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Still struggling with a knackered back (which kept me out last weekend) but determined to try and race tomorrow at Boggart Hole Clough. Got some new wheels to try out!
Mills Hills cx sportive for me tomorrow:
http://www.mytriclub.co.uk/mills-hills-sportive-14th-october/
£15 for a 30 mile loop and a pie seems good value... I'm sure my last hour long soaking and splattering cost that and there was no pie.
vegasdave, what are you wearing/riding? give me a shout next time, always good to chat to someone at these races
fontmoss,old Goldtec jersey and a black Cotic X.....and you? My Daughter was taking photos today,so there may be one of you.
White axis of weasel jersey on a white single speed
GWR/ Wessex/ Western cx in Swindon for me. Late race so a nice lie in tomorrow. 🙂
Good luck to all racing.
Usually it's just me racing for our club, sometimes there's another guy but today we have five!
Bandwagontastic
oldgit - MemberUsually it's just me racing for our club, sometimes there's another guy but today we have five!
Bandwagontastic
I'm the only racer of any kind in the group I ride with. The others don't get cross at all!
No race in the welsh league this weekend, so I'm sitting here watching Peppa Pig wondering if the clear blue sky will last until my wife gets home from work and I can get out on the MTB..
wondering if the clear blue sky will last until my wife gets home from work and I can get out on the MTB..
(pats IJ on the back) it never does...it never does 😥
Round 3 all done and dusted. Five racing from our club today, four finished.
Very happy overall.
Seemed to go ok, was a bit chilly at 7.50... it's nice only having one bike to sort out.
Just need to get my bike ready for next week's cxl race.
Best result of the season for me. 5th overall and 4th in Vets class in the Wessex/ Western in Swindon.
A drying course made it heavy going to start with but got faster as the race progressed.
Mulletus Maximus - MemberBest result of the season for me. 5th overall and 4th in Vets class in the Wessex/ Western in Swindon.
These days I can only dream of 5th overall.
Actually, BITD when I was fast and skinny, I could probably only dream of 5th overall as well!
The result was helped by the fact a few were away competing in the national series, but a 5th is a 5th and I will take that whatever the circumstances. Still really chuffed though as it's only my second season of racing. 😀
Well, first race finished. On a borrowed Ti SS with disc brakes and an inappropriate gear ratio. Still had a fantastic time, can't wait for the next one. Wasn't even last!
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[url= http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2406501 ]Photo Credit (and some more)[/url]
Shaping up for my first muddy one in three years 😛
Anyone thinking twice about going to Fowlmead for LL6, yes it will be muddy but it won't be a quagmire. It holds up really well in all weathers and will still be fast.
reading cx sunday, not done any training this week, rain is soo demotivating..
Reading for me too. Missed it last year so I'm looking forward to it. Will be tricky conditions again, similar to last week at Swindon with all the ran we've had. 😀
Carmarthen under floodlights last night and for the first time this season I felt like I was racing and not just riding. Enough energy to time my attacks and use the course to my benefit when I was passing.
On the last lap a youngish rider caught me, but I'm guessing he didn't have the experience to to realise he needed to pass me before the tight corners where I was faster than him. If he got in front he could have held me off until the finish, because it was difficult to overtake. As it was, I pulled away and got a nice gap by the line. Getting older does have it's advantages! 🙂
I'm currently sitting out at the far end of the Oxford Central League race as the achingly fashionable members of the promoting club have forgotten to marshal the most difficult part of the U10/12 races. And I taped about 500m of the course when I arrived. At some point I shall wander off and get myself ready for my V45 race.
They've also got a 'DJ'.
But it's not raining, and the fog has lifted.
Nice to see you on the bike aP, very poor form passing like that though.
Very steep unrideable hills, treacle like mud and no traction from my bag wheel resulted in a very hard energy sapping race. Toughest race of the season so far. 😐
MM cracking course just up the road.
