Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

Was talking to Howard a out doing a forum ride on the '3 pimples' route. Also he mentioned an all day training session sometime next month.

anyone fancy watching me fall off and giving me some pointers?

Try not to fall off

^^ I'd be up for a ride.. Dr Cake mentioned the training might be on 15/9 but I've googled to no avail.

Probably the central league training day, mention of it below but no venue details yet:

http://centralcxl.org.uk/2013/06/new-season-news-the-headlines/

Thanks! sadly I'm away that weekend ...

Was talking to Howard a out doing a forum ride on the '3 pimples' route. Also he mentioned an all day training session sometime next month.

Still need to sort out my 'training' schedule...will drop some dates in here tomorrow.

Here's where I'm going to be training* - in order of increasing technical ability required:

a) Richmond park - outer loop track. Shared use path. Some mud and trickier sections, but essentially non-challenging. Good for developing fitness and setting up repeats of technical skills, i.e. mounts / dismounts. Access: meet at cafe. Free.

b) Three Pimples - a fairly technical long distance loop around roads and bridal ways in the biggen hill area. Takes a couple of hours to ride it. Some portage required. Access: meet Crystal Palace station. You will puncture and you will bitten / stung / abused - so just like a race with Rameye, really. Free.

c) Epping Forest - MTB trails that are crosser friendly. Plenty of mud, roots, slopes, obsticles. Good for improving handling, bike set-up and developing technical skills. Can be ridden to via canal tow path from east london (1hr or so) or meet up at Liverpool Street station for train to chingford (30 mins). Free.

d) Swinley forest - groomed MTB trails. Choice of blue and red loops, red being more technical and demanding. Ungroomed trails in Crowethorn woods a possibility too. Good for developing fitness and advanced technical skils. Requires a day, train from Waterloo (1 hr). Free, but if you drive parking is chargeable.

c) Surrey Hills - bridalways and developed MTB trails. Epic distances can be covered, some very challenging trails, big hills. Good for developing advanced bike handling skills and for testing fitness. Meet at victoria station for train to Dorking (50 minutes). Requires a day. Free.

• dicking about with tyre pressures, most likely.
  

https://www.lfgss.com/thread112624.html

Cheap as chips cx bike.
Thought I'd post here for anyone looking for something to start up with.

So, the tyres are being ordered this week and the Tonic is back in cross mode for the "winter". I do, however, need to get some practice in before getting competitive. Anyone else in the same spot? Or anyone more experienced fancy watching me fall off and giving me some pointers?

Was talking to Howard a out doing a forum ride on the '3 pimples' route. Also he mentioned an all day training session sometime next month.

^^ I'd be up for a ride.. Dr Cake mentioned the training might be on 15/9 but I've googled to no avail.

Right - schedule sorted.

Anyone fancy...

Saturday 31st Aug 9am RICHMOND PARK. Bike set-up, CX basics and skills. 2.5 hrs. Meet at the cafe at 9am sharp.

Saturday 14th September 9am CRYSTAL PALACE STATION. Three Pimples Ride - basic skills and fitness. 3.5 hrs max. Meet at CP station for a 9am departure.

(CXL training or LL race on the 15th Sept)

Saturday 12th October 10am CHINGFORD STATION. Epping Forest - technical skills practice; roots, lumps, drops, mud. 3.5 hrs max. Meet at Chingford Station at 10amish for a 10.30 sharp start.

Please PM me if you want to come along. These are all part of my training schedule so I'll be doing these regardless.

To set expectations: am not a CX pro or a professional coach. I'm just some guy who races a bit of XC and CX.

H

Sounds just great, unfortunately I work Saturdays... ah well.
If you're ever out on a Sunday let me know as I'll ride come rain or shine

I will be out training on Sundays but not until November. I'm away for a couple of days this month and the races I want to do fall on a Sunday in September / October.

That said, just turn up to some of the Sept / Oct races. You'll be fine.

1 Attachment

Gah! Just as I've got the Boardman back into full on commuter setup.

You did realise when cyclocross season was right??

Muddy Hell on the 26th is when I have to have the cx bike up and running then.

I need some Canti/mini v advice...

Yes I did.

I've had to take my time building it up.
Got the majority of stuff other than the brakes/levers

so :P

Right, I've realised how easy and (hopefully) cheap it will be to convert my 29er into a disc SSCX bike. Fancy a bit of racing and I'm justifying it as a winter bike to get the miles in. So, questions...

Is the pompetamine the default 135mm spaced disc crossish frame?
Bar width - I default to 40cm on the road, guessing I should go a bit wider for cross?
Cheap cable disc caliper recommendations? I'm assuming they'll work with standard drop bar levers?
Tyres - What's the jack of all trades cross clincher?
Ratio - I'm limited to a 17t freewheel cos I've already got one, what would be a good chainring to match? Cranks, will any old thing do? I've got SLX mtb cranks I could use, but I'd be worried that the q factor would be a bit wide.

My thanks in advance.

Just realised that the rear wheel has a brake track, so I could put a canti on the back to save money? Would mean I could use a disc mount cog for fixie CX action too, hmmm...

You did realise when cyclocross season was right??

Yep. but I just got a job, so needs must.

You should've slapped him down, Dave, given that you've actually ridden a few races already this year!

Sounds just great, unfortunately I work Saturdays... ah well.
If you're ever out on a Sunday let me know as I'll ride come rain or shine

Sundays I'm happy to dick about in Epping either on the cross bike or the 29er

You should've slapped him down, Dave, given that you've actually ridden a few races already this year!

:)

Here's where I'm going to be training

I should be doing an Epping Forest ride on the 19th of October. Will you be honing your skills or performing brutal hill repeats?

If it's the latter, I may have to avoid you :-)

I should be doing an Epping Forest ride on the 19th of October. Will you be honing your skills or performing brutal hill repeats?

If it's the latter, I may have to avoid you :-)

Both - I will drop in and say hello sir!

Provisional run of Richmond Park this morning - actually not too bad for general fitness and skills. There's a few good spots for hill repeats, some obstacles for practicing mounts / dismounts and some light trails with some roots to hop.

Pretty busy by 10am though, so when riding the loop it's best to keep it slow and steady and put the effort in to skills and hill climbs.

If anyone fancies a jaunt during the week drop me a PM.

Gear ratios for singlespeed cross?

Spinny!