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Great race, I'm really chuffed tht the organisers let me ride even though I arrived too late to race in my appropriate catergory (whoops).
This was my fault for not paying enough attention to the running order :(
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Apologies if this has been covered before.
I rode muddy hell in the gocross category and it was fun. I'd like to do some more 'cross.
What's a good place to start? I was looking at the London league events, but they don't have a novice category. Judging from watching the seniors race at MH I would get embarrassingly dropped/ lapped if I rode in that category.
Where could I find out about more novice events - or is it just a case of HTFU and deal with being very very slow?
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Cupcakes, you did see Fat Robin bringing up the rear, I doubt that you would be dropped by him (me). Also there is always encouragement for the guy/girl at the back so don't worry about being slower than the whippets at the front. I know, I am often the guy at the back.
If you really want to avoid super fast riders, some leagues such as Central have go-races and some of the events are close to London/accessible by a short train ride so do not restrict yourself to London League.
As for other leagues and ensuring you don't have to travel too far, last weekend I met Howard and Doc Cake at Oxford for the Wessex league, the course was a ten minute ride from the station and a great blast. London League was in Brighton at a course which is a lot more than a ten minute ride from the station so certainly harder to reach. Always some good advice on this thread regarding accessibility of the courses from the old guys (AndyP mainly) and leagues only matter if you want points, gridding at the start etc...
Coming up soon is Hillingdon, another one not too far away, Central League.
When you do come along to a race, say hi to the fat bloke in the Rollapaluza kit (me), the old guy in the Rollapaluza kit with badly fitting armwarmers (AndyP) and the tall thin guy in the Rollapaluza kit (Andrey).
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^^ The bigger meetings tend to have a 'support race' or Go race - but if they don't, just pile in with the seniors. No one will mind if you are bit slow. Cross is wonderfully inclusive.
No shame in being lapped, unless you are finishing in the top 15 the chances are you will be anyway - the gulf in performance between the everyman and the shit-hot is staggering.
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Apologies if this has been covered before.
I rode muddy hell in the gocross category and it was fun. I'd like to do some more 'cross.
What's a good place to start? I was looking at the London league events, but they don't have a novice category. Judging from watching the seniors race at MH I would get embarrassingly dropped/ lapped if I rode in that category.
Where could I find out about more novice events - or is it just a case of HTFU and deal with being very very slow?
The British Cycling website has a full list of cross races in the UK here;
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events?zuv_bc_discipline_filter_id=4
Some of the London League events run a Go Cross race and the next one local to you is at Herne Hill on the 23rd of December.
However, as both Chris and Howard point out, cyclocross is very inclusive and novices are welcomed at most races. Don't be afraid of the fast guys, most of them will tell you clearly which side they are going to pass on if they are overtaking you.
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It looks like VCL will run the New Year's Day cross madison for 2013!
Nothing too official up yet, but it is on their club calender.
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Argh Bristol City Council have effectively cancelled the Western League: http://road.cc/content/news/70452-cycling-city-not-our-land
cocks! was really looking forward to more cx in Bristol - now if I want to race on Sunday I have to drive an hour to Gloucester
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3 cross events at Herne Hill over the Christmas period - http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/racing_events/cyclo_cross/
Don't forget the Regional cross championships at the new (with *even *newer sections than last time) Bethlam Hospital course too. Pre entry only, it closes in 2 weeks. http://www.facebook.com/events/374144076003436/ https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/83223/East-&-South-East-Cyclo-Cross-Championships
Don't be put off by it being a regional event. The level wont be any higher than a regular London League.
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Or various other methods of poorly making contact with your partner. As witnessed in this blurry video.
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Argh Bristol City Council have effectively cancelled the Western League: http://road.cc/content/news/70452-cycling-city-not-our-land
cocks! was really looking forward to more cx in Bristol - now if I want to race on Sunday I have to drive an hour to Gloucester
Zero cycle racing on their land. A mad decision.
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Amazing weather, curiously long circuit, mostly flat and fairly dry grass with some short but harsh technical twists - suits those with stamina, power and concentration. I lack power so I was always going to suffer.
I started well, had some good battles then crashed heavily before crashing again and both times I got a good whack to the head. This did little for my race and I lost a lot of hard won places. Total race time was a barmy 1hr 12 which drew out the suffering longer than my body could take - I lost a fair few places on the last lap.
In short, a bit of a mixed bag but I won't have to have the bike in bits as the course was mostly dry.
Good to see Rameye and Texas and I met a CXer on the train to Luton who had come from Winchester - just a three hour door to door journey. These CX people are a bit nuts...
Howard
DeadSpale
Cupcakes
Ramsaye
andyp
danb
Doctor_Cake
JC
Sandy_l
miro_o
Ced-
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Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training
Posted by
@Multi_Grooves
When I did a practice lap I tried to gingerly hop over the stream so to keep my feet dry. I soon realised that was a foolish endevour.
Great race, I'm really chuffed that the organisers let me ride even though I arrived too late to race in my appropriate catergory (whoops).