Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

It’s still there, it’s just not shown very well on that map.

Tried my first CX race today, loads of fun!
My gear was totally unsuitable though, 650x48b Gravelkings on a muddy track (kind of very slippery mud) were a disaster and ice-skating-like experience. When derailleur hanger after one of the many falls go so bent that it almost hit the spokes, my inner N+1 started me to think how fun would it be to have SSCX for this kind of races, sadly between my commuter bike and Pickenflick already serving as both road, cyclocross and gravel bike there no chance to fit it anywhere in my flat.

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Gizza clue then 😁
Is at the bottom or middle of the course?

Last feature before the finish.

Oof, yeah those tyres won't be much good past the start of October.

Wyke near Bradford for me today. Grim northern dead end town but the course was brilliant. Lots of banking work, hurdles, a sand pit, twitchy off camber and not claggy. Tried the Caadx with the gravel tyres because its a bit lighter and better geared but as soon as I hit the high banking I was sliding everywhere. Ridley coped much better. Still not last and, thanks to a newbie triathlete, I got my first lapping of the season. Not bad seeing as I've been lurgied the past couple of weeks.

Give this course a go if you happen to be in the area at the right time.

Thanks, it's all coming back to me now

Crazy fast start into the hardest off camber section is my abiding memory.

After a long absence I rode my first event in the Central league yesterday. Trains from London were pretty easy to Milton Keynes and a short ride to the course made it reasonably painless to get there.

Was greeted by some great party/heckling action on arrival, as a good crowd was gathered at the technical downhill/uphill hairpin. Lots of cheering, bells, music etc.

Course was a bit windswept for my liking but still lots of fun with a lot made of the terrain. Some good slippery mud was developing towards the end of the race too. Kind of fucked myself with my favourite trick of dropping my chain on the first lap, but had fun anyway and ended up finishing just behind the guy who was gridded next to me at the start, for whatever that's worth. It was sunny too which helped...

it wasn't too bad being gridded at the back....nothing is as sketchy as the start at Ardingly

After many mentions of Vittoria cx tyres I bought some 40c terreno mix tyres to take on the flinty trails between here and box hill. They certainly look and feel pretty rugged

Eurosports is currently £19.99 for a years subscription. They're showing the world cup races, from what I can tell live and catch up

https://www.fulcrum-events.co.uk/monster-cross-2019

I'm super tempted by this, thanks for posting.

Have you done it before?

No, but it's in my calendar now. Some interest locally too

Well. East Brighton eh?

Yeah.

No.

That Liam Yates move on Facebook is quite something - wish I had the tekkerz to pull that off.

Most importantly. Did you stack it? I saw some great slips. Don't think any were real injuries but a BCC rider took a heavy fall on the biggest drop and didn't get up for at least a lap. I managed a good one on the small drop after the football pitch and the small wooded section before the back straight.

Found it pretty hard and a bit beyond my skill level but lots of fun.

I stacked it on the big drop. I clambered up. I then didn't manage to clip in but thought " fuck it".
I did fuck it up.

Was that down to the neoprene booties you were wearing?

Who dat?

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@pastry_bot

Yes. They did help me stay in front of you though.

I've just sent your times. You're doing yourself down.
Good work on one gear.
Seriously.

Ha very true, the lurgey did you out of a place in the 30's, seriously impressive lap times.