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I enjoyed the cx racing thread this winter, and am already frothing for the start of the xc season proper so thought we could have a similar thread for xc racing. Be good to get some pics up etc.
What are peoples racing plans/goals? I'm racing in sports cat. I've already done the first soggy bottom in January and am semi tempted to do the second at the end of Feb. Otherwise its a mid march start with the first Welsh XC at llandegla. I'm doing all the Welsh XC series and at least three of the National Series (Pembrey, Newnham, Fforest Fields). Depending on how I do at Pembrey and Newnham I might head up to Dalby too. Assuming I dont do well in the nationals so dont have a weekend in Yorkshire, I'm tempted to do the southern xc by Winchester as it looks a reat venue. Goals are to get a good overal series standing in the Welsh, and to not embarrass myself in the nationals!
Just getting light enough to mean outside training before work which is a real treat after too much turbo time!
Like this pic of me at the sggy in jan, though I look remakably clean!
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Racing with a pack on? Interesting choice!
I'm planning on doing mainly Midlands XC and Nationals with a smattering of FNSS rounds where they fit in. No real goals for the National rounds since its my first year racing them but I'd like to be consistently in the mid 20s for the midlands rounds.
It's going to be my first season following some structured training so I'm excited to see what I can do.
Run and Ride at Cannock in a couple of weeks.
Then Welsh XC1 at Llandegla.
I normally race the whole Midland series, but the first round clashes with that degla race, but I'll try and do the rest of them (although they've moved 2 rounds to a Saturday which is tricky for me).
I'll also be doing Mayhem and Torq 12:12.
Goals? Not getting lapped is always good! 😉
Mostly local Gorricks and the Southern xc series for me. First year as a vet, and I imagine mid-table finishes would be realistic. Came 23/52 on sunday at the first Gorrick. No real structured training - just trying to get as much in as possible, which isn't really much at all going by most racers standards I expect.
just on round the corner from that photo...
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1508/24165851105_54f7c1cdbb_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1508/24165851105_54f7c1cdbb_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CPsiBg ]DSC04355 (Medium)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/49331967@N08/ ]fully sussed[/url], on Flickr
everyone - MemberRacing with a pack on? Interesting choice!
Wont be for the main season - I did last year but its just too hot! I dont really see a reason not to beyond that though, while a touch heavier, it makes drinking easier assuming you don't have anyone to hand up bottles.
ditto, did fforest fields as open cat last year and came mid field. I am assuming the jump up to sports cat will be a bit of an eye opener.No real goals for the National rounds since its my first year racing them
It's going to be my first season following some structured training so I'm excited to see what I can do.
Ditto again. Although only since christmas.
Nice shot Jambo!
Nice shot Jambo!
the rest of the official photos with me in are not so flattering...
still, I did have some fun on the downs even if I lost all the places back fairly quickly.
Adam@BikeWorks - MemberRun and Ride at Cannock in a couple of weeks.
Then Welsh XC1 at Llandegla.
I normally race the whole Midland series, but the first round clashes with that degla race, but I'll try and do the rest of them (although they've moved 2 rounds to a Saturday which is tricky for me).I'll also be doing Mayhem and Torq 12:12.
Goals? Not getting lapped is always good!
Snap bar Torq, throwing in the marathon series too and Manchester Midweek Madness
It's my final season before turning Vet so I'll do a few more than normal this year, mainly Mids XC as quite a few are more or less on my doorstep. I'll probably be the oldest rider in the race so it'll be interesting to see how many youngsters I can hold on to 🙂
Great to see that there are some plans afoot and you guys are looking forward to the coming season.
Excuse the promotion but southernxc online entries are open and if you enter all 7 rounds before the closing date of the first round you'll get one free!! Just visit wwww.southernxc.net
Now pressure then... Lol. You're right it's an awesome venue and the good news is that we will be starting work on the course in a couple of weeks time so by the time you get to it it should be well sorted and flowing well!I'm tempted to do the southern xc by Winchester as it looks a reat venue.
