Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

You might want to keep the following dates free, apparently;

5th July
19th July
2nd August
16th August

What is the ‘all season’ tubeless specific clincher of choice at the mo?

I’ve been very impressed with the latest Vittoria Terrano offerings, they do an intermediate that I’ve yet to try, but if it’s half as good as the wet or the dry it’ll be very solid.

It's pretty damn good.

Not as impressive as the Dry option, but very good all the same!

These?

Looks like their classic chevron tread.

Want to get a CX bike ready for the Autumn so I have some enjoyable racing and cycling to do over the winter.

As a complete CX newb am I better going off with SS or gears? I like the simplicity and cheapness of building up a SS but a geared bike could also double as my winter road trainer. For low level racing though, is there much in it?

SS is a form of self hate I don’t think you should just dive into.

Gears

1x11 is common now, still quite simple.

Oh sweet sweet self hate and loathing.

Cross is painful to ride no matter what, so if your used to riding fixed/ss you'll be used to pushing in the wrong gear, and gain the benefit of easy maintenance/no risk of broken derailleurs.

Get a 1x setup and be done.

Get 2 wheelsets if you really want to switch it over to winter road use. Found changing tyres is a massive pain.

Being in the wrong gear on a ride is different to never being able to catch the bigger boys lap after lap or getting them and then having them come past every fucking lap until you just think "oh fuck this for a joke".

+1 to what @laner said. I would say if you have the money to choose, get gears. Because if you don't like it, you can then convert it into a gravel bike by doing nothing else other than sticking bottles in the bottle cages.

I'd imagine.

Apologies for lapping you.

;0)

For low level racing though, is there much in it?

I don't think so, no. With a singlespeed there are going to be times when you lose ground on those you are racing against, but in muddy courses especially, the lack of clogging points on your drivetrain mean you can ride when others can't and you don't have to stop to remove mud from the bike. You probably have to dismount and remount a bit more on singlespeed, but that's a good skill to learn anyway.

My best results last year, in terms of finishing position, were on a singlespeed and @Jon. wins races on a singlespeed competing against other talented riders on gears, so you can be competitive still (if you have the engine).

:)

What is the ‘all season’ tubeless specific clincher of choice at the mo?

I like the old Specialized Tracers with the block tread pattern. Proper all-rounder. Used it in the unexpected mudbath at PORC last year to good success and perfect for the first half of the cross season here. The new tread design is much more of a Californian intermediate, though rolls incredibly well on road.

Not to forget @Jos, who was a monster fixed.

I've just had my entry for the 3 Peaks confirmed.

Time to relearn how to run up a hill.

Not a cross race.

What is it then?

Opinion differs to whether its a cross race with some fell running in it or a fell race with some cycling in it.

Either way, I'm scared and excited in equal measure.

I think it is closer to cx as it was originally intended than today’s version.

Either way, good luck and enjoy it (as much as you can).

Stupid.