[Closed] 2017/2018 cx racing thread

a fun and largely successful day out at the award-winning RAF Halton with Central. 6 tons of sand but in a short deep pit so a brief shoe-clogging run, barriers in a dip which ruled out riding the banks (unless you were one precocious junior who hopped the barriers too) and their infamous gravel driveway, accompanied by a marching band whilst you rode it on both directions.

I had a blinding start, getting into a frankly shocking 2nd place in a field stacked with current and former League big-hitters, rode like a prat trying to stay there and had a huge OTB during a remount attempt (front wheel dug into a rut just as I went to jump on) which dropped me down to 4th. 3rd place man pinch-flatted on a metal strip that bordered the gravel and I was up to 3rd. On the last lap I pinch-flatted my 2-ride-old front FMB tub on the same place 🙄 (as did dozens of riders by the sounds of it) but managed to nurse it home and hold onto my first ever CXL podium spot (something of a season ambition).

Munqe Chick monstered the womens' race, not only winning senior but being first woman overall for the first time this season and with a huge gap.

So we rounded it off with cheering club mates on in Seniors whilst eating frites 'n' mayo and drinking coffee and a top way to round off banking 8 rounds (best 8 count) before we go on hols mid-season and miss 3 races 😕

IVe run Specialized Terras this season in the Notts & Derby league
They’ve been great tyres but were overwhelmed in the last round at markeaton park and had to run a couple of times up the climbs
Running tubeless at around 25psi front and 28/30 psi rear, I’m 90kgs and haven’t had any problems
Could probably run them even lower on a smooth course
Might try a different tyre like a pdx or Vittoria terreno wet

IVe run Specialized Terras this season in the Notts & Derby league
They’ve been great tyres but were overwhelmed in the last round at markeaton park and had to run a couple of times up the climbs

This is a good example of the difference between good clinchers/tubeless and tubulars. I was running Supermuds at about 20 rear 18 front and rode the entire course for the full race, even as it cut up. They had more to give as well, I've been as low as 15r/13-14f before. Tubeless is good but it's not quite there yet.

Legend, you seen the series standings?

You've got three points on me, reconsidering my mid-season retirement now... 😉

13thfloormonk - Member

Legend, you seen the series standings?

You've got three points on me, reconsidering my mid-season retirement now...

I hadn't no, but I'm happy to hear that........loser 😉

Think I've gone 41st, 43rd, 53rd. So if I continue like that you'll overtake me even if you don't race 🙂 The only SCX left for me now is Strathclyde Park. Wish I was doing Mull though, sounds like a good weekend

Don't think it works like that, I'd only overtake you now if they give out negative points! I'd need to finish with four more points (which at our level is four places...) to overtake you.

Suddenly makes Strathclyde Park seem a lot more exciting, the battle for 71st in the series standings! 😀

sorry I was being facetious/a **** 🙂 Although I reckon I could get negative points somehow. It does indeed make the last round interesting *goes off to buy a seat tube motor*

Now..... would I just try and sit on your wheel for the whole race or not?! 🙂

mick_r - Member

Which category were you racing Garry? Definitely like an MTB course in places so suited me fine. I'm surprisingly finding the running suits me so as we have a gap for almost a month I'm going to try and practice a bit - Stadt Moers is certain to be muddy.

Stadt moers is one of my favourite courses so looking forward to that - just a shame the calender's gotten hammered this year with cancelled events. Must be very frustrating for folk putting time into organising a race having had the go-ahead, only for a last minute change of mind by the council or whomever.

sorry I was being facetious

d'oh, I just thought you were using some super complicated weighted average of past placings multiplied by the phase of the moon or something...

Could be an embarrassing Contador/Schleck style stand-off where we just track stand on the start line eyeballing one another rather than being the sucker who provides the back wheel to follow 😆

I joke, but I've already forfeited that weekend to husbandly duties so it would require some extraordinarily delicate diplomacy to get the day off. Will work on it...

I'm V40 mick - rolled in 46th on Sat

Ha! I was in the dizzy heights of 38th 🙂 tried to cling onto your clubmate Mr McP for a lap but as always he just gets faster whilst I get slower....

I'm not a big fan of stadt but think that is more to do with dog muck.