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8109146708_6ae7d4a6a3.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/8109146708/ ]Claggy[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simondbarnes/ ]simondbarnes[/url], on Flickr
Yay, my broken body was recovered enough to let me race today after missing the last 2 NWCCA rounds. Tough course in Northwich, very claggy mud and plenty of running (arthritic shuffle) up muddy banks. Got a reasonable start but dropped right off mid race - really lost focus. Must thank whoever it was who lapped me on the penultimate lap who said grab my wheel. I did and stuck with him for a bit, really got me going again.
Discovered on the final lap that I could ride up the steps after the wooden bridge (and therefore also ride the muddy section immediately afterwards). Gained about 3 places. If only I'd tried riding it earlier in the race!
Was also my 1st race on tubs. Traction and cornering grip seemed much improved over my old clincher setup. That fact they save 2 pounds in weight helped too!
Looking forward to racing in Liverpool next weekend now.
what pressure did you have in the tubs mate?
did the Rapha supercross on Saturday - great race
Reading today was really hard work! today had me begging for a granny ring! mind you i doubt my mech would have actually changed down there was soo much claggy mud and stringy grass wrapping around everything that id happily ride the bike in simonbarnes picture.
Was soo muddy that when i wash pushing my bike up that ****in steep muddy nightmare hill my rear brake was locked on and the front was trying to do an endo.. didnt know whether to stop and try clean it or carry on, was incredible.
bizarly my cx canti brakes still worked as good as i needed then too (probably going soo slow) but id manage not to crash or go out of control and had no mechanicals (apart from a few mud uncloging moments)
now i guess some dudes were swapping wheels and bikes but some riders didnt seem to be having the mud troubles i was having (some where) what is the secret!!!
didnt come last and had a sprint finish lol and beat some dude by a second (bet he wasnt expecting that) every place counts right!
destroyed but great race
what pressure did you have in the tubs mate?
My pump said 28psi. No idea how accurate it is though. Depending on conditions am going to run a bit lower next weekend.
A little muddy at Fowlmead today
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Whoa, big picture!
That looks horrid 🙂
85th place for me today, best of the season so far (although there were fewer finishers than in previous rounds)
Simon, def get those pressures down to take advantage of the tubs. You don't say what branding they are but at 85kg my starting point is 2.0 bar and fiddle to suit course, in the Clement and Tufo the starting point would be 1.8 bar as they are less supple.
My favourite bit from Sunday, not me in it BTW though that's a team mate in green
http://www.flickr.com/photos/craig-fletcher/8109709062/
Blazin-saddlesSimon, def get those pressures down to take advantage of the tubs. You don't say what branding they are but at 85kg my starting point is 2.0 bar and fiddle to suit course, in the Clement and Tufo the starting point would be 1.8 bar as they are less supple.
Spesh Terras. Am currently the wrong side of 90kg so didn't want to go lower than 28psi to start with.
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8110292706_232ba3a92d.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/8110292706/ ]Muddy Cross[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simondbarnes/ ]simondbarnes[/url], on Flickr
Ah, don't Terras have a funny min pressure rating?
No national league race this weekend, but a training race instead.
Fun film here:
and here:
Blazin-saddles - Member
Ah, don't Terras have a funny min pressure rating?
To be fair, I usually ignore stuff like that 🙂
Sidewalls say 30-90psi
The rims (BOR XMD 309) have a min pressure rating of 1.7 bar but I'd happily ignore that too if I wanted.
Brackley for the A5 Rangers CX on Saturday.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Can't make Saturday, but will aim to be there the following weekend - after all I need to ride 3 races to get my 2 average scores! Rapha Supercross on Sunday - seems like rain now :o(
Happy with todays race even if I did feel like pulling out before I'd even started.
Rode a steady one and in the end I don't think I did any worse than previous weeks.
Raced East Liverpool Wheelers NWCCA Round 6 at Otterspool today. Clear blue skies, fantastic course. Seemed to be going quite well although I'm sure the results will show otherwise!
from Otterspool (liverpool) today - very technical course, loads of fun (just not at the time)!
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from Otterspool (liverpool) today - very technical course, loads of fun (just not at the time)!
