Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

You should

Hope you get it!

it's not for me, it's for the gf...as a commuter. possibly a bit over specced but w/e

Someone needs a cuddle;

http://www.cxmagazine.com/craig-etheridge-opinion-2015-singlespeed-national-championships-pros

Didn't they all throw their toys out of the pram a couple of years ago when a couple of Rapha pros turned up and won SSCXWC?

I do see his point to a certain degree. He's going to be super pissed if the rumour about Stybar getting a US visa and racing the SSCXNats next year is true.

I'm not sure he does. In the US, CX is all about participation so why shouldn't the national championship race be open to anyone? Here we don't even have a SSCX category (but then they have about a gazillion different categories at US Nationals meaning everyone gets a chance of winning a title).

He's a sponsored rider yet he's complaining about other sponsored riders beating him. Boo hoo hoo.

jesus, what a fucking baby

CX is a niche sport. SSCX even more so. I think his point is that there would be no SSCX nationals without the core regulars who compete week in week out. Whether that has bred a sense of entitlement I think its clear that it has and for that he should MTFU and get on with it.

Is he usually "kicking butt and taking names" when he races single speed cx? As a sponsored rider is he, essentially, a flat track bully amongst the non-sponsored riders whose butt he has been kicking and names he has been taking?
Are some bigger boys coming in for a go?

More importantly, he sounds like a prick.

In a league you should show your face a minimum of x number of times in accordance with the rules. Is he asking for that or just having a dig?

Pulls out of this year's competition, talks about next year's competition.
Hang on. I've heard this somewhere before.

That's a bit sad. National Champs should always be as open a field as possible. It's the chance for any rider to hold for even a brief moment that they're the best in the country. The only response to getting beaten is to train harder and ride better. Wedding the bed will never make you a better racer.

Also, I reckon it's time to have a proper go at racing. I've loved being a spectator but reckon it's time to walk what I've been talking. It also neatly co-incides with my plans regarding audaxing which mean I'm off the fixed for the forseeable. It's a Tricross to I may as well rig it for SSCX and put it to use instead of leaving it in the basement until next winter. Perhaps we should see about arranging our own SS National Champs next season.

Anyone doing the woodcote CX sportive? I have a space in the car going, leaving early on Sunday am. PM me if you want a lift.

Looks like Tom Meeusen and co have been allowed to re-enter the Belgian worlds team: http://www.cyclocrossrider.com/racing/belgian-worlds-medal-hopes-hit-by-ozone-case

Great course today at Sumners Ponds. Well done @JDennis, I was a bit out of it when I spoke to you at the end - have you won the league then?

Did you get there by train? I didn't bother as to get to the Vets race I'd have to have caught the 10:10 or something like that from East Croydon, then wouldn't have got back home until 4 pm or so.

It sounds like it was tough.

I did. It broke the "travel longer than race" rule, I guess.

Only other options for the day were:

1. Wash bikes
   
2. Work
   
   

So race it was.

I drove for two hours to race for 3.5 hrs.

It did mean getting up at 6am tho

Was a great course, if only that wooded section was less boggy. Turned into at least 1km of running? Congratulations @J.Dennis on the overall! Nice to speak to you by the hose, hope the train wasn't too much of a pain!

Sportives are not races.

Really enjoyed today too, my first race but managed to not be last which I was surprised at. Worst start ever but luckily I'm pretty good at running so made up some time on that savage grassy hill bit.

Shrug. Raced against myself from two years ago and beat me by thirty minutes.

Happy with that.

I'm just yanking your chain.

Well, you are right, it wasn't really a race, more like a jolly round the countryside. Much fun tho, shattered now.