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Bethlem was waterlogged in September - I'd imagine Hillingdon would drain a bit better being a propper circuit and all but I'll check with my TCC sources and report back.

How was the circuit at Bethlem this time round? Had a really good time when I raced there in the late summer evening series.

The field with the 'island' was too boggy to ride, had to pick up the bike and run (or walk by lap 4!).

The ditches (including a newly added down-up u-turn) had really deep mud at the bottom and I went over the bars a few times. Carried the bike over them after that.

The slightly uphill singletrack section was very energy sapping.

My bike was very clogged when I got off at the end. Kinda wished I'd had a pit crew and spare bike!

That's a trek - hopefully see you there. Raced there earlier this year and the track was largely dry grass with a bit of the tarmac circuit thrown in -> good opportunity to test some new all condition tyres.

If Bethlem yesterday is anything to go by, dry grass + recent weather = mud bath.

Yeah by clock house, but i was coming up the inside, not outside, filtering towards the lights as they'd just gone green and traffic was just moving again, as dude runs out blindly from the left side of the road, infront of a van, and then collides with me coming up the right side of the van.

I saw you crossing the road afterwards (fraid I didn't see the crash itself) but wasn't sure if you'd come off or what. Should have stopped and asked probably.

EDIT: would have been about quarter past eight?

Can any one recommend the best Shimano shoe for cross?
wanna stick with Shimano as heir 43 is a perfect fitfor me, want grippy sole, top buckle and some flex....and no too expensive.

I went for the XC50N.

Basically, they're the same as the XC50s, but with the mesh bits covered up so you don't get soaked straight away.

I don't think the sole is super grippy though - maybe it'll wear in a bit? You can add studs if required.

Apologies for linking to bikeradar...

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/shoes/product/review-shimano-xc50n-45666

this morning there was a bit more traffic than usual going up OKR (probably due to the accident outside Tesco, car on traffic island, not sure what happened but didn't look too bad) and a load of cyclists and motorbikes were unable to get to the front at the lights just before tesco. a cyclist on a hybrid approaches, sees the jam (not even a big one, I just had to wait 2 minutes to go though the lights), says loudly 'fuck sake!' and proceeds to overtake all the waiting traffic by going up the opposite carriageway. This might make it me a bad person, but I really wanted him to meet some oncoming traffic then (not get run over though)
sorry for the long post, but it pisses me off when cyclists think they just can't wait in a queue.

Not sure why this is a problem, assuming there's no reservation between the carriageways?

EDIT: Are you saying he went through the lights on the wrong side?

Can anyone recommend a shop or website for digital photo printing/framing? I want to get a couple of pictures from my honeymoon done nicely and it's hard to tell what the quality is like online.

The Digital Room

I've had them do 4x3 all the way up to 40inch prints onto MDF and they're fantastic.

Utility cyclist to racer... Does have precedent, e.g. Svein Tuft.

February 8, 2009

Tuft, above, is now a member of the Garmin-Slipstream team. At 18, he spent $40 on a thrift-shop bike and built a trailer to haul supplies and his 80-pound dog, Bear, and rode into the Canadian wilderness.

Came second in the ITT at world champs 2008.

Try one of these?

http://securityforbikes.com/shed-shackle.php

Those guys do excellent (but spendy) chains too, apparently.

Also, replace hinge screws with coach bolts and install a hasp and staple (or two? top and bottom).

Was a lot of fun. It was bedlam (he he) when it got dark. Turned into a 'race a bit, then follow someone with lights to recover, then pass them, then repeat' sort of race.

Loved the flood lighting on the big dip halfway through the course - made the bit of forest beforehand feel really spooky. Like the beginning of ET, I suppose.

Bethlem tonight? I'm hopeful.

Hopeful? What of? Turning up, or satisfying your thirst for revenge which has been crescendo-ing through the week?

Anyway... Seniors or Go Cross?

My bike has developed tremendous shudder since last week's race. Could be interesting...

Thinking ahead slightly - I know UCI have banned studded / spiked tyres from CX races, but can you still use them in LXL etc?

If so nice one, it was a fun duel in the last two laps. Gutted that I choked on the last lap, but still managed to scalp a senior rider on the final corner.

This is you, right?

Me:

Dumped my chain on the last the lap by the stairs too which was annoying as it allowed the Dunwich rider I was battling with through.

Ha - that was me I think. I wasn't sure whether to go for it or not, eventually decided yes, then struggled to get back on at the top of the stairs holding everyone up!

Found that quite challenging last night. How did everyone else get on?

Hard but fun. Especially liked the steps with the sharp right hander immediately beforehand!

First cross race for me too last night.

I was the idiot shouting "does anyone have a 10mm spanner?!" at the start line after my front brake fell apart during the warm up. C*ntilevers.

Was great having the novice category to ride in, but next week I think I'll have to up my game and join the big boys.

Very different to road racing, in that I was constantly having little battles with one other person where we'd take and re-take each other continuously for a lap or so. Also managed to eat and drink as I went round which may just have saved my life.

Average HR for the race: 197. That's some workout. Went to bed feeling sick and shaky!