Cyclocross News

Cancelled Events

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 20:38:12 +0000

Due to issues with venues and parking Rounds 9 and 11 have been cancelled.
Both organisers Alan Cook and Mark Turner are on the hunt for new venues for next season.
The calendar page on the website has been updated.

Horwich Prize Money

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 20:33:27 +0000

Mick Speirs (Horwich CC) will be bringing prize money to Heaton Park for the following riders from the Horwich event:

Cara Lakin

Owen Woolland

Sebastian Grindley

Patrick Mannion

Daniel Cosgrove

Tily Percy

Nancye Roberts

Alice Colling

Charlotte Kilroy

Millie Baptista

Georgia Ashworth

Ruth Taylor

Becky Preece

Ema Knight

Alison Rushton

Anne Fisher

Ros Clarke

Joseph Peatfield

Tyla Loftus

Jack Griffiths

Dave Powell

Scott Wilson

Robert Rogers

Ryan Manders

Chris Lever

Stan Boyd

Dave Haygarth

Rob Hope

Anthony Morris

David Thorp

Carl Potter

Paul Davies

Mark Solomon

Mick Style

Sean Beswick

Gary Brooks

Stewart Dwyer

Julian Markham

Nicholas Whitley

Steff Chandler

Craig Tabiner

Steven Henshall

Dean Smith

Simon Bateman

Ian Ashworth

Peter Howarth

Brian Gough

John Gillmore

Derek Schofield

Graham Wright

Edwyn's Three Peaks Cyclocross 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Edwyn Oliver-Evans) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 19:44:00 +0000

The 3 Peaks Cyclocross: the name says it all. A shade under 40 miles of gruelling steep climbs; rocky petrifying descents; and fast and furious road. The 3 Peaks takes all the constituents of cyclocross and puts them on steroids. It’s a discipline in itself, and calling it a cross race seems a bit like an insult. Overall, it is a challenge; for man, bike and mind. And that’s why I love it.

2015 is the third time I’ve competed in the 3 Peaks CX. It would have been my fourth, but a broken knee last year ruled me out. This year, the race fell right at the end of my freshers week at university. For those of you that don’t know, fresher’s week is strongly associated with drinking, late nights and lots of noise; not the best race prep it has to be said. However, I stuck to my goals and made it through most of the week without any alcohol inside me. I woke up for the race, early Sunday morning, feeling pretty fresh.

Pre-race prep (www.russellis.co.uk)

My start was good. I kept with the main group all along the neutralised road section, famous for being fast, tight and full of many nervous bodies. Much of the time I stuck close to Rob Jebb’s wheel, knowing that he’d almost certainly be in prime position for the off road section.

As expected, when the lead car pulled off, the race intensified. Within seconds, the race was strung out and there was no group to hide in. I maintained a reasonably high position along most of the rideable section; but, when we emerged at the wall of Simon’s Fell, the men were separated from the boys. The section is so steep that when ‘climbing’ it, bike mounted on shoulder, your front wheel touches the ground in front of you.

I lost a couple of positions on the ascent of Simon’s Fell/Ingleborough; my fitness levels seemed to be lacking ever so slightly, possibly due to a small bout of “Fresher’s flu”. Anyway, I made it onto the lunar summit of Ingleborough with the confidence that I would make up positions on the steep grassy descent down to Cold Cotes.

My descent started well, navigating the rock gardens with precision and ease, making up a few positions in the process. However, the second and longer section of the descent did throw a few things at me. The ground was much wetter than anticipated, this created many hidden bogs, which lurked, undetectable, ready to grab your front wheel and send you flying over the bars. As you might have guessed, I was victim to one of these traps, which caused me to heavily face plant, leaving me dazed and with a slightly cracked helmet. But, as you do in a race, I got on my bike and cracked on with the job in hand. Although, as I found out after the race, I did appear zombie-like at the first feed point at Cold Cotes.

Support crews waiting at Cold Cotes (www.russellis.co.uk)

I managed to get myself into a small group on the road section to the base of Whernside; riding it solo would just have been a waste of energy, with two peaks still to go, even if it did mean waiting for a couple of riders to work with. Nearing the start of the ascent, the pace eased, as we all prepared ourselves for the ordeal ahead.

It was a hot and strenuous climb up the steps of Whernside. Many, including myself, unzipped jerseys to try and cool off and reduce dehydration, made more important with such a little supply of water on board our bikes. Calves burning, it felt as though the pain would never end; as the steps continued high above. But, I made it to the top having maintained my position and in control. It was a huge relief to see the marshals standing at the top, ready to take our numbers and dib our SI chips.

On top of the world (www.racingsnakes.com)

Bar one small crash, my descent of Whernside was largely uneventful. After my crash coming down Ingleborough, I descended down to Ribblehead much more tentatively than I usually would; running sections that I would normally ride. It was a little frustrating at the time, but the faceplant had most certainly knocked a bit of confidence out of me. So, again, instead of making up positions on the descent, I merely maintained my position. It didn’t look like it was turning out to be my best three peaks. But, on the plus side, I hit the road section to Pen-y-ghent feeling relatively fresh and unscathed.

The first two times I rode the Three peaks Cyclocross, the ride from Ribblehead to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, at the base of Pen-y-Ghent, was daunting. With your legs alreading burning, the last thing that you want to do would be ride/run up another 700 meter fell. It’s serious ‘pain cave’ stuff! However, this time, I had a little sparkle of freshness and led the group of riders, that I’d been with on the road, onto Pen-y-Ghent Lane. I set a fast tempo and, not only dropped the riders in the group, but also made up about half a dozen places.I kept a strong pace all the way up the peak, I flagged mid-way, but was aided by a gulp of Lucozade provided by Rick Crabtree (life-saver).

