Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

British youngster, Tom Pidcock, won the Junior race there earlier. He won yesterday too. Big talent.

Nice to see more nationalities on the podium.

the pit:

As it turns out there was no mud at Welwyn. Apparently the site was once a quarry, so stone sits two inches below the surface of the grass.

The whispers oop north are that Pidcock is being courted by a couple of Belgian teams who like the cut of his hurdle hopping jib. Having watched him in action a few times I think he deserves a good development deal.

Back on home soil I'm frankly disappointed to hear Welwyn wasn't that mucky. An early morning deluge turned New College Huddersfield into a slippery rear mech killer with a lot more running than can considered reasonable. I'd hoped for an easy race for my first time on the new bike but ended up having a hard time staying in line and upright. At least my comedy hedging got some cheers from the sidelines.

leighton buzzard central league was also fairly dry, especially by the end of the seniors race. And flat, totally flat. Still, it was fun and got 9th, so happy with that.

I think Pidcock might have to make the choice between a road or cross career at some point. BC won't fund a cross career sadly, as there is no Olympic pathway for CX.

He could potentially follow a career path similar to Stybar's and accessing road via trade team sponsorship in cross. I'm not sure what his off season preference is though. He might be more inclined to MTB. Main thing is BC/Olympics isn't the only way to get on the road and others, including British riders have not had to depend on that route.

Tomorrow will be my first race at herne hill and I'm not sure whether to keep my conti cyclo x kings on or change to my file treads. Any advice?

Whichever has the biggest chamber. Herne hill gives you pinch flats

I'd stick with the Contis. As @Ramsaye says, the bigger air chamber will help, but the trails at HH are so well used that it might be a bit too slippy for file treads.

Amazing, thanks guys

Herne Hill course was excellent today.

Who was in the V40s in LFGSSCC kit?

Remember:

"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!"

Dixit Mathieu van der Poel

1 Attachment

Go faster stripes. I think. We were having a decent race....

That would be me

Chalfie was kind enough to tow me round for a lap
It was a good course today, I don't normally like racing at herne hill

I think all the jutting out bricks add to the charm of the place.

I noticed today, when breathing out my arse, that even the relatively new pump track-esque bit (just before the drop off and 180 degree right hander) have a couple of bricks sticking out of them. One only assumes they are a feature.

I was trying to drop you, honest.

I fell victim to the rough surface. Suffered a front wheel pinch flat just before the gravel right hander out back and hit the deck. Left some forearm flesh behind and took some gravel home in my arm as a souvenir.

Hadn't really ridden a cross bike in about 9 months but after the punchy start I was starting to ease into the pace before being forced to retire after 2 laps due to puncture and blood.

But hey, thats racing

My preference today was for finishing rather than grip - the gravely corners were sketchorama

I nearly lost it when I came across them unexpectedly towards the end of the race

I guessed that when you kept sprinting off and then shoulder charged me when I attempted a pass 😀

Shoulder charged oops. Sorry.
I thought I just leant on you.

#dontlean

I don't want to sound like a cunt, but there was a lot of shoulder charging going on today, mainly from people who should chill the fuck out, 'cos you're not going to see me again until the finish.

I sound like a cunt.

No, you're right. I should chill out.

I may have exaggerated a tad

More of a slow speed wobbly tap...shoulder charge just sounded faster