Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Congrats @j.dennis, just seen that. Hopefully you found your st pancras train?

I think @tonyme is going to drive up too, maybe sort something out with him?

Thanks all. Today's mud certainly beats last weeks - a quick dip in the pond and it was good to go (though my bearings may not be in such a great way).

@owlz, thankfully I wasn't shivering on the platform too long - the train wasn't terminating in London, hence my confusion. Good to meet you!

This from Sheffield yesterday. The spiral of confusion.

The people furthest away are at the back, the person closest (Jack Clarkson) is at the front. Simple so far. The two people just behind Jack going left are behind the guy in red and white going right. He's behind the two guys going right who are behind the guy in blue going left.

It's an inward spiral that turns around and loops back out. A lot of rider's find it hard to track someone they're chasing in and out of it if they're trying to close more than 30 metres. Quite a few riders get caught out because they lose track of where they are in it and push hard to keep up the right hand turn speed when they should be preparing to switch back onto the left hand spiral out. Chuck in lots of gloopy mud and leaves and it becomes quite a treat (for specatators anyway).

Alas I didn't get to watch my wife riding it because I was too busy hauling the mud and leaves out of her bikes. It's been quite an easy season up here as this is the first time she's had to change bikes.

If you're placing 6th then you should think about having a crack at a National Trophy event. Certainly people who place lower in their regional leagues have a go at it. It's a completely different race and a lot of riders reckon it's a great experience.

Probably still time to get an entry in for Bradford which is considered a classic course. They're not pulling lapped riders out now so you'll get a full race in as well.

I'd love to ride National Trophy races, but with two children under 5 it's a time commitment too far at the moment, unfortunately.

In a year or two I'd hope to do some of the southern rounds at least.

My All City Nature Boy was stolen in Hackney last night. Fluro Yellow paint and custom decals. If anyone spots it on ebay/gumtree let me know.

Sorry for the spam.

:( Will keep an eye out for it.

Fuck! No! Will keep an eye out, obviously.

Cheers both.

Yeah pretty gutted. Will probably be frequenting the best cyclocross bike under £1k for a new bike after Christmas

Condolences. Hopefully insurance will pay out?

Apparently Mark McConnell (beaded chap in the first photo) raised his own funds to race in Belgium. I hope he shows up at Milton Keynes, but if he's on a limited budget, probably not.

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2014/10/23/calgarian-mark-mcconnell-riding-moustaches-fame-to-european-racing-circuit/

Great story =D

So given there's a couple of weeks break - anyone interested in three pimples or something similar?

My friend Genevieve Whitson did a kickstarter type thing so that she could race at the World Champs last year. She's a kiwi and although they were happy for her to race in national colours, wouldn't put up any money for her to go there. I think she managed to get them to send her an outdated skinsuit and that was it. We're really lucky with the culture of racing we have here to be able to get some of our riders to the relatively close international races.

I'd urge anyone who can get there to come to MK next weekend. The course looks phenomenal and I reckon the racing will be spectacular.

Having just cleaned a bike, again, not sure if I can face it. When did you have in mind?

Heading out to epping tommoz am for muddy fun. Welcome if you can make it.

If anyone is interested, John Mullineaux has posted his videos from Sunday here;

http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/2014/08/round-9-sun-23rd-nov/

I think the sound of people riding through the field says it all.

Crikey!

This could be a helpful tool;

http://www.bridlewaymap.com

And, whilst I'm here, out of curiosity, what gear did @J.Dennis run on Sunday?

Cool, didn't realise how much there was around Woldingham. Might go and explore on Sunday.

Have a look at my Strava for a few routes I did around there back in the summer. There's still more exploring to be done though.

That's awesome and just what I was after!

Would rep if I could.

Epping was challenging but ridable yesterday. Mercifully the Epping mud comes of with a gentle water hose.