The final 'trudge' up Pen-y-Ghent (Patrick Frost)

One of my goals, before the race, was to break 3 hours and 30 minutes and achieve an Elite class time. In order for me to do this, I needed to be at the summit of Pen-y-Ghent by 3 hours and 10 minutes at the very latest. A sub 20 minute descent would be doable, but wouldn’t leave any room for error, mechanicals or cramping up. The race was on.

At the start of the descent, you feel on top of the world; there is very little below you and you feel vulnerable and exposed. Hurtling downwards, on rough terrain and on pretty narrow tyres, does not help the matter. But you have to block it out; your brain can only focus on one thing, the ground in front of you. One slight lapse of concentration and you could find yourself headfirst in a bog, splayed out on a field of rocks or, even worse, tumbling down a sheer hillside. Focusing on that Elite class time, I managed to put in my best descent of the day, picking off another clump of riders. Not only that, I managed to ride the entire descent, successfully navigating the sharp rocks on the exposed mid section of the mountain. I emerged at the bottom, puncture free and full of adrenalin. 5 minutes on the road later, I reached the finish line.

3 hours 28 minutes 55 seconds

I’d broken the three and a half hour mark. I was ecstatic. I had somehow managed to salvage a mediocre ride and achieve one of my goals. Not only that, but I had bagged third place in the Men’s Under 23 category, only realising while browsing the results. Another goal achieved. However, I must congratulate Sam Roper, who would have taken third spot on the podium if he had not punctured on his descent of Pen-y-Ghent.

Under 23 Podium: 1st Jo Moses, 2nd Ben Cooper, 3rd Edwyn Oliver-Evans (www.russellis.co.uk)

Also, after the finalised results had been released, it became clear that my dad and I had won the father and son category, beating the race winner, Paul Oldham, and his father. So, all in all, a pretty successful race.

I couldn’t however, have achieved my goals without my support crew, they were there at all the crucial moments to hand me energy gels and hydration to keep me going, and to carry a spare bike that thankfully, wasn’t needed. So thank you to my Mum and my Nan. Also, a huge thankyou to Raleigh Bikes, American Classic and Vittoria Tyres for supplying the equipment that helped me successfully navigate around the Three Peaks Cyclocross. And finally, thank you to my team cxmagazine.com for the added support for the event and cross season.

Now, back to being a student. Until next year...

The race weapon (www.russellis.co.uk)

Manchester Bicycle Club Cyclo-Cross Preview

Sun, 27 Sep 2015 17:04:21 +0000

Preview from organiser Mike Cleary:

So this year on Saturday October 3^rd Manchester Bicycle Club are organising our first cyclocross event this year at Heaton Park.

This location is one of the most popular venues in the NWCCA calendar previously being organised by Manchester Wheelers who this year are busy with the North of England championships.

The course will be very similar to the championships so a chance for you to have a go or practise on the same course and venue and score some league points.

Sign on this year will be in the two lodges at the Bury Old Rd/ Scholes lane entrance and the good news this year is we are opening up the car park next to the lodges for competitors. Please be aware there is a £1.50 fee for parking at the park.

To avoid long queues there will be a gazebo outside the lodges for anyone wishing to join the league before signing on for the race. If you have already joined the league go straight into the lodges to sign on. Vets and Women will be signing in separate lodges to Seniors/ youths and juniors so we can share the queues and cut down on wait times for you.

The course is the usual fast course with plenty of room for overtaking and to handle the big numbers of riders. We will have the usual jump boards, Steps, off camber and through the woods sections to give you a full cyclocross experience. Its not a surprise it’s the choice for the championships this year the course provides one of the best experiences you will have.

We intend to welcome lots of spectators with an MC booked, extra toilets, Coffee van and we even have an on site mechanic for any last minute tweaks, tune ups or small repairs you may need before racing.

For any competitors or spectators who want a bit more info we have put together an event map with courses mapped, sign on, toilets, start, finish and car parks all mapped out for you. Drop us an email or download one from our website and we will send you one www.manchesterbicycleclub.org

Horwich Humdinger – Horwich CC – NWCCA round 2

Sun, 20 Sep 2015 20:57:06 +0000

Giles Drake – photo by Respice Photography

A very fast and another excellent course from the Horwich CC at Leverhulme Park today. Well done to all involved in organisation and helping the races run smoothly.

Congratulations to riders and indeed winners in all events – not least Nick Craig who won the veterans race then rode to second behind a strong Giles Drake in the Senior race.

Results

Lap Times

The official results above have been compiled using the combination of the timing system and manual judging. The results are official, lap times below are for information only. We will not be answering any questions regarding lap times so please do not email as they do not effect the official results.

