[Closed] 2015/2016 winter 'cross racing thread

Hello! I will be racing Welsh League too.

I assume you're in S Wales - whereabouts? There's a CX training group on Monday nights in Cardiff, come along if you are nearby.

If you can't get there, that consists of stuff like dismount/remount/carrying practice, sprints/practice starts, and usually finishes with a 10 minute race round a mini CX circuit - much easier to replicate race pace efforts with some 'friendly' competition.

Love this thread each year!

Sounds like Cardiff has a great set up, I wish we could get a decent number of riders each week to do something similar - it's pretty dull by yourself!

I'll be doing as many rounds of the Wessex League as possible with the aim being to bother the top 10 more often than the once I achieved last year!!

I'll also be at a few rounds of the Swindon Floodlit League, unfortunately I can't make them all this year 😥

Cheers David, I'm near Swansea, seems there is a group that does cx training in swansea too so going to give that a crack one week.

Looks like I'm going to miss the first few but should make the dare valley one if i don't make any before.

I should be doing some races this year hopefully! My local series is the Nottingham Derby league.

I'll be doing select LondonCX league events dotted around the South East and Raphas SuperCross (I might even to the Munich one) events.
I'm doing (cough) the 3Peaks having got in by chance, also continue doing my favorite long distance CX sportives (Lakeland MonsterX etc.)

Training, yes always. Sprint training recently, intervals and stretching these out to HITs giving me the sHITs. My club have some training sessions set up soon and I'll be doing those as I need to improve my short course technique.

Bike, my Giant TCX Adv1. Upgrades a new Zipp 120mm stem & 40cm Zipp SL bars fitted last weekend, ProLogo NacTT seat fitted too, can't chose between a carbon wheelset I've identified yet and this is causing a headache (ridiculous I know) Tyres, using Challenge Almanzos ATM as it's super dry but will revert back to Griffos and Limus when the course (s) require it.

8)

Finished the 4 round South London Summer Series last week and can't wait for the season proper!

I'll be doing the London X League along with a couple Central League and Eastern League races and maybe a round of the National Trophy.

The start of my season overlaps with the road and track season so I shouldn't need to do much specific training at first, mainly skills based stuff.

Good stuff! You're right that it's very important to be able to dismount, carry and mount smoothly. That way, you can still keep moving even on bits you can't ride and you'll hardly lose any time to guys who struggle on in the saddle. Watching vids of pro races is always good for inspiration and learning - check out the 'Svenness' and 'likeaVos' series on vimeo too, where there's a bit of added commentary to give some insight into what's going on.
Most importantly, good luck and have fun!

errals - Member
Cheers David, I'm near Swansea, seems there is a group that does cx training in swansea too so going to give that a crack one week

If you fancy it we could head over to Melin Mynach and use the course there for some training? Or even the old Welsh champs course at Morfa, what's left of it. It's very rough compared to modern courses though.

Could possibly get some interest for a short 'mates race' type of thing?

Are you following Welsh cx on FB? https://m.facebook.com/groups/163156400536743?ref=bookmarks

Poss the odd race but I'm hosting the final round of Western League as part of the Lovecrossed weekend. Saturday will see 4crossed: 4hrs, teams of 4 over a slightly longer course. More details to come!

Probably not riding any but Commissairing London & Central League.

I'll be on me tod in Helsinki from September - December. There's a low key CX race series there, which, as a billy-no-mates who's taking his cross-type bike over, sounds ideal!

IdleJon - Member

errals - Member
Cheers David, I'm near Swansea, seems there is a group that does cx training in swansea too so going to give that a crack one week

If you fancy it we could head over to Melin Mynach and use the course there for some training? Or even the old Welsh champs course at Morfa, what's left of it. It's very rough compared to modern courses though.

Could possibly get some interest for a short 'mates race' type of thing?