I notice a mention of Torq 1212 up there, the final round of the Southernxc is on the same venue a few weeks before so if you want a sneaky peek at a very condensed version of the endurance course come along - I'm sure the Gorrick guys will add some cool extra stuff that we would be able to get too due to course length but it'll give you a good idea.
If you are coming to join us at the Southernxc and fancy giving your fat bike an outing, check the fat bike box on entry and although you'll race in your normal category you lap times will be averaged and entered into results for just fat bike riders and then the fat bike series too!
I've started the year with the Mad Dash in the Park series. 4 races- really well organised, good venues, great tracks and cheap. Doing a few Ride It events, Scott Marathon Series, Wiggle MTB events and anything else that's reasonably close to me. Looking forward to dust and sun.
I'm planning on taking my racing a bit more seriously than last year - I was doing my PGCE, now completing my NQT year so a bit less pressure!
I'll be racing in the Expert category at most of the Midlands XC, doing most of the Nationals (really looking forward to Dalby!) and doing some FNSS, some Mallory Park crits and big goal is to try and podium at SSUK this year too.
Got some good winter training in the legs so should be good to see what I can do!
I'm the least fit I've been for years, but I'll find my way to a few Southerns im sure. CBA with nationals. They're all miles away and I'll get trounced. Doing a pair at 24/12. May do Torq 12:12 too. Generally just gonna enjoy myself.
Adam_Buckland - Member
I notice a mention of Torq 1212 up there, the final round of the Southernxc is on the same venue a few weeks before so if you want a sneaky peek at a very condensed version of the endurance course come along - I'm sure the Gorrick guys will add some cool extra stuff that we would be able to get too due to course length but it'll give you a good idea.
I'd love too but it's a 4 1/2- 5 hour drive for me, so a bit much for a non-overnighter!
Is the Manchester Midweek Madness on again this year?
Going to try my first proper season of MTB racing this year. Have done a few races in the past but got a nice bike last year so need to use it! Looking to do the Nutcracker Series and maybe some of the Scottish XC ones too. I'd like to find a couple of fast/experienced racers in the NE to train with if anyone fancies it?
Wife and I will be doing the Nutcrackers again, have done for a few years, very well organised and good courses. Few more marathons and possibly the first Midlands at Sherwood. Away for the Nationals at Dalby which is annoying...
Tempted to sign up for a few XC races this year, maybe Southern XC. Did my first XC race at one of the Gorrick Brass Monkeys rounds in November and rather enjoyed it. Race calendar for the summer already looking fairly busy though.
First race next week for me, just a small local event.
Will do Mud Sweat & Gears again, hopefully will do some longer races like Brighton Big Dog.
Racing with a pack on? Interesting choice
I ride with a very small pack. I find it easier to drink from a tube than a bottle (I launched one with slippery hands at a rider behind once....effective short term tactic, but left me without a drink for an hour or so)
I love the Gorricks and the Monkeys. Although had a heavy cold and punctured in the snowy one the other week...my worst race EVER.
I've entered the full Midlands XC series, racing in Open Male. First time I've raced XC in twenty years so it's going to be entertaining. Goal is just to complete enough of the series to score, stretch goal the whole series. TrainerRoad training plan on the go for a week now.
Mayhem solo, 24/12 solo, Kielder 101 and possibly Torq. Thats all.
Nutcracker and Midlands series for me, combined with the Cannock winter and summer classic, and not forgetting mayhem, which I'm looking at fat pairs. End of season usually do the Oktoberfest at Bristol, really like that event maybe influenced by getting on the podium twice 🙂
I'm trying to cut down on the XC a bit and do some more unique foreign races...
March 20 Battle on the Beach
March 25-27 VolCAT 3 day race, Spain
April 2-3 National XC1 Pembrey
April 24 Tiliment Marathon Bike, Italy
May 1 Roc Ardennes, Belgium
May 14/15 National XC3 Dalby
June Bristol Bikefest
June 11/12 National XC4 Fforest Fields
June 18/19 Mountain Mayhem
July 2 MB Race, France
July 29 – 3 August Epic Cymru
August 7 National XC5 Cannock Chase
August 13 Brighton Big Dog
August 31 Torq 12:12
October Bristol Oktoberfest
Plus probably a couple of southerns if it's sunny.