It has been a hard year for the organisers r.e. venues. Not sure why Lancaster don't use Salt Ayre - they did a youth CX race there that worked really well.

13thfloormonk - Member
Could be an embarrassing Contador/Schleck style stand-off where we just track stand on the start line eyeballing one another rather than being the sucker who provides the back wheel to follow

I joke, but I've already forfeited that weekend to husbandly duties so it would require some extraordinarily delicate diplomacy to get the day off. Will work on it...

Yeah shame if you cant make it - if we did the trackstand thing long enough we might only have to do half a lap!

Still idly thinking about tubular, though won't be much point now this season with only 3 races left but maybe for next year. What's the right sort of internal width? Seen 25mm on the crc own brand, and advertised as sub 1300g, but they rate from 25-33mm so maybe a bit narrow?

I've been using I ran tubeless Schwalbe X-One all round tubeless for the last few NWCCA events and they've been fine. Came in 23rd in the Seniors so I was chuffed with that, seeing as it's my first CX season. Didn't think I'd have the legs on Sunday for a 3 hour MBO Score up in the Lakes, but managed a 3rd there by control! Great weekend of racing 🙂

As above shame about Lancaster Uni, particularly when they sign up to do it they know the likely outcome for the grass!

errals - Member

Still idly thinking about tubular, though won't be much point now this season with only 3 races left but maybe for next year. What's the right sort of internal width? Seen 25mm on the crc own brand, and advertised as sub 1300g, but they rate from 25-33mm so maybe a bit narrow?

Seen 25mm on the crc own brand, and advertised as sub 1300g, but they rate from 25-33mm so maybe a bit narrow?

23mm is pretty much the modern standard. Tubular rim width has less influence on tyre profile as compared to clinchers, it's all about providing glue surface area.

Ferrals, are you on 10 or 11 speed?
You're welcome to borrow a wheelset to try Tubs, big boys rules apply. Mine are all 10 speed disc and canti

Still amazed at the low pressures being discussed, are you not constantly banging rims? Cornering must be a pretty delicate affair too no?

I had horrible traction all over the course at the weekend but put it down to clogged tyres rather than the wrong pressures...

are you not constantly banging rims? Cornering must be a pretty delicate affair too no

Yes and you get used to the squirm. If you don't hit the rim once or twice a lap, your tubs are probably too hard. Look at how fast the pros corner and you'll see what's possible!

Having said that, there is a bit of willy-waving with CX tyre pressures though, people love to boast about how low they can go.

Ferrals, are you on 10 or 11 speed?

Cheers mate, 11sp unfortunately. Also knowing my luck I'd puncture, ridem tem over a rock and owe you a set of wheels! Will just keep umming and ah-ing until I actually have some money 😆

These were the ones that cought my eye: [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/prime-rp-35-carbon-tubular-disc-road-wheelset/rp-prod142946 ]CRC own brand wheels[/url]

About £600 with BC discount, a lot of money but less than a brand name rim and 1260g for the wheelset.

At least this coming sundayat Pembrey low pressures shouldnt be in order anyway!

@13thfloor, lower pressure also = less clogging as the tyres move more shedding more mud, this is noticable tubeless as well. I probably feel the clatter of rim a couple of times a race. I remember reading with tubs you should have pressure where by you feel it strike 1-2 times a lap!

re. te cornering - I guess its how well you trust your set up!

Suddenly feeling like my 25PSi and 63kg is a bit inadequate 😳 Zero dings per race on Sunday

Having said that, there is a bit of willy-waving with CX tyre pressures though, people love to boast about how low they can go.

gagues on pumps are notoriously inaccurate. Very difficult to compare.

The[url= https://www.bikerumor.com/2017/01/03/wyman-method-setting-proper-race-tire-pressure-part-1/ ]Wyman Method[/url]

[img] [/img]

I usually use around 25psi in PDX clinchers (which come up wide) at 65kg, still experimenting/learning with tubs but I can say 21psi was too low in the front on Sunday 😥

gagues on pumps are notoriously inaccurate

no serious CXer relies on the pump gauge, doesn't EVERYONE have a Topeak Smarthead Digital?! 🙂

no serious CXer relies on the pump gauge, doesn't EVERYONE have a Topeak Smarthead Digital?!

