Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

It was challenging, rather than miserable. I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed seeing people who usually beat me suffering so much and coming in way after me

Had a good cross race over in the south west today, until i started getting really bad back pain and had to pull out a lap from the end, I've not had the problem before, my position on the bike feels good although I could be a little more stretched out. saddle to bar drop is a tad less than my other bikes as is normal in cross. any ideas what could be causing this? bad fit, or lack of core strength or something?

Better easy+longer warm-up

What @Thuekr said. If you can, try riding an easier gear. Typically it gets real bad if you have to grind lap after lap. Core strentgh definitely also come into play here, but you wount gain that from day to day.

BTW, are there any pictures from the races you guys do?

Yes. Today's won't be up yet but they'll be linked from the London Cross League website;

http://www.londonxleague.co.uk

It was Round 11 today at Redbridge Cycling Centre, better known as Hog Hill.

There may well be one of me complete with pain face snot and mouth foam. So hold tight

Thanks man. I do quite a lot of day to day riding so should have a decent amount anyway. Lack of good warmup would explain it as I didn't have time for a proper one today. am riding a single speed so riding an easier gear isnt always an option! I will try and make sure i get a good warm up for the next race and see how things go!

I know what you mean regarding the single speed. In the muddiest races I tend to get a bit sore in the last laps, from the grinding. I forgot to mention that riding on the tops on the straights also lessen the strain on the back and increase weight on the rear for traction.

Less pressure in the rear tyre? Try and ride stutter bumps out of the saddle in a big gear (irrelevant on a SS though)?

Brutal day today. I elected to run everything I wouldn't lose too much time on and try and keep the bike clean after seeing a stream of riders from the vets/womens race trudging up the Hoggenberg with broken derailleurs.

Managed to get a decent start and was riding(/running) in third and was able to remove mud from the brakes and the bottom bracket on the steep road ascent. I tend to be a poor starter and a good finisher and caught the other two somewhere on the run up with two laps to go and managed to build a bit of a gap.

You beast

It was a good battle between Jack and myself, Jack riding almost everything and me doing the opposite.

Those barriers seemed even higher than the last round at Redbridge. Thankful for my lanky legs.

Those barriers...I pretty much had to stop, get the ladder out, then climb over.

You prob pulled a couple of fibers - it will fix itself with some road miles and a gentle comeback on the cx in a week or so.

@j.dennis - another great effort. I saw you catching Jack just after the start finish with about 2 laps to go.

@Howard - fantastic start, I couldn't hold your wheel at all. Was very jealous of the lack of clag on your bike at the end too. I'll make an extra special effort to crash into you when I see you next!

@andyp - sorry I didn't shout back! Was temporarily distracted by that slightly off camber descent.

In other news, I'm saving up for a new skinsuit -I think I heard the lap counters refer to me as 'short shorts 27' as I crossed the line every lap.

@Zdrenka

Some pics...

Howard. Needs moar snot...

Crazy-legs Dennis does it again...

Great result. Three in a row is impressive, especially at this time of year. Both Footscray and Bethlem will suit you too I'd think, given how heavy they both get in winter.

I only saw one mech go, but have just spent 20 minutes pulling grass out of mine and the rest of the bike, am not surprised to hear there were lots going. I think I rode the entire race on the small ring, using two or three gears at most.

Not having a chainstay bridge or front mech really helped I think. Just wish I'd slammed the rear wheel back in the rockers as I'd planned to. Had a bit of a bottom bracket beard (hat tip, J.Dennis) at the end.

My mech is squeaky clean, as is the cassette, curiously. Bit of gunge on the chainring but nothing crazy.

I had problems with grass build up in my fork crown, but was able to scoop most out it out as I ran up the section to the road climb. But the mech was a right mess, as were the pedals. Haven't checked my shoes yet, they are festering in a plastic bag.

No need to apologise. Was surprised you were racing after your short jaunt yesterday.

The first time I went down that descent in my warm up I was convinced I had a puncture. Something very weird about it.

Good work all.

Indeed - that's less of a pain face and more of an 'oh shit' face.

You're going to need a barrel adjuster somewhere in that setup. Either a framemounted one or an inline one.

Since it ended up being a running race, yesterday didn't matter too much!