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It's quite satisfying that the fit lads have to race after 150 ale tanks have rolled over the course 🙂steve_b77 - Member
This basically sums up the seniors race at Otterspool today. I have the distinct feeling I did badly, just couldn't get going in the slop.
Loved the Otterspool race, really tough - my bike just about made it to the end as a functioning machine. That run up at the top of the course was a beast, would have liked to have seen how fast the leaders were going up it. Turned into a bit of a trudge around me.
It's quite satisfying that the fit lads have to race after 150 ale tanks have rolled over the course
Hey, I resemble that remark 🙂
I somehow managed to beat 26 people in my first race for a year. That'll do.
So, Western Leagues Forest of Dean round today, a stark contrast from last weeks Keynsham, a night of constant rain set us up for a day of cold, muddy, rooty & a lengthy run which made for a brutal course - i loved it 🙂 it worked well that after i'd collected a load of mud on my tyres after the start section i managed to fling it all off on the fire road descent. Excellent.
[img][url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5621/30989708202_6d1d7de935_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5621/30989708202_6d1d7de935_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PdsmzQ ]Forest of Dean cyclocross[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5446/30316289364_b25b52b8f7_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5446/30316289364_b25b52b8f7_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NbWUCd ]2016-11-20_05-53-01[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Weeksy, Harwell was a blast. Slippy and slidey, not mech-chewing sticky mud. Went all the way up the mound then back down 'The chute of doom' which was a spectator paradise, you could hear them all across the course. Raced V40 on tired legs from racing Central CX day before, as an interloper I was unceded so at the back of a field of 80, so happy with 21st.
Bryn Bach report - it was grippy and fast after all; but it was also very wet, and bitterly cold.
Fantastic course, with a bit of everything except off camber ... or claggy mud.
I got off to an unusually good start, managed to get towards the front guys and not get swamped by the following herd. Made the mistake of sitting on somebody`s wheel all the way before going into the single track sections, this had me soaking wet (and muddy)straight away. From then onwards I just got colder and colder ... half way around 2nd lap my fingers were so cold I couldnt change gear or brake properly.
I started losing sight of the front guys and dropping positions ... then guy in front decided to take short cut to miss section of course ... which had me falling off to avoid him as he detoured; dropped more positions and got wetter as a result.
Managed to take back a couple positions, but finished a couple positions off the guys I usually in front of.
Great course - sending off for winter warm/waterproof gloves ready for the Caerphilly course which is likely to be similar ... but muddier!
Just got my entry into the northern champs before today's cut off.what's York race course like then?
Think Bryn Bach was a course that split opinion! I had a pretty awful race, the only bit I really enjoyed was the muddy section at hte far end. Love sloppy mud like that. My heart wasn't in it so after burping a load of air out on a rock, didn't push it, just road conservatively to make sure I finished as needed it as one to get my six for hte league.
Need to get my fitness back!
The signing on room was kinda funny.
As I signed on 2-3 little kids were hogging the radiator, and crying to their mam to go home; then at end of our race as I collected licence, some old fellas were hogging radiator, and looking ready to cry ... as the medic there checked them over.
When I arrived all I could see was crying kids, felt so sorry for them having to go off in hte coldest bit of the day!
London X-League at Ardingly today.
Nice mud for the Juniors and Vets - still wet enough to be slippery but not too sticky. I hear the seniors had it a bit more claggy. Oh well, serves them right for being younger than me.
Thought I had 3rd sown up when halfway through the last lap a rider appears from nowhere and whooshes past. I hadn't spotted him as he's not one of the regulars so I'd assumed he was a back marker. What a bugger!
😀
Cold got to me pre-race I think. I just could not get going off the start. Yet again out in a no-mans land of late mid-pack. Did mean my face was a lot cleaner than others though! Only had one small mud wallow this week, and after going a bit too quick over the kickers the first or second lap, I didn't fully commit the next time around and ended up in a tree.
Anyway I think purely by small field I got a better position than some earlier efforts. Oh and my bloody cleats came loose.
My kit is in for it's third wash...
Ant, you looked to be riding well today mate. Good work. Iain, good to see you again. Thought something must have been up when I saw you at the finish.