Think of the errors involved when removing pump and checking with gauge though?!! Must be loosing half a psi at least when fiddling around 😯

I used to use an SKS digital guage but it got gunked with sealant so now just use the track pump gauge and self calibrate.

Think of the errors involved when removing pump and checking with gauge though?!! Must be loosing half a psi at least when fiddling around

the Topeak has a bleed valve and a function that means it can live-read the pressure, so I usually whack them up to say 30 with a track pump, then fine tune it down with the gauge.

I used to use an SKS digital gauge but it got gunked with sealant

I may discover this is a very valid point when I try and repair my tub with sealant, and you have my permission to gloat when I post about trashing my gauge 😀

What I'm taking from this is that 42psi front and rear for an 85kg rider (maybe 83kg, haven't weighed in in a while!) is a touch high? 8)

Clincher with latex tubes and fairly basic tyres, have rimmed once in three races I think...

edit: actually I only bottomed the rims out when bunnyhopping on the tarmac at Fife College trying to shed some mud! 😀

i'm sure my pump reads high. But i'm closer to HWs tub starting point than clinchers & i'm on clichers. 70kg and i last weekend i started at 20 psi.

85kg rider (maybe 83kg, haven't weighed in in a while!)

*hatches plan to attack on a hill*

There are so many variables in courses, tyres, inner tubes, rims, rider weight, riding style that asking for advice on pressures is pretty pointless. I used to have a digital gauge and obsess with it to the half psi, but now I use my thumb. Put it across the the tyre and press with all my weight. If it touches the rim then a bit more in until it doesn't.

That's my starting point.

The only real way to get the right pressure for a course is to ride it and adjust accordingly. If I'm hitting the rim on just an uneven surface then add more, I take it as given I will hit the rim on roots. If I'm not getting enough grip in mud take some out, I'd rather take the risk of punctures than having to go slowly round corners. Saying that I've only ever punctured once in a race in 5 years, using mainly Challenge open tubulars and latex tubes, but also tubeless and tubs. I have however rolled tubs in a race and ruined one on a warm up lap which is why I've given up on them. Tubeless for dry and intermediate conditions, Limus with latex for mud.

Squirmy low pressure does take some getting used too and I know people with lovely hand made tubs that just don't like it and only ever put them at 30psi or above.

Ride the course and use whatever pressure you're happy with. Don't get dragged in to a willy waving contest as noted above.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/nationaltrophy/article/20171122-nationaltrophy-Race-guide--Round-four-of-the-HSBC-UK---Cyclo-Cross-National-Trophy-Series-0

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20171122-gb-cyclingteam-news-British-Cycling-announces-team-for-Telenet-UCI-Cyclo-cross-World-Cup--Zeven-0

Non-series race for me this weekend. Only 34 Seniors racing - this’ll be the first time I’ve raced with less than 100 others on the track!

Pembrey in S. Wales for me. Not a course that suits me as its flat, fast and not very tecnical. Still I'm frothing after not racing for a couple of weeks 🙂

Raced National Trophy at Cyclopark this morning.
And to think your average mountain biker thinks they’re hardcore!
Best moment had to be brakes off descending, one foot unclipped, down a slick slope onto muddy tarmac when the guy in front of me goes over the bars and cartwheels across my path. Had to swerve violently (screaming “watch out”!) before hitting the tarmac and the back end sliding right out almost 90degrees. It’s a race so power on, grin to yourself and get back to business.
I may be down in the twenties but I didn’t hit the deck. 🙂

Looked like an epic course that. Definitely keen to try some N.T.'s next year if I can get a bit fitter.

Pembrey today was an excellent course. It was primarily a full on roadie grass crit but with lots of fun bits interspersed. As expected didn't have a result that will count towards my series position but had a fun race. Properly drained now, not been this tired after a race since I was racing as a teenager 20 years ago. Problem is back then I could just sleep and be fed food, now trying to prep for work and look after a baby has made the afternoon rather challenging 😆

Nice to see you again Ferrals. I didn't have my legs in yesterday at all. Added to a derailleur issue meaning skipped shifts and I was quite grumpy at the end. Fast course, think there was only a handful of places that needed brakes. See you at Crickhowell?