With the fantastic numbers of riders taking part in the league this year we (the volunteers) are stretched with the jobs that need doing each week before each race. If we receive multiple emails regarding lap times we will not be publishing them for further events. Cheers Rob Pugh

Photos

Images from Respice Photography of the veterans / women’s race here and senior race here – and thanks for the images supplied above.
Selection of Senior/Junior photos by Cadence Images
Paul Davy’s 75 photos of the Sen and V/W events here on Flickr
400ish pics of Senito and Vet /W race here on Facebook from SPOKE fine cycling clothing
171 photos from Ellen Isherwood here on Flickr

Video

Short film of the Senior race here by Bolton Filmmakers ElectroSundays

Horwich Humdinger Preview

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:58:40 +0000

Preview from organiser Dave Headon:

The leagues biggest and fastest course is ready for the epic contests on Sunday

You can expect the following:

– A huge wide course free of bottlenecks and ready to accommodate fields of up to 200 riders

– the fastest race you will ride all the cross season!

– the longest, widest and safest start area of any cross in GB, on grass park land.

– excellent spectator viewing, with most of the course to be seen from the finish area.

– 43 fast bends per lap

– 3 bankings per lap to ride

– 2 cambered sections, one being in the woods.

– fully taped off course

– lots of fast grass sections, some tree root sections, some dirt.

– a course free of puncture hazards, so bring your best tyres, and run the pressures of your choice.

– the excellent NW transponder system, masterminded by Len Woffindin, Rob Pugh and John Brailsford will be in operation.

OTHER INFORMATION:

– on site car parking (please lock your bikes to your cars, so we don’t have any chance of any going missing)

– changing rooms with hot showers at the PowerLeague 5 building, where we also do the signing on upstairs.

– the forecast is dry at present

History has not been written yet, it’s up to you now

Good Luck and enjoy, we await the showdown!

Venue Info

HQ will be at the PowerLeague Five building:
Leverhulme Park

Long Ln

Bolton BL2 6BZ

Please do not wear muddy footwear in the signing on room upstairs.

British Cycling Website Event Details

Further information can be found on the British Cycling website here.

Hoghton Tower ‘cross – Red Rose Olympic – Round 1

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 05:21:22 +0000

A frenetic and fun start to the season. Huge thanks to all involved – helpers, organisers, officials, the riders and their families. ‘Cross is a big operation now in the North West and we’re all proud to be part of it. Results for all races below

Please contact us using results-queries@nwcca.org.uk as usual with any questions about the results.

Results

Photos

Chris Meads Photography’s from the Senior / Jun / U23 race and the Vet / Women race – Many thanks for the images below
Hundreds of images here from Colin @ Respice Photography who has kindly knocked off 30% from the digital price to mark the start of the season
312 Photos free of charge on Flickr here from Stephen Salmon

Red Rose Olympic Hoghton Tower Cross

Sat, 05 Sep 2015 19:04:24 +0000

Red Rose Olympic Cycling Club will be delivering the first round of this year’s North West Cyclo-Cross season at Hoghton Tower, Preston, in what was last year a very popular venue. The continental indoor barn section will be there again doubling up as sign on with the course going through the barn following a short cobbled climb. The course will be much the same layout but will be extended to increase lap times. The start will take place in a larger area in the bottom field. Car parking is in the same place with a £2 fee being charged per car by the venue. There will be the usual stalls including hot and cold drinks plus the hog roast.

The course will be built on Friday 11^th of September. If you would like to help out with the build and get the chance to check out the course the venue will be open for course building from 2.00pm.

Parking
The venue staff will collect parking fees of £2 per vehicle. Parking is on a hard surface but not suitable for larger motorhomes. Please also park as close as possible to other vehicles as space is limited. Please do not park on the tarmac drive or grass banking either side of the drive. There will be a single lane 2 way entry and exit system to the car park so please assist the car park volunteers who will direct you.

Conservation work
To show the league supports this magnificent grade 1 listed gem (and to ensure we can use the venue for years to come) all adult racers will be asked to contribute £1 to the ongoing restoration and conservation work. There will also be refreshments served in the barn for those who want to stay close to the action.

Race Times

*A £2 surcharge is payable by all non-league S,J,U23,V,W riders

Venue website and map
Hoghton, Preston, Lancashire PR5 0SH

http://www.hoghtontower.co.uk/

The SCX Website has moved!

Gordon Watt — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 08:43:00 +0000

The SCX website has now moved to a new home at www.scottishcx.org.uk

This blog will remain here, but will no longer be updated.

225 Riders Now Registered

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 15:28:43 +0000

We now have 225 riders who have registered for the 2015/2016 Season.

Registering online in advance of the season reduces the admin for the NWCCA volunteers.

Also if you register before the 1st race there will be a registration pack waiting for you to collect.

For all the info you need on how to register see the League Membership page.

Cheers

Rob

Rob Pugh
The Lazer North West Cyclo-Cross Secretary

sixºnorth to sponsor Alford CX 2015

Gordon Watt — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:15:00 +0000

DTCC are pleased to announce that sixºnorth , the Belgian Brewers of Scotland, are the headline sponsors for Alford CX 2015. The Stonehaven-based company, who operate bars in Aberdeen and Stonehaven as well as their brewery, have close links to the cycling world in NE Scotland.

The brewery name comes from the location of Stonehaven, six degrees north of Brussels. The love of Belgium runs deep, both in brewing and in cycling, and makes the company a great fit as a CX sponsor. Last April, head brewer Bob Lindsay took off on a tour of 13 of Belgium’s finest breweries taking part in the Paris Roubaix sportive and the Liege-Bastogne-Liege 100.

As well as their own beers (including Wanderlust Wheat, Hop Classic,
Chopper Stout and their Tripel), the sixºnorth bars feature a variety of guest beers, guest brewery collaborations and music events, so if you’re up in Aberdeen for the race (or Stonehaven for the finish of Ride the North this weekend), why not nip in.

