Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Had my First cross race in a few years on Saturday. Definitely forgot how hard it is!

At Hog Hill, Chris? London League is racing there in a fortnight I think.

Results are in from yesterday, I was 10th (although Dougie was 1st in the v50s so really I was 9th).

http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/2014/08/round-3-sun-21st-sept/

Am happy with that. Without the mechanical I'd have probably been 8th or 7th, as they were the guys I was with when I had to stop.

Well done that's a good result.

I was at hoghill, came 23rd so nothing incredible but reasonably happy as not been off-road on a bike in ages. Gears were all over the place with a bent hanger which was annoying too.

Can't make the LxL at hoghill unfortunately. Will be doing quite a lot of the races in Nov and Dec though , so plenty of time to get some practise in!

9th for me.

I reckon, if I could figure out how to start a race properly, I could begin to break into the top 5. That'd probably require proper training though, other than riding around woods.

Ha! You look absolutely fucked in that third photo.

Yep, it was so hard. The mud was so thick it was like riding through treacle. Not really any 'brapping', more like trudging.

Unfortunately, it was the last race of the season (the only one in Auckland all year). Might try my hand at some XC racing now.

Might be of interest to some people here.

That is of interest, thanks Andy. This may be a stupid question, but where is it?

It's not a stupid question - it's south of Gravesend, next to the M2.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.417683,0.356678,15z

There are Rapha cross rides starting tomorrow in Epping Forest and continuing every 3ish weeks for the rest of the year (usually coinciding with the weekend of a big cross race that will be screened at the CC afterwards) for anyone who is interested. My friend Jack is running them and he's really nice so they'll be really fun, so please sign up!

Tomorrow's ride: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ccldn-cyclocross-tickets-13285851339

There's also two Women's Cross skills sessions at Herne Hill Velodrome on Sunday 19th October for any ladies who wants to try out cross for the first time which will be great, and also all riders get a free space in the Super Cross Fun Race the following weekend at Ally Pally!

Session 1, 12.30-2.30: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rapha-womens-cross-skills-session-1-tickets-13283466205
Session 2, 3-5pm linky: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rapha-womens-cross-skills-session-2-tickets-13284427079

/shameless plugging

Damn it, can't ride tomorrow, but would be interested in the skills sessions. Need to check if I'm free.

/shameless mudplugging

Fixed.

Thumbs up.

That's good plugging, in the right place, so thanks.

Tomorrow's central league round at Hillingdon has been cancelled, if anyone was planning on racing it.

The London League round at Herne Hill is still going ahead as planned.

Looking like the weather for this year's Three Peaks is going to be good.

If you're racing look for the lfgss cap among the supporters. Will be available for mechanical assistance, water supplies and DASing

Real shame about the central league event - it's always a tough but rewarding course.

the women's ones sound great, thank you!

I'm going to build myself a new CX bike, for which I was going to use my 3T Luteus fork.

The wheelset I am going to use has a DT Swiss 180 front hub which is easily converted to thru-axle.

Therefore I'm wondering whether I should, instead of the Luteus, consider a Whiskey No 9 Thru-axle cx fork.

What does the LFGSS hive-mind think?

You have money to burn.

I've done 5,000 miles on a Boardman CX bike, due to my high-roller lifestyle and dedication to the latest fashions, it is true.

I think I can't wait to see it!

It's going to be a Talbot thing and made from a metal I hope.

Yes to both, and to keep Rameye happy I'll light the torch with a burning £50.

Ha, only a 50, I am disappoint.

In truth, if you are running tubeless then you should go for the thru axle for the increased stiffness. If you're not on tubeless I would probably stick with the ability to change wheels with the flick of a lever.

I will be running tubeless, yes. Would anyone care to purchase a 3T Luteus?

One careful owner, plenty of steerer left, I've still got the bond-in starnut thing and it's little packets of epoxy.

The benefit of a TA on a bike with an already brutal stiff carbon fork strikes me as a bit tenuous. At least the rotor will end up pretty much in the same place every time you bolt it up though.

Speaking of fork, I'm aware of the Whisky Parts Co TA CX fork, which are a) spendy and b) impossible to find - any others out there that are worth looking at?