[Closed] The Racing Post - CX Season has begun

After seeing the photos of the park (and it being the furthest away by some margin)I decided to give it a miss.
Shiney (and now muddy) new bike Mr B 😀

Couple of weeks for me, given the bike a long overdue 'tart up' looks faster now which is very important.

First round of the welsh series for me at Llantarnam.
90 riders on an amazingly dry course. The leaders weren't troubled by my presense eirher.

trying to arange transport for the first bristol race on the 30th at the mo.

I've done the last two Derby/Notts rounds....in glorious sunshine....I don't trouble the leaders either....still enjoyed the beginning of my CX "career".

blimey popeye, you should pedal with your arms.

Was in Avenham Park the other day trying to take some scenic pics for Lancs CC. The place looks like a war zone after the guild festival! Looks completely ruined!

Great stuff. Having to miss the season, but did contemplate coming to watch.

I'll come to some other rounds and shout at you..!

was just looking at CX photos [url= http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=435784 ]here[/url]. Also from preston I think?

I might do one race this year, we'll see how it goes!

Building up my cross bike at the moment after being in Sicily for 2 weeks.

Have missed 2 or 3 cross races in bristol i think. Need to get on an order some tyres

heard that lots of roadies keep falling off 🙂

5 races so far for me
2 Notts and Derby, 2 West Mids and a floodlit one over at Leicester
2 3rds a 6th and a 7th in Grand Vets so far

First two races in the national series this weekend.

Placed 8th and 9th in Superclass, pleased with the way my bike, body, and brain all worked well together, especially Sunday. Also pleased my new Tufo Cubus tubs stayed glued on at 27psi.
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Underway here in the Central League, with a warm dry fast round one done.

Break this weekend after 4 races in sunshine in ndcxl. Didn't get out on cx bike today so will no doubt suffer even more in the mud next week :S

Three rounds in for me and I'd say quite successful. Regular top 10 finishes in my class so overall very happy. 😀

Today's round in Poole was very tough. More of an XC course with a very hard fire road back section with a brutal head wind. 😕

Also racing the evening GWR series in Swindon 4th in class in the first round and a top 10 last week.

Last week's soggy mud fest in Swindon for the combined Wessex/ Western league round.

Photo taken by Graham Robins. [url] http://www.grahamrobins.net/ ][/url]
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Weekend off here as it's 3 Peaks weekend so no local race. Did race last weekend though in the NWCCA round 2 in Bolton. Finished 6 places higher despite a larger field (158 starters iirc - >20 more than previous round)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76492307@N03/8017245753/

You looked like you were going well Oldgit. I had a stinker, hurt my back a couple of weeks back and it's still not right. DNF'd after 45 mins.

I've struggled to get out for the last couple of months and it showed yesterday. Will probably give the other races a miss for a month or so to build my fitness back up. Probably won't make my 6 races to complete the league.

You looked like you were going well Oldgit.

If only you knew, had been off work I was so ill so it was stupid to race. Had to hold my head afterwards I was coughing so much, still am.

Who's nice Condor was that on your car?

Anyone from bristol fancy sharing a lift to the GWR series on thursday?

Will be my 1st cx race this season

Is there any reason one can't just show up at a league event with a BC provision license, say hello, and race (badly)?

You don't even need a license to do that 🙂

3rd London League. My first time at Happy Valley. Despite being pretty flat it was bloomin' hard work with no opportunity to recover and the head wind made it tough too. Quite happy with 22nd overall out of 135 but having a cold took the edge off a bit.

Just finished, no bike cleaning, bonus!
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First CX season for me, hardly any riding or racing in the past year has meant I'm consistently at the back of the vets field of the West Mids League but loving it so far

New to racing this year, but Wellington 2 weeks ago and then the Wareham forest pseudo MTB race last weekend have been a great intro. Any training/ random tips welcome!

For once I wish I was a girl though- the missus is also a newbie, but keeps walking away with cash and prizes in the ladies class- thats her reward for chasing me evry ride we go on!

Standing miserably in a field this weekend as a marshal. got away at about 5pm.
2 weeks time will be 2nd race this year, then comm-ing at Hemel then race at re-venued Thame race, commi-ing at Musdy Hell, then racing Rapha Super Cross.
My 3 aims as in all these things are: stay upright, finish & don't be sick. I know I'll never trouble the upper echelons 😐

Thanks for the cheers aP. Finished right down the back, but I think I was still high on night nurse and thought I was doing okay 😐

No worries, you did give me a funny look on one lap!

My first cx this year at wareham forest, was a decent course, was tough though, but they all are right? even the flat sports center fields..

had a total nightmare, for some reason my chain decided to pop off on ever single time down the bobly off road decent... hope to get this fixed for eastleigh on sunday where i may make up 1 place lol

so whats eastleigh cx course like?

I'm really enjoying my first season of Cross..Done 3 Notts/Derby races and trying a NW event this Sunday.

and trying a NW event this Sunday.

I'll be there for that one. New venue for me so no idea what it'll be like.

trickydisco, I would advise pre entering for Thursday night. It's getting very popular and only 60 places available on a first come, first serve basis.