Good to see you too. Yeah should be at crickhowell, though succumbed to a brutal dose of manflu overnight so will see how quickly I shift that. Saw a bit of vid and it looks a good course. Did you do the filthycycling one there last year?

The World Cup at Zeven is being shown tonight on Eurosport at 1830..

Verrrry muddy at Queensbury, Bradford on Sunday for YCCA. Somehow scraped third in MV50 (I think a lot were away at National Trophy). Didn't realize at the time so missed the podium (too cold for hanging around anyway). Ran through most of the thickest mud but still had fairly major transmission problems with the new (to me) bike. 1x11 Sram Force with oval aftermarket ring. Dropped the chain about six times. Still not sure what was wrong but both jockey wheels now seized solid! Anyone else had that??

Still not sure what was wrong but both jockey wheels now seized solid! Anyone else had that??

This is an SRAM speciality, happened to me more than once. The bearings just corrode and seize or muck gets in. They cost an arm and a leg to replace as well 👿

However, spare bearings are cheap and readily available, see this thread

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/this-is-why-i-avoid-sram-what-replacement-gx-jockey-wheels

For links to bearing numbers, how-to for replacing (dead simple if you have a hammer basically) and a link to a store that sells them.

Someone also linked up to replacement NX jockey wheels which don't use bearings, so less likely to seize, however I'm not sure the number of teeth is the same and am pretty sure this is important for correct chain wrap/tension etc.

Thanks for the advice 13thfloormonk. I'll start digging for info. Sram do seem to have a habit of making 'wear & tear' spares of cheese and charging a fortune for replacements.

Was also wondering if my oval chainring is a good thing? Can't practically use a chain guide with oval.

Yup - SRAM just do that. Don't think the mud-wash-dryforaweek-repeat routine agrees with them.

Just put a Shimano MTB (sealed brg) one on my 10spd SRAM setup and it seems to work OK.

I've had a couple of chain drops with my oval chainring, Absolute Black one. That's in nearly a year's use though and both in muddy conditions. I think they are probably more prone than round in the mud but 2 in a year isn't enough to stop me using them.

Still not sure what was wrong but both jockey wheels now seized solid! Anyone else had that??

Yep, SRAM does that. Pop the seals off, knock the mud out, flush with WD40, regrease. The bearings on mine seem to be a standard type, but I've never got round to trying to replace them.

Also if you're jet washing after a race and then not touching it for a week, try to give the pedals a quick spin every day so that they don't get a chance to seize up.

I'm just going to have a moan - was getting into the Yorkshire series as my first proper go at bike racing and have had to have a lay off due to some weird swelling under one of my sit bones. Shame as I was creeping up race by race (I.e. from like 7th from last to 9th last). Hope to be back for York!

Thanks for the input, everyone. I decided to strip the jockey wheels down last night, more or less as as pdw says. They went from locked solid to free spinning with a bit of work. I've put them back together with oil rather than grease as I think it was the grease/mud mix that was the problem. I could see it happening again so looking for a long term solution.
Will stick with the oval ring for the next event as it may have been the jockey wheels causing the chain drops.
sb88 - I sympathize. YCCA's are really addictive! I'll be at York. Should be a bit less muddy as there's no woodland bits.

Ug, so much for replacing the bearings in my SRAM GX jockey wheels, that's them seized again!

Wavy, maybe consider the NX jockey wheels, only cost £10 and apparently run on bushes instead of bearings...

Bushes could be a good idea, any power loss through the drivetrain isn't going to be the result of the different bearing type! Think i've got 4 rides on my Apex mech, jockey wheels are also going the traditional Sram way already.

Plean was really good btw, you would've enjoyed the course. It was minging but not sloggy. Unfortunately it was minging enough that the teeth on my chainring were buried by halfway making me drop the chain and have to clean the bike before I could get going again!

Ug, so much for replacing the bearings in my SRAM GX jockey wheels, that's them seized again!

Clean them out, pack them with mobil xhp222 grease. Periodically regrease them. Also worth doing it from new, as they have a pathetic amount of grease in.

