[Closed] 2015/2016 winter 'cross racing thread

Quite a few! I blame these fancy 11sp cassettes with lots of cogs, minimal clearance and narrow chains, my 9 speed was 'fine' a.k.a survived.

Cleaning the bike took over an hour- and there is still bits of grass jammed in the chainset and jockey wheels.

I'm hoping to go for a practise at MM eiter on Weds eve if I can leave work early enough or on Sat if you are keen?

After MM I can only do Pembrey and maybe the botantical gardens 🙁

Wednesday evening is good for me. (Working on Saturday.) Got decent lights?

Hmm, definately a one way conversation going on here

nah, it spilled over into your tyre thread which is what brought me here!

I Comm'd at Central League today. Seemed like a good race, the course looked quite interesting with a mixture of grass plugging and more technical riding.

the hilly mound was well used with a steep slippy chalky climb (which if you could ride you made up places on those that carried and then struggled to clip in) and quite a few off-camber corners. Good fun course and amazing weather again (done 4 of the Central League now). I had a good race in V40, came first out of the 3 of our club (BMCC) that are closely matched and having our own private race, but probably my best place overall and hopefully nudging top 10 (from being ceded on back row due to having never raced for round 1 I'm now up to 2nd row, typically been 80 in V40 which is our biggest cat). Munqe Chick won the women. Again 8)

What was it, something between 10 and 20 wrecked rear mechs?

MC's JIF buddies reported over 20 ripped off rear mechs on FB (either mech or hanger failed) as a result of mud+grass = birds nest in the sprocket. Looks like we're spoiled in Central!

MC's JIF buddies reported over 20 ripped off rear mechs on FB (either mech or hanger failed) as a result of mud+grass = birds nest in the sprocket.

25 DNF's according to the results. it was fairly brutal on the bike.
I'm chuffing my socks off at the moment as i made the top twenty overall and within spitting distance of top ten senior. Sure I will be back to normal next week though!

IdleJon - Member

Wednesday evening is good for me. (Working on Saturday.) Got decent lights?

No, just a rubbish light, I was planning on driving over, trying to get there at 4.30ish and ride for an hour? can't be certain I'll manage that though

I see they still aren't willing to split the Welsh league down into slightly smaller fields?

We clearly are certainly very spoilt in Central League. Isn't it Gorseinon this Sunday for you Welshies? We are at wedding Sat night and I was tempted but it's driving the wrong way to return home to Oxford later that night. Plus having raced 5 CX weekends in a row (last weekend the doubler too) I am shattered and need a week off to recover!!!!!

Absolutely love it though!!

Absolutely love it though!!

I've become totally obsessed with 'cross, it's so much fun.

Yeah it's Gorseinon this weekend and organised by my club so have to say it's worth coming for. Given the forecast it might be another muddy one 😀

I like the big fields too, rarely an issue passing riders if your lapping them and it keeps the racing frantic!

Given the forecast it might be another muddy one

You'd better believe it!

(I can't make it out earlier on Wednesday sorry. If you go over there you'll be distinctly unimpressed with the venue but they make it into a good course though.)

Judging by how quickley it got dark yest I doubt I'll make it either. See you on Sunday!

I raced Gorseinon last year is it the same course? If so it will be PROPER manky think I will give it a miss! If I was going to race I'd make the effort to get back up here for Central league but I actually think I need a week off my legs are battered!

Layout is changed a bit but venue the same as I understand it.

Look forward to seeing you at Gorseinon, Ferrals.
I had a little restorative break over in France so missed Carms. I like MM, it's an involving course.
Glad to hear you're getting some bite from the tyres.

I'd expect similar conditions to Carmarthen for Melin Mynach. The bottom of the hill in particular is always a complete slog - last year I recall a downhill to the bottom part of the course that you had to pedal hard the whole way down just to keep moving through the mud! Bottom of the hill became quicker to run than ride by the end of the race.

Anyone doing the CX mountain event at llandovery on the 15th November?

I Comm'd at Central League today. Seemed like a good race, the course looked quite interesting with a mixture of grass plugging and more technical riding.

