Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Quite keen for this. Need to figure out if I'm strong enough to do the full distance.

New ( geared ) 'cross bike arrives 1st week january , so am up for the 60 k route . Gonna be getting up to speed meantime riding flat bits on my specialized singlecross . Give me a shout if and when anyone signs up . I only live round the corner from this .

Hmm - I like the theory of them, but the 60% on road doesn't appeal greatly.
If i'm on knobbly tyres then I want to be off road (for at least 90% of the ride)

Has anyone done the South Downs Way on a CX bike? tempted to try it one summer (or at least a good portion of it)

I would like to ride Winchester-Eastbourne on the South Downs way in 2014, let me know when you are free.

I would like to ride Winchester-Eastbourne on the South Downs way in 2014, let me know when you are free.

Cool, my parents live between lewes and Eastbourne, so that would be my favoured end point :-)

And my parents live in Winchester. We'll both be in the good books!

Rode at Sidcup today - was hard work, and my tyres did not like the conditions at all.

Pretty much zero grip in the corners after about 2 laps, they just blocked up with mud and then it was like steering with slicks.

Still, it's all a learning experience. Ribble have a good deal on Challenge Grifos at the moment, I've bough a pair to see how they compare to the current Schwalbes.

Give me a shout if and when anyone signs up . I only live round the corner from this .

I've signed up for the full route.

Anyone know why the calendar entry for the HH New Years Madison is in red?

I'd imagine it's at risk of being cancelled. The ongoing improvement works has meant there's a lot of recently moved soil on the course and this wet weather will have made it almost unrideable. I'd think it depends on whether they can put together a course, and it is usually shortened for this race, using sections that are unaffected.

I also rode at Footscray yesterday, and think I may have said hello to you Mike in the sign on hut before the race? I was in Rollapaluza kit.

Got a brilliant start, and was in a nice group with Phil Murrell and Dougie Fox after a lap and a half, but then my rear wheel kept getting clogged with mud and I had to stop a few times to clear it. I must've lost at least 5 places because of it and couldn't make them back up. One of the downsides of mud tyres is that despite them giving you lots of grip, they throw up a lot of mud which then clogs up the bike.

Bethlem on Sunday will be interesting, assuming they route us through the Field of Doom.

That was hard work yesterday after the Xmas Excess. Nowhere to hide on that course and no grip once the tyres got clogged.

Made the race marshall laugh when she rang the last lap bell for me and I said "thank you, thank you!"

Good, hard fun and nice to see Mike and Andy.

I need to get some gels. Put two riders behind me only for them both to whoosh past a while later. I don't think I slowed down that much.

I'd imagine it's at risk of being cancelled. The ongoing improvement works has meant there's a lot of recently moved soil on the course and this wet weather will have made it almost unrideable. I'd think it depends on whether they can put together a course, and it is usually shortened for this race, using sections that are unaffected.

Whilst the London X league website has not been updated, the HHV website says the London X league race on 26th Jan is moved to Bethlem.

But no news on HHV website yet re: NYD, so hopefully that means good news.

NYD cross cancelled :(
http://britishcyclesport.com/2013/events/madison-cross-cancelled-january-1/

oh bum

oh no =( was looking forward to it ~

Ah, that's a shame. Looks like I'll only be able to make two more races of this season then.

I raced yesterday too, the last few courses have suited me a little better than Footscray but for the first time I was gridded. However I managed to slide out on the first muddy section, effectively taking me back to my normal rearwards positioning. Seemed to be making up time on the uphill singletrack and in the mud then losing it again on the bumpy flats where more power was needed. Finished with what is becoming my standard positioning, just outside the top 10.

Intend to take next season a little more seriously and race for points. Maybe I'll finally invest in a tubular wheelset too.

..
I need to get some gels. Put two riders behind me only for them both to whoosh past a while later. I don't think I slowed down that much.

Wouldn't bother getting any gels as you shouldn't be eating or drinking in cross races!

I'd imagine it's at risk of being cancelled. The ongoing improvement works has meant there's a lot of recently moved soil on the course and this wet weather will have made it almost unrideable. I'd think it depends on whether they can put together a course, and it is usually shortened for this race, using sections that are unaffected.

I also rode at Footscray yesterday, and think I may have said hello to you Mike in the sign on hut before the race? I was in Rollapaluza kit.

Got a brilliant start, and was in a nice group with Phil Murrell and Dougie Fox after a lap and a half, but then my rear wheel kept getting clogged with mud and I had to stop a few times to clear it. I must've lost at least 5 places because of it and couldn't make them back up. One of the downsides of mud tyres is that despite them giving you lots of grip, they throw up a lot of mud which then clogs up the bike.

Bethlem on Sunday will be interesting, assuming they route us through the Field of Doom.

Hi Andy - I saw you, I think Sam said hello as you were passing, hopefully will get chance to have more of a chat before the next round.

Understandable that the NYD Madison is cancelled, one of the HH volunteers was at the race, and they said that it was the likely outcome, given the weather.

Understandable that the NYD Madison is cancelled, one of the HH volunteers was at the race, and they said that it was the likely outcome, given the weather.

Should anyone be as desperate for a ride as I, I'd be happy to do a ride around Epping forest for a couple of hours.

Wouldn't bother getting any gels as you shouldn't be eating or drinking in cross races!

Advice taken. I had kinda thought that, it's only 45 mins and when the hell do you get a chance to bosh one anyway?

Will ensure I have one to take before the start at least.

Getting some kind of fitness and HTFU will help me much more.

I tend to drink bottle of energy drink about 30 minutes before the race. Seems to keep me going alright. Although I did smash two McDonald's apple pies before the second Hog Hill round. That was surprisingly effective. And delicious.

The race time is a tricky one, as its too early to have lunch beforehand, and too far after breakfast. I try and have a bowl of porridge around 10 a.m. which gives it ample time to digest but close enough so I don't start the race feeling hungry.

I'm glad I don't have to convert my winter road bike into cx racing mode.

Course for tomorrow looks great, despite having to reroute due to trees down etc.

Mostly dry in the forested bits, but the top field is waterlogged. Get ready for some portage.

You mean the Field of Doom!

Have fun gents - I'm 'skiving off' for a four hour XC race. Wish me luck.

Enjoy the field of doom :)

Good luck :-)

Gutted to have been listed as a DNF @ Footscray cos my blimmin' number came undone. Oh well.

See you other lot @ Bethlem in a bit.