Good to see you to Thom. Cold definately wasn't a treat. It didn't help my motivation when I spoke to one of the guys in our club just before hte start and he started rattling off about half a dozen bad injuries in hte previous races! Had a feeling my wife would not be best pleased if I came back with a broken collarbone in her current condition! Just making excuses really though 😆
Looking forward to Pembrey, finally seem to have kicked my virus so back doing some training this week 🙂
I think it will be my worse finish position of the season this week Thom. Even though it was the course that suited me the best.
Thats CX!
Pembrey should be good. Sees you there.
Glad you "enjoyed" our FoD race. There was a young lady taking hundreds of pics. Apparently they get posted on here FB page wherever that may be.
I was buggered at the end of the Vets and was embarrassingly beaten by Henry, our 71 year of whippet. (actually he beats many people at lots of things)
When I arrived all I could see was crying kids
When I parked up yesterday I spent the first few minutes helping parents parked either side of me thaw their cold and tearful kids out - my down jacket went round one of them while the other drank some hot drink out of my flask.
Fairly decent race for me, although I was much stronger in the later stages than early on, not helped by a a freewheel that didn't like the cold and was slow to engage - changed bikes after two laps and went better after that as I also got the hang of the course. Finished 6th, which is a season's best in Welsh League.
Some of the toughest conditions, if not the toughest, conditions I've experienced in 10 seasons of 'cross. I think only the races at Parc cwm Darran a few years back come close.
My First cross race in some time and first time taking my steel commuter off road didn't set the world alight but had a good giggle trying! My first couple of laps before battery died on GoPro:
Well done on having a go - but just so you know gopros are banned from all BC races. If spotted using one you'll get a slapped wrist or a DQ depending what mood the commissaire is in.
Where does it actually say that? I did have a good search on BC's rules and no-one really knew on sign on.
There is a UCI directive which is included in the BC rule book. If you ride at a Central or London / South East League race you won't be allowed to do so if you have a camera mounted either on you or the bike.
I'll dig out the directive that we've been given later.
Think you can record your practise lap though but definately not the actual race. I believe its a liability issue.
Looks like a really fun course. Round the manicured playing field with lots of banking is my favourite type, especially when there's a bit of mud involved! Only had a chance to race one palying field race this year which is a shame.
From the BC Technical Regulations:
10.4 The use in competition of cameras attached to riders, cycles or helmets is prohibited, unless previously authorised in writing by the BC Board. Unless prohibited by the regulations of individual disciplines, onboard cameras are permitted during practice or designated training sessions, but the use of such cameras is authorised solely when the camera is attached to the bicycle. The rider is solely responsible for securing the fixation of the camera in order to avoid any danger or distraction.
The Welsh league headed to Pembrey today with good weather and a big turnout in all categories. The chat before had been that it was the crit course of the season, while it was pan flat, hardpack or short grass and very fast there were enough wiggles to keep it interesting and make for good racing.
I had a pretty bad race, was actually gridded on the front row but missed my pedal, got swamped off the line and then, not being used to riding that fast in a bunch got scared 😳 let off the gas and settled in for an easy first lap, sped up and had a had a good race with shedbrewed and a few others for hte middle portion but blew spectacularly with two laps to go. Just didn't have the fitness to keep the power down constantly for an hour.
Pretty gutted to end my season in the Welsh league with two poor races on the trot after a good start of hte season but looking at my strava log, apart from this week, the last time I managed a proper training week was mid-October so it's hardly surprising. One last race at the Welsh champs next week, hoping today's beasting will have kicked a bit of shape into my legs for that!
Good fast open course at Pembrey. My summer fitness, and lack of riding last few weeks really taking its toll now. Managed 8th position ... so hopefully it'll last a bit longer till end of season.
