Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

I think it depends on the course for me. As @Jon. says, if the course was varied in terms of surfaces, then I'd definitely be interested in racing.

The date would be key too, there's some big gaps in the London League calendar this year, so filling one of those would all but guarantee me riding.

Hint, hint, December.

Magnets?

I see they got to you too :-(

promote it right and you won't get just whiny cxers but mtbers, 'urban' riders and everything in-between. basically do the parcour race in actually a good location with fun obstacles and you'll be on to a winner.

I've got a rad, very central location in mind but it's not confirmed yet. There would be some really awesome obstacles and changes in surfaces, the only problem is that it's pretty flat (it's not a car park) so all the changes in height would have to be artificially built. But despite this I think there's potential to make it a really fun, different course and as a result of that a really good event for spectators too.

There would be your normal racing categories from kids to vets plus a novice/fun race and if there's enough demand for it maybe even a single speed/fixed only novice race? So the fixie skidders can have a go?

Flatness isn't a great trait in a course. If the fringes of the area can be exploited to introduced to exploit elevation changes that would be good. Alternatively, things like mobile skate parks, the street veledrome, a large flatbed trailer, scaffold rigs, etc could be deployed to great effect.

'whiny cxers'? Really? I don't know if you've touched a raw nerve or something, but of all the cycle disciplines I've competed in (road racing, time trialling, track, mtb, cross) I'd say that cxers are the least whiny by some margin.

ha that was meant to be a joke. as you say every cx event, and pretty much every bike event has been only lovely people

And alas there is now a sizeable CS Grumpetto quota of riders. Oh well, good while it lasted.

Sizeable?
At least 2 of us are on the left of the height distribution.

It's a shame Alexandra Palace doesn't seem to have worked out

What no Supercross there this year?

I thought part of the Rapha thing was that they change venue's every year. The very successful Broughton Hall near Skipton has been replaced with a double-header in Halifax. I would imagine the same will be true of the 3rd day.

I doubt that would rule out Alexandra Palace as a venue, it woud just need someone else to take it on and foster it into a regular event.

I suspect that part of Rapha Supercross model is that they exploit their network of well-heeled and well-connected premium members. That doesn't really work if you keep hitting the same venues.

Supercross is now run by Emma Osenton rather than Ian Cleverly and so it doesn't surprise me that there is now a more Northern focus.

I'd be up for an urban cross event in London. I was briefly involved in the Morvelo citycross events as I used to design the Muddy Hell courses and I actually think a flatter urban course would make for better racing. You can't go too wild with a course and still follow BC regs (and insurance) but some interesting stuff can be built!

I think there's some trepidation about flatter courses among cross riders because usually it brings back those horrible memories of trudging around the outside of a football field for an hour in the rain and a bitter wind.

From a spectators view, most of the other times races are won and lost on the hills. I guess the trick, if you're keeping it flat, is to give riders sections that will challenge them technically, get them off the bike occaisionally and justify the use of grippy tyres over slicks.

I don't know about better racing, I'll never tire of watching riders diving down the banking in Bradford's Peel Park and the batter themselves up the adjacent steps half a lap later. But it'll be different and that's the spectacle for riders and spectators alike. If I were coming as a spectator, I'd want there to be a showpiece section. Something where the few will shine, the many will struggle and the back of the field will not be getting all the way over it on two wheels.

I think there's some trepidation about flatter courses among cross riders because usually it brings back those horrible memories of trudging around the outside of a football field for an hour in the rain and a bitter wind.

^ this. The antithesis of road racing.

muddy hell has blown a huge hole in CX calendar IMO

was an amazing event for spectators and very unique for racers

such shame

many pity

Anyone heading to Morden tonight? Will be my first outing since the one HH training session I did.
Will be in blue/black/pink kit on a day one ss.

Das Rad Club kit? I spoke to you at the HH training, I'll be on a ss day one too

Will look out for you both. Will be in "Free as a Bird" jersey with green socks, riding a Burls Ti whip.

See you both there!!

Good luck and plenty of fun to everyone racing tonight!
Will be excited to read your reports.

Course was more of a bumpy grass crit than cx, very tough on singlespeed. got overtaken by a large part of the field in the first two laps. then battled it out with one bearded sscx guy who managed to rinse me on the final lap. fun!

Lost the very fast front group when someone managed to drop their garmin at the top of the stairs on lap 3. On a course that fast and windy making up time working as a pair against six was always going to tough and did not happen. Looking forward to mud and slower speeds.

I made loads of silly mistakes and at those speeds catching back on is very tough.

My favourite was deciding to DAS around that final left hander on the first lap then trying to set off again up the finishing straight (slight rise) in 46x14. Didn't work and I didn't try it again!

When you lapped me, you asked to pass in the politest way possible. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy.