Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

As I said to the uncoordinated one earlier this week, don't race on anything you can't afford to replace. So to begin with get a cheap bike, give it a go and then, once you're hooked, start thinking about whether you need to upgrade or not.

Or get made redundant and start a new job a week later and use some of that redundancy money to buy a bike that's 5 years ahead of it's time.

hm. I don't think I'm going to get hooked - I'm pretty sure track and TT's are my thing, I just want a cross bike to keep sharp over the winter and for some bridleway fun. I doubt I'll be taking it too seriously - bike will hopefully double up as a crap weather commuter too.