Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Full results are up;

http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/2014/08/round-11-sun-21st-dec/

17th for @Howard, well done. I think that's your best result in the London League?

I was 7th, which should cement my place in the top ten in the league rankings.

Boom! Chapeau Andy

Good work!

Aye, happy with that. As usual, well done on the top ten slot :)

Nothing looked obviously wrong with your position to me.

I have had lower back pain sometimes during cross but trying to remember good posture when grinding through the mud/up hills really seems to help - it also allows you to better engage you glutes for moar powah!

I had a pretty poor start, but after a lap or two got into a decent rhythm and was making good progress catching mid field riders, until I ran out of them - there seemed to be a marked gap between the mid fielders and the guys at the sharp end - I think perhaps due to the fact there were some VERY fast guys riding - including MTB pro Liam Killeen...
At that point though I was catching the slower Vets and Youth riders. All was looking good as I managed to get onto the wheel of one of the fast guys who had pitted, until I hit a section that had a newly paved path across it and punctured. This was about half way round and for a lot of the muddy parts of the course was perfectly rideable with 0psi :P It was only when it switched off the grass and onto the airstrip that I had to get off and run (about 1/3rd of the way). Only to get to the pits and realise I had left my bag in the commisaires car rather than in the pits :(

Oh well, another lesson learned :)

Looking forward to the last of our series - in Bath at the Odd Down circuit on the 4th. It is part crit circuit, part bmx track (!) , part mtb course and with a bit of grassy field riding thrown in.

Some kind of coating/polish to reduce the ability of mud to stick to the paint?
Silicone spray perhaps?

Went with car polish then carnuba based wax as that's what I had lying around - seems to have done a pretty good job actually. The course wasn't as horrendous as last week, but what mud there was didn't seem to stick so badly - and my bike didn't seem to clog up, whereas quite a few other riders did.

@danb You were killing it!! I just about got on your wheel at the beginning but couldn't hang on in the twisty slippery stuff.

I find that I get a sore back in the first two or three really muddy races, I think because you're working harder for longer and not getting any respite. If you can, it's worth simulating a race on a muddy course a few times to help the body adjust.

Interesting, I will try riding the cross bike in the mud a bit more. thanks for all the tips guys. I don't race a whole lot of cross so the body probably just isn't used to it!

Probably the best place to ask.

Does anyone know what the seatpost diameter for a Kinesis Crosslight Pro 3 is? 26.8mm perhaps?

Thanks!

EDIT In case this ever comes up in a Google search, the correct size for a Kinesis Crosslight Pro 3 seatpost diameter is indeed 26.8mm.

Been working my arse off lately so decided to treat myself to a cross bike, been wanting to get into cross for so long but finances just haven't made it possible. Built it yesterday, really stoked! Will be training hard ready for next season!

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Shit hot, love it. Set-up looks good too.

Couple of questions:

• How are the Rival brakes?
  
• RAT thru-axles, quick release or other? I can't tell.
  
• Can you give us a pic from the back to see the clearances?
  

Also, did you have to do any of the cabling / set up the hydraulics yourself?

Looks fast.

Chain looks a tad short.

Rival brakes are really good, they're now bedded in and provided more than enough stopping power! The RAT system is great, all the stiffness of a through axel yet quicker than a quick release. Make sure you grease it though!

@andyp chain length is fine, b screw was still wound out at this point. Will you be riding the londonxleague race at barns green?

They were in place but not set up, not an issue for me being a bike mechanic but did need some work to get road worthy out the box.

Nice one. Clearance pics ASAP!

Merry Christmas!

Clearances with a 32c Rocket Ron. Took it out yesterday, so good. Smashed the MTB's in the slippery stuff and climbs, amazed at how stable it is even in the chalk sludge by the river. Need to work on my descents though, struggle on the downhills due to lack of confidence and not sure where to position myself on the bike. Going out with a friend from work who is a Mtb and cyclocross coach soon, hopefully get me ready to race!

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That looks decent

Really like the way the new Rivals gruppos look

rear BB clearance looks tight?

It's not too bad in the flesh, it's hard to get a photograph of it head on. It seemed alright the other day in the sloppy stuff, suffered a bit with wet leaves though.

Anyone need a partner for the New Years day Madison at HH?

@Howard Yes, my wife has bailed despite assurances that it would be "fun" and "chilled out".

@Doctor_Cake
http://www.cxmagazine.com/racing-wolves-heartland-cyclocross-mark-mcconnell-rider-diary-2014