Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Evans have discontinued them. But places like bike-discount seem to have them.

I've had the same problem with finding a pair to replace my current shoes. These new mavics might be worth a look, strangely for mavics they size up a bit big as I had to go down a size. Free delivery and returns direct from mavic

https://shop.mavic.com/en-gb/crossmax-boa-g3392.html#1028=3294

Cheers. Perhaps foolishly, I just ordered some Shimano xc7s despite the xc5s being terrible for me.

I like the look of the yellow Mavic shoes though, they match my skinsuit!! :-)

Just off to finalise building the course for my club’s home cx race tomorrow. We had a good course laid out but apparently part of the site is flooded so needs a bit of editing.

apparently part of the site is flooded

U.K. ‘Cross in 2019

I found the fit of the XC 5's to be better than the XC7's but both didn't fit very well. I think the routing of the Boa cable also leaves a lot to be desired as it had a tendency to unship when you loosened it.
The mavics are a really good fit , the only concern I have is the toe protection is a bit firm, I just weighing up how much I think it will soften up. My first pair of cross shoes were mavic and I loved the contageip soles, sadly they discontinued the maxi size they used to do . Their sizings are weird though

you need to post a picture of the skinsuit, lemon yellow is a strong look :)

a wild course today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0ngWVouaiE

I have to say, the GCN coverage of cyclocross this year is incredible. So professional

edit: clearly jinxed it, stream has frozen three times. Still better than it used to be

How'd it go with the tubs?

won't know for a few weeks yet, i'm afraid. our league has a hiatus from two weeks ago until 29 dec. they're currently stretching on their wheels.

He is human after all;

https://twitter.com/cyclocross24/status/1202180868103704577

As @Sam said elsewhere, “Joey’s ok”.

North of England Champs in Burnley yesterday. The ground was so bad that less than 20% of the course was rideable unless you're at the top end of the field, in which case you might manage nearly 25%. Lots of sections were taken out so that those at the back end of the field could manage two laps without messing up the timing for the other races. I hope your race had a bit more riding than mine.

In contrast, Southeastern Champs (Gravesend) was 100% rideable. Having stayed dry all day, the weather changed halfway through the Seniors' race with hail and then rain making the course ride very differently.

I don't think the Cyclopark cleaners will be very pleased about the state we left the changing rooms in afterwards. :'(

Respect! I heard those planks were proper hard to hop.

big up to @neilp for winning the eastern league champs yesterday against some very good competition

I wouldn't know, I'm short enough to have trouble stepping over them!

Edit: I get you. 99% rideable!

They should provide ladders!

surprisingly, the GCN Cyclocross podcast with Jeremy Powers is actually quite good. I rarely hear interviews with the likes of Toon Aerts and LvdH it was super nice to hear those. I'd reccomend it to anyone with a passing interest in CX.

https://audioboom.com/channels/5008985

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTtYHdQvtt4

Mens Ronse Cross just about to start. Conditions look horiffic!

That was a good race! Thanks for the bump.

seeing the pros basically come to a standstill at some points through exhaustion in the mud was very close to home

It was watching them trudge up that wall (and down that one corner) for me. I'm trudging every race!

@andyp how was your race? I saw you briefly sailing through the mud like Toon Aerts but scuttled off to warm up.

I had a bit of a miserable day. I thought I'd been clever by fitting some studs to some sidis I bought a couple of years ago, installing a larger sprocket on my mud tyres. Even managed to remember my number this week.

Obviously I was bringing up the rear for most of the race, which was fine, and had a good battle with a couple of riders over the first three laps. Great, mud everywhere, probably ran 60% of the first lap but so did most of the back markers. Eventually the long drag before the tarmac section took it's toll, I couldn't ride it and lost time. Then I when I tired I managed to put my foot through my front wheel stacking it on an off camber, thankfully on the last lap, but broke a spoke and got cold fixing it after the race. Think I was last rider :(

Then on the way out my front brake cable popped loose - great, heading downhill on an untrue wheel with a muddy bike and one barely functional back brake! Managed to fix it (and stop) but I think today marks a cx low for me. Also these sidis I haven't worn before have probably made my heels bleed, daren't take them off in case I can't get them on again. I'm covered in mud with a dirty bike since I couldn't face waiting to clean my bike.

Apologies for the self-absorbed post but I need to vent:( please send HTFUs and other words of advice.

Sounds like quite the day out. Well done for turning up and doing it. Wish I had that level of mojo.

Not sure I felt like Toon Aerts. It was my first race after being ill for the past fortnight, so was always going to be a bit grim. The course didn’t help, but I just kept plugging away and did okay. Hopefully that effort will stand me in good stead for the next London League round at Ardingly on the 4th.

Ground out an 11th place, but lost ground to the two guys I’m trying to beat in the overall league standings.

I hope to ride the Madison Cross on NYD, are you racing Oli?

I had problems running in my Giro shoes last season at Frylands btw. Both my arches were really bruised afterwards. I think cycling shoes just aren’t really that practical for running in.

I sometimes think that for a course like today a pair of flats and some mud specific running shoes might make more sense.