For once, I actually found it fun at the time. Such an ace course!
who do you ride for Simon? (I used to think you where the other Simon Barnes)!
who do you ride for Simon?
Seamons CC, although their club kit is truly horrific so I race in Bikeshak or Velocake kit. What about you?
no one yet - thinking Horwich though
They seem like a good crowd. Plenty of them race cross which is a very good thing indeed 🙂
Notts/Derby for me today at Bramcote Park. Another excellent course and glorious weather. Again!
Full of a cold so missed notts and derby 🙁
Reading was a lot muddier than these photos suggest. Really tough conditions and could have done with a few more gears at times. Mulletus Maximus of this forum is in the Andover Wheelers kit in 3rd photo and did significantly better than i did 🙁
Didcot tomorrow, imagine it's going to be cold, rainy and muddy.
][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8128752302_e20f5ce613.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8128752302/ ]rc[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8128741405_3128f4322d.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8128741405/ ]rcc21[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8128729895_c15cddaf63.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8128729895/ ]rcc8[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8128723279_40e8f46e53.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8128723279/ ]rcc3[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img
It was hell today
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Me in red with team mates apres race
ah yes didcot tomorrow, never been there..hope its a technical one with less mud 🙂
i hope my bike hasnt seized up after its quick rinse up last week at reading...
Muddy Hell became quite muddy...
L_L was 2nd lady in the GoRace - very pleased :o)
Home, washed, warm - coupla pints, pizza - AllyPally tomorrow morning - [url= http://www.nico35.co.uk/Home.html ]nico35[/url] rides again.
Looking brrrr out side.
Didcot today in the Wessex League and according to their web site it's wet, chalky and very slippery. Should be fun. 🙂
Cracking race today. The course was excellent with some good technical off camber sections and punchy power climbs. The course rode really well and chalky sections made it interesting where you really had to think about your lines. Better result than last week too. Finished 12th in class and won a bottle of wine. 😀
NO MUD!! Loved the course at Didcot today.
Lots of of camber chalk made it techy which made up a bit for my lack of fitness. Nice to catch up with a few of the quick lads that were lapping me on the twisty bits.
agree with the above, wessex didcot today was a fantastic course, could have been a total nightmare if wet but held up well.
I'm really chuffed with my best place so far, 24th in senior! results are up.
arrived 10 mins before the race trying to find the sign on desk, but the kind lady called the start line to say i was on my way 🙂 the off cambre twisty clay hills were interesting but had no problems but seem to mess up the same 2 climbs every lap.
cake and tea went down well too 🙂
sefton - Memberno one yet - thinking Horwich though
Sefton , should come and do the Horwich CC skills sessions at the Reebok on Thursday nights- bout 15/20 turn up -2 hours. v good
Dobo, someone asked me where to sign near the start/ finish line. Wasn't you was it?
yea i did ask for directions so quite possibly you if it was about 10 to 2pm, haha what are the chances of that..directions were spot on, thanks
Sefton, I can recommend Horwich. As mentioned above, try their Thursday night cross session, or say hi to one of them at the race - they're all a friendly bunch.
MuddyHell CX from Saturday night. Bit under dressed for the weather as it was bloomin freezing. Crazy event but well worth the 450mile round trip. Will be there next year...
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I live 5 minutes walk from that Reading course but unfortunately couldn't make it.
Did my first ever CX race yesterday, though: Rode Seniors in the Rapha Cross at Alexandra Palace. Crashed and dislodged a brake lever on the 2nd lap, which took ages to sort (and I really had to sort it, I was singlespeeding so having nothing to hoik on wouldn't have been good) so ended up finishing last of the finishers, 4 laps behind some bloke called Nick Craig.
Crashed and dislodged a brake lever on the 2nd lap
Were you on an All City Nature Boy? If so then you were going well, up to that point.
I'm pretty sure that no-one got round that course without at least one comedy dismount. I rode like a mincer, was congratulating myself for getting through it unscathed, then promptly ate tarmac at the last corner.
