Cyclocross - for a complete newbie?
Discussion
Sitting on the train this morning and a post comes up on the CX series running near me (Herts/Bucks) as I plan to go and watch a couple with my Son after an enthusiastic briefing by my LBS when he discovered I have an older Cannondale Caadx in the shed.
My Son is sufficiently interested to give up the odd morning of rugby training as there are clashes so it occurred to me that if we are going, why don't we sign up and give it a go?
This feels very much like "the beer talking", but given I was sober I might be seriously considering it.
The question is can a slightly overweight middle aged unfit twonk and an overenthusiastic but fit 11 yr old do this, or am I just going to get in the way and give St John's Ambulance something to do?
If I am convinced by you lot that this is worth doing, what kit do I need and would I be better off on my mountain bike?
Never even seen a CX race except on youtube, so very much going in blind!!
My Son is sufficiently interested to give up the odd morning of rugby training as there are clashes so it occurred to me that if we are going, why don't we sign up and give it a go?
This feels very much like "the beer talking", but given I was sober I might be seriously considering it.
The question is can a slightly overweight middle aged unfit twonk and an overenthusiastic but fit 11 yr old do this, or am I just going to get in the way and give St John's Ambulance something to do?
If I am convinced by you lot that this is worth doing, what kit do I need and would I be better off on my mountain bike?
Never even seen a CX race except on youtube, so very much going in blind!!
Of course you can do it!
It's great, I would recomend everyone gives it a go so if you have the kit for it get it dusted off and jump on.
Don't worry about getting in the way, it's all part of the challenge for the experienced racers. This week I took a mate who has only ever been on a bike 3 times in the last 3 years (3 mile ride to the shop chasing me, threw up. Pub crawl around a lake over the course of a day, threw up. Came to watch us do the 24hr race around the ring and decided to give a lap a go, threw up), he had a great time on flat pedals with a pair of trainers averaging 10mins a lap, didn't throw up and is coming to do another one next week.
As for kids it's brilliant, great for learning bike handling skills and you don't have to worry about cars. My son is 3 and races in the under 8's, the kids are all really friendly and encouraging to him and he loves it.
As for kit, you have a bike, you might have a helmet and that's about it (for now). In time it may progress to more stuff, bib shorts are a good investment for the backside, SPD pedals and shoes to clip in and get more power down but for my first race I turned up in my 5-a-side football kit.
It's great, I would recomend everyone gives it a go so if you have the kit for it get it dusted off and jump on.
Don't worry about getting in the way, it's all part of the challenge for the experienced racers. This week I took a mate who has only ever been on a bike 3 times in the last 3 years (3 mile ride to the shop chasing me, threw up. Pub crawl around a lake over the course of a day, threw up. Came to watch us do the 24hr race around the ring and decided to give a lap a go, threw up), he had a great time on flat pedals with a pair of trainers averaging 10mins a lap, didn't throw up and is coming to do another one next week.
As for kids it's brilliant, great for learning bike handling skills and you don't have to worry about cars. My son is 3 and races in the under 8's, the kids are all really friendly and encouraging to him and he loves it.
As for kit, you have a bike, you might have a helmet and that's about it (for now). In time it may progress to more stuff, bib shorts are a good investment for the backside, SPD pedals and shoes to clip in and get more power down but for my first race I turned up in my 5-a-side football kit.
Ah, found it I suspect. Central CXL? First one a week on Sunday.
My main problem (other than ability and fear of hurting myself!) is getting over my difficulties with SPD's. Just seem to struggle to clip in/out. No such problem with SPD-SL's, which I love.
That and the fact my CX bike seems to have a geometry that allows foot / front wheel interface... never experienced it on any other bike. A bit scary when it happens.
My main problem (other than ability and fear of hurting myself!) is getting over my difficulties with SPD's. Just seem to struggle to clip in/out. No such problem with SPD-SL's, which I love.
That and the fact my CX bike seems to have a geometry that allows foot / front wheel interface... never experienced it on any other bike. A bit scary when it happens.
Yes it is Central CXL at Halton. I was feeling all brave and have just watched the Women's CX clip on the British Cycling website and am now scared! I love the story of the mate throwing up and can't help but think that will be me.
I have clips on my CX bike and I hate them having never ridden in them before. Not helped by falling off as I drew to a halt next to a nice old lady on my first outing...
I am going to have a chat with my Son and myself tonight... Thanks for the input. I shall let you know!
I have clips on my CX bike and I hate them having never ridden in them before. Not helped by falling off as I drew to a halt next to a nice old lady on my first outing...
I am going to have a chat with my Son and myself tonight... Thanks for the input. I shall let you know!
At the CXL races there's a novice class. You can race in it more than once if you want to, I did my first CX race in novices at CXL Hillingdon a couple of years ago.
It's hard work but bloody good fun, I raced at Halton a couple of years back and it was one of the best courses I've raced on, really enjoyable.
If you're not too confident with the SPD's then why not try it with trainers and a set of flat pedals?
It's hard work but bloody good fun, I raced at Halton a couple of years back and it was one of the best courses I've raced on, really enjoyable.
If you're not too confident with the SPD's then why not try it with trainers and a set of flat pedals?