Are you following Welsh cx on FB? https://m.facebook.com/groups/163156400536743?ref=bookmarks

Cheers Jon, doing a bit of training / mates race at Melin Mynach or Morfa sounds like a great idea. Maybe Melin Mynach to start off with if its smoother as my hands are still getting used to rattling around on the rough stuff! I'll message you on FB later. Going to head along to the G.R. training one thurs i reckon too

Full season of racing for me this time around after a late start last season due to injury.
Notts and Derby league primarily with selected Trophies and the Nationals on top.
Commissairing an area champs, a Trophy and day 1 of the Nationals.

Bikes all ready bar gluing the tubs on, team training has been going for a few weeks and we're all raring to go 😀

Mainly doing mtb events, but will take the cx out for a few races, probably the notts and derby league with a few yorkshire rounds in as well, as my local lincs league thinks vets are a lower species and should pay the same entry for a third less racing compared to the seniors.

After the summer break the MTB marathon races kick off again in September with the traditional end of season race on The German Day of Unity (October 3). Then a couple of weeks wait and then the cross season starts on the 18 October in these parts (it's called the Bioracer Challenge Cup) with 8 rounds this year. Hoping to get my new cross bike together in time (Crux pro) for the end of September as there is one local MTB marathon that is much quicker on a cross bike! 😈

I've just checked the dates on the website and the last two races of the series are on 5th and 6th of December! *Gulps*

Wessex Cyclo-Cross League for me

www.wessexcx.co.uk

Bring it on!!

I'll be racing full season again in the North West League.

Just got a new tub on order, been commuting on the cx bike for the past few weeks to get used to it again, been doing plenty of training over the summer.

Cant wait!

Ill be trying to do more this year as did nothing last year.

Sadly all the interesting North East courses seem to have been dropped by [url= http://cxne.org.uk/events/ ]CXNE [/url]this year, racing round fields gets boring pretty quick. [url= http://neccl.co.uk/ ]NECCL [/url]rounds look a bit more interesting, some new venues too.

Something I've been wondering about - what do most people do re. hydration/energy during a race?

energy wise if i fuel up before hand I can probably make it round without needing anything - but will have a few gels ready as per an xc race.

However, from trying shouldering the bike, a bottle/bottle cage is a bit of a hindrance. From what videos I've seen people dont tend to carry bottles, but unless I've misunderstood, the wlesh league don't allow handing up of bottles. So do people just race without any mid race hydration? That would destroy me in an xc race but i guess as cx races are a bit shorter and in colder weather its not such an issue?

You can't have bottles or gels handed up anywhere unless it's very hot and the commissaire team allow it.
The vast majority of people go without, it's only 50-65 mins after all. Bottle cages are a nightmare for carrying the bike effectively, especially if you're small, and at the sharp end skinsuits are the norm so there's nowhere for a gel anyway.

I'll be having another go at the Yorkshire point series again this season on a new to me disc bike and 1st season as a Vet 50!

Will prob do a few of the northern Lincs league races as well if they fall right.

Also organising the last round of the Yorks Points series, so I'll be back on here trying to drum up some entries.

Enjoy everyone 🙂 can't wait

energy wise if i fuel up before hand I can probably make it round without needing anything

I should hope you can, it's only an hour max! Assuming late morning/lunchtime start, fuelling through the morning sees me through just fine. Some folk ride with bottles but I can't be doing with them for the reasons Lee says. I'm not one for drinking on the bike in anything lasting less than an hour anyway (possibly because 'cross has made me used to riding like that), and if I've properly buried myself then I usually feel too sick to eat at the end of a 'cross race for 20-30 mins 😈

ferrals - Member
Something I've been wondering about - what do most people do re. hydration/energy during a race?

Hour races = Drink before, eat before, race, drink after, eat after.

I'd suggest if you can't go flat chat for an hour without eating/drinking you need to get some practice in to do it.

Bottle cages off, takes 10mins to undo two screws and then put screws back in t'holes.

