Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Ooh supa cheap, nice one!

I can lend you a Hope Vision 1 if you'd like?

Hog Hill map for this sunday...

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Grades

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How muddy does it get at Hog Hill versus Penshurst, for example?

The lower part of the course can get very muddy. Check out the video/pictures from the London League round in December last year for evidence.

But it's not rained a huge amount this week so it might not be too bad.

Top of the course is usually okay; slippery instead of clogging mud. Bottom has potential to be as bad as Penshurt.

edit: what Andy said. This is the muddiest I've seen it and I don't remember seeing all that many rear mechs broken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tee2-issxtE

Just realised I have a hope 1 available as well.

If anyone needs one for incredible cross.

I think I'm going to spectate tomorrow. Haven't really touched my bike for a month.

Long way to go to watch?

Same here...tigbot still has road rubber on it.

Was going to ride out and do a loop round Epping forest then stop in and watch some racing on the way back. Want to join? Probably leaving Manor House about 9.30 am.

Tempting. Watching would make me feel like I've retired!

I don't think you can race. No signing up on the day. And all slots in the senior race are taken.

Ah - that's very helpful information :)

Will PM @T-V re 9:30 later.

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news.
I hope to see some fellow forumgers out there tomorrow. I will be wearing too tight all black skinsuit, flouro shoes and purple socks ;-)

I will be wearing too tight all black skinsuit, flouro shoes and purple sock ;-)

Yes please @andyp I'll be there nice n early on a Cinelli ss wearing all black :-D

No problem. I've no idea what I'll be wearing, but will be on a singlespeed with fluo yellow bar tape.

Suhweeet, cheers!

Conditions today were, in the end, pretty similar to last winters race at Hog Hill. Perhaps a little more of the lower field was rideable. Top 3 went away on the first lap never to be seen again, and I managed a respectable 5th, I think. Seems like I spent most of the race trying to dislodge mud from my pedals and clip in to little success. Are eggbeaters much better than Time/Shimano in this respect? or is it more to do with the shoe and cleat filling with mud? Do they still fall apart after a few hundred miles?

It was nice meeting you today Jon. Your race was brilliant. Well done. You ended 5 indeed.
I am a little sad that I was walking when you lapped me ;-)

http://www.easterncross.org.uk/race15-16-r1.htm

Setup was pretty nice and well organized. Course was super tough and the hill + mud was killing me. Quite stoked on finishing 39 even though my shape is not that great these days.

Edit: Anybody know where to find photos from todays race?

Eggbeaters just aren't durable enough. Plus the same issue you have with Time/Shimano you'll have with them.

The best tip I've seen is to adapt the tread of the sole of your shoe and cut out a section each side by the cleat. This stops anything getting stuck between cleat and tread which is, 9 times out of 10, the root cause of clipping in issues.

Well done on 5th too, that's a solid result against some bloody good riders.

Keep an eye on the London League website (and their Facebook group if you do Facebook) tomorrow and you should see a minimum of 2 or 3 galleries from different people.

Good effort today too!

Thank you.

Thanks @andyp and @Hulsroy!

Actually I cut some tread out of my old shoes and don't remember having the same problems in last seasons muddy races. Time to get the Stanley knife out.