Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Someone on STW is selling a Dirty Disco quite cheap:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-large-dirty-disco-with-sram-red

And a Ridley Crosswind, even cheaper:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ridley-crosswind-cx-winter-bike-54cm-med-shimano-10510sp

And a Salsa Les cruces for an ok price:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-loads-scott-litespeed-salsa-dna-cb-rf-thomson-paul-xtr-voodoo

Rotten luck Howard, hope any damage to both you and the bike are merely superficial. I had a quick look for you after my race to give you some advice on the course, but I guess you were experiencing it for yourself.

Yeah, Howard that sounds like arun of bad luck.
I'm sure it will be sorted, if nothing else he probably won't want the attn.

Rotten luck Howard, hope any damage to both you and the bike are merely superficial. I had a quick look for you after my race to give you some advice on the course, but I guess you were experiencing it for yourself.

I'm wondering what that advice would have been. How did you get on?

Sorry to hear that Howard.

Glad to hear you're not too hurt and the bike is pretty ok.

Damn Howard, that's unlucky

Heal up fast!

That was an odd race today, akin to riding a jackhammer around Herne Hill 8 or 9 times.

It was my first London League race of the season, so no chance of being gridded but I was close to the front of the waiting masses so thought I'd be okay. Cue mayhem. They did the Vets and Junior gridding then called all the women forward. I've no problem with this, but I lapped the woman who started directly in front of me 3 times in a 45 minute race, which makes the opening lap and a half insane as faster riders try and get past much slower riders. A certain junior, who shall rename nameless, pulled some stupid moves which proves that his surname is very apt.

Once it settled down I got into a good rhythm and set about picking off those slower vets who were gridded ahead of me. I got a few but the traffic on the first lap and a half meant that many were too far ahead and I had no chance of catching them.

I'm not sure where I finished, but would guess I was just outside the top ten.

A certain junior, who shall rename nameless

Hmmm ...

#wouldneverrideacrossrace

Howard: Bad news. Hope it's sorted soon.

Yesterday was a blast! I did not do well position wise, but I've defiantly realised all I need is more practice. Fitness wasn't a problem, just technical ability.
Fell off on the last lap and grazed up my arm pretty good but it did not dampen my spirits.

Cue mayhem. They did the Vets and Junior gridding then called all the women forward. I've no problem with this, but I lapped the woman who started directly in front of me 3 times in a 45 minute race, which makes the opening lap and a half insane as faster riders try and get past much slower riders.

So the start order was

Gridded Vets
Gridden Juniors
Women
Other Vets

Eh? Unless I've got the wrong end of the stick, that sounds pretty sketchy.

Exactly that. Hence the mayhem.

ZOMG etc.

There's no perfect starting order, but I'd have thought

Gridded Vets
Vets
Gridded Women
Women
Gridded Juniors
Juniors

Would have been a bit less sketch.

Jammy: glad to hear you had a good time.

Who's going to be riding at Hemel on Sunday? Looks like I'll be riding the wife's bike...

Fingers crossed, no outlaws visiting, no running the missus up and down the motorway, no tales of woe which might one day make it into the Foffa thread, I might actually make it to a race this year.

Didn't you do 3 Peaks?

I'll tell you about it someday, never got further north than Bolsover.

It's the international break, tell us now.

I'll put it in the foffa thread someday.

Oh dear. So much ZOMG in the CX thread.

Results for Sunday's London CX League race @ Herne Hill are up.

I've finished 30th out of 53. Not bad for a first cx race this century, start from the back of a pack with some technicals, on mtb, with a hangover.

I'm not sure where I finished, but would guess I was just outside the top ten.

Results for Sunday's London CX League race @ Herne Hill are up.

I've finished 30th out of 53. Not bad for a first cx race this century, start from the back of a pack with some technicals, on mtb, with a hangover.

16th overall, 11th vet. I think I'm the first of the non gridded vets too.

Eastern League go;

gridded vets
ungridded vets
gridded women
ungridded women.

the juniors race in with the seniors and the women start 1 minute after the vets. all seems to work pretty well, not too chaotic at the start. Round 5 was in Welwyn Garden city last saturday on a tough but really interesting course. great fun

Sounds a bit more sensible. Juniors with Seniors sounds an interesting mix.

Well done Dimi - you looked good but I was catching you - before my weekend went to the dogs.

I rode one Eastern League round last year and everyone bar me and one or two other waifs and strays got gridded.

Still got 3rd Vet though.

/boast post

Well done Dimi - you looked good but I was catching you - before my weekend went to the dogs.

Yeah, I know, it wasn't easy to keep the speed up on the flat sections, my gears were slipping and my saddle was pointing at the sky. I was expecting to see you in front of me.

Your start looked good. I got stuck behind a couple of slower guys. Hyperbole was urging me to get past them as he was stuck behind me!