Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Anyone going to Culham on Sunday for the central league? I'd like a lift please, train is freakishly expensive.Will chip in for petrol / beer / cake etc.

Every time I have driven toward Oxford this year, the drive home has taken 2-3 hours and this is what is putting me off. I raced at the venue earlier in the season and it was a test back then, it will be woeful bliss now.

Hmmmm OK. Guess that's a no then. Is it just a muddy field?

No, there is a whole mess of up, down, camber with a jump/drop all on muddy sand. I really enjoyed it last time.

Just tricky to get to then. Darn.

If you change your mind...

centrumcross Surhuisterveen ft. Lars Boom, Zdenek Stybar, Lars van der Haar (and of course ladies Helen Wyman, Marianne Vos etc) here from noon GMT here:

http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-3.php

^ wow, a lot of running so far.

Looks like a fun course though. I assume it's Vos destroying them all at the front?

yep, that's the girl in the rainbow jersey

Not sure. There are some up on the UKCycleSport website, but mostly just pits and the grassy area.

If you find out, let us know!

http://www.davehaywardphotos.com/Cyclo-Cross/CX-2012-2013/Herne-Hill-new-years-day-2013/27365155_BS4FBk#!i=2300666271&k=HXXg7hX&lb=1&s=A

That's the puppy (didn't get one of me descending though unfortunately)

^^^ it's a regional tv channel so don't expect sporza-like coverage btw ;-)

yep, that's the girl in the rainbow jersey

Bit of a lonely race for her at the moment :)

Thanks for linking to this - brilliant.

also here http://www.omroplive.nl/omrop-fryslan-tv

yep, that's the girl in the rainbow jersey

"A friend of mine" has a bit of a thing for 'the boss'. Is this wrong?

why should it be?

I don't know. She's freakishly strong. Isn't it a little like having the hots for a weight-lifter?

But then, it's OK to like JEnnis, and she throws shot...

O.o

She's freakishly strong.

phew, indeed

I wonder what the VO2Max measured in that test was and how that compares to Ennis and the like?

Also, pretty obvious from that list that the wielrennen outperform the schaatsen. Is a w/kg comparison meaningful, given there are no hills in speed skating and the test is presumably performed on a bike (different muscles, presumably)?

The Culham course today was great fun. Different to the last time. Longer stretches on the grass, some nice slightly technical downhill. The sand was dry(ish) but still energy sapping.

Right - season is nearly over, let's have your photos of the damage it's wrought on your ride/s.

Here's a jockey wheel from Dr. Cake's bike. Notice how the grease has been replaced by something that looks suspiciously like mud:

Glad to be riding SS after seeing the amount of ripped mechs post-race. No major damage other than many replaced brake blocks and a bottom bracket.

Started finishing top-25 reasonably consistently now, best result a 18th at Muddy Hell. next season I think I'll invest in a tubular wheelset - 36h clinchers start to feel very heavy after an hour slogging through mud, not to mention their lack of grip.

That would be a sensible investment, tubulars give you so much more grip and control, especially in the mudfest that has been this season.

I've given my cross bike a cursory clean but it will need a proper deep clean at some point, hopefully soon before any damage done to components is terminal.

Wow, DrCake's jockey wheels have bearings? I think mine just have bushings. I will check later...

My headset was needing replaced before, now it's completely seized up, had to work it loose before last race on sunday. Luckly I've got one ready in the parts box for it. Apart from that nothing else has faired badly

Wow, DrCake's jockey wheels have bearings? I think mine just have bushings. I will check later...

All the SRAM ones do I think.

Bottom bracket on my 'dale has seized twice but comes back to life after a bit of TLC. I think the headset bearings are wrecked too.

Great deal on a fork here if anyone is looking:

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?category=Frames&product=WCS%20Carbon%20Cyclocross%20Fork%20-%20All%20Black%20No%20Graphics#.UPBWFnwgGK0