The sponsorship deal with DTCC will see sixºnorth provide podium prizes for the debut CX race at Alford’s Grampian Transport Museum in October. Look out for their merchandise stand at the event, and please support them and the guys at sixºnorth by picking up some of their fine wares.

Entry for Alford CX 2015 is available here.

Thank you to Ridley Bikes and Lazer Helmets

Gordon Watt — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 09:40:00 +0000

Photo: A. Robson

The Scottish Cyclocross Association would like to thank Lazer Helmets and Ridley bikes for their sponsorship over the last two years. The infrastructure and prizes they have donated has helped our series become one of the busiest in Britain, with numbers over 400 the norm now. The professional look and feel of the events has been helped by the Lazer Helmets tape which has been used to great effect to mark out the courses which all the riders have appreciated, and the recipients of the bikes and helmets are most grateful.

Thanks again Lazer Helmets and Ridley Bikes, it has been a great pleasure watching the sport grow under your sponsorship and a delight working with you.

Glasgow Cross 2015 Cancelled

Gordon Watt — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 19:29:00 +0000

James Murray, organiser of Glasgow Cross, has announced today that the race has been postponed. He is now on the lookout for a suitable replacement venue. If you know of any potential, non-Council owned alternative venues in Glasgow, please get in touch with James through the SCX site.

Thank You Manchester Wheelers

Sun, 23 Aug 2015 07:12:27 +0000

Thanks to a very generous donation from Manchester Wheelers, chip timing will be available to all categories from Round 1 at Hoghton Tower.

Steve Simpson organiser of one of the Midweek MTB Madness rounds and NWCCA league rider suggested the idea after hearing chip timing would only be available to Youth, Under 12/10/8 riders midway through the season.

Profits from the popular Midweek MTB Madness round at Chorlton Water Park were donated and used to purchase the extra transponders chip required.

Thank You Steve Simpson and the Manchester Wheelers.

New Website coming September 1st 2015

Gordon Watt — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 08:02:00 +0000

From September 1st, Scottish Cyclocross will have a brand new website. The site will host race previews and reports, interviews with folk from the Scottish scene, Series and Non Series Race Calendars and the SCX shop.

The new digital Service Course/Materialpost is at http://www.scottishcx.org.uk and the September 1st launch will see, amongst other things, entry links for all the SCX Series Races and the announcement of a big new sponsor for SCX. Currently there is a landing page featuring a photograph of David Lines at Foxlake by Anthony Robson.

Jim Cameron and I will be adding stuff gradually over the coming months, but one thing you'll notice is that the new site is a bit more user friendly (especially on mobile platforms). The design relies heavily on the fantastic photography of Anthony Robson, Lauri Peil and Martin Young so a big thank you to them for kindly allowing SCX the use of their photographs. We also hope to feature race reports from Eric Easton, and hope that folk will continue to contribute reports, race announcements and photo galleries.

Social links on the site point to the Scottish CX email address, Twitter (@scottishcx) and the SCX Flickr Group. There is a contact form on the site as well, so any Q's regarding SCX can now be sent a bit more easily.

At present the current Blogger site will remain where it is. All the information has been ported to the new site, but formatting is a bit askew in places. We will review whether to retain the Blogger site or move wholescale to the new site in a month or two once any kinks have ironed out. For now, we will post to both sites until September 1st, and then all new posts will be on the new site only.

Counting Events for Overall League Standings

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 13:03:42 +0000

We’ve had a few queries regarding counting events.

For the 2015/2016 season, the number of counting events for overall league standings and competitions will be 11. Simply put – Your best 11 results over the course of season.

The rule for calculating counting events was changed at the last AGM.
It is hoped 11 counting events will allow riders to part in the League and National Trophy series throughout the season.

To be eligible for overall league standings and competitions you will need to register with the league.
See the League Membership page for full details on how to register.

Haugh + Summer Cyclocross

Gordon Watt — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 20:29:00 +0000

Report by Eric Easton

Photo by A. Robson/The Press Room

Is there an appetite for Summer cyclocross in the burgeoning Scottish ’cross scene? Saturday’s Haugh+ Summer Cross event provided ample evidence that there is both an appetite for racing and for organising through the Summer. This is the fourth year of this event staged at the Silver Sands in Aberdour and promoted by Ronde and META and organised by James McCallum. It made a great change to race in dry conditions and be able to sit a watch the other races whilst having a pint.

A new format for this year’s race was introduced with riders allocated to one of two heats, the top fifty riders from each heat racing again in the A Final whilst the B Final was made up of non-qualifiers. Seniors, Vets and Women raced together. This format was warmly received by riders especially by those in the B Final who are often racing at the tail end of age-classified events.

The course looked fast and fairly non-technical but proved to be challenging with a number of off-camber corners, deep mossy grass and a stiff headwind. Conditions were bright and sunny all day except for the under 16 race.

The first heat was won by Connor Johnstone (Leslie Bikes) with Davy Lines (Velosure Starley Primal) second and Matthew James (
Rossendale RC) third. The second heat was easily won by Hugo Robinson of (Neon-Velo), with James Fraser-Moodie (Pedal Power) following him in second on the mountain bike and Paul Carmichael (The Bicycleworks) third.