I'm trying to cut down on the XC a bit and do some more unique foreign races...
A quiet one there by the looks of it 😯
Well it's about 5 events less than last year...
wish I'd known about them, would have been tempted as not too far from me.cokie - Member
I've started the year with the Mad Dash in the Park series. 4 races- really well organised, good venues, great tracks and cheap.
Managed my first year of XC last year in FNSS and really enjoyed it, finishing 5th in GV. Plan for this year is the midlands xc series and a few National rounds.
Might manage down to some Gorrick events, did the last brass monkeys round and quite enjoyed it.
My aim is the Manx 100 again in July. Last year pulled after 100km in horrendous weather. Planning as many of Scott Marathon series as possible before then (including a local one - Exmoor!).
Nutcracker here, first season of XC so looking forward to it.
Can't commit to much this year due to my new addition. Hope to be at either torq or bbd and a couple of rounds of Southern xc and gorricks. Less fit than last year, but I've got a power meter and plan to be doing a lot of turboing and following a structured plan for the first time.
Mix in some midweek tts too.
Racing the G8 at Hadleigh on the 21st, just a warm and getting used to 1 X 11 & oval.
Then it's on to Mud Sweat and Gears eastern where I want to place around 15th Vet overall, Battle on the Beach where my only goal is to finish in front of at least one of our Clubs CX boys, , Beastway in that London where I want to finish better than last years 9th, Mountain Mayhem Solo which is a warm up to the Bonty 24/12 - where I'll be finishing 1st in Vets.
I might do Torq 12:12 as a pair, but I may be in Majorca getting fatter.
And I'm doing some TT's on the weekends that are free.
No pressure 😀
Wentwood 50 - for fun
Gorrick 100
BORS - for fun
Summer Monkey
Brighton Big Dog
Torq
Oktoberfest
Having only done a handful of races over the years but wanting to do more decided this year to try and do a race every month. Did the last Brass Monkey's in Jan, 4hr vet, enjoyed first 2.5 hrs, felt very weary for remainder. Really enjoyed Gorrick on Sunday, vet, 3 laps meant I didn't worry about pushing myself too hard, so was expecting a better result than 26/52 🙂 Need more hill training. Planning on completing the series. Signed up for BBD, 6hr solo, hopefully will have opportunity to put in enough training to get around without wanting to cry.
Not sure what to do between end of Gorrick SS & BBD. Travel is a bit of an issue so needs to be down South (unless I can slot it into a long w/e away with the OH).
Great idea for a thread!
I'm in a similar position to some above. ^ I've done occasional races each year, but this time I'm planning to do something much more structured. Road miles and Zwift over the darkness of January have helped a bit, but i did my first event last weekend, Gorrick SS, which was a comedy of errors- entered Veteran Plus, as I needed to be home early. (Mistake- it's not just a longer race category...!) Also, didn't taper properly in the week, so after 2 laps my legs waved goodbye... Reasonable learning experience though, my plans are;
Gorrick SS
Couple of Southern XC rounds
Gorrick Enduro
Summer monkey
Epic Cymru.
Those are the firm ones, I'll have a look at some others depending on progress: never done BBD, Okotberfest or any Midlands events. I'll probably look at some Southern Enduros and Red Kite events too to mix it up.
midlands, midweek madness, a few nationals and maybe a a few things like the sam houghton challenge.
hopefully will have opportunity to put in enough training to get around without wanting to cry
No matter how trained you are you will still want to cry. In fact the memory of the pain regularly makes me consider sacking all of this. Generally about week 3 of a 3 week training block (ie now).
It never gets easier, you just go faster!
Can't imagine the pain of doing a solo endurance style race. I want to die at the end of a normal XCO and it wipes me out for a day or two.