Ug, so much for replacing the bearings in my SRAM GX jockey wheels, that's them seized again!

Bushes could be a good idea, any power loss through the drivetrain isn't going to be the result of the different bearing type! Think i've got 4 rides on my Apex mech, jockey wheels are also going the traditional Sram way already.

Replaced my SRAM GX jockey wheels with Shimano 105, I think bushes are definitely the best solution for cross

Funnily enough, I've always had shimano jockey wheels with bushes, rather than bearings on my mountainbikes and virtually never had a problem in more than 25 years of mud!

Plean was really good btw, you would've enjoyed the course.

Yeah, I saw the photos, it looked great!

That run up looked tough though, and the running has definitely been my downfall this year.

Definitely can't make Strathclyde next year (wife has wrangled us a free stay in some posh hotel in St Andrews, the hardship!) but might hold out for Superquaich rd 1.

Otherwise I'll have to gracefully concede to the better man (for this season 😉 )

The run up was ok tbh, it was pretty short and not too steep - certainly nothing compared to the one at Irvine!

Hopefully see you at the SQ races then. Think I'm going to enter all of them in the hope it gets me picked (assuming it'll be over-subscribed). Praying they don't find me worthy of the A race! St Andrews has lots of sand to practice on, so a double win 🙂

Did you see there's also a race at Chatelrault (Hamilton) at the end of February?

sb88 - Member

I'm just going to have a moan - was getting into the Yorkshire series as my first proper go at bike racing and have had to have a lay off due to some weird swelling under one of my sit bones. Shame as I was creeping up race by race (I.e. from like 7th from last to 9th last). Hope to be back for York!

Unlucky!

I've a sneaking feeling my season is over. I'd been fairly surprised to get this far through without any manflu related hiccups, but on the way home from racing on Sunday I started feeling distictly odd and had to take the first half of the week off sick with a high temp and more mucus than Noel Edmonds gunge tank. General consenus is it takes 3 weeks to shift this particular virus which means I'll be feeling fit just after the last race i had planned 👿

THough if that is the case I'll do some of the post chrismas races to make up for it 😀

@ all you Scottish folk, I was waching some footage from your round at Mull in my bed-ridden youtube wanderings - looks an epic course!

Yeah apparently it’s the best course in the series - i’m not going 🙁

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/nationaltrophy/article/20171206-nationaltrophy-Race-guide--Round-five-of-the-2017-18-HSBC-UK---Cyclo-Cross-National-Trophy-in-Bradford-0

Rain today, then snow and ice to follow maybe?
Should be a fun trophy race.

Anyone else doing the trophy race at Bradford tomorrow? Just got to a hotel nearby and the car park is sheet ice.
Should be scared but instead I'm so excited. Hoping for an epic 'cross experience in the morning.

Good luck rollingdoughnut, hope the race is suitably epic.
Had an entry to the N Wales event at Wrexham but it's been called off - story of the season, unfortunately. Race would prob be fine but it's more the weather decimating everyone's travel to the course I guess.

Hillingdon today. Gevenalle shifters and min v brakes were great.

[img] ?oh=af0bf9b3500022d71d1cd0037ac682f8&oe=5AC5DE64[/img]

Appropriately named bike too!

Bradford quickly went from frozen, dry ground to mud today but I wasn't complaining as I enjoy slithering around and was pleased with my commitment to the ruts when they were available. Managed 15th Vet40 which I was well pleased with as a top twenty has been a bit of a dream for the last two years.

Tough day out eh? Warming up at 9am I thought it was going to be basically dry and quick, but no by 10.15 we had standard Bradford again 😆

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/bike-kit/article/izn20171123-Cyclo-cross-How-to-train-for-a-cyclo-cross-race-0

Western league folk - what's the odda's chapel venue like? Quite fancy a nye race!

Western league folk - what's the odda's chapel venue like? Quite fancy a nye race!

Strava segment for the course that's been used in the past is [url= https://www.strava.com/segments/13875081 ]https://www.strava.com/segments/13875081[/url]. From memory the lap was as follows:
- Longish climb to start the lap. It was hard in the summer race there and I'm told it was unrideable for the last winter race.
- Round the edge of a field
- Mostly single track descent through woods.
- Rest of the lap is flatish field edge and farm tracks.