Yesterday was the German State chanpionships. I decided to race in the neighbouring state as I had been told the course is better. Lovely technical course with sandy soil so drains very well. Unfortunately in the test lap just before the start I got a flat in my front tyre (tub) with no spare wheel and no one with a suitable wheel I could borrow. Decided to race anyway and leave a track pump at the pits. Pumped up the tyre to 70psi and started but this time the tyre held for the entire race (had some sealant in there from a previous puncture) which shook me to death! Rode most of the course jostling for 3rd/4th position .. I was quicker in the second part of the lap and he the first. In the last lap I was in front as we approached a tight chicane which you could steam through if you got the angle right. There was a rider ahead we were about to lap. I tried to time it so I would pass him just after the chicane but the rider behind attacked and shoved the lapped rider out of the way who panicked and braked hard bringing me to a complete stop giving the attacking rider a 30m gap which I wasn't able to close. So 4th place for me. A lesson learned.
Not really sure what worked yesterday but clearly something did. I'd only done a couple of rides in the week, had to use a spare rear wheel with file tread (which I was thinking of using anyway) and had spent the day preceding sawing and splitting wood. I don't think there were many places to brake at all on the course. It was definitely a quick one. 16 miles we raced for. I had probably my best start ever and just managed to keep going. There were plenty of places to ride tactically, so I did. That said, looking at my hr and I was firmly in threshold for the whole race. With the exception of the first lap moves by the very fast boys I tried to jump on every attack.
Good swapping places with ferrals more times than I can recall, along with another lad, Keelan, who's been strong this year. I managed to snap my chain on the final sprint to the line but made enough gap on the following rider to coast and not lose a place.
I hurt today
gridded on the front row but missed my pedal
I was first to react to the whistle and led the race for about the first ten metres 🙂 I then rapidly found out that while my reaction time might have been better than Matt Fratesi and Jake Phelps, they accelerate through the gears an awful lot quicker than me 😳 Hung on to 3rd into the first corner and therefore spent the first lap going backwards - barreled into a few corners way too hot trying to defend places, which obviously ended up having the opposite effect.
Then just full gas for another 60 minutes. Never really had anyone to work with on a course fast enough for drafting, so just rode in my own little pain bubble.
I was quite intimidated being sandwiched between Jacob Phelps and Gruff Lewis 😳 😆
Funny thing was Gruff was just sat on his top tube when the whistle went, made a surprised grunt and still got going quick and flew off at warp speed.
Good swapping places with ferrals more times than I can recall, along with another lad, Keelan,
I was jsut relieved Matt came along and dragged me back to you guys when i was flagging initially otherwise you'ld have been well away. gutted i couldnt stick there till the end. I'm digin deep into the excusing bank and blaming it on not bothering with changing to file treads and wearing a base layer so i overheated.. too cold last week, too hot this week.. hopefully I'll be like goldilocks and next week will be [i]just right[/i] 😆
I then rapidly found out that while my reaction time might have been better than Matt Fratesi
Ah, which league is this in? He Local league used to be the Western leaguein Bristol. Proper rapid..think he beat Simon richardson in 1 race.
I'm guessing he's gone to uni now
Welsh league, think he's Swansea Uni Race team at the mo
You not racing Welsh Champs this weekend? Me and crashtestmonkey are coming back for some fun and games!
Yeah doing Welsh Champs but no more of the league races.
We've put in hours of effort riding round Singleton planning out course options but think we've got a champ-worthy one planned. Are you on the WCX facebook group? course map is up, plenty of hair-pins and offcamber, a solid (well for cx, about 30s) climb, a few short punchy climbs. its a real mix.
The Xmas-x at Caerphilly not motivating many this year. Fingers crossed it not rain between now & then ... it may not be too muddy then!!
I'd like to but despite my best negotiations, requests for yet another sunday cycling fell on deaf ears- though to be fair to my wife, with it being exactly two weeks befor the due date of our first child she may have a point 😳 😆
The Xmas-x at Caerphilly [s]not [/s]motivating many this year. Fingers crossed it [s]not rain[/s][b]buckets down[/b] between now and then ... it may not be too [s]muddy [/s][b]dry[/b] then!!
Come on Ant, it's 'cross, mud is all part of it and we've had an exceptionally dry series of races relative to a normal season. And as somebody who goes best when ploughing through the slop I've been at a disadvantage all season!
Mtn View Ranch is a great venue too, lots of course-side hard standing and a nice warm cafe to hide in after.
YEs I'm on the welsh CX page (Franalina) so had a sneaky peak. Do you just gain entry to the park from the boating lake down on the front?
