Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Sorry to hear that, frustrating I’d imagine.
Probably warmer for your race too.

That climb was tough, walked twice! Definitely has me considering my gearing but that’s for another day.

18 th place. I did carry a bottle but squirted most of it over my head so hardly drunk anything. Every time this happens I think if I trained and bought a cross bike I could do OK ish but then it starts raining and I remember I fucking hate cyclo cross. Currently online looking at cross bikes 😂

I'm normally fine with the heat, so I don't think was an excuse today. Just overdid it, trying to stay with people who I usually beat.

Jo Burt was riding singlespeed in our race! He was faster than me on the opening lap too. Mental.

I’d have done the same! That’s a good result well done.
Do it, we can hate it together 🤣

How did you get on? I was lead organizer so not allowed to race yesterday. Slightly relieved as it was scorching.
I'm still blown away by the numbers we had (120 in the Vet 50+) - and 48 in the women's race too which I think is a league record.

Funnily enough I did my back putting my bike on the car so skipped it. But I did notice that there are nearly 500 signed up. I took the initiative and aid for next week. Should be mended by then.

Also: How the heck did you manage those numbers!?!?!? Was it just mayhem on track?

Ha no it was all good. The course is better suited to large numbers than some, so whilst the leaders will have had to deal with overtaking plenty of stragglers, everyone kept their cool. We had tons of volunteers marshalling and dealing with sign-on etc which helped a lot.

I was more concerned about dealing with 40+ sets of pushy parents in the U8s race....

Some pics are up on the FB page there's a couple of you dying afterwards 🥵
https://agr9photographic.pixieset.com/londonandsecx-rd1-v40jr/

Yeah planning to head to the Dr tomorrow. I got up and the sweat had pooled on my eye lids lolz

signed for Sunday Round 2 of the Shimano Lazer WMCCL (after 3 years?)
No legs, no heart, no brain, nada de nada but willing to suffer ~50 min.
At least the car rack seems a good choice!

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It might clear the pipes and do you good. I raced last weekend on no prep. Had no warm up apart from a slow busy sighting lap and my legs didn't want to work for the first couple of laps. Ever since though the legs have been feeling great. So make sure you get in a good warm up otherwise it'll be even more of a shock to the system. You can't blame the bike so good luck 💪

thanks :)

What CX gearing are you running? How does it compare to your road set up?

think I'm running front 42/36, 10s with 13-28 cassette.

Ix. 38 or 40 chainring with 30-11 cassette but I've got a 32-11 for more MTB like courses

great bike, honestly feels like it's living a better life than sold for too little

Absolutely true! :) thanks D!

Speeds are much lower in cross, even when it's dry, so it isn't really comparable to road gearing. I use a 1x drivetrain when I'm running gears, usually a 38 front and a 12-30 cassette. But the fact that I can be as competitive on most courses running a 38x18 singlespeed set up, tells you a lot about how many gears and what spread you really need.

It's not that long ago that @Jon. was winning London League races on a singlespeed.

Now he wins Western league races singlespeed.

42 / 10-36 for me. I don't mind the big jumps. Just used to them

40x22 as a default for me in terms of SSCX. Might need to gear down for the muddier races at the back end of the season though!

Thanks everyone.
I’m planning to go to 1x sram for logic across all bikes. Reason I asked road gearing as I ride 50/34 11-32 I prefer to spin a gear generally. My current cross set up is 46/36 11-32 and definitely feel like one by would be better.
I’ll probably start with my gravel bike bits 42- 10-44 and see how that is.

Lot of thought considering how badly my first two races have gone lolz

Lot of thought considering how badly my first two races have gone lolz

Everyone's first few cross races are shit.

Speak for yourself, Andrew.

Mum?