You are reading a single comment by @Ramsaye and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@Ramsaye
Central 'cross league today at Hitchin was good fun. Course is very flat so they made good use of what they had. Dead turns up and down banking, long straights into the wind, oh and the sandpit.
You came of a bit of banking and onto the long jump trying to get as much speed as possible before hitting the sandpit. Very deep and rutted, if you missed the centre of the ruts or were at the wrong angle it was hell trying to stay on. No pedalling as you got pedal strike in the deep sand and you were off. Getting out was up a steep kerb which had the potential to remove teeth.
I saw one person retire after two laps, he picked himself up and just walked off the course. I saw another try and run the pit, seriously, running in deep soft sand, carrying a bike, at least it was a soft landing. I saw another person go over the bars, seriously, racing through soft sand, on a bike...
Next week is either Derby v Southampton or Notts Derby league in Alfreton on Saturday followed by Hemel or Le Kent on Sunday. I really like Le Kent course but the logistics probably point to Hemel.
Hemel is apparently a fairly flat course so ideal for novices to come to. They do a 30 minute novice race at 11.45 or the 1 hour league race at 1. Not far from London by train so easy to get there and back.