Surely 2 weeks before your first child is born is the perfect time to be racing your last cx race as you won't be racing every again 😉
And as somebody who goes best when ploughing through the slop I've been at a disadvantage all season
Me too, not had to dismantle my mech once 😥
Munqe-chick - MemberYEs I'm on the welsh CX page (Franalina) so had a sneaky peak. Do you just gain entry to the park from the boating lake down on the front?
Park in the recreation ground car park on St Helens and head up through gates on the other side of the side-road park is what we're recommending. Probably a 3 minute ride.
Surely 2 weeks before your first child is born is the perfect time to be racing your last cx race as you won't be racing every again
I thought it was impeccibly timed to have maximum oppurtunity to get used to sleeplessness before next season!
Terrible race in the London League for me at Leeds Castle this week. Had hardly ridden in the week & was totally knackered & head in completely the wrong place. Gridded on 2nd row & got a reasonable start but then just started going backwards, even stopped a couple of times to quit but sorted myself out to MTFU & finish!
Really missing the mud this season! Next round in a couple of weeks & then there's over a month off!
david jey - MemberCome on Ant, it's 'cross, mud is all part of it and we've had an exceptionally dry series of races relative to a normal season. And as somebody who goes best when ploughing through the slop I've been at a disadvantage all season!
Mtn View Ranch is a great venue too, lots of course-side hard standing and a nice warm cafe to hide in after.
I raced it year before last - I did 2 laps, and quit. It just didnt feel like a race ... though to be fair, last years course had one or two little changes that looked a bit better (although still had all the bad bits too).
Even Ross the Boss is thinking of giving it a miss. And he like a pig in mud.
Looks like it is going to be a cold one with hard ground on Sunday!
Yep. As I posted on Welsh CX fb page it was frozen with a white icey topping at 2pm yesterday. Even the beach sand is frozen right now! I had a good walk around the course and while in places there was a bit of moisture trapped under the forzen topping much was bone dry. Shouldnt need to clean bike much! I've hedged my bets, MXP on the rear, PDX on the front, nothing like indecision!
Looking forward to it. Had a look at the start list - oh boy, I reckon if I have the race of my life I could just about scrape into 10th place 😕
You'll go well david, its a hard course, a lot of elevation changes will need a lot of stamina. Even if I try and spin round it gently my HR goes above 160.
Strava segment here: [url= https://www.strava.com/segments/13729340?filter=overall ]Welsh Champs course[/url]
john_l - Member
Next round in a couple of weeks & then there's over a month off!
See you at Frylands Wood. L and I are Comms again, so it'll rain.....
Hello Ferrals,
That strava profile of the course is great. Cheers for that. Any other info about the course? It must still be riding pretty firm down there. Likely to cut up for the seniors but vets should be ok, what do you reckon?
Cheers,
Matt
See you at Frylands Wood. L and I are Comms again, so it'll rain.....
Good 🙂
Alright Matt, someone rode it today and said bits were frozen solid and other bits were very muddy. Warmer now and not forecast to freeze again so guess it will have thawed out by race day. Should be quite variable terrain. We're using two main fields. The first one (right hand field) is grass that is constantly kept short and seems to hold a lot of water. This will cut up quickly I think, probably prior to the vets race, especially as all races are using it. The second field drains better and and the grass is only cut a couple of times a year (was cut earlier in autumn), I think this may stay as grass for everyone.
There's a fair bit of offcamber but nothing tricky apart from one hairpin I've nicknamed calamity camber which will hopefully get a few people's arses muddy. Another sweeping offcamber turn will reward people with the skills to ride it fast but won't cause any problems to anyone. Couple of bits of tarmac, tiny bit of wooded stuff but primarily grass. Really really looking forward to it, can't wait to see what everyone thinks of the course 😀
Cheers Ferrals, sounds great and thanks for the info! See you Sunday.
Matt
So how did people's Welsh champs go?
Had a great day. We spray painted out the course yesterday so being a slacker left the taping to the others and had a nice lazy morning before heading down to watch the u16/u14 race, do a practise lap and watch the vets and women.