Carnegie Cyclones organised the juniors races and categorised them in a sensible and clear way by Primary School class. P1–3 was comfortably won by Alasdair Easton of Edinburgh RC, Finn Crowther (Meedies Bike Club) and Matthew McCleery (Carnegie Cyclones) were 2nd and 3rd respectively. The P4–6 race was much more competitive - Katie Galloway (West Lothian Clarion) fought her way to the front and held on for an impressive win in front of Alexander Crombie (West Lothian Clarion) and Finlay Cooper (Carnegie Cyclones).

As the marquee sprang into life with one of the local Aberdour indie bands giving it laldy, the B Final started. John McComisky (SR Albanach) stormed into an early inspiring lead and the race was on. He stayed there for a lap until he blew and settled into the middle of the bunch. Adam Wallace raced impressively to take the B final win from Ron Mill (Leslie Bikes) and Dave Smeaton. Katie Carmichael (Hervelo) took a lot of (mostly thinning tbh) male scalps with a cracking fifth place.

The A Final was all about the Davy Lines/Hugo Robinson shoot out. From the gun these two surged ahead with Davy doing the bulk of the leading in the early stages. Behind there was extremely hard racing with three or four small but very aggressive groups trying to break away from each other. At the bell, Robinson attacked and built a substantial lead through the first few corners of the lap. There was never any danger that Lines would bridge but he did manage to close the gap and the back half of the course and finished only a few seconds behind the worthy winner. Allan Clark (Leslie Bikes) fought hard with Gary McCrae (Leslie Bikes) all race but edged out McCrae for third place.

Hugo Robinson is new to the Scottish ’cross but has raced widely throughout Europe and further afield. He’s a double junior British cyclocross champ and is just starting his senior pro career with Neon-Velo, undoubtedly a very classy rider.

A long day racing with two hard efforts each for the riders. The format seems good though and maybe should be borne in mind for the non-series races in the up coming season. Reasons for: racing against riders of similar ability regardless of age, stage or gender. Reasons against: two races in the short days of winter may be impracticable.

Beveridge Park Grand Prix of Cyclocross

Team Y Cycling Blog — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 17:47:00 +0000

Sunday 6th September 2015

Portage Cycling in partnership with Active Fife are pleased to announce Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy as the venue of the Open Cyclocross race (130 grid slots) for a 1pm start.

The race will take in the parkland meadow and tarmac road section of the setting. The course will have some sweet downhill twisty sections, punchy uphill and tricky adverse camber areas for your riding pleasure, as well as that all important portage .

Lots of details to follow, including an impressive sponsor list, as well as on the day attractions.
Entries will go live here on the day after Haughcross entries close.

This race would not be happening without the huge support of Fife Council and the parks department, as well as incredible help from Kirsteen Torrance, who has liaised with all the appropriate departments.
For further updates you can check out Portage Cycling and the Facebook page here.

On a more personal note, many thanks to all of you who have helped and supported the idea, I look forward to seeing you all on the day, racing or in a event role. #volgas

Battle of Balloch Castle CX 2015

Gordon Watt — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 17:57:00 +0000

It's going to be a busy season this year, the Scottish scene is shaping up nicely with a good balance to the events and venues. However, for those left shell shocked by the loss of our 30 year old classic SCX course at Auchentoshan we have a counter attack waiting in the wings. With air-raid sirens blaring, and the words of Lance Corporal Jones shouting "Don't panic, don't panic!" we're back to save you from an unthinkable FIRST EVER Glasgow United CC-less cross season. Get it in the big ring now and brace yourself 'cos on Sunday 4th October there's gonna be a Battle!

We can scarcely believe we're allowed to give you quite possibly Scotland's most beautiful CX course. From the high points around the lap the views are stunning, great for spectators, less so for riders because it's also going to be one of the fastest in the country so you won't have time to look! It's a brand new modern style course on the banks of Loch Lomond at Balloch Castle Country Park. Thanks to the mixture of fast sandy, fast gravel and fast geo-block (plastic reinforced) grass paths this is definitely a 46 tooth, bunch racing spectacle.

This is a TLi event, format will be an A and B race both open to all categories over the age of 16. When entering, the rule of thumb is Top 20ish SCX'ers charge straight on for the A Race. Prizes in the A race will be awarded as per age categories.The B race isn't just for new recruits, we'll also accept any experienced soldiers who are not so keen to go over the top. Prizes in this event will be first 3 places + some spot prizes.

Both races will be limited to 100 riders for safety.

Entry now open http://www.entrycentral.com/bobccx

RACE DAY TIMETABLE

Sign On Open to Riders - 11:00

Course Open for Practice - 11:45 - 12:45

B-Race: First Skirmish 13:00 (50mins)

A-Race: All out War 14:00 (60Mins)

Prize-giving - 15:30

Rab Wardell - Costa Cross Training Camp Opportunities 2015

Team Y Cycling Blog — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:45:00 +0000

A great chance for any of you crossers who want to catch some proper coaching before the season kicks in and experience the Spanish countryside with no boundaries.

Cyclocross in Northern Europe is typically associated with the cold, dark muddy winter months, but the training camp and location are going to be somewhat removed from all the typical cross weather.

Cyclocross training camps in Spain are the perfect opportunity to experience a whole new perspective on this side of cycle sport, learning from Costa’s resident professional Cyclocross rider and Coach Rab Wardell.

Experience an alternative side of Spain, exploring the countryside whilst learning valuable skills applicable to all types of riders.

