Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

just a cool pic from the US nationals http://www.cxmagazine.com/2013-cyclocross-national-championships-junior-men-17-18

http://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/gallery/2013-cyclocross-nationals-junior-men-17-18/2013-cyclocross-junior-men-17-18-cxmagazine-dsc_0173-e_1.jpg

oops, too big [/edit]

My bike looked like that after the Davy Down Cross in October.

Frosty course tomorrow should keep me safe with cocky clearence...

This year I cut my season short to go to Mallorca for 4 weeks for warm weather, smooth roads, and lots of climbing. If only those 4 weeks could have been before my first race.

Looking back at my season. I've learnt a few things.

• I spent almost as much time cleaning my bike as racing it.
  
• SSCX probably wont be much slower than my 10SCX setup this season.
  
• SSCX will probably be a lot quicker to clean.
  
• Mud isn't nutritious. I need to eat more before races.
  

at the Dutch nationals today...

Marianne Vos* and Lars van der Haar were both way better than any other in their competition. I was expecting Lars Boom to get the jersey, but I think the course proved
to be too technical for him to be able to unleash all the power in his legs.

*seriously considering starting a thread especially for her, best cyclist in the world I think. Yesterday she competed in a 36km beach race (mixed) and came 15th at 1min 30s behind the winner, leaving the likes of Laurens Ten Dam and many other pros well behind.

SO fun (and a frozen fast course) out there on the small race in the woods today

http://www.youtube.com/user/USACyclingOrg/featured?v=kKZWUPsdZL8

US Championships streaming live...

New bb bearings arrived today, once fitted I reckon that is this season's damage repaired, ready for next season.

Are you not racing on Sunday? The Dartford round of the London League is one of the most interesting courses they use.

Central league has finished but if I get my bike fixed in time I might use Dartford as a pre-season warmer. Would be my last race as a senior.

http://www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com/film/british-cyclo-cross-championship

What makes Dartford interesting/whats it like?

Big hill, winding descent, tree in the middle of the course that I hit at least every other lap.

It's far more technical than most London League courses, with a very tricky section that runs along the hill side with an adverse camber and tree roots. A lot of the rest of the course is around school playing fields so it's a good balance of fast and tricky.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to miss it.

I'll be missing this one too - my cross season is pretty much over.

Felt quite short despite doing the late summer series.

No hope of having the bike repaired in time. Shame really as I enjoy riding into that tree.

Anyone fancy a 'CX Sportive'?

I'm tempted by the Woodcote event, 27th Jan, near Reading. Starts early though, and a bit tricky to get to on public transport - if a group of us wanted to go I'm thinking group van hire. Get in touch if that sounds interesting to you.

Was there any interest in this? I'd be keen...

I rode most of the route in November and it was pretty good. Easily done on a cx bike but I'd of been happier on the long decents with an mtb.

Was there any interest in this? I'd be keen...

Yes - I'm doing it, as is Adam (1848mkii or something) from the MTB thread.

Interesting (to me) Velonews article and follow up discussion on complete failure of disc brake pads in certain muddy conditions in a US race where riders pads were being worn out in 2 laps of the course requiring a bike change.

Race report

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/01/news/bright-future-for-disc-brakes-fades-briefly-under-a-coating-of-verona-mud_271112

Follow up discussion with readers. Apparently motocross bikes use solid discs in muddy conditions so the pads have more of a squeegee effect to wipe the mud off the disc. Slotted pads let the mud lie in the disc itself and pads die as

The holes or slots in a rotor give the mud a place to be pushed into, the heat from braking cooks the moisture out of the mud, and it becomes baked into the holes or slots and the rotor is now an abrasive disc

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/01/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-ideas-for-disc-brakes-in-wet-conditions_272308

Its going to take a lot to convince me that disc brakes aren't anything but over kill on a cross bike...

The conditions for the US Nationals were extreme, especially by UK standards with temperatures around 10 degrees C below freezing.

And cable operated discs are shit.

Conclusion, therefore, is to wait for proper hydraulic discs.

cable or hydraulic, the pads couldn't take it

The plural of anecdote is not data.

Yes - I'm doing it, as is Adam (1848mkii or something) from the MTB thread.

Sorry, meant to add - did you decide to share a ride there? I'd be keen on getting involved (with obvious contribution to petrol money etc) but, as I can't drive, the alternative is to do the Hard Day in January ride on the Saturday instead. Getting to the start of this one would be difficult by train as you pointed out.