Happy with my race, some good battles: first couple of laps was riding with a guy I don't normally keep up with till I messed up the ruts and he got a gap, then had another good battle with a guy I'd not raced with before, I'd gap him through the offcamber and switchbacks, he'd get me on th planks and being able to bunny hop the log. Started to fade and he dropped me but still happy - 16th in the seniors race, or 7th if there was a masters cat. Pleased to finish my season on a good note after a couple of really poor races. Nice buzz about the day too.
What did you think of the course Fran? We got some really good feedback which I was chuffed with as we put a lot of effort into the design, I'm a bit gutted it was so dry as it negated the technicality of the offcambers but I think it was just as well as Swansea council will be happy the parks not trashed and we might be allowed back!
Bloody hard course! Good though. Those hurdles and the 'drag' up the log were hard going. Great course and the corners flowed really well. Really enjoyed it. Cheers!
Matt Lewis
Blame Martyn for the uphill hurdles!
Those hurdles killed me every lap. Really chuffed to have been 3rd man home and for our club to get the team prize.
Thought the course was good, nicer to ride than Builth a couple of years back. Maybe not as smooth as Abergavenny but still good. Great results Iain, Matt and David.
Frustrating day for me; legs just wouldn't wake up.
Had some good battles. Great atmosphere and well organised.
Congrats to all medal winners.
Great day out yesterday - it would be good if Singleton became a regular Welsh League venue.
Really like the course (railing round 'smiley face' at high speed was the best bit) but god it was hard. I got my top ten, just, but crossed the line completely in bits. Went to get my jacket from the sign on tent and pretty much collapsed. Took a good five minutes and some help from a few folks to get me back on my feet.
Fran, I only realised when I saw the results that it was you who had the epic race-long scrap with my team mate Clare! I think I enjoyed watching that more than I enjoyed racing. I was the AJAX bloke who came up and spoke to you both after you crossed the line.
Great going Thom!
Bit of footage from one of the Bynea guys:
The number of people who came off on the 180 off camber left hander not long after the finish straight might disagree, ferrals!
I raced Welsh V40 as a non-native interloper. Hard but fun course at race pace. Drove all that way and ended up having a race long wheel to wheel with another Central League guy who'd made the trip. Interesting to race against other people in different Leagues rather than assuming your usual group position, went into it really tired but enjoyed it so happy enough with 16th.
File treads in Wales in December, madness.
@DJ, you must have been posting same time as i was so didnt see your post - great result, well done. Everyone seemed to like the smiley face 😀
@CTM - I only saw one person crash but the photographic evidence shows otherwise, it was the point of the turn though! Glad you enjoyed
re. the toughness of the course, its actually quite lucky the course-setter-uppers ran out of tape as there was meant to be two more steep down, tight turn and back up sections either side of the planked one, which based on post-race feedback might have been a bit too much climbing!
there was meant to be two more steep down, tight turn and back up sections either side of the planked one
😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯
Hi David! Yes that was me in the Ale skin suit cracking battle with Clare probably one of the best I've had all season.. she crashed on the off camber bit and I snuck around her but she managed to claw me back! I'm so glad there wasn't another lap all I had in my head was where am I going to attack? I have one attack in the legs and it has to be do or die.. alas I didn't need it!
3rd Senior woman but no medal as not enough Juniors in the race. I don't mind getting beaten by the James' sisters phenomenal talent and depth in CX!
Funnily enough when I did my recce lap I was a bit "meh" .. ha ha oh how that changed at race pace! some of those winding long off cambers corners were so fast it was all about confidence in your tyres.. I didn't crash 🙂
Great day out thanks! Hopefully I will be back for the New Years Eve CX race!
@CTM - I only saw one person crash but the photographic evidence shows otherwise, it was the point of the turn though! Glad you enjoyed
I saw several, there's a cracking pic of a Jif racer doing the full Michael Jackson pose coming off the bike-that's me trying to avoid his stricken bike with the other Central guy right behind.
I personally like climby courses (I don't have much power, but that's offset by not much weight either 😉 ). It reminded me (in a good way) of one of the Central rounds at Hemel which also wound it's way up and down a hill - on a slow recce it also appeared uninspiring but at race pace was a whole different and more challenging and involving experience. Which is just as well as I think I was the last V40 not to get passed by the winner so had the 'privilege' of doing an extra lap over some of the guys I'd been dicing with.