I'll be at Halton in the Vet 40s and my lad is in U14 (just entered just then). It'll be a blast. Your lad will be fine. It's a simple course for the U12s.
The adult course is trickier as they always throw in a nasty drop down about 10 feet down a ha-ha and then make you ride straight back up it. The rest is wiggly but not too lung busting. If you enter the Novice race you'll be in the same race as the U14s and U16s just beginning a minute behind them. The novices really are that. Quite often a bunch of have a go mums and total amateurs so you wont disgrace yourself and there will be lots of good banter (there's always banter in CX). All I'll say is that you should try to stay out of the way of the hormonal U16 riders who will lap you, they can get a bit choice with the lingo (they shouldn't but I've heard them first hand in my Novice days). Just keep your eyes peeled on the switch backs and you'll see them coming.
I rode 3 or 4 races in Novice and went from last to first before I stepped up to V40 and now I come in about 2/3rds of the way down.
I'm more than happy to give you hand if you want to meet up.
The adult course is trickier as they always throw in a nasty drop down about 10 feet down a ha-ha and then make you ride straight back up it. The rest is wiggly but not too lung busting. If you enter the Novice race you'll be in the same race as the U14s and U16s just beginning a minute behind them. The novices really are that. Quite often a bunch of have a go mums and total amateurs so you wont disgrace yourself and there will be lots of good banter (there's always banter in CX). All I'll say is that you should try to stay out of the way of the hormonal U16 riders who will lap you, they can get a bit choice with the lingo (they shouldn't but I've heard them first hand in my Novice days). Just keep your eyes peeled on the switch backs and you'll see them coming.
I rode 3 or 4 races in Novice and went from last to first before I stepped up to V40 and now I come in about 2/3rds of the way down.
I'm more than happy to give you hand if you want to meet up.
If the weather stays dry then Sammy Slick will be ideal at Halton. I'll be on Clement LAS which look the same to me.
If it's remotely damp then I'll switch to Clement MDX which aren't far from Schwalbe Racing Ralph or many other middle of the road tyres. You wont be needing true mud tyres just yet...
If it's remotely damp then I'll switch to Clement MDX which aren't far from Schwalbe Racing Ralph or many other middle of the road tyres. You wont be needing true mud tyres just yet...
UpTheIron said:
I'm confident enough with SPD's to go for them given the performance improvement, just never found them easy compared to SPD-SL's. Tried various types and different shoes. Maybe I need more emergency get-offs to improve me :-)
Had a near fall earlier this week with SPDs - I tried to unclip and my right foot just stayed attached to the pedal... Managed to unclip the left and stay upright but I still couldn't unclip the right foot.Turns out one of the SPD cleat bolts had snapped and the cleat was just twisting and staying clipped in.
UpTheIron said:
Ah, found it I suspect. Central CXL? First one a week on Sunday.
My main problem (other than ability and fear of hurting myself!) is getting over my difficulties with SPD's. Just seem to struggle to clip in/out. No such problem with SPD-SL's, which I love.
That and the fact my CX bike seems to have a geometry that allows foot / front wheel interface... never experienced it on any other bike. A bit scary when it happens.
I know what you mean, I went to Crank Brothers and haven't looked back. I have Eggbeaters on my MTB and Candys on my CX for a bit of support off road.My main problem (other than ability and fear of hurting myself!) is getting over my difficulties with SPD's. Just seem to struggle to clip in/out. No such problem with SPD-SL's, which I love.
That and the fact my CX bike seems to have a geometry that allows foot / front wheel interface... never experienced it on any other bike. A bit scary when it happens.
If you're struggling with Shimano SPD cleats then try the multimode release version which are much much easier to get out of. Spot them with the big M on the bottom.
Both my son and I started on them and progressed back the SH51 freebie ones. I gave the SH56s to the next youngster that started at our club.
The best kept secret of SPDs!
https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-sh56-spd-cleat...
Both my son and I started on them and progressed back the SH51 freebie ones. I gave the SH56s to the next youngster that started at our club.
The best kept secret of SPDs!
https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-sh56-spd-cleat...
Bobley said:
If you're struggling with Shimano SPD cleats then try the multimode release version which are much much easier to get out of. Spot them with the big M on the bottom.
What's the difference with these to the normal ones, looking at pictures they look exactly the same as the ones without the M on the bottom but as you have changed between them I guess you have felt something?Someone above asked about tyres, to keep costs down I just use Schwalbe Rocket Rons all season, they probably slow me down a bit when it's dry but they find loads of grip when it gets muddy. I've just ended up with a pair of Kenda Kwickers on my new bike so I'm giving them a go this year but reading reviews it looks like they should be on a par with the 'Rons.
Looks like this weekend will have some proper 'cross weather, much better than the dust-fest last week so hopefully I will be able to breathe a bit better.
louiebaby said:
I think SteveVRs dabbles, and he's a personable chap to chat to.
Thank you. Dabble is about my level - there are many more on here far more proficient than I!Echo what others have said, practice getting on and off and just have a go! You need to be pretty fit but certainly in the races I do, the ability spread is huge. I get lapped by the leaders after just over half distance but then I lap the back markers shortly after. There will always be someone at your level to have a tussle with - it's a very accessible and easy to start form of cycle racing.
I have tried TTing, road racing and, crits but CX is by far the most fun and friendly
Steve
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