Western league yesterday @ Warmley bristol. 14 retirements due to mech or mech hanger issues
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This happened to me on the last lap (snapped mech hanger luckily) This was my mates bike after the race
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Were you on an All City Nature Boy? If so then you were going well, up to that point.
No, I was on a Crossed-up Karate Monkey.
I rode like a mincer, was congratulating myself for getting through it unscathed, then promptly ate tarmac at the last corner.
Hah! Funny you should mention that. My *other* comedy dismount was in exactly the same spot, down out of the woods, thought I'd turn tight onto the tarmac, and washed both wheels out. Close enough to the line to hear the commentator say "oooh, that's got to hurt on the last corner of the last lap"
Apparently every other rider was binning it there. The bloke behind me went down in exactly the same way. My team-mate also crashed there, on his practice lap.
The Corner of Doom in the lower field seemed to be the most common crash spot. That's the one that got me and my brake lever.
So I'm doing Oxford at the weekend, for my second ever 'cross race. Anyone ridden at the Oxford Brookes University course?
If it is the same place as last year then very flat and very open to the wind. Not technical at all. Have fun.
Not technical at all. Have fun.
Another way of saying that you'll be vomming your lungs up after 10 minutes because of the pace!
Is there any mud? Was hoping for a technical muddy course to try out my new tubs for the first time. 🙁
Still, I tend to go quite well on these type of tracks so here's hoping for a good result. 🙂
Oxford today. Great fun... Very muddy indeed but it was largely very wet mud rather than chilternsy soul-sucking clag. Got utterly head to toe filthy and finished 37 out of 47 finisher in seniors. And fastest of the two singlespeeds 🙂
Brighton today, rain stopped & the sun came out.
No full results yet, but I'm confident I was the 1st singlespeeder 😉
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things got muddy at Beacon Park!
is it me or do u guys go throu a seriose amount of mech hangers?
having now packed in my weekend job hopefully i can get to some events
I don't, I just get through a lot of meniscuses
Good effort ormondroyd. Saw you racing and thought fair play. It was hard enough with gears.
Loved the conditions and it made for a great race. Had a good battle all the way through the race but lost a place on the last lap but still chuffed with 6th. 🙂
Couldn't feel my feet or hands at the end but I think that was the same with everyone.
Edit; First race on tubs too and boy are they good! No wheel spin at all and the grip was immense.
Pretty horrendous in Oxford today. Mulletus' face tells the story 🙂
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/8155659823_5ff8872328.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8155659823/ ]IMAG1522[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8155660229_d44fb158f6.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8155660229/ ]IMAG1521[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8487/8155657713_619251abd0.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8155657713/ ]IMAG1528[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/8155687994_4688f40bfc.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8155687994/ ]IMAG1529[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8155655953_6986e19f2c.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8155655953/ ]IMAG1531[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8155684688_c84ce24428.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/8155684688/ ]IMAG1534[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Round 4 of the Ulster league yesterday for me.
Course is reknowned for being the claggiest mulch fest of them all.
Managed 7 of the 9 laps before throwing the towel in. The 7th lap was off the scale on unenjoyable levels where as the first 6 were superb. Lost my back brake on lap 2, gears on lap 5 and everything ground to a half on lap 7, cue exit through the tape back to the car park!
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8154936193_89eb3e0b45_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/51733246@N04/8154936193/ ]DSC04712[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/51733246@N04/ ]stewart_mairead[/url], on Flickr
Give me wet gloop any day over this crap
Good effort ormondroyd. Saw you racing and thought fair play. It was hard enough with gears.
Haha, was that you who called me barmy? Fair enough if so! 😀
Here I am on about lap 2, so still relatively clean: [url= http://www.grahamrobins.net/photos/Beeline%20Cycles%20%28Oxford%29%20Cross%202012/272.JP G" target="_blank">
http://www.grahamrobins.net/photos/Beeline%20Cycles%20%28Oxford%29%20Cross%202012/272.JP G"/> .php[/url]