Second everyone on training, whats that quote - 'you don't train to make it easier on ourself, you train to make it harder for everyone else'
Need a bit of better riding conditions to get a proper feel for fitness, local natural trails are deep mud and fallen trees every few hundred metres and I always find trail centres flatter to decieve. Recovery week this week according to Trainerroads plan so will have a good crack at some better draining local trails on Sunday and see how the legs are with a bit of a week of rest. Recently felt slow, but think thats as a fair amount of fatigue and also wearing overshoes layers etc.
I'll be dabbling again this year. South Wales has two rounds of the nationals so I'll be doing at least one of them (Pembrey, not sure I can make the Builth Wells one) and finding out just how bad I am at XC racing.
Oh and a few of the Welsh XC series and whatever else I can fit in (does BOTB count?!)
finding out just how bad I am at XC racing
Probably significantly better than me, despite xc racing being my main interest in cycling 😳
Really enjoyed all the Pembrey winter series and the welsh xc race there last year so think the national at Pembrey will be excellent if a bit brutal on the heart rate given the lack of hills to recover on!
Couple of pics from Pembrey:
[url=
xc post[/url]
This drop was super hard for the Welsh round due to the soft sand and the dog leg after, been made bigger but looks straighter. I'll still probably be riding the b line 😳
A year on the sidelines for me in 2016, injury at the last MSG and a few stern words from the surgeon have seen to that means I get to don the BC hat at several MSG rounds, the National at Dalby and the Junior World Cup race at Hadleigh.
Good luck everyone, and if you're at Dalby see you there.
This drop was super hard for the Welsh round due to the soft sand and the dog leg after, been made bigger but looks straighter. I'll still probably be riding the b line
The drop had worn away quite a bit over the year - so its been braced and hopefully won't slip back any further.
The turn is still there, but the drop into it is a little further back and is around 2ft drop.
B-line will still be in place. More (new) technical sections like this will be included as well.
Did around 20 XC races last year, will do around the same this year.
mtbmatt - Member
The drop had worn away quite a bit over the year - so its been braced and hopefully won't slip back any further.
The turn is still there, but the drop into it is a little further back and is around 2ft drop.B-line will still be in place. More (new) technical sections like this will be included as well.
Are you going to fit in those slightly loamy, bomb holey bit at the far end, thought they were really fun.
Last time I was there I rode a really good slightly twister, rootier bit of singletrack, can't remember where it was though, somewhere nearish the car park
Are you going to fit in those slightly loamy, bomb holey bit at the far end, thought they were really fun.
No, unfortunately that has all been felled. Some of the older singletrack survived, but the bombhole section is covered in felled trees and would take a lot of work to put back.
A new chute/drop is planned for the far end though.
There is felling in progress at present, so plans are changing constantly which is a little frustrating.
Ah gutted, that is a shame. Can imagine it is a bit frustrating. Still, so many good bits of trail there sure it will be great 🙂
Edit. Let me know if you want a mediocre test monkey 😆
Nice thread! My first racing XC with some proper training this year. Riding the Scottish Series and aiming to ride all the British Series bar Rd1 (family commitments) bit of a trek from Scotland but hey ho. Really looking forward to Dalby - second place I ever rode 5 years back and I remember crying most of the way round... 😆 as I was a)not fit and b) it was raining. Hopefully the race will be better!
Racing in female expert, very excited!
Anyone here doing the G8 rounds at Hadleigh this weekend? I don't recognise any names.
Its a very low amount of pre-entries - 16 in 2hr Vets, I'm assuming its the pricing - £25 plus admins fees for the payment mechanism of your choice!
I'm only going becuase its close, and for a pre-season fitness test, and to play with 1x11 & oval for the first time in a racing scenario. At least I'll finish top 20!
I wish you luck - Hadleigh had a reputation for breaking people but has changed? 34T is hardcore - I don't spin out on 30T in Gorricks 😳
I've raced Hadleigh before, yes it's hard, basically racing around a bowl up and down the sides - feels like 10secs down, 5 mins up 10 times a lap. I suspect the 42 at the back will see some use!
I'm about to find out if my choice of 34T was silly.