Raced our central league V40-49 race today at Hillingdon. First race since the last one we staged a year ago. Got a fine start and managed eighth after the tarmac sprint ( I rode up that slope 52 times yesterday!) Backwards from there. No substitute for skill! Pulled a few places back to finish 17/44. First ever race on drop bars, gears and cantilever brakes.
If you came with kids, I was scoring the early races in the gazebo.
sadly missed the Hillingdon round due to a mixture of other planned commitments and a visit to the fracture clinic. Frustrating as quite a few of the big hitters in my cat were at the national series round, so everyone finished a good few positions higher than they usually do and banked some nice points (including the people I'm battling with in the league, who all scored season-best positions 🙄 )
Heard it was a good course and running nicely.
I rode the Western Leauges round 12 @ Oldbury Court yesterday, finished mid field which seems to be my spot in CX racing 🙂 Had a few sections of real clag, that my WTB Trail Boss 35c collected on the sidewalls adding a chunk of weight!!! I'd like some Clement PDX - but thats not gonna happen with Christmas looming... 🙁 (anyone know of any tubeless stock?).
[img][url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5591/31457164261_4cbd6cae37_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5591/31457164261_4cbd6cae37_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PVLbZ4 ]Oldbury Court CX race.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/108/30763440603_b49ea94eca_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/108/30763440603_b49ea94eca_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NSsF7k ]Oldbury Court CX race stream crossing[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/334/31446859512_5c93fd0605_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/334/31446859512_5c93fd0605_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PURnJY ]Clag[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Pretty sure i got dropped by a 60 year old on file treads!!!
Heard it was a good course and running nicely.
It was. Tempted to try and get my four races in to score on the V40 league. Sunday was my season's best (and only) result, but many of the remainder clash with the Imperial Winter Series 🙁
Imperial *as in London* winter series? sounds like bad planning!
There is a funny video on Western league of someone (only one)riding a stream but actually wasn't any quicker! good skills though!
Our next CX on Sunday at Berkhamstead looks mega a handbuilt bridge and sandpit! Waffles and mince pies and mulled wine! Can't wait.
I had a go at Fareham Wheelers round of the Wessex league yesterday. Had one nice attack up the big climb which I made stick. I finished in about the top 85% which is pretty standard for me 😉
I filmed my sighting lap for posterity though which was fun 🙂
It was. Tempted to try and get my four races in to score on the V40 league
as you know it's 4 minimum, then they take your best scoring 8 rounds. Last year was our first time racing and fell into it so I only managed 7 which really irked me as it meant people finished higher in the league only by virtue of having managed to ride more rounds. This year I'm on 7 so far, will hit 8 and hoping to do a couple more which might (touch wood) allow me to drop my 2 worst-scoring rounds. Goal is a top 10 overall, it's going to be close either way.
If you can make the Lovelo Birkhampstead round, as Munqe Chick says it looks like they've put a lot of effort into the course and are trying to make the day a proper 'event'. I'll keep an eye out for your bike and say hi (I'm in V40, blue SuperX with flouro orange bar tape and lid).
There is a funny video on Western league of someone (only one)riding a stream but actually wasn't any quicker! good skills though!
James from Das Rad Club, i believe he was the only one to do so, that stream was full of rubble with a rooty stepped up exit, a tech move from him that earns him gnarr points 😉
Vid:
We'll be at Sunday's central league race. Wearing grey jackets and armed with stopwatches and whistles.
Just waiting to get the HSBC branded kit early next year.
as you know it's 4 minimum, then they take your best scoring 8 rounds.
Well I can aim for 200 points, and that might get me one of our club awards. The Imperial Series is near to home, not as muddy, pays Teen2 and is on a Saturday! If the other Central League races were on Sunday, I'd manage a few more. Next week looks a lot of fun though. And you've seen the bike already.
I raced my second ever National Trophy yesterday at Shrewsbury. I was pretty nervous, not helped by crashing twice during my sighting laps.