Long days in the saddle races = cage back on and bottle/eat/gel on the fly as needed.

i'll be doing a few of the western league races round brizzle. Having a now 8 month old baby has put paid to any sort of training 🙁 I'm just permanently tired

tricky

Its gonna be a hard season this year - I hope you're gonna be in Bradford On Avon on the 6th?

Getting in as many of the North West league races in as I can this year (will miss a couple with previous engagements/hill climbs). Last year was my first 'full' league (ie enough races to get an overall place) and it was bloody brilliant. Really can't wait to get stuck in again 🙂

(Oh and fuelling/drinking wise - don't bother carrying anything, you probably won't have time to use it. I carried the same "emergency" gel around in my jersey for the whole season last year!)

Bradford on avon? Whaa? Who's organising that one?

I keep hearing of everyone going on the tuesday night chaingang since march. Looks like a lot of people will be lapping me this year

I keep hearing of everyone going on the tuesday night chaingang since march. Looks like a lot of people will be lapping me this year

Ah but you'll be able to keep up by using your 46 ring, which as we all know you absolutely NEED to be able to compete 😆 😉

Ah but you'll be able to keep up by using your 46 ring, which as we all know you absolutely NEED to be able to compete

Well exactly. just called me Robert forstemann

Is there much CX is surrey ? I see lots in the surrounding counties, but nothing much local to surrey specifically... Don't get alot of travel time unfortunately 🙁
Currently doing alot of XC locally (gorrick), but fancied something abit different

bikebouy - Member

I'd suggest if you can't go flat chat for an hour without eating/drinking you need to get some practice in to do it.

david jey - Member

I should hope you can, it's only an hour max!

haha yeah I can - it's more that I've done the reverse in training myself to force a gel down every lap to lap and a half if XC racing.
Obviously I don't do that training or riding, but you never quite replicate the frenzy away from an actual race do you!!

David Jey - did you race some of the Sport cat races in the welsh xc series? if so I think i was parked next to you at builth.

@trickydisco - same for me in the Western League, although with 3 month old twins... I've almost forgotten what a bike is but still going to try and make it to as many rounds as possible.

I'm astonished by how fast some of the Bristol CX guys got during the summer series (not that they weren't fast before...). I'll be the not fast guy racing for Bristol CX (well, I always was, but even less fast this season).

David Jey - did you race some of the Sport cat races in the welsh xc series? if so I think i was parked next to you at builth.

Yes I did, and remember chatting to someone there, but I've no idea how you have figured out that it was me! That was an XC race that only lasted the same time as a 'cross race, I felt quite hard done by (particularly as I was trying to reel some folks in at the end and ran out of laps).

I'm astonished by how fast some of the Bristol CX guys got during the summer series (not that they weren't fast before...)

Yes, Andy Burridge really caned the training this year. He was on fire towards the end of the season

tricky

Dunno - its a new event, pan flat like a dirt crit apparently. Then a week off then back in with the normal Glos boating lake toward the end of the month. I think its going to be tight at the top with everyone fighting for spots - I certainly want to get involved this year!

[url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/135688/Western-League-Round-1 ]Western League Rd1[/url]

david jey - Member

Yes I did, and remember chatting to someone there, but I've no idea how you have figured out that it was me! That was an XC race that only lasted the same time as a 'cross race, I felt quite hard done by (particularly as I was trying to reel some folks in at the end and ran out of laps).

POSTED 37 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

I spent a bit of time before the last race at nant looking at the series standings and trying to work out permutations and who people were so I could get an idea of how well I might do. so recognised the name - then it was a lucky guess!

Not that all my calculations did me any good as I crashed in practise Sunday morning and didn't even start - which was a real pain as when I rode it the sat night it would have suited me with lots of climbing. That builth one was very short and flat, was a weird one For me, I finished with loads of energy left but not able to up my pace when someone past me at the last half lap.

Will be racing my new custom singlespeed disc Singular Kite in the London & SE/Sussex League - first round at Stanmer on Sept 6th. Looking forward to it.

