Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Go on! Post your numbers! 😉

Yeah, pretty similar, maybe a few modifications. It's pretty wide all the way round, so plenty of places to take people if you have the legs.

My numbers aren't great they're just better after a month of training specifically than they were after 6 months of middle distance tri diesel training so hopefully that will bring better results. Threshold is 4.4 wkg and have been doing 20 min blocks of 30/30's average 8.5wkg for the ons so starting to feel much more punchy. IF I'm able to get that power down that should be good for top 15 even if I'm starting at the back but cross ain't Zwift. I could spend a lot of time crashing and sliding around on my arse 😂

Ha I’d need to be at ~360 for 4.4
Something to aim for at least

390 here crygif.gif

I’ve been assigned to mark out the start, it will be a wide (5m) slightly uphill grassy sprint at the beginning, into a downhill right hand turn.

Any photos of the wetness?

Also is there a general considered best side for after start corners, inside or out? Always just seems chaos lol

Depends on the course , starting position and the conditions but usually I try to start on the side that leads to the outside on the first corner. I find the inside always gets snarled up.
I made up 30 or 40 places last Sunday doing this before my complete lack of fitness saw me drop back again

Jesus Christ. The start is the least of the problems…
I’ve only had a quick look around but the “top” section is super technical.

Some parts are very dry, some parts are thick mud.

Was a beautiful morning but the rain is coming down now. Now I’m expecting more mud than dry.

It’s cross. There is supposed to be mud.

Muddy hell next weekend and I'm dipping in on my gravel bike (cross isn't part of my usual curriculum). I'm currently shod with 45mm Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Ms, but have a pair of Terreno Wets in 33mm which I could fit. One of the Vittoria's is reasonably worn down the middle so would probably stick that on the back, but the other is pretty new.

Should I both changing tyres over for the weekend? I'll be in a banana costume for the race itself if that is relevant

Given the forecast for the week, and next Saturday specifically, I'd go for as much grip as you can. It's going to be very wet, possibly wetter than Canada Heights today, if that is possible.

Before and after shots today.

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I changed my wheels to ride back to the station.

Western league was a proper mud fest today. Absolutely savage. Couldn't keep my chain on.

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Today was awesome, I totally just ran the whole really muddy section at Canada Heights. I lost a minute on a lap due to dropping my chain but still managed my best in cat finish.

A Brixton rider took a good old tumble of the little kicker before the off camber left hander after that muddy section in front of me.

Is the fid -lock good?

Yes! Definitely the best bottle solution for riding off road that I've tried. Since fitting it I don't recall ever dropping a bottle. I had the Fabric one before and that was rubbish, the bottle was forever being dropped.

Great, I’d been umming an ahhing.

I’m assuming I’ll need lights for Muddy Hell on Saturday?

I'm sure this has been posted before as its nearly 10 years old now but it only popped up on my suggestions today so for anyone else who's not seen it
https://youtube.com/watch?v=583emYEe1iw&si=aypOyy87tIHODctO

This is lots of fun, for both the racing content and extreme mid-noughties vibes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPxYIfEZbdg

I think so. Usually just a front light. If your costume allows, a helmet mounted light is useful too, as you can see where you want to go, rather than just where the front of the bike is pointing.

Entries for the New Year's Day Madison Cross have opened today. Hope to see some of you there.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/294058/OCT%C3%84VES-NYD-M%C3%84DISON-CYCLOCROSS-2024