Race itself was proper muddy so, not having a pit crew, I rode my trusty singlespeed. Bagged 25th in vet 40, despite a few more crashes and a backwards and forwards battle with a bunch as each of us took it in turns to slide off the course. 😀
Don't suppose anyone knows where I can see photos from the event? There's one of me on the BC website and I know Huw Williams was there, but there were a few snappers on the course.
Signed up for Sunday at Berkhamstead. Have to dash off afterwards to collect Teen1 from Uni, so a pre-race performance-enhancing mulled wine and mince pie will be required in lieu of the cola caffeine gel. Targeting top 15. As if! Say Hi. And I'll also be riding both Imperial Winter Series races the day before.
TiRed what category you in? Seems like entries are good they posted 350 riders to grid and still EOD available! Looks like a cracking event can't wait!
Anyone else racing the Boxing Day Cx in Kenilworth? Never done it before any handy or top tips?
mooman - Member
The Xmas-x at Caerphilly not motivating many this year. Fingers crossed it not rain between now & then ... it may not be too muddy then!!
Numbers seem considerably down this year when compared to last year. (As an example, less than 30 v40 men on the start line at Pembrey this year. I seem to remember it being around 70 last year? All the senior categories combined added up to 110ish compared to 170ish last year iirc?)
I was looking forward to racing at Pembrey but thought it was taking the mick to be charging £17 for an event which was £12 last year. (Yes, I'm a tight git!) Charging for day entry in a cross race when you know that well over 100 turned up last week is ridiculous and could well kill the series. Imo of course.
Congrats, ferrals btw. Are you coming to the curry on Saturday?
I'm V40. Just. Cyclocross age groups run earlier than road as I've graduated to Masters E (50-59) for road racing.
Idlejon - I am not too sure about numbers; it may just be that now they have separated the vets from the seniors the fields look smaller??
There were 62 V40 on start line at Pembrey the other week (according to BC)
I know there are a few people commenting on the entry price of certain events, and maybe next year that will have an impact on people turning up.
People have compared the price of CX entry to crit entry, but CX isnt like crit racing. The not so good guys who do crits are willing to pay £10-15 for a 20min crit if theres a chance to get a point on their race licences.
But vast majority who do cx arent slightest bit interested in points, it all about the fun on the day.
I am not doing Caerphilly on Sunday (got a cold ... honest!) and with all the wet stuff we have had, the reputation the place has for being dire to race at, and the online entry. I expect the lowest numbers of the year there.
interesting to hear numbers. We raced the Oxford round of the Wessex league and it was capped by the organisers at 405 overall; it filled with online entries and there was a waiting list for cancellations!
As M-C says there are ~350 pre-entered in the Central Lovelo Crossmass on Sunday; with 95 in V40. Admittedly that's on the high side, but I think 60 has been our lowest.
I was looking forward to racing at Pembrey but thought it was taking the mick to be charging £17 for an event which was £12 last year
Really? So you've given up on a day out and an event you were looking forward to for the sake of a fiver? I'm tight but that just sounds like cutting of your nose to spite your face. How much is your CX bike and kit worth?
Tangs event is now live:
Sunday 29th January 2017.
3rd year of Cotswold CX at Chavenage House, plus it's the final round of the Western Leagues Series, Cotswold Estate prime venue, fantastic on site facilities & sponsor input, plus post race live streaming of the men's CX World Champs on a big screen in the main hall.
I'll be marshalling & heckling from the sidelines.
Come join the Cotswold CX circus 😉
Really? So you've given up on a day out and an event you were looking forward to for the sake of a fiver? I'm tight but that just sounds like cutting of your nose to spite your face. How much is your CX bike and kit worth?
Ha, I know! It was an excuse, not the whole reason. 😳 I was working away all week, have done very little riding never mind training this autumn, and was knackered. Being charged extra to not be even vaguely competitively midfield in a field of 30* (which is basically a muddy ITT) didn't sound attractive. But really it's the principle - cross has never been expensive and charging extra for EOL shouldn't ever come into it.
And really, my kit and bike don't come into the equation. They get used anyway, they aren't bought specifically for racing.
*mooman may be right - there were more than I thought at Pembrey but figures are still very low this season compared to the rest.