I'll look out for you,Simon..I'm the scrawny,old giffer in a Goldtec top

Our North Wales series starts on Sunday. Can't wait to feel the pain.....

2nd CX Race - got a 10th first time a few weeks back and 4th this weekend. Both at Hetton nr Sunderland. The One Peak of Hetton TLI race.

Some Scottish guy won on a singlespeed.

Bloody good going.

My club's president is lending me his Ti SS so looks like I'll be riding a few events... might have a crack at the Rapha supercross

I'm having a big urge to buy a CX bike and threads like this are not helping. 🙄

A bike shop near me is going bankrupt and has a new Giant TCX 1 in my size for about 60% off.. I've been telling myself it's not a good idea since it does not have eyelets for fenders.

You won't need then for cross racing anyway.

Ah, wrong thread 😀

trickydisco, I would advise pre entering for Thursday night. It's getting very popular and only 60 places available on a first come, first serve basis.

ah ha.. I will do

What's the course like? many dismounts? technical?

My club's president is lending me his Ti SS

:O very generous!

So i've just registered for my 1st cross of the season tonight. The [url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/81199/GWR-Team-Evening-Winter-Cross-League-3 ]gwr Evening Winter Cross League 3[/url]

Lights at the ready.. can't wait for the sliding around

Oldgit - how did you get on on Saturday - or were you otherwise engaged at your road race? I rode out to the Bowl watched the lad race and rode back. There were plenty tumbling down the banks after the night's rain.

Only just seen this, the nice Condor on the back of the car was the newly purchased (as in minutes before!) cross bike for Jnr. I now have bike envy of an 11 yo. Unfortunately he can't race on it yet, I need to change some bits on it to make it more child friendly, cranks, cassette, chainrings.

Brecon CX race yesterday .. me and my nemesis ... rider 44!!

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I could see his rear wheel in my sleeep ...

Hammerite
Still got a dreadful cough so haven't ridden at all between races which isn't ideal.
I was occupied with clubs road race earlier, but did go and race afterwards rather foolishly.
Started at the back, in my state it wasn't fair on fit riders. I was walking on the first lap because of a bottleneck. Then I was taken down by a falling rider, but went on to pass more that thirty riders.
Still coughing now.
From Saturday
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Wolverhampton yesterday-ended up in 7th so got some work to do still

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The wessex league eastleigh sotonia cx yesterday was excellent. I really enjoyed the course an got right in the zone, my cantis were bang on, locking into some bends on the rear and my chain didnt come off! trying to find the lowest safest psi for the mich mud 2's. i think i can lower a bit more to 35-37 psi on a course like that.
results not up yet so no idea where i came but felt good

Did anyone race thrunton CxNE series at Druridge Bay Sunday? Very sticky draggy course.

Not thrunton at all that's my iPhone autocorrect playing up. Should have said the.

Rounds three and four of the Swedish cup, placed 16th and 18th, so will drop out of the top 10 in the overall 😥

Great course up in Kumla, just a pity I had dire starts both days on a track where the start is ooh so important. Not many pictures floating about so far

Cool flyover though, (not me):
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Photo credit to Henrik @ http://oijer.blogspot.se/

Hope the cough clears up OG. Did the road race go ok?

cool photo SC.

and well done Mike.

First round of the Ulster CX series on sunday and my first ever proper CX race. 21st out of 43 starters, not so bad but not so great either. Have a few target men for the next round to aim for now 😉

By far the hardest form of racing I have ever done. And I have done no specific preparation for it either after a full season of XC and just riding around on my commute since that ended. You need a lot more top end for CX than XC, and I didn't have much when the XC ended!

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CX is just flat out from the gun... great fun!

I raced the North West CCA round 3 - Velocity Cross. Was brilliant fun, with plenty of claggy mud. Discs were a god send, if just for the quiet braking!

Never have I worked so hard to be lapped twice (by Nick Craig amongst others), and come 33/166.

Got the race face on 🙂

[url= https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HCBJgQ_4VH4/UHPzm-zNWyI/AAAAAAAAFA8/6Lt69b52z2c/s603/Fullscreen%2520capture%252009102012%2520105006.jp g" target="_blank">https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HCBJgQ_4VH4/UHPzm-zNWyI/AAAAAAAAFA8/6Lt69b52z2c/s603/Fullscreen%2520capture%252009102012%2520105006.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

No time for rest either

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Can't wait for the next one 🙂

It truely is flat out from the gun.
But its the nature of the power output that is hardest to come to terms with. Huge power spikes sprinting out of corners, jelly legs dismounting and remounting.

Plus I had serious gear issues!

Plus I had serious gear issues!

+1! Selection got a bit random in places/non existent.

Velocity was my fist real cx race - great fun but hard!

mini v's completely clogged my wheels on a few laps making it impossible to turn the wheels - I think 40psi was a little too much as well!

raced my first ever CX race on sunday; wessex league at eastleigh. Not a very SS friendly course. was 26th/ 27. great fun though.

hoping to do at least one more race this season.