I don't normally link to other sites but there are two that maybe of help to those wishing to improve for the season..

[url= http://www.cycle-smart.com/knowledge-center ]Cycle-Smart Knowledge Page[/url]

and closer to home these guys..

[url= http://www.fluentincross.co.uk ]Fluent in Cross..[/url]

Yup another one for the welsh league here. Raced it the last couple of years. Beardy pontypool rider. Selling my race bike as just built a new one if any ones interested? £600

Those websites are good, cheers bikebuoy!

Went along to some cross training this eve, really good fun - I'm going to have to practise my remounts though!

Almanzos off, Griffos back on...

Thats the weather for you 😆

trickydisco - Member

i'll be doing a few of the western league races round brizzle. Having a now 8 month old baby has put paid to any sort of training I'm just permanently tired

Know the feeling, mine are 12 & 14 and it does not get any easier. Hope the nipper is doing well.

I was hoping to race most of the winter series but my eldest son has just got a road/track coach and cx does not fit in with his training unfortunately.

I hope to able to do a handful but not as many as I want. Hopefully see you at a few if you can get out.

My eldest wants to do the final round as we go there to watch the banger racing!!

I would be up for a Western training night if anyone else is.

I've been trying to get in some cross racing the last couple of seasons, but was injured 13/14, then moved house last November so didn't make any, except for watching the champs at Abergavenny!

Looks like I'm not available for the first couple of races nearest to me this year too! Aberystwyth and Brecon.

Hopefully make Hereford an Newtown though. I'll be the Vet 50 at the back 🙂

Do they have the same (roughly speaking) set up as XC racing, ie: all the proper racers in their age groups and then other 'non-competitive' categories where people can have a go without getting in the way of some battle hardened 50 year olds who've got hundreds of thousands of miles in their legs and don't want some fatty on a Boardman ****ing up their day?

Even better if the races are a bit shorter 😉

Mary, Hereford is a great course, proper 'cross with streams, woods, mud and Tarmac.

My first CX race was the three peaks last year. I can't make it this year so will be having a crack at a few of the Wessex League and Southern Champs. I'm kinda keen, unless it gets really muddy in which case I'll re-ignite my love of the turbo trainer.

Do they have the same (roughly speaking) set up as XC racing

Thanks - and i know it's a timed race so eg: x mins and then the lap you're on? So what typically is a lap time, and how many times can you get lapped before your number gets called and one of the commissaires pulls you off? Or do you just suffer pretending that you're still competing for the full time?

Now I have a CX bike I am tempted to try a couple of the Wessex CX rounds, Newbury, Reading and maybe swindon are all within easy striking distance... Hmmm.

Thanks - and i know it's a timed race so eg: x mins and then the lap you're on? So what typically is a lap time, and how many times can you get lapped before your number gets called and one of the commissaires pulls you off? Or do you just suffer pretending that you're still competing for the full time?

You can be as many laps down as you want in a local-level race, you won't get pulled out of the race unless you're doing at the very least a regional championship. Laps can be anything from 5-11 minutes depending on conditions (the laps are 2.5-3.5kms long).
As soon as the winner gets the chequered flag everyone else finishes once they cross the finish line, no matter how many laps down.

how many times can you get lapped before your number gets called and one of the commissaires pulls you off?

hundreds or so it would seem 😉

Only race i've done i was second to last had a great time, passing riders were all good, and it becomes part of the challenge to let them pass without issue - i even got a clap for it, then see if you can follow - for a bit.

Get involved and enter - worst that happens is you don't enjoy an hour - and never come back - at least you tried it & have something to talk about.

Cyclocross courses don't have singletrack so there's always room for passing.

Oh yes they do, just not huge, long sections.