Cheers.
Yep enjoy Hadleigh the scene of my one & only mtb injury,a cracked rib last summer after a off on one of the rock gardens. Must get back soon.
My 1st outing next weekend in the Antifreeze at cyb during a 5 day break in Wales then its another spring/summer doing Beastway at Redbridge in sunny Essex
My 2nd ever
season after starting out at grand vet age!
Good luck BianchiBoy - I shall see you at Beastway!
Cool,i'm gonna give singlespeed a go this year...a Rocket red Specialized
What are you on?
I'll look out for you - black Anthem 29, I'm a young 'un - in Vets.
Phew! You know that feeling when you approach the line and see its two minutes to the end of the race and you COULD do another lap? 😀
So 6 laps 34km and 1500m climbed at Hadleigh, always hard work. 13th vet though, not bad for my first race since September, and that I wasn't riding for a result. Yet again I was behind a crash on the start - aaaargh!
On the 34T oval, I found it just right - I wouldn't want 36 nor 32 either, and if I can spin away with a 42 rear at 90rpm on a 9% singletrack climb that's good enough for me. I can however vouch for oval, when you get tired you can really feel the lack of a dead spot on the climbs as your grinding away and - all other differences notwithstanding - I appeared to have more grip and avoided wheel spin induced spin out whereby others didn't. Also re the dreaded "One bye" chain drop issue - never happened once.
I'm planning on going at the XC pretty hard this year while I still have time, (some) money and fitness before going to uni. I also want to make my time in expert as short as possible - i.e. getting promoted to elite next year. I haven't got a confirmed calendar in place yet, but my vague plans:
- At least one of the remaining Gorrick spring series
- Some regional XC, probably a few MSGs, and a couple of Southern and Midlands
- All the BC national series, and the national champs
- As many of the Benelux* (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) series as possible
- Some more C1/HC class racing in Europe, hopefully Bike the Rock in Hebauch and a couple in Portugal.
- And possibly an enduro!
I've set myself a few goals for the season too: winning at least one national in the expert cat; getting on the podium somewhere in europe; and a top 5 at the u23 champs.
*These are actually all closer to my house, both as the crow flies and in driving time (ignoring ferry time), than all but one of the British National series! One of the rounds is only 1 hour worth of driving away.
Who's going racing this weekend then?
I'm at MSG this weekend.
Me too!
Got another week to wait 🙁
I've got to wait till next weekend as well ferrals. First round of the Midlands XC, I'm so excited it's unbelievable!
Yep I'm getting pretty excited too, just been out in the garage fettling, new cable and new chain fitted 😀
Just starting to worry I haven't trained sensibly and despite all the hours put in I'll find I'm slower than last year when I just rode my bike when I felt like it 😳
I'm having a go at the MSG events this year. Probably the Gorrick 100 as well, I enjoyed it last year.
Wife and I going to have a go at that Midlands first round as well, been at Sherwood today for a quick go as not been for a while. Thunder burts were interesting in the mud after a lot of rain this morning !
Anyone know what the course is normally like ?
Hopefully my new grips will turn up in the next couple of days so I can build the race bike up again!
Then the first proper race (did the 5by3 a couple of weeks ago) is the Midlands in a couple of weeks as well.
I've made a last minute entry to the MSG, I figured it's only 15 minutes away so I might as well! There's actually quite a few good experts entered, so it should be a good race.
Apparently there's some decent elevation available at the venue, so could be a good course.
Looks like you'll have quite a race Paddy some good riders in there, I expect Liam will be flying.
For those in / around London, Beastway entry has opened with series discounts available:
Enter the whole series in advance by 1 April and save up to £59.
We’ll waive the £3 number board charge for full series entrants. Series entry and payment from here. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events
Coursebashing Day from noon on Saturday 2 April.
Bring gloves, workwear and your favourite bushwhacking tools.
Series info
www.britishcycling.org.uk/events
www.beastwaymtb.com
beastway@btinternet.com
Tradervan Beastway 2016 Series
Saturday 9 April
Round 1 Series opener cross-country.