I was running about 38 psi, 12.5 stone, 35mm tyres. Seemed a lot better than the pressure's I've run in the past for cross - think 80 🙂

Might try about 35 next time.

Well chuffed with my 17th place in the GWR evening cross last thursday. Loving cross at night. The course has no dismounts and is fairly technical in the woods

Finally met Mulletus Maximus who stormed round the course

Can't wait till this thursday now i know the course

Was running about 30psi in my tyres and they gripped amazingly well

are you 30-40psi guys running tubs?

whiles the mini - v's were a godsend for the peaks - in the mud they clogged up real fast - might have to put the canti's back on?

anyone else running v's?

I was running clinchers (toro cx's) i weigh 67kg

whiles the mini - v's were a godsend for the peaks - in the mud they clogged up real fast - might have to put the canti's back on?

anyone else running v's?

Funnily enough i'm about to put V's with travel adjust on mine for racing (on advice of clubber on here) cus my avid cantis are a bit rubbish - although weirdly they were fine for racing but I cycled bath to didcot off road on saturday across the ridgeway and i had terrible fork judder problems)

Can't afford the avid ultimates so going with single digit v's

When I'm forced to use clinchers I put somewhere between 28-32 psi in, tubs range from 22 upwards. 74kg here

trickydisco, have you seen the forecast for Thursday? It's going to be very wet. Should make the last technical section fun. 😀

Don't forget it's back there for Sunday too but pre entry only.

40psi if dry, 30-35 depending if wet/muddy.

Not punctured yet in 3 seasons of cross.

I've just returned to cx after 6 seasons of no racing. I can't believe the number of entries - 102 in Brecon on Sunday.

When I used to help organise events we'd rarely have over 50.

Brecon on Sunday was mainly flat, fast and not too muddy. After about 20 minutes I basically wanted to stop and die because the speed was so high, but I looked around and it seemed that everyone around me felt the same so I kept going. Disappointed in the end result, but I'll console myself that there were so many starters!

Only my 3rd cx race. It really is flat out from the start. One of the biggest surprises I have found is how long I can maintain my max HR.
It goes up to 180bpm within the first few seconds of race starting - then stays between 180 - 190bpm for the full time of the race ...

IdleJon - I think I talked to you as we signed on? were you in an Abergavenny jersey?

mooman, no I'm not with an affiliated club these days. (I used to ride for Schmoos years ago..)

I've been wearing a bright green Royle jersey, riding an old silver Jake the Snake and pottering in a worn out fashion about 2/3rds the way down the field. (66th on Sun)

If you were anywhere near the back at Risca you may have seen my somersault down the first steep bank - wiped out about 6 other riders in the process.. 😳

Where did you finish?

I was 39th at Brecon .. loads of excuses why I was so far back too 😆

Actually had my best race at Risca. 28th ( or as I dress it up - 4th out of the vet-cat).
I have had two falls in each of the 3 races I have done this year ... both falls at Risca were on the same bank as you describe .. great fun.
I guess you still remember the weather at Risca ...

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If your racing round6 at Hereford - give me a nudge.
I will be the guy looking knackered in the blue MigglyMoos jersey 😀

Ah, I know you now - assuming you are the only Miggly Moos rider.

I don't think I'll do Hereford, it's a bit far. I've just sent my entry off for Carmarthen. Should be interesting under floodlights.

After Risca my teeth were still chattering half way down the M4 with the heating on full. My wife thought it very amusing that I'd given myself mild hypothermia.

are you 30-40psi guys running tubs?

thomthumb, i ran about 40psi on mich mud 2 clinchers and weigh about 12.5 stone, im sure i can lower psi a touch on a course like. i had no grip issues though as i was.
That SS must of hurt on that course!! Swindon is flat aparently

Yes - the only Moo rider.

Carmarthen is a bit awkward with it being a Saturday evening race.

Good luck with the rest of the season anyways.

Swindon is indeed flat and also a very short lap. You can expect about 10 laps for the vets race and about 15 for the seniors.

It's a great little course with single track at each end. Plenty of dead stop corners too and some slippery off camber corners that could catch you out if wet.

I've been racing there in the night series for two seasons and still not bored of the course although they are running it the other way this year.

I was at Manchester on Sunday...it was tough! I finished 100th !,but I did finish. After a few laps,the bike stopped dead,caked in mud.I was ok for grip...and I was running 50psi.
Felt sick at the end,but I'll be up or more in the Notts/Derby League this weekend.

Is everyone ready for their race Sunday?

Well, I'll be there before 9am, give up 7 hours of my Sunday and still pay for a cup of coffee.
So, L has made sandwiches, I'm warming up the thermos and digging out warm clothing inc long johns and a waterproof. I think that means yes.

Raced at Alfreton today in NDCXL, felt rubbish but thought I'd done enough to crack top 100. Sadly not, finished 119th but unless Steve Seamark was riding then possibly sneaked first ss :O

Fontmoss,I was a couple of places behind you....and I didn't feel shit! Loved the course,favourite so far,in my fledgling Cross "career".