falls in each of the 3 races I have done this year ... both falls at Risca were on the same bank as you describe .. great fun.
I guess you still remember the weather at Risca ...

[img] [/img]

If your racing round6 at Hereford - give me a nudge.
I will be the guy looking knackered in the blue MigglyMoos jersey 😀


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 8:15 pm
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Ah, I know you now - assuming you are the only Miggly Moos rider.

I don't think I'll do Hereford, it's a bit far. I've just sent my entry off for Carmarthen. Should be interesting under floodlights.

After Risca my teeth were still chattering half way down the M4 with the heating on full. My wife thought it very amusing that I'd given myself mild hypothermia.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 8:44 pm
 dobo
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are you 30-40psi guys running tubs?

thomthumb, i ran about 40psi on mich mud 2 clinchers and weigh about 12.5 stone, im sure i can lower psi a touch on a course like. i had no grip issues though as i was.
That SS must of hurt on that course!! Swindon is flat aparently


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 9:07 pm
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Yes - the only Moo rider.

Carmarthen is a bit awkward with it being a Saturday evening race.

Good luck with the rest of the season anyways.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 9:12 pm
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Swindon is indeed flat and also a very short lap. You can expect about 10 laps for the vets race and about 15 for the seniors.

It's a great little course with single track at each end. Plenty of dead stop corners too and some slippery off camber corners that could catch you out if wet.

I've been racing there in the night series for two seasons and still not bored of the course although they are running it the other way this year.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 9:18 pm
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I was at Manchester on Sunday...it was tough! I finished 100th !,but I did finish. After a few laps,the bike stopped dead,caked in mud.I was ok for grip...and I was running 50psi.
Felt sick at the end,but I'll be up or more in the Notts/Derby League this weekend.


 
Posted : 09/10/2012 10:40 pm
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Is everyone ready for their race Sunday?


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 7:07 pm
 aP
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Well, I'll be there before 9am, give up 7 hours of my Sunday and still pay for a cup of coffee.
So, L has made sandwiches, I'm warming up the thermos and digging out warm clothing inc long johns and a waterproof. I think that means yes.


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 7:27 pm
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Raced at Alfreton today in NDCXL, felt rubbish but thought I'd done enough to crack top 100. Sadly not, finished 119th but unless Steve Seamark was riding then possibly sneaked first ss :O


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 7:32 pm
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Fontmoss,I was a couple of places behind you....and I didn't feel shit! Loved the course,favourite so far,in my fledgling Cross "career".


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 8:32 pm
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Still struggling with a knackered back (which kept me out last weekend) but determined to try and race tomorrow at Boggart Hole Clough. Got some new wheels to try out!


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 8:35 pm
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Mills Hills cx sportive for me tomorrow:

http://www.mytriclub.co.uk/mills-hills-sportive-14th-october/

£15 for a 30 mile loop and a pie seems good value... I'm sure my last hour long soaking and splattering cost that and there was no pie.


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 9:40 pm
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vegasdave, what are you wearing/riding? give me a shout next time, always good to chat to someone at these races


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 10:17 pm
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fontmoss,old Goldtec jersey and a black Cotic X.....and you? My Daughter was taking photos today,so there may be one of you.


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 10:34 pm
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White axis of weasel jersey on a white single speed


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 10:54 pm
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GWR/ Wessex/ Western cx in Swindon for me. Late race so a nice lie in tomorrow. 🙂

Good luck to all racing.


 
Posted : 13/10/2012 11:03 pm
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Usually it's just me racing for our club, sometimes there's another guy but today we have five!
Bandwagontastic


 
Posted : 14/10/2012 9:09 am
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oldgit - Member

Usually it's just me racing for our club, sometimes there's another guy but today we have five!
Bandwagontastic

I'm the only racer of any kind in the group I ride with. The others don't get cross at all!

No race in the welsh league this weekend, so I'm sitting here watching Peppa Pig wondering if the clear blue sky will last until my wife gets home from work and I can get out on the MTB..


 
Posted : 14/10/2012 10:07 am
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wondering if the clear blue sky will last until my wife gets home from work and I can get out on the MTB..

(pats IJ on the back) it never does...it never does 😥


 
Posted : 14/10/2012 10:30 am
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Round 3 all done and dusted. Five racing from our club today, four finished.
Very happy overall.


 
Posted : 14/10/2012 4:05 pm
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