Ah, didn't see you there. I was visiting friend in Bucks so came along to plod around at the rear of the V40 field. Very different to the NW league - much prefer racing in a field of 120-160 riders (Vets / women) as it gives me more people to try and race rather than being lonely at the back! I did manage to beat 7 people and only got lapped once (just!)
The spiral thingy was properly annoying, made me dizzy, no need for those!

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5806/22307449098_7e7734daf6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5806/22307449098_7e7734daf6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/zZevrm ]Central League Round 5[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr

Ah! I did see you, there was another [i]caker[/i] there as well?
Normally there'd be more riders but it was a combination of a 2 race weekend and National Trophy on Sunday, so was the smallest field of the year.
The spiral is not the preferred option in a venue with so much area to ride in. I prefer the double-double kidney that I used when I promoted Archer races at Hillingdon. Also some cheeky reducing radius corners to force braking/ change of pace and maybe the odd dead stop turn!
Next Comm for me will be Sussex London league after Xmas.

Yes, there was a fast Velocaker and a slow one 🙂

Not sure when my next race is, work keeps getting in the way 🙁

After starting to road race last year, I dug my MTB out having ridden it about 6 times since I bought it in 2011, to race some of the Central League CX races. Did the Novice at the MK Bowl 2 weeks ago and came 1st, and entered the senior race last week. Great fun! Inspired to get back on the MTB in general!

planning on racing a wessex round this year only ever done one CX race (same venue a couple of years back) raced SS then and came 2nd from last (happy with that!)

I'd like to do it without buying any stuff....

is 34:44 a silly chainring combo?
bontrager cx0 or small block 8 for grassy ex golf course?
is it worth swapping to latex tubes?

am i over thinking it ? 😉

Great course at Liverpool yesterday - narrow with singletrack sections, couple of sharp-ish climbs close together. Felt like one of the harder courses this year for intense phases, but there were places you could recover (a bit!). I've found the fast, open courses more difficult in general.

I finally remembered to screw in some toe studs on my shoes for this race - felt like it made a big difference on the run-ups.

is 34:44 a silly chainring combo?

No 🙂

bontrager cx0 or small block 8 for grassy ex golf course?

I replaced a CXO with Michelin Mud for the Sparsholt race today and still ended up on my arse. So weather dependent I'd say.

If you mean the Eastleigh round in a couple of weeks, its moved to Southampton Sports Centre.

12th at Ardingly today. Best course yet & a massive field!

The mud made an appearance too 🙂

[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5661/22700648081_6e31719fec_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5661/22700648081_6e31719fec_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/AzYKNa ]Vet men[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/huwspics/ ]Huw Williams[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Love this pic! That's me in the Singular kit, chasing down the Evans rider.

Beautiful warm sunshine for Welsh League in Gorseinon yesterday. The course was still muddy though; I blame the warm sun for drying out the mud on my jockey wheels resulting in a torn off rear mech just as I started the last lap. That was a long, long run to the pits.

I really didn't enjoy Ardingly yesterday, it felt as if there were no recovery sections just constant effort for an hour. Probably more to do with me than the course though, I spent the whole race wanting to pull out.

That's a nice pic- looks like a good course.

Beautiful warm sunshine for Welsh League

Bit of a frustrating race for me felt good and 'home' turf but had a bad start: someone a couple of rows in front of me stumbled, the row behind stopped, forcing me to stop with people behind knocking into me. By the time I'd extricated myself and got going I could see people steaming past either side. Got angry and went too hard the first two laps to try and reach the people I wanted to be racing with (failed), and spent the middle couple of laps swallowing my own vomit and paying for my efforts. Dropped my chain in the last lap too. No idea how I've done, hoping judging by strava better than I thought initially. Ah well, another lesson learned in race pacing.

Enjoyed the course though, a good mix. David - were you running that boggy slight uphill after the hairpin in the field by the carpark? I couldnt work out what to do there.

Shedbrewed had a bad off - hope your feeling better today mate.

Jon, didnt see you at the end - how did you go?

David - were you running that boggy slight uphill after the hairpin in the field by the carpark?

In the later stages yes, ran it the last three laps (didn't have any choice on the final lap!)

@David Jey, it wasn't you running with the bike shouldered with a torn rear DR and no rear wheel was it? That was commitment I thought.