Whether you’re a “roadie” looking to improve your handling, a budding Cyclocross racer looking to improve your skills or simply a cyclist looking for a new experience on two wheels this camp will not fail to impress

For full information and pricing visit our website

Haugh+Cross Festival of Cyclocross Attracts Champions.

Team Y Cycling Blog — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 16:39:00 +0000

Article:John McComisky

Images: Neon Velo (James McCallum & Hugo Robinson).

July 31^st-1^st Aug 2015

With upwards of 100 competitors already signed up and pledged to ride at the season opener of Scottish Cyclocross, event organisers Ronde and Meta have again attracted top names to Aberdour (Fife) for the event, now in its fourth year.

In previous years the event has attracted European and multiple British Champion Helen Wyman,a host of Scottish Champions and riders from far afield as Denmark to race at the scenic seaside venue.

This year will be no different with top billing going to seasoned Cyclocross professional Hugo Robinson, who has raced at World Championship level and is many times over British Cyclocross Champ. Robinson who now divides his time racing for the Neon Velo team in road and cross in 2015 is delighted to take on the cream of Scotland’s Cyclocross racers, will also run a Cyclocross Clinic the evening before the main two race event.

The event co-coordinator James McCallum, no stranger himself to professional racing success at home and abroad, as well as being a former Commonwealth Games medalist, has put his bike aside for this one to put on a brave new format for racing here in Scotland. “I have been looking at improving and tweaking any of the events that I am running or involved in, and the logical thing was to have a two races in a day for every rider. Most cross races you turn up, ride and go home, we wanted to give the riders and the public a better experience, a with this format riders get a bang for their buck and there will be plenty track-side activities going on all day, not just for riders, but for family and friends”

Summer-cross is not a new concept, it has been kicked around the UK and US for years, but in Scotland it took a proper hold with the first few running's of the Haugh+Cross event which had tagged onto the popular Aberdour Festival.

The coastal course nestles tightly in parkland adjacent to to the Silver Sands beach and holiday area, and offers riders of all abilities the chance to dip a toe before the Scottish Cyclocross Series proper rolls into action in Autumn.

With the event only a two weeks away, entries are still open for the races, so if you fancy your chances visit : http://www.entrycentral.com/haughcrossfestival

With a full day of racing from 12pm till 8pm, and the added attractions of free demo rides on the latest Genesis Road bikes, trade stalls and all that is good in terms of locally sourced food and ales which will be available from the Festival Marquee.

Cyclocross is so much more than just racing, and the organisers made this clear with the following

“Join us for a day of highly charged cyclocross racing and much more. Experience the cheer of the crowd, and the ringing of cowbells. Spectators can enjoy racing of all abilities, from the best the UK has to offer to absolute beginners.
Following the cyclocross a family ceilidh will take place in the Festival Marquee, just the thing to finish a great sporting event in the Kingdom of Fife”.

Competitors who are even thinking of making a weekend of it even have the option of arriving Friday after booking a place at the Cyclocross Clinic and spending a full evening under the wing of Scottish National Cyclocross Champion Rab Wardell (Dirt School) and the aforementioned Hugo Robinson .

Cyclocross is one of those disciplines where technique can really make a difference, even against riders, fitter and stronger than you are. Simple things like tyre pressure, and what gear to be using can all be ironed out by your cross coaches on the evening, and unlike most tutorials, the lads here will be welcoming answering any questions and offering all sorts of tips and tricks from the pro riders kit bag.

The event would not be possible without the following event sponsors and partners: Ronde Bicycle Outfitters, META, Shimano, LAZER, Genesis, Ridley and Mule Bar.

Festival Format

· Register at Festival Marquee (10.30am-11.45am) -

· 12noon First race (qualifying) – 100 places available ( First 50 % to final number 1, second 50% to final 2 )

· 1.00pm Second race (qualifying) – 100 places available ( First 50 % to final number 1, second 50% to final 2 )

· 2.30pm and 3.30pm Children's races - FREE

· 5.00pm Final 1

· 6.30pm Final 2

· 7.00 pm Podium presentation.

(Times are subject to change)

ALFORD CX 2015

Gordon Watt — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 08:02:00 +0000

Deeside Thistle are putting on two cyclocross races (one for Beginners, Newbies and Sandbaggers, and one for Old Hands and Racing Snakes) at Grampian Transport Museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire on Saturday October 3rd.

Grampian Transport Museum, Alford.

For those of you who haven’t visited the area before, GTM is a gem of a venue, with a tight motor racing circuit set in rolling grassy grounds. The course will use the tarmac racetrack, grass bankings and verges and an off-road vehicle trail to give a fast, tight course with mud, short steep run-ups and off-camber grassy sections.

ENTRIES

• Entry is online only ( NO entries on the day).
• Both races are open to male and female riders 16 yrs and over.
• Online Entry closes at 23:30 on 27/9/2015
• Entry is £18 - TLI Members will be refunded £5 Day Membership on presentation of a valid TLI Membership Card at sign on. (More info on TLI)
• An admin fee of £1.10 is charged for each entry by Eventbrite.
• No refunds will be given.

ENTER HERE

RACE DAY TIMETABLE

• Sign On Open to Riders - 11:00
• Course Open for Practice - 11:45 - 12:45
• Race 1 - Beginners, Newbies & Sandbaggers - 13:00 (50 mins)
• Race 2 - Old Hands and Racing Snakes - 14:00 (50 Mins)
• Prizegiving - 15:20

TIMING

Timekeeping will be by Mark Young (MyEvent Timing) and the finish will be located on a tarmac straight in front of the grandstand for a crowd-pleasing finish.

