Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Spa Francorchamps today, womens at 12.40, mens at 2pm uk time. last year was horrific, weather's a bit better this year though so should be a good race

http://www.cyclingfans.com/cyclocross/live

or

http://www.cyclocrosss.com/livestream

dat run up...

What kind of course is to be expected tomorrow at Cyclopark? Hilly, muddy, much running?

I am wondering whether I should take my singlespeed or geared cx bike.

"One thing that Alex touches on - it's hard... VERY hard, both physically and technically. I make no apologies for this as from day one of planning it was always my belief that a regional championship event should be a step up from the norm and reward the strongest, most technically proficient riders. We have tendered for a National Trophy round next year so this is a trial run for a lot of the course. Consequently the U12/U14s race is also a lot more challenging than usual. That said our Wednesday afternoon #crosskids session riders have been trialling their shortened course for the past four weeks and they love it.
Amazingly, at 8.30 this morning it was 8 degrees warmer than at the same time yesterday so the ground has softened considerably, but is still almost entirely dry and no rain is forecast for either tomorrow or Sunday so apart from the impact of the riders who turn up to ride it in the preview session tomorrow, the course as it is now is unlikely to change a whole lot before Sunday (it says here)."

from

https://www.facebook.com/groups/414695848657419/

and the course map is here

https://www.riderhq.com/events/bc-south-east--eastern-regional-championships-u10s-support-race/file/attachment

what train are you on @Hulsroy ?

Hard , fast and technical according to the guys who put the course together, there's more info on the london league facebook page . Its open to non facebook users which is handy for me

https://www.facebook.com/groups/414695848657419/

Thank you very much. I might take the geared bike then.

@fredtc I am going to take the train 1234 from Stratford to Gravesend.

strong look from wout.

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That was a great course today,fast,technical and physically tough. I'm still coughing my lungs up.....I doff my cap to those responsible for setting the course

It was a cracker, wasn't it? A real test of bike handling skills and some great use of cambers.

Good forum representation too, I saw and/or spoke to @Jon. @owlz @leggy_blonde @fredtc @Slurd and @Ecunard .

Yeah, that was cracking, fucking hurt though. nice to properly meet @hulsroy and @spotter too.

That looks like an excellent course. If Mrs. TSK decides to commit to the Trophy next year I hope it replaces the dismal nonsense that is Ispwich.

York was the venue today for the North of England regional champs. I hadn't intended to enter because I don't need to take more of a kicking than I do at league races. Alas Mrs TSK entered me before I could object so that's that. Turned up expecting to DFL but in the end had a better race than usual. Ground was nice and dry if a little soft in places and some tweaks to last year's course made it far more suited to me. Got into a good battle with one guy but when trying to make up ground I came off a hip badly and landed on my hip (not too badly). All I could do then was set the best pace I could and keep him honest. Not last by a reasonable amount.

If you're friendly with the Juniors and Seniors in your area, you might want to send out a warning. It seems the J and S northerners have been attending the Pidcock school of hurdling. Barely a foot down between the planks at the front of the race.

Suuuper fun day. Best course I have ridden in the UK so far.

Rumour has it Ben Tullett was bunny hopping the barriers.

I appreciate I'm in the vets, but I could barely jump the bastards on foot.

The slow, bumpy drag up to them didn't make it any easier.

I didn't have a great race today, poor start then I was finally getting into the rhythm of things and burped alot of air out of the front tyre, one botched wheel change later (is there a trick with the Crux fork dropouts?) and I was a fair amount down.

Fantastic course and good facilities, can't see why they wouldn't get National Trophy next year.

You still did great mate. 4th fastest lap (sub 7) of the day, on a bloody SSCX.

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If that's true, whitcraft must have been involved

I kept looking for a gate to get through them

Absolute cracker of a course, so much fun and a great day of racing! Was nice to be top of that little Strava leader board up there for a while, I believe Michael Butler has knocked me off now though.

Unless they didn't include sufficient amounts of nepotism and cronyism.

Just seen the results. You made your goal. Well done

http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/2016/08/south-east-east-championship-20162017-sun-4th-dec/

haha only just sneaked inside.

rad photo of @Jon. here

http://www.davehaywardphotos.com/Cycling/CycloCross/LCCA-Eastern-Regionals-2016-Se/i-7pCdhTf/A

oddly Michael Butler's head looks photoshopped on...

http://www.davehaywardphotos.com/Cycling/CycloCross/LCCA-Eastern-Regionals-2016-Se/i-skBX5gz/A

Will there be any mud at Frylands this weekend or is that being too optimistic?

I've literally just got back from riding in the woods next to Frylands, and it's very, very dry. Loads of leaves down, which makes spotting obstacles difficult, and there was a bit of mud on my route home (a long bridleway that can get impassable in winter due to mud and horse hooves) but it was that claggy, drier stuff which sticks to everything.

There is a chance of rain between now and Sunday but it's not going to be the mud fest it was last year.

The organisers said on FB they would be raking the course ahead of Sunday so hopefully it will be clear.

Did anyone successfully ride the sandpit on Sunday? I ran it each time, and round the hairpin at the end. Even when I was lapped by leaders they seemed to only get halfway through before hoping off.

I rode it every time. I think I got baulked once by someone falling off, but was close enough to the end that I could use my momentum to get around them and out.