@Ferrals. Yes a bit better today thanks. It was the lads wither side of me on the start who clattered together and I got caught up in it too. Made really good progress after that and was feeling very good. I even caught sight of David too! Then I hit a lump of something and OTB'd onto my right eye/face on I think lap 3 or 4. Was 20 minutes in. The remainder of that lap was obvious something wasn't right as I couldn't balance through corners and everything was kaleidoscoping from that eye. Pulled out, disappointed and saw the medics. They did a pupil check and confirmed it was ok in there, so just concussion. Eye is only slightly shining today and balance is not so bad now. Was rough last night.

Up to Newtown this Sunday and hope for a better result!

it wasn't you running with the bike shouldered with a torn rear DR and no rear wheel was it? That was commitment I thought.

That was one of the guys from my club - I think he ran a whole lap.

Mondays are a killer, not only am i tired, i keep getting distracted and looking for the results 😳 hope they do use timing chips next year.

Central League yesterday, a pretty relentless course with the bumps, enough mud to make the corners fun. I had a good race in the seniors and came away with 4th, so pleased with that.

Ardingly - That was London League wasn't it?

I got slower and slower. Stopped to clean mud and grass out of the frame but didn't realise until the end that my jockey wheels were about to seize up, packed with grass! Another lap and I would have done the same as David, I reckon.
In theory, the guy without his back wheel should be dq'd. Good effort and all that but the rules say you need to complete the course with a whole bike.(If he was behind me then fine, but if he beat me.... where's the complaint form? :D)

Oh, but I beat a world champ!(Manon) 😀

In theory, the guy without his back wheel should be dq'd. Good effort and all that but the rules say you need to complete the course with a whole bike.

One of the things I like about Welsh League is that Liz enforces the spirit of the rules rather than following them to the letter. Although I did wonder how that happened - was it a conscious 'I know, I'll just chuck my rear wheel in a bush to lighten the load a bit' decision, and if so why stop at one wheel 😉

Anyway I reeled him and dropped him on the last lap, thereby winning the bike carrying category, for which there didn't seem to be a podium sadly.

I didn't fully understand through the lactic haze when he explained it but he got a puncture, kept riding with the puncture and then his mech snapped, at which point I'm assuming he just ditched the wheel.

IdleJon - Member

Oh, but I beat a world champ!(Manon)

I heard someone say something about a wold champion being there and i wondered what they meant..

Ardingly - That was London League wasn't it?

yup.

There was a guy in a Western League Race (Conham I think) who did the last 30 odd minutes running round the course without a bike. He a) beat me (it was very muddy in my defence) and b) wasn't dq'd. I don't really take it seriously enough to care, and fair play to him for running for 30mins in a pair of carbon soled race slippers.

In theory, the guy without his back wheel should be dq'd. Good effort and all that but the rules say you need to complete the course with a whole bike.

In Central League yesterday my Teammates wheel fell out about 200m from the finish so he ran the rest, only to be told he may be DQ'd. He was about 3 laps down on the winners at the time.

is 34:44 a silly chainring combo?

No, wick weeks made a special batch for Katy Compton a few years ago in that exact sizing. Makes more sense for most people than the usual 36:46. Personally if I was in the market for new chainrings I would be going single and thick thin.

Hard work yesterday, racing in temperatures of 20 degrees

On the Chainset question, went single on the front with a 36 running 10 speed 12 - 30.
BTW would never go back to a double for CX

BTW would never go back to a double for CX

I rarely get out of my smaller 36 ring while racing, but seeing as my 'cross bike is my all round bike then I use the 46 a lot for everything else. I've worked out that for me a single ring makes no sense (other than for a dedicated race bike which is in my lottery winning imaginary garage.. 🙂 )

Suppose having a dedicated Cross bike I can run a single 🙂

Have raced all the Central CX League except yesterdays! Gutted as Lucy Gossage turned up who is an Ironman professional recently came 15th in Hawaii .. she stormed it on her light weight short travel 29er! Would have loved to have pitted myself against her!!! Back to it this week in Dunstable then a few weeks off to go to Thailand on holiday and have a relaxing break! Before I race again on 13th Dec in Hillingdon and suffer my way through the race having had 3 weeks off the bike!

