Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

I couldn't make it today, so I did a Functional Threshold Test instead. Because Sundays are for Suffering, natch.

Fantastic event put on by the best club in the world, lol. I'd never helped out before so didn't realise how fast the under 10s are!

That course nearly killed me though. Memories of last year's regional champs.

Were riders lost to the field of doom's murky depths?

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 .

I'm out for this now. Believe it or not I've double booked myself that weekend, and will be at my parents' place for a Burns Night supper.

Quite keen for one of the other 'cross sportives, though.

Were riders lost to the field of doom's murky depths?

It wasn't too bad to be honest. They avoided the centre section from last year's regionals, and routed you around the perimeter similar to some of the Summer CX league races.

I had a blast, got held up at the start but was in a good group of five with three Hackney GT riders and we had a race long scrap. I chose to run the first half of the Field of Doom on the last lap and that gave me the edge to beat all of them. Outside the top ten but enjoyed it immensely which is the main thing.

Just got soaked again though as I cleaned the bike and a thunderstorm arrived.

I rode straight home after the race as Bethlem is only a couple of miles up the road, and when I got home my four year old came rushing to the back door to see me.

"Ooh, you're very muddy, dad. Muddier than a hippopotamus who's just had a mud bath".
"That muddy?"
"Yes, now take off your muddy things before you come in the house and don't make a mess."

Lol...nice one Edie.

That was great fun yesterday and a good cross education.

My Challenge Grifo clinchers have turned up, hopefully they'll help me have a bit more grip in the muddier stuff.

Hope they come good for you if we visit Footscray again. I was ok at Bethlem, but that mud at Footscray was something else.

AndyP; I don't see any calendar updates re: the remaining races in the London league. Can you explain what was happening on the 19th again?

Excellent, a different type of mud conversation. Footscray was drying mud, Bethlem was very wet mud.

As for the 19th, VC Deal are hosting a race at Fowlmead, which isn't part of the London League;

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/104253/VC-Deal,-Hammonds,-Activ,-Harry-Rowlands,-Fowlmead-Cyclo-Cross

Many thanks. Got it now :-)

Unfortunately, VC Londres have had to cancel the London League event scheduled for the 26th, originally to be hosted at Herne Hill then moved to Bethlem.

That is a shame....stupid blimmin' weather.

Oh well, time to stick the mudguards and skinny(ish) tyres on the cross whip and hit the roads.

Will you be racing at Dartford and Lindfield Andy?

Probably just Dartford.

I'm tempted to end my season now, given how stop start it's been as five races I'd planned to ride have been cancelled or moved, but I like the Dartford course so I'll keep going for another 3 weeks so I can ride it.

If there's one last race then at least I'll get to blood my new Grifos, and try out my anti-clogging cable hack.

Sounds like I won't ride any cx races on a cx bike this season then. Oh well...

The inaugural women's vet 40 race at the National Trophy in Derby yesterday was fantastic. 29 sign ons out of 30 entrants (38 entered in the Junior/Senior race today as well. A pitch battle for the 1st between Tracey Fletcher and Claire Smith really kept the race alive and none of the top 10 positions had an easy ride.

Feedback from riders, spectators and commissaires was that this was a good race with a good field and definitely worth hosting. It looks certain to return next year and British Cycling will probably now look at whether the a seperate category for FV40+ can be introduced into the National Trophy series as well. A bit harder given the time constraints but these women riders have demonstrated they are deserving of more course time and space.

Stayed to watch the V50+ race as well which was a tough clog through some very churned up and sticky ground but still a big field with some great battles going on. Alas I had to leave for an appointment with some kittens so didn't get to see any more racing. Today's racers might be considering 10psi given the conditions. Derby, always an "interesting" course.

National champs look muddy

That's the pit area, which has had to cope with two days of jet washing. I don't think the rest of the course was that bad.

Serious question: pit areas.
Are they in bigger races too? I guess it's worth it for the pros/semi pros, but would it happen in a race I entered? If I entered a race that is.

London League rounds have a pit area.

Not seen any mid-race jet washers yet, but there are people with multiple bikes. Claire Beaumont, for one. But as she works for Condor, it'd be rude not to have a least a pair, really.

I've, yet, to have a spare bike, but always leave a pair of spare wheels in the pits. It means that if you puncture, it's not the end of your race.

Spare wheels is a good idea.

Also, liking the look of the Transition Rapture. Steel CX frame that can be converted from SS to geared by switching out the drop outs.

I know Planet X tried that a while back too, but they don't seem to make much of that anymore.

giro air attack being worn at the cx nats, odd choice