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@Jon.
On 95% of courses you'll lose time somewhere by either being over or under geared, so I wouldn't worry about it too much, the difference is probably negligible overall. You'll almost always be at a disadvantage compared to someone on gears (more so when it's dry) but that's not really what SSCX is about.
The gear I rode this winter (39x18) I never really felt too lacking at the two very different races I rode (Alexandra Palace and Wivelsden Farm) and I can get away with the same gear riding for 50km off-road in Epping in the summer.
As an aside bike24 have tubular Schwalbe Sammy Slicks at a bargain 18 euros each, if you don't want to spend too much on a pair of tyres that will only see a few races a season.