Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

I was surprised to see @fredtc turn up with a bike with a basket on the front, but he must’ve been too shy to ask me to hop in with my blanket.

I’m not sure a bike with a basket was the best choice for the course though, amazingly technical for a night time course. Brakeless bmx seemed the best choice, @psg1ben no?

Brakeless bmx wasn't actually much of a bad choice. I was faster in some sections purely due to having to commit to sections where I couldn't put my foot down.
Also almost made it up the last climby bit on the last lap.
Gutted I didn't have the Garmin recording as I'm sure I didn't get lapped that much and took out some 'crossers... suppose we'll never know

It took me at least a lap to get past you as you would pull away on the technical stuff as you had to commit more than I did.

I did think you’d had an off and picked up some debris, only to realise that was part of your costume.

On the lapping front, I was passed by the winner and runner up, but @dimi3 didn’t catch me. I think, hard to know in the dark. It felt like I spent so long trying to find my bike I might have been lapped before I’d started.

I was thankful I had a helmet as kept smacking my head on branches. Lower position on a BMX may have been advantageous. Thanks to @Incredibly_Cross for a mad evening.

Felt betrayed at the dummy last lap call/siren. I went for it that lap, not sure how I managed another

I think Pidcock winning was expected wasn’t it?

I think so. I don't think he rode a great race. He made a fair few mistakes once he'd got away from Ian Field, but it's a testiment to how good he is that he still managed to win comfortably.

There's some really good coverage of the weekend's racing in Wales on YouTube from S4C (and the incomprehensible Welsh makes a good change from Flemish). Shame they can't sort it out for all of the National Trophy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W57Hrqwv10o

My first ever catastrophic tyre burping on Sunday at Central League. Lost all the air on a fairly innocuous corner despite running higher tyre pressure than usual, which resulted in a crash and a bit of a run. I'd come down with the beginnings of a cold so it wasn't to be my best result ever anyway, but I've lost a bit of confidence in tubeless.

I had a shocker race.
Had started getting ill on Friday and it just got worse and worse.
But I was there, so I lined up! Fever and unable to breathe, crashed in a pole on the first half of the first lap, got ridden over by other riders. After that, I just rode on noting. Never had such dull legs. I had no kick, was standing up on the bike pushing as hard as I could and going absolutely nowhere. It was depressing. I settled down a little after 2-3 laps and ticked a couple of riders, but I was so relived to be pulled out one lap to go.

The season is still long though and I just want to get back to where I was before 3 peaks and Grinduro. Those long races demand something so different out of you.

A little gallery from the evening now up HERE!

sorry

Lol. You're off Andy's Christmas card list!

Shame it took me an age to find my fecking bike.

All part of the fun!

I know! I had a fantastic time, best course of the season so far.

Looks awesome; how does one get on the invite list?

I had no idea Challenge made frames aswell as tubs; how long until we see one on the Pro circuit?

Ha! Le Mans start was awesome

Certainly more editing power that @howard then on the bike. Brilliant! Was to cold to hang about but good to see the usual suspects before the start.

Only in England I love this country!

1 Attachment

Looks like I’ve just seen a ghost.

Who can I contact to get a copy of these?

You won!

Cracking day for British riders at the Koppenberg Cross today - 3 races so far and 3 wins.

Sadly can’t see a 4th happening.

Great display by the UK riders indeed! There were 3 of yous in the elite, but I rarely see them on tv

Quite a challenging course it appears... (and a long race) for the elite. Anyway, him again, but a more interesting race than the past couple of events.

Race of the season, that. Good to see MvdP having to put a bit of effort in.

European Championships in Tabor this weekend.

Ian Field was 15th, which is a decent result. He's the best of our current riders, although Pidcock looks like he'll beat him regularly in the future.

Michael Butler is a London League regular, he keeps @Jon. honest.

European Championships in Tabor this weekend.

Van Aert will be training in Lucca instead of racing in Tabor, so no chance to see if he can finally have his revenge.