- Beastway normally starts in late May - but why wait!? Extra daylight with an afternoon start means a longer race, making it more attractive for anyone wanting those early season ranking points. Watch out for the new sections of course, made specially to give you a longer race! Enter the full series before this round and save money.
Full series entry closes on 1 April.
XCO FORMAT (min 4km, max 6km course. 1hr30mins seniors)
12h00 Open practice
12h30 u12 race (short course target 15-20mins) 12h55 Course closes
13h00 Juvenile & Youth (target 30mins)
13h35 Practice
14h00 Seniors start
16h00 Podium
Wednesday evenings 18 May thru 29 June - rounds 2 to 8.
The full-blast usual Beastway format on a different course each week.
XCC FORMAT (Different short course each week, 1hr seniors) 18h00 Course open for practice
18h30 U12 race (short course target 15-20mins)
19h30 Seniors start
19h50 Juve/Youth start 20h30 Finish
Saturday 2 July Round 9
The Tradervan Beastway Decider and Series Prizegiving. Our second full cross-country length race followed by a special celebration and reunion ten years after Eastway closed.
(min 4km, max 6km course. Target 1hr40mins seniors)
14h30 u12 race (short course target 15-20mins) 15h00 Practice
15h25 Course closes
15h30 Juvenile & Youth (target 30mins)
16h00 Practice
16h30 Seniors start
18h30 Podium and series prizegiving
Pity it's East London - probably a 3hr plus round trip which isn't feasible.
Any midweek racing closer to Bucks, Oxford, Berkshire? Only think I can see is the Banjo midweek CX.
Oh I don't know - from there is the "wrong" (less busy) way around the M25. I can do Henley (work office) to there in 1:05.
The Beastways series look interesting but what is the format of the races? Is there a set number of laps like the Saddle Skedaddle series or is it the most laps started in the time period like Brass Monkeys?
Sorry if this is obvious to those more on point with this than me but all I could see on the site was that its a XCO or XCC race which doesnt mean much to me 😳
I signed up for MSG and now have bad cold. Feel exhausted but will amble around. Open category, but that still attracts really fast serious chaps.
The Beastways series look interesting but what is the format of the races?
I believe it's CX style. Once the first lap is done they work out how many laps it'll be for the race to last an hour give or take, and then that's how long it is. Except if you're a slower rider and get lapped, then you finish on whatever lap you're on once the leader finishes.
Means that timings can be more controlled rather than waiting for slow riders to finish.
.I believe it's CX style. Once the first lap is done they work out how many laps it'll be for the race to last an hour give or take, and then that's how long it is. Except if you're a slower rider and get lapped, then you finish on whatever lap you're on once the leader finishes
Yup, thats it.
Defo some of the FNSS races in the East Mids this year. Only managed 1 last season due to work and kiddie commitments. Didn't come last though so that was mission 1 accomplished. Still utterly shocked at how fast old fat guys can be!
Except if you're a slower rider and get lapped
That'll be me then 😆
What are the courses like, I've previously only raced Gorrick BM/SS series.
Used to race the Beastway series back in the day at the original venue at Eastway. Can't recommend it highly enough. Really friendly organization and great fun. Being able to ride there from central London was always a big plus but AFAIK the new venue is more of a trek.
The whole XC scene seems to have died a death in the this part of Germany. The regional series has folded because of lack of participants. The bureaucracy is unbearable and the amount of money the organizers have to put up front prohibitive (someone told me the other day that you have to pay 7 grand to the BDR (the German national cycling body) just to have the race accredited.
The marathon scene is much bigger though and TBH the amount of travelling you have to do to get to venues I would much rather be racing for three to five hours than the hour that German XC races take.
have 2 local club xc races under me so far this year but need my fix anyone traveling from around the bristol area??
booked up so far is
HOTS (less of a race)
bikefest
oktoberfest
looking to hit somthing next month would be nice to try and do one a month over the summer travel depending as i only have a little 1.2 corsa so long motorways can be a drag
anyone els finding this abit of an issue?