I've only ridden it in the summer, so I'm not sure what to expect mudwise.

Great course in the summer and the winter. You can get up the hill so long as you don't go nuts with the mince pies 🙂

Matt Lewis

Cheers both, will either do that or the filthy cross round depending on where that is. Want to get a couple of more races in as missing a couple this weekend and last - not ready for it to be end of season yet!

I think that the Filthy cross round is in Monmouth and it has BC points attached. Plenty more races and then the summer series kicks off in May. Cross across the year.

Matt

yeah I thought the filthy cross was in Monmouth- any idea what course will be like? Most likely do that if it looks like a good course as it's closer to home.

Jon Moyle the organizer has been saying great things about the new venue at Monmouth. It's my hometown too so I could cycle there!

Lets pester Jon on Sunday at the champs.

Matt

Wish I was going to be at the champs, been ill since Pembrey, now on antibiotics, tried turboing last night and lasted ten minutes.
Sounds like I'll do Monmouth then - loved to look of his course for last w/e, shame it was cancelled hoping to do that round in Feb

Jon puts on some great races. That was a cracking circuit last Feb. Looking forward to the champs just trying to avoid booze until after the race!

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20171213-gb-cyclingteam-news-British-Cycling-announces-team-for-Telenet-UCI-Cyclo-cross-World-Cup--Namur-0

Watched some racing from Belgium on Eurosport last night... That was just BRUTAL ! It just baffles the heck out of me how they can ride like that, with that power, lack of grip, ruts, mud and are still absolute BEASTS ! Madness

Good work at the Welsh champs Matt Lewis. Hope you had a well deserved beer after.
I was just glad to finish with a just-working bike and round the year off with the race. Pleased to have done it 7 months after my injuries but still would've liked to have been on last years form. Hey ho. Next year...
Ferrals hope you're on the mend mate.

Good hard course Thom. I had a few beers! Pretty impressive that you managed to race this year at all considering that crash and nasty injury. Impressive stuff!

Do any of ye run a chain guide or similar thing on an oval ring? Had some chain issues with a new bike at Stadt moers at the weekend - 105 derailleur on an AB oval has been flawless on my old CAADX, including some really heavy races. New one not so happy with it, persistently threw the chain in the latter stages of the race. Wondering how you get this to work on an oval where the top of the chainring rises and falls?

I'm running a slightly smaller chainring on the new bike which is slackening the chain a touch, could be part of the problem. Taking a link out looks a bit on the tight side but should prob try this out, just hard to replicate cross conditions riding round the trails.

I use an inner blank ring on my 1x set up to stop the chain shipping inside. I've not had a problem with it going arm-side.
I can't see why it wouldn't work with an oval ring too.

shedbrewed - Member
and round the year off with the race.

Not tempted by the filthy cross on NYE Thom?

Pleased to have done it 7 months after my injuries

Ferrals hope you're on the mend mate.

Still enough whisky over christmas should burn it all out 😀

Cheers and hope the whisky does the job for you.
NYE race is cancelled but the later races are still on according to Jon M.

Ah shame about that... Western league for me then I think.. though I'm wallowing in mince pies already so racing might be done and I'll just get back to sliding down hills on my bum clutching my mtb 😀

Central's Lovelo Crossmas round lived up to expectations, with loads of sloppy mud (rained on race day) to add to their famous bridge, and also a "snow hill" where they cut a track through all the piled up snow. Three weeks off the bike (diving in Cozumel 8) ) has put paid to my fitness so it was a fun race, but my lowest league position (offset by racing in full elf costume). Thankfully I banked 8 consistent races before the break (best 8 count) and it looks like I might end up top 5 overall this year which I'd be stoked with (battled to come 10th last year). Munqe Chick has the Senior womens' league wrapped up so is also racing the holiday excess off for fun.

Saturday is the last Central round at Corby, Glebe Park Destroyer of Mechs (20+ in 2015 😯 ). Then we're off to the Boxing Day Cross at Kenilworth which is a cracker (swoopy mtb style course with a climb on a closed road and a natural bowl that all the local residents come out and spectate/cheer/heckle) and trying to get myself race-fit in time for the Nationals.