Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

I love that it's a Thursday night, as I get to skip out on leaving drinks etc that are always on Thursdays here.

But then, I'm an anti-social fucker.

Haha...I hear ya.

Sadly it's Mrs biarittz who has the things on Thursdays, so I am home with the kids :-)

Good luck if you are racing tonight.

That was fun, but fast and therefore tough.

Good to catch up Hats and Lardboy!

And sorry I didn't manage to say hi Dammit, I looked for you at the end but think you'd already gone. How did you find it?

Interesting!

The switch backs that ran back down the hill after the initial climb from the start/finish line were a real challenge- I think I got them almost right twice, the rest of the time I didn't turn in early enough/didn't lean over far enough, and due to the amplifying effect of the switchbacks by the final one I was lucky not to clatter into the tape.

I can keep up with some of the faster people when it's just down to power, but I lose huge chunks of time in the corners still.

I am, however, getting better - which is the point.

Today was hard - full gas, turn/turn/turn, full gas, turn/turn, full gas etc.

By the end of the race I really, really wished I had spent more of my youth learning how to bunny hop as those planks really pointed out that my remount leaves a little to be desired also - something else to work on.

Finally, I am going to have to change the shifters, as I just can't use them from the drops, which is basically where I am for the whole race, so the entire setup is going to get a rethink.

If anyone would like my retroshifters (10 speed Shimano) let me know.

Finally, I am going to have to change the shifters, as I just can't use them from the drops, which is basically where I am for the whole race, so the entire setup is going to get a rethink.

Can these Di2 sprint shifters be used without the sti units? They'd be out of harm's way, unaffected by mud* and perfect for use in the drops.

*possibly

If anyone would like my retroshifters (10 speed Shimano) let me know.

May well be interested in these if you'd consider selling levers without the bar end shifter itself?

Selling a cross bike cheap if anyone wants to give it a go: http://www.lfgss.com/thread131159.html

Has anyone here raced through winter using mini v brakes? If so, did you have issues with them clogging up with mud? I'm looking for actual experience rather than just repeating the conventional wisdom as seems to be the case everywhere else on the web.

I've a set of the shimano mini vees and I'm considering bunging them onto my CX, due to fork judder/ low power/ typical canti complaints.

In really muddy conditions all (non-disc) brakes clog, but v-brakes tend to clog more quickly than cantis in my experience, this is comparing CX-9s to Avid Ultimate Shorties. I've never had complete loss of brakes though, certainly not before the drivetrain was severely clogged, which slows you down much more.

I'd bung them on and see how you get on, we might be lucky and get a dry winter.

Btw, if anyone is planning on doing the 3 Pimples ride (and at least 3 forumites were out on it today) then it's in good condition. A lot of the worst nettle sections have been cleared and even the section between Beech Farm Road and Ledgers Road is rideable.

Great, thanks Andy - I was hoping you'd provide the answer. Sounds sensible to give it a go. I was thinking that some race days for me can involve 30 or 40 miles of riding on a CX bike, of which maybe 10-15 is the actual race, so having decent braking power when I'm on tarmac is a big deal too, and I just don't have confidence in my cantis working well enough from the hoods.

Btw, if anyone is planning on doing the 3 Pimples ride (and at least 3 forumites were out on it today) then it's in good condition. A lot of the worst nettle sections have been cleared and even the section between Beech Farm Road and Ledgers Road is rideable.

Today was the first time I rode any of those bridleways and I must say it's a long time since I've enjoyed a ride that much.

I would have hated to see it in bad condition though! I managed fine although a couple of bits were cautious, or required walking.

Has anyone here raced through winter using mini v brakes? If so, did you have issues with them clogging up with mud? I'm looking for actual experience rather than just repeating the conventional wisdom as seems to be the case everywhere else on the web.

I've a set of the shimano mini vees and I'm considering bunging them onto my CX, due to fork judder/ low power/ typical canti complaints.

Yup ran last season (Bristol which was wet/muddy pretty much every race) with initially front and rear mini v but soon changed the rear to cantis as it seemed to clog much worse than the front. This also meant I still had decent braking performance due to the front mini v. The front can also be more easily unclogged whilst shouldering than the rear.
One other thing to note is that the pads with mini vs have to be run much closer to the rim.

Ok, thanks. Any issues with jamming stuff between pad and rim, or is the issue just that the pads will rub if you ding the wheel and it goes out of true?

Not so much stuff jamming as mud getting in there dragging and yes if you ding the wheel it will rub.

Oky doky. I'll update with my experiences if I go that route.

Went mini v last year and had mixed experience. On dry fast courses it's great belong able to brake later. Had 1 race where I had to undo the rear because it got clogged up. A friend is thinking of changing forks and front wheel and going disc only on the front, might be an idea.

Who's racing tonight at Bethlem, then?

I was hoping to, but being a good dad instead. Drat!

If by racing you mean riding around really slowly getting lapped by everyone, then yes, I am!

Hoping to make it. What's the format (only ridden one cross race before)? ie what time do you need to arrive by to allow time to sign on, maybe do a lap to explore the course and warm up? Thanks.

I'm aiming to turn up 60 / 45 mins beforehand and have a quick blast around the course when the juniors race finishes.

Me too - see you there Howard.