Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

I know last weekend doesn't represent your average cross course profile but we were taking gears afterwards and me and Richard Penning (6th) were on 1x mtb's 36-11-36 and needed that low gear. Richard Freshwater who came 2nd in our race was on 46-12-46 but didn't use his bail out so was using a 37 X 46 up that climb

Punch it or run it :)

WMCCL 2023: Round 2 in Shrewsbury was super fun! Managed to close the race with less than 15 falls that is a new record 😅
Rain brought some more amusements to the race together some nasty slippery corners 🤓

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We had the opening round of the South West CX League today. I gridded on the front row (I was as shocked as everyone else!) and got my best start ever, getting the holeshot and holding it for a quarter of a lap or so before the proper fast guys decided enough was enough!

I settled in around 4th or 5th for a couple of laps, and then smacked into the square edge of a rut running perpendicular to the track, resulting in the handlebars rotating and my saddle ending up pointing at the top tube!

I nipped into the pits and borrowed a 4mm Allen key to fix it but lost about 90secs as a result. From then on, every bad bump would send the saddle nose downwards and the bars rotating similarly, so I rode much more gingerly than I’d have liked given my frankly unheard of start!

Still, had a great time and looking forward to the next rounds!

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How did everyone go today?
I’m being patient hoping to return next weekend

Nada de nada for me, was hiking around Brum.
I am signed up for next Sunday, lf to it!

Managed to bang my head and give myself a concussion last week, so haven't been riding at all. Hope to race at Palace next Sunday.

Oh no, on or off bike?
Yeah I’m hopeful I’ll be at Palace, did you see Gatwick is looking for different venue?

Off bike. Twatted my head on the scaffolding we've got up on the house at the moment. Nice gouge in my forehead too.

I did see the Gatwick is off. I have mixed feelings, it was a really uninteresting course, but I did have my best result of the year there.

Anyone know what the first round of the Western CX in Frome will be like? I'm assuming muddy...

A return to Pippingford Park is confirmed for Round 4.

Probably only if it’s raining on the day. It’s been too dry recently to have serious mud and any rain now will only penetrate the top few centimetres of soil.

I’m on the fence for Palace. I’m not in great shape Sundridge kicked my ass today after Toys. I’ll try get out again before the weekend and decide.
How’s the head? Saw you got a short ride in…

Much better, thanks. No headaches and managed a day in the office today, with lots of talking to people. I should be good to race.

If I was you, I'd race, irrespective of your fitness as the more races you do, the more you get into the swing of it and understand your limits on corners, improve your tekkers and build race specific fitness.

And you can get proper heckled.

I’m pretty hardened I’ve already been called Chalfie

That's a (very) low blow.

Uuuugggghhhh

Really? I’m so sorry.

Entered Palace. What’s the course like?
Assume I use my number from Coombe?

Hilly

FFS still overgeared am I going to have to run/ walk at all? Dismount?

Yes, you use the number for the entire series, then return it at the end.

The course isn't that hilly, I think @Chalfie is over egging it. It's normally based around the area above the lake, so some technical 180 degree bends on the slope, a section after that with tree roots, then a fast open bit around the grass between the lake and the road, then another technical section through the trees that sit inside the 180 turn that the road circuit uses, then a fast bit down to the area below Dead Man's corner, then there's usually a really tricky off camber series of 180 turns, then a steep hill, that is usually rideable, back up onto the road. This bit is usually rideable, but it's quicker to get off and run parts of it.

I'm already regretting my life choices lol

It's a great course, fast but challenging.