Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Good job they've got colours for everyone 😀
I think the green and orange looks pretty cool, the orange I spotted at a race looked good

A question for @Jon. - were the tyres you won at SSCXEU the Islabikes Greim? Have you had an opportunity to try them yet?

They were, ended up moving them on on eBay. My tyre drawer is overflowing and I'm a tubeless convert now. They looked good though - from the Rhino school of mud tyre but a bit blockier and more squared off.

Fair enough. They are meant to be tubeless ready btw.

Where'd you hear that? They weren't labelled as such and they'd be very light for a tubeless tyre.

https://www.cxmagazine.com/in-review-greim-pro-tubeless-cyclocross-tire-mud-islabikes

Perhaps I should have kept them then!

Is anyone on here running juin callipers?

I think @Doctor_Cake is? Am I right @Howard ?

Yep.

I've been toying with the idea of racing for a while and cyclocross seems fun, so I may enter a few local races this upcoming season.

I've heard they're brutal and the physiological demands are high! Should I be looking at increasing VO2, FTP and MAP to start with?

Oh and brush up on skills

@Colm89 are you still considering a Ritchey Swiss cross? I have one to sell in 55.

@nyoro I would love it but 55 is too small for me, and I'm now going down the hand built you're.

I don't think you'll have any problems selling it :)

canti or disc?

Intervals of 3 mins or less.

Watch plenty of Belgian races.

Take the crosser to the trail centre.

Rinse. Repeat.

Definitely give it a go, it's arguably the most accessible branch of bike racing in the UK. Whereabouts are you based? There are local leagues in most regions of the UK to get involved with.

In terms of training, then yes a cross race places high physiological demands on the body so you need to prepare it for that. Increasing FTP is a good place to start, then you can start adding shorter intervals to your training as the race season approaches. There are loads of free cross training programmes on the web so have a look at those to get an idea of interval sessions to do.

If you can, definitely invest in skills training, that can be the quickest way to improve your results as a beginner.

Make sure your dismounting and remounting is good before the season starts.

I am fat and lazy. I don't train and I don't race much. But when I do race, I have fun, I hurt, I cough my lungs up, I find a race within a race, I wish it would all end, I can't wait for the next race.

^
this. If you've got the time (and inclination) to train then do it, if you haven't don't worry you'll still have fun and a race.

I can't wait for the next race.

Only another 9 months to wait.

Get in your calendar now!

I have a trail centre an hour away, but plenty of cross within a few miles radius! So Im always out playing.

@andyp I live in birmingham and we have a west midlands cyclocross leauge, so im guessing thats my main entry point! regarding training, Im a 3rd year applied sport science student and my dissertation iis on HIIT and cyclcross athletes so I have training programmes coming out my ears! But its always good to get real life opinions on this stufff, beause science can only tell you half the story!

@Howard Im awful at remounting, I can dismount like a pro, but getting back on is embarassing to watch. Need to work on that

@biarittz @Chalfie Yeah ive heard they are brutal but fun, I doubt ill get any good results (race wise) but personally if i finish without dying ill be happy

Woah! We've got a real expert here, folks.

You should be telling us what training to do!

if i finish without dying ill be happy

This is my new goal for each race, replacing the 'don't get lapped' goal.

haha, like I said racing on paper and racing in real life are two completly different beasts!

Im just going to take my knowledge and all the advice I can get, put it in a magic blender and see what the outcome is!!

yeah, I cant imagine getting lapped is fun!

Cannock?

The dog is good fun on a crosser, monkey is OK but I'd rather do extra dog laps. Go with a good mtb rider, try and stay with them through the trails then blitz them on the halfway climb.

Definitely go to a couple of skills sessions pre-season as remounting is essential to win your race within the race. Nothing will irk you more than a fat knacker like me gaping you on obstacles when you are clearly faster than them on the flat.