Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

I only made it to the herne hill round, but it was totally top notch. Big thank you to all the organisers, great support all the way around the course as well (which is much appreciated when you are as slow as I am). Always really chuffed to get words of encouragement as I'm lapped. Going to make it my goal this year to only get lapped by @andyp once during a race, rather than my customary 2-3 times.

I forgot to say "thanks!" for the encouragement yesterday @Doctor_Cake
Thanks!

Think that nearly killed me - was on another level to round 1.

Admittedly that might be my legs which have just got back from touring/drinking.

Grass was infuriatingly bumpy. Camel humps were great fun.

Haha. If I lap you in a London League race something will have gone horribly wrong for one of us...

http://cyclocrosshandbook.com/summer-series-herne-hill/

Good shot of @andyp and @jon. in there

Shit looked like fun!!!!

Just remembered that @owlz got asked if he was a junior at sign on last night.

I don't know what recovery drink he uses, but I want some as it's clearly an elixir of youth.

@ owlz

Fixed.

If anyone else has to face the indignity of boarding trains lugging muddy wheels, bikes and clothing and has no attachment to any particular league I've spent my Friday night putting together a calendar made up of races from the Eastern, Central and London league, for the first two months of the season.

All should be a reasonably short ride from the station, with the exception of Sumners Ponds which is effected by engineering works on that weekend.

4th September. London League, Stanmer Park.
10th September. Eastern League, Redbridge.
11th September. Eastern League, Chelmsford.
18th September. London League, PORC.
25th September. Eastern League, Basildon. OR. Central League, RAF Halton.
1st October. Central League, MK Bowl. OR. Eastern League, Hadleigh.
2nd October. London League, Sumners Ponds. (14 mile ride from station!)
9th October. Central League, Hemel Hempstead. OR. Eastern League, Preston.
16th October. Central League, Leighton Buzzard. OR. Eastern League, Welwyn Garden City.
22nd October. Central League, MK Bowl.
29th October. Eastern League, Grafham Water.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJDuu1Wj64b/

For everyone with the gram.

That's made my day

Proper guffaw at that one.

Announcement from the organisers of Ripley Castle Cyclocross.

We are very proud to announce that our 2017 event will be making a change to a new, fast and in places technical course. Based on Conyngham Hall, central to Knaresbough ,our new course will include an exhilarating high speed woodland riverside path before a passage over the main road bridge in Knaresbough where riders will get a view like this over their shoulder (if we're lucky dusted in snow) before swooping into the super fast finishing straight. Some super off camber grassland is just the icing on the cake. The organising team and our sponsors very much look forward to delivering you a superb New Years Day event, run to the same high standards as the widely loved Ripley Castle with the headline men's and women's races being the highlight of the day.

There was a lot of disappointment last year when they were forced to cancel their event due to the course being untenable due to flooding. Hoping this one is going to be a bit more resilient as the venue looks pretty good.

if I was to buy one set of tubs for the london league what should I go for? I can get a pair of Dugast Rhinos for £110, am I likely to beat them for the money?

If the pound wasnt so weak I would suggest FMBs as they come pre aqua sealed and are available in the extra grippy/awseome green compound - but they will end up around £150 a pair...

Spam alert - I'm selling a Powertap wheelset with Specialized Terra Tubs here if anyone is interested in giving their bike power this autumn:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/290829/#comment13165104

if I was to buy one set of tubs for the london league what should I go for?

I've got the most use out of a pair of specialized tracers - they are pretty good on anything except deep thick mud.

I'd get an all rounder like a Grifo or Fango, as then you can use them for most of the season. A mud tub comes into its own in December and January though.

Curious to know what clincher tyres people use... anyone using Clement or Challenge?

A lot of Challenge Grifo and Challenge Limus are used in Denmark.

Also Schwalbe Racing Ralph and Rocket Ron.

Clement not so much.

I use/d PDX Clement. Seem to be fine. Latex tubes are the best upgrade I've ever made.

Thanks for the quick replies chaps... looking to upgrade to latex tubes at some point with some new tyres, was gunning for Clement X'plore USH but like the look of Challenge Gravel Grinders and Chicanes

What is the recommended tubeless all round tyre? I think @howard mentioned up thread

Michelin Mud 2. Good in everything except really sticky deep mud.

Is that what you run?