I'm kind of surprised 1 by is popular in cross, from my very limited experience so far i''be found I've used the front derailleur more than the rear, mostly just keeping it middle of the block and small at the front and then just shifting into big ring for sections that you can power through. Seems like transitions between levels of effort are so much more abrupt than mtb so multiple shifts would annoy me. Also someone told me shifting with the rear when its clogged increases risk of mech failure

Singlespeed is really all you need 🙂

I haven't found my cassette clogs so much as the chain is constantly shifting up and down it. Jockey wheels are always the problem for me, just a bit of grass can sometimes cause problems.
Not having a front derailleur takes away a ledge that a lot of mud used to catch on. Not had a properly muddy race yet, but a single ring at the front is working well for me

Munqe-chick - Member
Back to it this week in Dunstable then a few weeks off to go to Thailand on holiday and have a relaxing break! Before I race again on 13th Dec in Hillingdon and suffer my way through the race having had 3 weeks off the bike!

I'm not racing now till the end of Nov. Cant race the Gilwern round and kind of wanted to to this coming sunday but its a 2.5h drive so am unlikely to bother (result from last sunday dependant :oops:). After racing 5 on the trot I think I need a bit of a break anyway. lazy (I'll call it recovery) week this week and then a couple of weeks hard training before the round at Pembrey.

Have raced all the Central CX League except yesterdays! Gutted as Lucy Gossage turned up who is an Ironman professional recently came 15th in Hawaii .. she stormed it on her light weight short travel 29er! Would have loved to have pitted myself against her!!! Back to it this week in Dunstable then a few weeks off to go to Thailand on holiday and have a relaxing break! Before I race again on 13th Dec in Hillingdon and suffer my way through the race having had 3 weeks off the bike!

Yes, she pretty much smashed it!

Did you see there has been a venue change for this coming weekend?

Results from Wlesh league on Sunday out. Only a couple of places behind David Jey (who admittedly ran a lap!) and knocking on the door of top ten senior for the second week running. Pleased as I had a bad start and thought I had a bad race. Now set myself a goal of getting a top 10 senior finish by the end of the year. If I can manage that in my first season racing 'cx I'll count it as a good season.

Beginning to think I might need to go to Newtown to increase my chances of a good league position 😳

Would far prefer a single up front, but seems like there's a lot of opportunity to drop the chain in the hurly burly of a muddy cross race. Guess I just need to try it and see what happens.

Beginning to think I might need to go to Newtown to increase my chances of a good league position

Should be less people there.... 😉

76th, not as bad as I thought but several people beat me who have been behind me all season. Time for more training. 😆

(I managed to cock up my preparation on Sunday by eating breakfast too early, drinking too much very strong coffee and riding down arriving so early that I cooled down. 🙄 )

IdleJon - Member

Should be less people there....

That's what I was thinking - plus with two good results in the bag, I want to do over seven results to try and replace my least good ones.

Doubt I'll make it though really.

(I managed to cock up my preparation on Sunday by eating breakfast too early, drinking too much very strong coffee and riding down arriving so early that I cooled down. )

Would far prefer a single up front, but seems like there's a lot of opportunity to drop the chain in the hurly burly of a muddy cross race.

Telnet Fidea are running single rings this year at world cup events, it's only shimano backed riders still using two rings in the main.

Where's the results for Welsh league? Yes saw it is Houghton Regis this weekend. Been out training today though and crashed bloody farmer spread his muck ALL across the road and I hit the dark hard and got a second knee cap.just feels stiff at the moment so hopefully back on it for weekend.

Know what you mean 're rest we did 5 in a row and needed a break last weekend. Newtown though don't you miss out on decent points or is that just women due to stupid points system? I have mates travelling all the way there as last year she lost series due to points and not going to Newtown race. How you lose the series when you've beaten the winner in every other race!!!! Stupidity.

Unlucky with the crash! Hope you fix quick.

Welsh league results are here: [url= http://www.cyclocrosswales.co.uk/results.html ]Welsh league[/url]

I don't think the points are different at the Newtown race but i understand less popular among the s.wales regulars due to being right up in the north so the field is smaller and hence easier to get points.

I was tempted as I've done six, need seven to qualify for a placing, have started getting good results the last two and I can do 3 more, 4 if i had gone to Newtown. Be good to replace as many as possible of my worse results now I'm getting the hang of cross.

Decided that by not going to Newton I can have a recovery week this week, do an FTP test and then get in two hard concerted training weeks and a mini taper week before pembrey and hopefully hit the last three races blazing. My average weekly distance has dropped by half in the last few weeks!

About 140 riders on the course during the V40/50/W race at Ardingly. When I first started back in eighteen hundred and something a total senior/V/W field of 35 was a good turnout!!! Ardingly was fantastic. Completely open course so no probs overtaking even with that many racing. Some thought it a bit flat beforehand but boy it was hard. No bits to recover on. Even had to sprint down into the bombhole to make sure I got out the other side without dismounting. The 'easier' bits on the gravel tracks were still hard as they were up hill. This place would be a great venue for a National Trophy. Would make a change to have one within a hundred miles of where I live in east Kent.

@Ferrals, good result. I am quite miffed I crashed out. As such I'm off to Newtown for the first time to try and not land on my face.
I'm not banking on a good league position this year. I've been plagued by crappy injuries and illness since the start.
Oh and the 1x thing. I went 1x last year as I found I was going too slow if I used the 36 ring and wasn't strong enough to push the 46 so going to 38 made it easier. It's fine for the road too for where I ride through the winter. In effect it's just little ringing it.

No the points are dependant on how many people are there so they do change/move about! IT is a bit of a farce despite Liz Slater being fantastic with organising, she needs to move with the times a bit and change things. How you can have a welsh series champion who never beat the 2nd place overall rider is beyond me!!!!

LOL @ Plop_pants... see it is the new "niche" fun thing to do! Which hey I don't mind. I was Welsh Cyclo Champ in '96 😉

LOL @ Plop_pants... see it is the new "niche" fun thing to do! Which hey I don't mind. I was Welsh Cyclo Champ in '96

Ha! I've got a gold medal from the Welsh cx champs in the late 90s, from the team competition. So I often throw it into conversations to try and suggest how fit and skinny I used to be. Unfortunately, the reality was that I finished 11/16 and our team (Schmoos) was probably the only one with enough riders to qualify. Still, a gold medal in a championship race... 😆

Oh and I once came 4th in the UK MTB hillclimb champs. Guess how many riders were there? 😳

Munge-chick
No the points are dependant on how many people are there so they do change/move about!

On the overall standings for this year they start at 150 for 1st and go down a point each position from there so would be the same however many entered? For the races with over 150 entrants if you are lower than 150th you just get a point. The confusing thing for me is the way all the cats are mixed up, so this week and last week i had the same position out of seniors but totally different in the overall.

LOL @ Plop_pants... see it is the new "niche" fun thing to do!

IdleJon
Ha! I've got a gold medal from the Welsh cx champs in the late 90s, from the team competition. So I often throw it into conversations

Not that I'm any better, I've still got a little plastic medal I got for an 8th place in an x-lite race in the nineties - presented to me by Steve Geall no less when Animal was the coolest brand/team around.

UK MTB hillclimb champs.

If you really are in Welsh League for points, you do need to be up on how they work and how to game the system (ie making the effort to attend some of the less popular rounds, racing in weeks when the National Trophy takes the top half dozen quickest riders out of contention....). I appreciate that its an imperfect system and weekly fluctuation in points gets worse the further down you finish, but just remember it's the same for everyone. You can always get yourself to the planning meeting in spring and voice your concerns there.

Oh, and remember it's meant to be fun 😉

Not for the first time this thread if I remember correctly!

😳

😆

I still find it amazing how different cycling in general, and racing in particular, is compared to when I started. (Or even 5 years ago, probably.).

@David Jey, completely agree re. the points thing and 'playing the system,' if you want to take it seriously its your business to understand the ins and outs and permutations. Not that I am I hasten to add, beyond the standard desire to do reasonably, but if you are you can't complain about a completely transparent system.

xc sports cat series last year was a case in point. all of us that ended in the top three were average at best apart from at the cyb race where sports was seperated from the championship race, the fast guys were in the championship and only 5 of us raced sports - skewed the results completely (my trophy is still on the kitchen shelf though 😳 )

The way my legs still hurt makes me think 'fun' is a bit strong though! 😆

seems like there's a lot of opportunity to drop the chain in the hurly burly of a muddy cross race

@plop_pants. Yup thought it was a great venue. Wondered whether the bomb hole would have been quicker to run the whole thing - getting round the corner to drop in got harder & harder.

