CX warm up – rollers in the rain?

Dear all,

3 races into my first ever ‘cross season and really enjoying it. I pre-ride the course a few times but I also like to do a 20 min rollers warm up a short time before the race. While the weather has made this very easy to date, the imminent change will obviously make warming up a little different. To those who use rollers or a turbo, how do you manage this when the weather is foul? I appreciate that some riders have tents etc but I don’t have a ton of space in my car so any advice and tips would be massively welcome.

Thanks and good luck to all those racing ‘cross this season!

Employ the better half / suitably sized off-spring to hold a gold brolly over you, sorted.

Yeah, I’m thinking that might be the way forward! Unfortunately I can’t guarantee support when the weather turns 😂

Under the tailgate of the ubiquitous T5/6 because there’s never enough space for everyone’s wind out awning.

Wish I had the luxury! Can I hide under your tailgate?

Under the tailgate of the ubiquitous T5/6 because there’s never enough space for everyone’s wind out awning.

Amateur level – LWB high-roof Transit and set up inside. Toasty warm and dry 🙂

That’s just showing off 😂

Yep. Over here seen quite a few warm up on the rollers in the back of a Mercedes Sprinter. I also have to rough it under the rear door of my T5 😉

Just stick a waterproof jacket on and crack on if you don’t want to get wet.

It’s no different to actually pre riding the course in the rain, so just continue as normal. Unless you get too hot on turbo/rollers and have to strip down to base layer.

In 2019 I don’t remember it raining all that much but the last half of the season was a mudfest.

I’d walk the course, not ride it. Unless you have multiple bikes and/or the ability to clean them doing a few laps just makes thing worse quicker. As long as you know what’s coming up I never found that pre-riding made a huge difference over just looking at the course. Besides in a muddy race the lines can change quickly as ruts form and grass disappears.

Warm up wise I didn’t use rollers. If you don’t have a van then I saw people using tarps at the side of the car. If it’s not windy you can put a big brolly in a workstand.

My approach was to take waterproofs and ride on the road. Some cheap cut down trousers and a jacket you can wear to warm up and get to the start grid. Throw over the tape with a minute or so to go. If it is cold then spare gloves are a good idea.

An umbrella in the workstand is inspired. I like that.

We have a Meriva and I just warm up under the tailgate if it’s raining. If you’ve got Tacx Antares rollers, the front wheel stand can be quite handy, particularly when it’s wet. Also saves a bit of wear on the front tyre as you’ll need as much grip as you can get!

Also saves a bit of wear on the front tyre as you’ll need as much grip as you can get!

This is why I just bring my road bike and the turbo! Couldn’t bear the thought of rollers and soft tubeless mud tyres…

Umbrella in workstand is genius,xam pinching that one!