I should link to my short preview of the forthcoming Welsh season on grit.cx..

http://grit.cx/news/2015/07/welsh-cyclocross-2015-2016-schedule

I'll be doing all of the North East Cyclocross League (NECCL) and might do some of the cyclocross north east (CXNE) ones when I'm not hill climbing.

one of the commissaires pulls you off

[s****s]

IdleJon look forward to seeing you out there again 🙂

Just lowered my seat post 10mm for maximum stand over height, that's preparation for you 😆

one of the commissaires pulls you off
[s****s]

I know. It was so obvious but i still couldn't help but include it.

one of the commissaires pulls you off

shedbrewed - Member
IdleJon look forward to seeing you out there again

Just checked your blog and......who are you? (Terribly rude, I'm sorry.) 😆 Yes, I'll be at most of the races, being a mobile chicane and complaining about rude overtakers. :D.

A few posts above, someone mentions calling 'on your left' etc. Is the etiquette the same as for xc races?

I did my first cross race last year and did call when neccesary but wondered if that was the done thing in cross. I didn't hear anyone else calling for passes.

Often, the commissaire will talk about lapping on the start line. I'll call in twisty sections or if it's a bit narrow, but if there's loads of room, I won't bother and just give loads of room.

West Mids league for me along with a few Notts & Derby when I go visiting my parents & the odd NT round.
First year for me I'll be running a matching pair of bikes-just hope I can do the kit justice!

IdleJon - Member

shedbrewed - Member
IdleJon look forward to seeing you out there again

Just checked your blog and......who are you? (Terribly rude, I'm sorry.) Yes, I'll be at most of the races, being a mobile chicane and complaining about rude overtakers. :D.

Pontypool Thom. Unless you're not the Jon I'm thinking of... In which case I'll see you there and try to overtake politely 😉

Gonna be giving the North West league a crack along with a couple of the longer sportive events.
My bike turns up on Monday so I'll be riding it as much as possible between then and the first race in September.

A few posts above, someone mentions calling 'on your left' etc. Is the etiquette the same as for xc races?

Only when lapping or being lapped, not when racing for position. Call 'on your left' to me when we're racing each other and you'll very quickly find a large white bike in your path 😀

yep NW league and some nationals

I think that some of you might want to think about being treated as you might like to be treated. It's amateur racing, all go home happy after decent respectful racing. If you want to chop each other and you do it in front of me you will be DQ'd.

I'm not talking about chopping people up or barging someone off their line. If you can make a pass stick then go for it but I'm not going to help you, particularly if you start announcing it in advance! That's just racecraft in the same way as easing up slightly on the front of a group when your teammate attacks into a narrow section. I've DQd riders for deliberate line-changing so I know the difference.

I've been racing CX for 25+ years and only come up against one truly dirty rider in that time, but equally I've ridden against people who have become very good friends. Hard racing on the course, hands shaken after we cross the finish line.

Yes another season due, really the main reason I road race all year. And it's so popular now, I've even got my own race (over 50's) wasn't many years ago we all went off together.
Central League.

shedbrewed - Member

Pontypool Thom. Unless you're not the Jon I'm thinking of... In which case I'll see you there and try to overtake politely

Howdy Thom. Thought it was you but wasn't sure. See you in a few weeks.

🙂

First winter in 6 years I won't be racing...just dismantled the crosslight 😥

Sorry IdleJon, I should've just said Chowder Thom and made it easier! Another year, more flasks of chowder!

Sorry IdleJon, I should've just said Chowder Thom and made it easier! Another year, more flasks of chowder!

That might be the only time in your life you eat chowder but in my family you will be Chowder Thom forever!

So, I've just noticed that 2 of the Welsh League rounds are pretty close to me, 1 is actually very close.

I know you can use any bike, and discs are allowed, but what sort of reception would I receive on a Scandal 29er with a peaked MTB lid on?

Quite fancy a go, 50 minutes to an hour flat out is quite similar to most of my (XC) riding. Thoughts?

Nice thing about cross....no one cares what you ride.Unless you win it.

What tyres on 29er rims then? My X Kings won't cut it in the mud!

The joy of 29....cx tyres fit 😀