Portage CX Race - Sunday September 6th 2015

Gordon Watt — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:53:00 +0000

Portage Cycling is pleased to announce an Open Cyclocross Race for Sunday September 6th 2015. The venue in the Fife area will be confirmed in the coming days. Entry and pre-race chat will exude from the Portage Facebook page in the coming weeks.

CX Race at Plean Country Park - Nov 29th 2015

Gordon Watt — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:47:00 +0000

Screen grab from the SCX Plean photoset by Trina Ritchie

Colin Chisholm has been in touch to say that there will be race at Plean this year, after an absence from the Scottish race calendar in recent seasons. Last run in 2011, the course that year sounded pretty spicy!

The race will take place at Plean Country Park, near Stirling, on November 29th 2015. Entries will be via the BC Website shortly.

Haugh+Cross 2015 - Aberdour

Gordon Watt — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 14:44:00 +0000

The traditional Scottish CX Season Opener (July 31st and August 1st 2015) has been announced today and here’s what the organisers have to say:

HAUGH+CROSS – in association with Ronde Bicycle Outfitters and META - is back with what is Scotland’s original summer Cross event. For 4 years now we have been bringing you this summer cyclocross race. With the new partnership with META it’s promised to bring HAUGH+CROSS to a whole new level of cyclocross competition and racing fun. Spectators can enjoy racing of all abilities, from the best in the country to absolute beginners. The race will draw in top riders from across the region; race format will consist of two separate races across the day – the morning race as qualifying where you can expect the usual cyclocross shenanigans, with the finals on Saturday evening.

Ronde Bicycle Outfitters, Shimano, LAZER, Genesis, Ridley and Mule Bar will be on hand with a selection of merchandise, clothing and accessories to satisfy your Cross itch! Race commentators will battle to make themselves heard over the ding-a-ling of cowbells – spot prizes will be presented to the noisiest supporters. For those wanting to refine their Cross skills, there will be Cross Clinic available to 30 people on the Friday evening.

This years cyclocross bonanza will be complimented by a cross coaching clinic on Friday 31st July led by Scottish National Cross Champion and British Elite Mountain Biker Rab Wardell and Multi British Cyclocross champion Hugo Robinson (Neon Velo).

Join us for a day of highly charged cyclocross racing and much more. Experience the cheer of the crowd, and the ringing of cowbells. Spectators can enjoy racing of all abilities, from the best the UK has to offer to absolute beginners.

Ceilidh

Following the cyclocross a family ceilidh will take place in the Festival Marquee. Entry for spectators is FREE but all donations towards the costs for this exceptional event will be gratefully received. We’ll have our beer tent serving the area’s finest local brews, BBQ and other suitably heart-warming fare.

We hope to see you all there racing and having some summer cross fun or with your best and biggest cowbells supporting the event…

Raceday Timetable - Aug 1st

12:00 First race (qualifying) – 100 places available ( First 50 % to final number 1, second 50% to final 2 )
13:00 Second race (qualifying) – 100 places available ( First 50 % to final number 1, second 50% to final 2 )
14:30 and 15:30 Children’s races - FREE
17:00 Final 1
18:30 Final 2
19:00 Podium presentation.

More Details

LOVECROSS-TWEEDLOVE-CROSSLOVE

Team Y Cycling Blog — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:49:00 +0000

Tuesday May 19^th – Peebles Town Centre.

Words : John McComisky.

Images : Emily Linton.

Cyclocross here in Scotland is booming and banging at the moment with a plethora of individuals and clubs putting on new events at venues up and down the country for 2015 and into 2016.

A nice new addition has been the return of a cross type race to the Tweedlove Festival, and a first for Scotland with an urban, street stramash.

With a field of sixty plus riders entered on a real hotch-potch of hardware, with everything from hybrid road bikes, 29er MTB as well as the knobbly pure cross brigade, there was plenty of chatter at the Green in Peebles pre race of what was going to be the steed of the evening.

Aside from the bikes, the event really reached out in terms of inclusivity, with everything from World Cup Mountain Bikers, seasoned cross bods as well as run what ya brung racers who rocked up and cabled a number on for the first time.

And what of the course?....well it was a trully urban affair with plenty of surface change, some slalom, some punchy alleyway climbs as well as an ascent of the stairs at the “Church of the Holy Cross” before coming blinking into the night light and the main street.

The tough and relentless parcour did offer a truly fun feature of the evening, where the local kids set out stall with a large armoury of water pistols to skoosh and target each and every rider. Urban racing feeds on the oxegen of the spectators even more than the riders itself and it made for a colourful sight to see so many of the families, who attended the social ride hanging back to make some proper noise and heckle the heat races and finals.

The races proper were fast and furious affairs with a 20 minute heat to weed out the top ten in each before a 40 minute final closed proceedings.

First heat win went to the ever smiling and talented Roger Campbell Crawford (Team Thomsons) who ripped the field apart with some bale jumping prowess, top female was the ever impressive Lucy Grant (Peebles CC) who enjoyed some raucous support from her friends and family in the Tweed Valley to top the seven strong girls grid.

Heat Two saw reigning Scottish Cyclocross Champion Rab Wardell (Dirtschool/Santacruz) roll out to the line with the likes of Craig Hardie (Hardie Bikes), as well as the young team of Calum MacGowan and Stuart Wilcox, all eager to grab a spot in the final. Wardell was soon bossing it with a solid win, and was carving through the lapped riders with gusto, even having time to pop the odd wheelie in the process.

