Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Or have I got it all wrong?

Makes sense. Tubeless is also worth considering. Especially if you've used tubeless MTB tyers etc.

To echo Andy's comments, I ran tubeless clinchers - Mud 2 - for dry races then Tracers for intermediate conditions. Didn't manage to get the mud tyres out at all this year due to a dry year end then missing the final races in the early part of the year. But as noted above your regional mileage may vary.

For super-dry conditions I really liked the Continental Cyclocross Speed tyre - fast, light and high volume.

Major Ts are nice intermediate rims - they are quite wide - 23mm - making a good glue job easier. For a proper mud job a deeper section might be better as they'll collect less mud. I used Chinese 50mm crabons, and as I use disc brakes the associated braking woes aren't relevant.

Does anyone know if the latest CAAD X disc frame still has a bridge across the rear stays?

It does have a bridge, yes.

Thanks H.

Any opinions on the 2014 Jake the Snake?

Looking for something with good clearances as I found this was my biggest problem this year.

I've heard Kona's are hard to source, i.e. they don't bring many of some of their models into the UK.

Anyway, the reason I'm in this thread is that I'm having a bit of a clear out and have a pair of Mavic Ksyrium tubular wheels, with Campagnolo freehub and shod with Dugast Rhinos that I no longer need. The bad news is that the bearings need a service as a bare minimum, the good news is that they are free to a good home.

The Rhinos have seen a couple of seasons of light usage, were aquasealed from the off and have a fair bit of life left in them.

PM me if you want them.

I don't think this has been posted yet:

Summer League dates are now up. A four-race 'season' on Thursday evenings. http://www.summerseries.co.uk/

Much excite.

Me too - I'm actually around for all of them, too.

Awwwwwww yus! Cyclocross World Cup comes to Milton Keynes.

On saturday November 29th 2014 for the first time in history a round of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup will take place outside of mainland Europe.

I'll be there heckling Ian Field and Helen Wyman - hope to see some of yous lot there too.

I haz a tickets, and a surplus of cowbells. Very much looking forward to it, never seen a World Cup level CX event.

It's a bit like other events but with the knowledge that the slow lad at the back is way faster than you.

Hopefully with better chips. This is cross, after all.

Right, not sure if this is the right thread, but figure that only people who are racing and training will be interested in this.

I'm all set up to go tubeless and am finding my way here so am looking for guidance. I've a pair of Stans Iron Cross wheels and a range of tyres to try. Given that I'm likely to be swapping tyres quite often, I assume a compressor would be a good idea? If so does anyone have a recommendation for one.

I'll report back as I try different tyres tubeless but my first attempt, a pair of Clement LAS don't look good as they don't seem to hold air for long.

If you are flogging any tub wheels as a result, please let me know.

I thought this was an interesting alternative to a compressor - it'll be cheaper, although the safety does depend somewhat on the care with which it's constructed.

http://www.marathonmtb.com/2014/04/10/how-to-inflate-tubeless-tyres/

You only need a compressor if you are not getting enough airflow to pop the tyre into the Bead Lock with a track pump. The tyre should audibly 'pop' when it snaps into place. With MTB tyres this can be an issue because their air capacity is so large. With CX tyres that's not so much of an issue. In my experience anyhoo.

Also - with the DIY doobry you might stand a fair chance of blowing your tyre off an IC rim. Don't ask me how I know this.

My brother in law has a shiny Lezyne HV track pump which he uses for his mtb, works fine but he does have to pump like a madman at first.

Anyone doing Herne Hill training on Thursday?

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/114241/Rider-Development-Session---Cyclo-cross-%28Herne-Hill-Velodrome%29

Yea, why not.

Scored my first podium on Saturday at Rapha mini-super cross.

In the fun race. Ahem.

£25 prize though.

5th in the seniors race that directly preceded it.

a win is a win... Oh hang on, did you win?

First person over the line on a CX bike*. That will do for me.

*So 2nd overall. Chap who won it was on a rigid 29er with 2" rubber. He also won the seniors after swapping to the MTB from his CX bike. To be fair, he would have won both anyway, but swapping to the MTB for lack of grip on the CX bike struck me as missing the point a bit. Whatevs, all good fun though. Shame Rapha didn't do more promotion for it, could have done with more spectators.

Will head back to Yorkshire for the full SuperCross in October if I'm around - they are doing back to back rounds at Broughton Hall this year.

Just noticed the Clement LAS makes the 'tyers that didn't work well tubeless' list.

I've been looking at another list which suggests they are fine. Quite why I didn't check the CX Magazine list I don't know, it's not like I'm a subscriber or anything!

Anyone want a pair of unused Clement LAS?

Hmmm.

How about Vittoria XM Pro? £20 from Ribble at the mo.

I'd quite like to try a tubless specific tyre. Hutchinson Black Mamba if I can find them, maybe?

I've got some Vittoria XNs already. I'll try them next.

Mich Mud IIs mount up nice and easy. Their lightness is their weakness though - I've killed quite a few on stoney ground, both tubed and tubeless, including a comedy instaflat this Sunday on an MTB trail when I clattered the rear wheel into a stone step.