Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Same. Can't rate them enough.

Thank You.

are You running the special brake shoes

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kool-stop-tectonic-multi-compound-pair-of-brake-blocks/

or only the cartridge inserts

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kool-stop-dura2-pair-of-cartridge-inserts-triple-compound/

Tough crowd!

What's the course like at Ardingly , it looked to be pan flat in the videos from last year?

It's on the Sussex County showground, so is mainly flat but there are a few undulations that make it pretty challenging. There was a descent into a hollow, which was absolutely treacherous last year due to mud, then the climb out of the hollow that was just about rideable, but only if you carried momentum into it. This was followed by a tricky section into another dip, followed by a wide but muddy climb back up into the main showground. If you had the power you could do a lot of damage there.

I loved it last year, but it was the first slippery race of the season, which are conditions that suit me. You had to treat almost every corner with respect as it was easy to wipe out. I would imagine if it stays dry for the next ten days or so it won't quite be as challenging.

I think @Jon. won there, so he probably liked it too.

Cool,thanks for that. I may have a chance of clawing some places back after my usually slow start

it sounds like I may need to get some mud tyres if we have a bit of rain between now and then.

Only if they put some rollers and a couple of table tops in it. Looks dull as is.

agreed.

Inserts

As a start, that looks great. Some good features already, like the slow corners and the short uphill dead turns, and it looks they've made pretty good use of the available terrain.

I'm guessing it's in Bath?

Ta. Will give them a go

Keynsham - half way between Bath and Bristol next to the site of the old Cadbury's/Fry's chocolate factory

It's also a massive flood plain, so might be "interesting" if we get much/any rain between now and Sunday...

^ that is from the Rugby pitch next to the site a couple of years ago...

Same here.

Vittoria xl at 17.99, is that the best I can get them at?

I've not seen them cheaper than that.

UK cross course from the 70's

from Dave Moultons blog

I think I have a bit left on the clement pdx, then it's over to vittoria.
(plus i bought gloves this month. so, er. no tyres till next payday)

If your looking for some tyres I have a set of specialized terra and tracer clinchers with plenty of life left in them . If you're interested you can have the lot for £30,

I've swapped over to tubeless so they are just sitting in a box, there's a couple of new unused continental cross inner tubes in the box too

@gofasterstipes let me do some sums, but that's quite tempting.

sent you a PM

Both Nikki Harris (Brammeier) and Helen Wyman have been in the wars lately. Helen seems to have done the classic shoulder break; Nikki however posted several shots in instagram of injuries that seem out of kilter with cross.

Here she explains what happened and goes in to some detail of the symptoms of what seems to be heavy concussion. http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sp9e88

(I wasn't aware both injuries occurred at the European champs and by the same collision - apologies if this isn't news to everyone else!)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RbOmbluPOus

One of the best looking courses so far this year. Would have loved to see the big boys go at it, but still a good race

For clincher rims what is a good pad to use, got TRP carbon brakes.

It used to include a giant, artificial sand dune which was sadly lacking this year. I approve of the use of a spiral of despair though.

As mentioned on the previous page, Kool Stop multi compound are reviewed with favouritism by followers of this thread.

Thanks Sam, just re looked at the previous page!