When running a single NW chainring it is possible to increase the tension on Shimano derailleurs as there are 2 spring positions, there is a link on the Absolute Black website. Apparently SRAM have a higher spring tension so don't need the hack. I run a Veloce mech with no mods and have had no drop chains so far.

Edit - here [url= http://www.absoluteblack.cc/cx-rings.html ]Derailleur tension[/url]

Cartmel tomorrow in the NW league. It's looking like being very wet and muddy 🙂

Love Cartmel but seem to remember mrs running through a mud swamp over the boards etc. Imagine tomorrow will be worse. Also meant to buy the boy some better tyres but Ribble had sold out.....

Some bloke off STW having a paddle.....

[img] [/img]

Bottled out and did clean up duty today - logistics of 2 kids and 2 parents swamp racing is just too complicated. Love the venue - such a shame the weather has been cruel to them 2 years running.

[img] [/img]

I look like I'm having loads of fun there Mick 😉

Really good course, first proper mud I've raced in this season. Struggled on the carry up through the woods, my knees really don't get on with things like that which cost me places each lap. Otherwise, all good. Even beat some people. And speedy Dave Haygarth only lapped me once 🙂

OOO so the rest of us have a mud fest coming tomorrow!!!

Welsh lot in Newton, CEntral in Houghton Regis. Anyone know what the Hougton course is like? people say "FLAT" but must have SOMETHING in it to make it fun otherwise it'll be like a grass crit 😉 here's to hoping it is proper twisty turny and technical to make it more fun!

You all did good - I actually quite wished I was racing!

Cumbrian mud seems not too cloggy and very easy to hose off.
[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Alison had a good one and the new home made frame worked great with no mud issues. Just got pipped by young Martha on the last lap (tried running on a bit she'd previously ridden which proved to be slower at just the wrong moment).

Hope everyone else has fun on Sunday.

Also wondering if I'll ever be strong enough to race the Ironworks Purgatory for 40 minutes.....

[img] [/img]

Newtown (Welsh League round 8 ) was a bit of a clogfest - a long run up with leaves in the mix does not result in happy pedals.

[img] [/img]

Really technical course, some wet rooty singletrack that wouldn't have been out of place on an XC course - so was a bit daunting on a 'cross bike! A lot of fun though. Not a great result for me - beaten fair and square by those with better bike handling - but an OK one.

Should be using egg beaters! 😆 A mate reckoned he'd spent about three minutes over the course of the race trying to sort his pedals - even with a spare bike in the pits.

Saw the pictures of the course on FB and was gutted i didn't make the effort (although I'd have been in trouble with both work and wife if i had gone). Looked like a cracking course, heard it was technical - but in a good way.

I'm not racing till Pembrey now, which I'm guessing will be a non-technical power fest, so I've three weeks to grow some better legs!

Raced the Central CX Rd 7 Houghton Regis and it was actually a fun course, plenty of twisty stuff. Placed 4th in the seniors, which I was pretty happy with again. Brief blog post here for those interested:
http://ridingcircle.blogspot.com/2015/11/race-report-central-cx-rd-7-houghton.html

Should be using egg beaters!

I knew some Crank Brothers fanboi would pipe up... Despite being full of rubbish I was still able to clip into my good old Shimano pedals. Unlike Eggbeaters they also have the advantage of the pedal body staying connected to the axle for more than five minutes.

I'd recommend more South Wales folk making the effort to trek to Newtown next year. Hafren CC did a great job. I stayed in a B&B on Saturday night which spread the travel burden a little.

Haha, was just joking, I use shimano too - never tried egg-beaters actually, i couldnt trust them myself.

I would have come up but I had loads of work that needed doing for this week, and as its my first cx season a b&b was a bit overkill - agree its the only way to do it though, did it for Coed y Brenin and Nant y Arian in the xc series.

Next year!

Slippery cyclocross comedy gold:
[url=

video link[/url]