Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Great course. Really nice location.
Started near the back. Went up. Towards the front of the back end, doing well. 2nd lap. Noticed a flap flap flap noise. Looked down. Looked well flat. Had passed the pits, but didn't have anything there anywhere. Finished 2 laps. Pulled out on third.
Puncture.

Ace.
:/

Welcome to 'cross ;)

Annoying! I'm going to definitely always take spare wheels to races from now on

Same story, only I had a flat before the start, had to pump up the tyre and see how long will it last, as there was no time to change the inner tube and everyone was lining up at the start line, so I joined the back - it lasted just under 2 laps. Also my rear wheel was really clogged up with leaves, mud and whatnot, it was barely spinning. It was fun though, my average HR was 17o bpm. Really jealous at all that people with spare bikes and helpers.

Spare bike would be better

Harder to get to race if you don't drive, and racing sscx means less chance of getting other mechanicals

Maybe when @Chalfie becomes a vet we can do a small persons bike share

Spare wheels are a lot easier to carry.

You have it a go, which is what matters.

Just wait till you start puncturing tubular tyres on a bi-weekly basis. I might try and see if I can convert my Archetypes to tubeless as I'm not sure I'm cut out for this much mastik inhalation.

Not moaning too much, if there had been less rocks I think I'd have carried on. And got steadily slower....
I think I'm looking forward to next week.

Proper shit show over in Bristol today. Had to stop 5 times to pull mud/leaves/trees and small dogs out of my fork/front brake. A couple of the stops were way over a minute. Was pretty close to giving up after the first one, but thought I might as well make the best of a bad situation.

Quite a bit of running, through mud far too deep to ride followed by steps meant I got a good bit of practice. Actually managed to get a few places back there, which amazed me as I am a terrible runner. Remounts getting better as well.

At least no mecahnicals this time...

That and all this winning will be a heady mixture.

Well done again today.

Ha, thanks, the big boys seem to have been absent the last few weeks. A disastrous last lap almost lost it for me today but thankfully I had a bit of a gap so had time to slip on roots, unclog my rear brake and ride a flat tyre home to take it by a few seconds.

Like a boss, by the sounds of things :)

You riding at Hog Hill?

Central League at Hillingdon today, so lots of people chose to race there too. But you can only beat the others in the race and you've now down that twice!

I've a theory that the cream rises to the top at this time of year, as the conditions and motivation levels means it is only those who are committed and have a good level of handling skills who are still racing. In previous years, I've seen many of those who were doing well when courses were hard and fast disappear once it gets muddy and slow.

Well done @j.Dennis. you were up against jack, russel etc so not an'easy' field.

I led a masterclass in how not to race cross. Except the descents, they were OK now I have new brakes!

I'm hoping to. But, looking at the situation (weekend before Christmas...) I'm probably going to get on with wrapping and shopping and stuff.

If not, I'd like to get out somewhere and try to "have a go" non-competitively.

It's certainly a different skill set from the beginning of the season. Much less about out-and-out fitness/speed.

With 23mm (external) rims should I opt for Stans XC 29er rim strip or the road version?

Which rims are you converting?

Archetypes.

19mm internal width? Same as TN719 which apparently the XC rim strip works with.

Has anyone ridden Hog Hill in the depths of winter before? I've only ridden it during the early season, where it's hard and fast, but am wondering how muddy it gets in December so I can make the right tyre selection before Sunday.

FWIW, I was at Bethlem yesterday and it's getting very wet already, with the Field of Doom particularly bad. It's not too bad in the woods or the lower field though, all that's rideable.

No. Raced it when it was round 4 last year and it was slippery but not muddy.