Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

I fell off going up hill. I wasn't expecting that.

Very good setup by VC Londres. Don't envy them sorting everything out when anything paper was disintegrating.

Are you volunteering your services?

It was quite muddy;

Photo courtesy of John Mullineaux.

Dat photo.

Would be happy to pit bitch for you if you supply the washer - we do race at different times so it's entirely possible. You'd fit the talbot, too.

Wakefield yesterday up in the Yorkshire League. From a specatators point of view it was a bit disappointing. Despite a fair chunk of flat around a football field, the recent rain meant the going was fairly slow. Also, the Wakey Fun Log is gone. You used to get a nice little crowd around there heckling people to ride it and cheering if they did. Moar hecklez if they fell. Still, the day wasn't completely without it's fun moments. The course wound around some trees on a short bank of about 60% which led to some gallant riding attempt and some funny domino moments in the peleton when riders at the top didn't quite make it. I lol'd

Also, star appearances were made by Beth Crumpton and Alice Barnes who bought their MTBs out for a bit of a play. There was nearly a bit of an upset as Beth threatened to invade the podium for much of the race. In the end she was held to fifth place. In the meantime, one of the leading Vet50's gave a masterclass in why you should put your spare wheels in the pits. On the penultimate lap he rolled the tubs on his rear wheel and ended up sprinting over to the car park for the spare which mostly cost him a lap and put him out of his place in the top ten.

If anyone is up Sheffield way for 23/11 you could have a chance to race the Awesome Spiral of Confusion if the organiser is brave enough to put it back in. There were some comments last year but that just strikes me as justification to put it in again.

I think I ought to be challenging for the podium before I start having a pit crew.

I reckon it had thickened up somewhat since the vets race, given the lack of rain. Surprised not to see lots of derailleurs hanging off bicycles.

A pit crew might just get you up there though.

One thing to look forward to on your 40th birthday, less churned up courses :-)

They would be my first choice too

The socks aren't up to much either

We're looking at the blue hudz right?
Because, I can't see anything wrong there.

Needs must.

Results are up from Sunday, after an epic drying out session of the sign on sheets and lap counting sheets!

http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/2014/08/round-7-sun-2nd-nov/

Chapeau Andy - that is good work!

Being 50 places behind you should be disheartening, but I am not too unhappy with a mid-table result considering how tentative I was around every bend.

Given the conditions it's good to see such a long list of finishers. Well done, all.

Erm ... making sense of this ...

... is rather impressive. :)

How wonderful that there's someone called Andrew Snowball. I don't think I've heard of that as a surname before.

London league at Cyclopark this Sunday - who's making the trip?

I'm riding. It's a become a bit of a faff to get to by public transport this year, last year there were regular trains to Meopham, a couple of miles away but this Sunday there only seems to be one an hour.

I enjoyed the course last year, although it was much, much drier than I anticipated so the Rhinos were overkill. That's worth bearing in mind this year, despite the recent rain it's well drained and a lot of the course is on hard packed MTB trails, so not a lot of mud.

Not much rain forecast for this week either. Although weather forecasts don't mean much.

Which train are you likely to get @andyp? The Meopham train is pretty good for me leaving from Victoria.

I may have a lift, courtesy of a kind forumite.

If not, I'll be catching the 1050ish train from Bromley South. I'll be there early but the next train will get me there too late.

Ah OK - I'll probably / hopefully see you there.

Lots of engineering works on Sunday, I think.

I haz checked, it's all good.