Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

LFGSS claggy nights?

I'm not going to speculate, but Muddy Hell was very definitely a Rollapaluza venture, with both Caspar and Paul playing key roles (as did others).

The cost of putting on the event is high as it requires lighting and generators, the building of the bridge, the hire of the marquee etc, and the revenue made from entry fees and sales of food and alcohol doesn't come anywhere close to covering the costs. So it needs a sponsor and, for the past two years, that sponsor hasn't been forthcoming.

They also have to spend more time on the two keirin events which are far easier to make profitable

Rollapaluza would love to do Muddy Hell every year, but the simple reality is that they currently can't find sponsorship to pay for it. Caspar explained to me a while back what sponsors look for, but of course I've forgotten the details since. It boiled down to sponsors being able to spend money on things that got them more exposure, and that was that. Hopefully, this will change again. Muddy Hell was always one of my favourite events of the year in those years when it was on.

Edit: Should read the thread to the end.

Likewise, not speculating. Just surprised that there hasn't been enough interest, from the organising/sponsorship side, in a very popular event to keep the event running. And now, particularly, in the past two years, bike manufacturers are putting out a bigger range of CX bikes and there's been a lot more courting of this corner of the market across the board along with an every growing ridership. With Ripley Castle Cyclocross, half the sponsors aren't cycle related companies, including the castle itself.

Somewhere along, an event of this nature should be happening in London, either by Rollapaluza's hand or someone else's. Waiting for Rapha to drop the occasional tidbit like a Supercross in Alexandra Palace shouldn't be enough for the London and South East riders. With Muddy Hell off for the past two years and possibly the forseeable, I hope that someone has the motivation to give it a go. It would be a great thing to have and I think not too complicated to make it a success.

London racers, don't expect a fast course tomorrow!

Looks like you're running it in reverse, if the video you posted on Facebook is anything to go by?

It's going to barely get above freezing tomorrow so, depending on how quickly it drops below freezing point tonight, it could harden up overnight. (When the Regionals were there just over two years ago it was frozen solid the week before, so the Field of Doom was totally rideable, only for it to become unrideable once it thawed).

Odd down CX in Bath tomorrow. Part race track, part bmx track, part MTB and a little bit of grass around the edge of the track. Full of win!

Its been wet all of today, but forecast is for frost overnight which should be interesting.

Yes, well observed! Both of the longer, wooded sections are reversed. We've also included a couple of old favorites: ride down-180-run up, and the big trench before the road.

Sounds epic. Not sure if in or not yet. Convince me :)

You spent all that money on mud tubs for what reason?

Like they are gonna help

Try it on 25c slicks first, then the mud tubs then come back to me on that one.

OK, we've minimized the grassy field stuff (though some of what's left will be rough as). Does that sway your vote?

So it'll be rooty, slippery, muddy, leafy fun with ditches that swallow your front wheel and the youth, vet and women's races will have churned it up no end. What else could you wish for?

Thinking of giving it a go, but it kind of gives me the jitters.

It will be awful. Do it.

It'll be no worse than the Supercross at Ally Pally. And there's no horrible hill to run up every lap.

couple of teasers for upcoming cyclocX film [some familiar jerseys in the second one)

http://volatamag.cc/articulo/teaser_defor_the_love_of_mud-_dir_benedict_campbell/

http://vimeo.com/78835311

Looks moody

Tried to go, got super lost, phone died, was still lost when the race must have started.
Stupid way to spend a Sunday. :-(

^ Sorry to hear that. Must be frustrating. If it's any consolation that sort of thing often happens to me!

Urrrgh. Sorry to hear that. If it's any consolation my £ spent to minutes of racing ratio today was just stupid.

Rotten luck. Next time ask on here, I ride the vets race alongside the women's race so will be heading towards the venue around the same time so could help out.

Big thanks to everyone at Dulwich Paragon, via @owlz, for hosting and organising today's race. The course was superb, making full use of all the best bits of Bethlem.

I got a poor start but managed to close the gap to the front group towards the end of the first lap, then managed to move up 4 or 5 places on the second lap and was running in 5th for most of the rest of the race. I got held up when someone crashed in front of me just before entering the football field to take the bell, and Russell Jones managed to catch me, then choose a better line across the Field of Doom so I couldn't quite manage to get back to him. But I'm pleased with 6th (my guess on where I was but I think it's accurate) given the quality of the vet 40s field today.