With the Peebles night air now starting to nip at the bones, the Le Mans charge along the main street soon warmed the colourful glut of riders as they headed out into the twists and turns and church steps portage. Wardell nailed it off the front with some spirited showmanship of Hardie, MacGowan and Campbell Crawford.

With plenty of scrapping going down the order the real winners were the spectators and organisers for grabbing the attentions of not only the public but even the local TV, who added even more kudos to the event.

Wardell, satisfied after his race win had this to say “ Quite simply these events are just so much fun, the area around here (Tweed Valley) really supports cycling, and the Tweedlove Festival just continues to grow with some World Class events over the fortnight, great event for the down and a challenging course”

The ride of the night had to go to the diminutive Lucy Grant who more than held her own in amongst the top male finalists, even managing to nip prolific Scottish TT rider and erstwhile cross racer Gary Robson in the process.

With fading light the inaugural Lovecross was put to bed, heres hoping this is just the first stab at urban cross here, and sand pits, tabletops and even more tomfoolery can be added to future editions.

First Three in the first ever Lovecross:

Men – 1st Rab Wardell, 2nd Craig Hardie, 3rd Calum MacGowan

Women – 1st Lucy Grant, 2nd Isla Rowntree, 3rd Caroline Harvey

Alford CX - Sat Oct 3rd 2015

Gordon Watt — Wed, 20 May 2015 09:38:00 +0000

Preparations for Alford CX, a new race hosted by Deeside Thistle Cycling Club on Saturday October 3rd at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire, are now well underway.

We are planning an A and B race format, similar to the racing at Foxlake CX - part of the John Muir Winter Carnival. We won’t be choosing races for riders, since ideally we’d like two full races (and you’re all adults). If you’re new to the sport, or have a few races under your belt and fancy a more mellow afternoon then the B-Race (50min) will suit you just fine. The A-Race (60min) will allow the hitters a chance to find out how their early season prep has gone, test new bikes and flash their new kit in the warm autumn Aberdeenshire sun… Basically, it’s an ideal final tune-up prior to the first race in the SCX Series at Callendar Park the following weekend.

For those of you who haven’t visited before, Grampian Transport Museum is a gem of a venue, with a tight tarmac motor racing circuit set in rolling grassy grounds. The track is used as the start of the KOM Sportive, and hosts a number of Youth Races (including Grampian Youth Crits this weekend). Expect a tight, fast CX course with mud, steep run-ups and a lot of off-camber grassy berms and banks. For spectators, it offers a rare chance to watch 90% of the racing from the comfort of a grandstand seat.

We’d like to encourage folk to make a day of it and discover what Alford has to offer - local businesses have been supportive of the Knockburn Race in the past, and the village has a lot to offer. The, Heritage Museum and the exhibits at the Transport Museum itself will keep non-cyclists occupied, while Haughton and Murray Parks (200m from the venue) offer miles of trails, single track and woody, muddy fun for riders and dog walkers to explore. Haughton Park also has a beautiful campsite in an old walled garden for folk wanting to make a weekend of it. You may even meet the Alford Stormtrooper…

Because of the nature of the course (in a stadium setting) we will have to tape almost the entire course, both sides. If there are any companies/individuals out there who could to help us by supplying some of your branded course tape we would be extremely grateful - we’ve left plenty space on our flyer for sponsor logos.

Event timing and entry details will be available in the next few weeks.

Tonight - Lovecross, Peebles!

Gordon Watt — Tue, 19 May 2015 08:49:00 +0000

Brand new for 2015, Love Cross is an exciting, fun packed, rip-roaring, urban cyclocross inspired event based in the heart of Peebles. Building on the success of the popular Peebles Sprint, Love Cross takes the best elements and hurls them into a non-stop, action packed, open to all, battle for the podium. Almost as exciting to watch as it is to enter, but only almost.

The spectacle begins with a Le Mans style start along the High Street before competitors get on their bike to face the course ahead – the course will utilise Peebles High Street, Tweed Green and the steps and alley ways running between the two. A mixture of fast open sprints, tight corners, steps, cobbles, paving, man made berms, sand pits and multiple line choices. The route will be entirely on tarmac, there will be a fair amount of climbing on and off the bike and running on the tarmac so please wear shoes that you’ll be happy running in! Whilst this event means business, and there’s a podium to reach for, it’s really all about the fun. There’s nothing the average rider can’t tackle and getting off and running is all part of the plan! Riders can face the course on any type of bike, each having its own advantages and shortfalls. The short, fast paced action will leave you desperate for more.

If you’re not riding get trackside to cheer the competitors on. Soak up the atmosphere and get the cowbells at the ready!

Thanks Glasgow United Cycling Club

crosser nut — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:53:00 +0000

The SCX committee would like to thank Glasgow United CC for the donation to the association funds.

A spokesperson for GUCC said "We have found ourselves to be in credit after the last few years of holding our event at Auchentoshan, due mainly to larger entries, and wish to put that back into the cyclocross association. We hope that the 'Tosh will be back next year once the building work has been completed."

AGM Minutes

crosser nut — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:50:00 +0000

Minutes of the Scottish Cyclocross Association AGM 15th March 2015

Committee Present:

 Ainsley Turbitt, Jac Marquis, James McCallum

Attendees:

Mark Young, Dave Hamill, Andrew Bell, John McComisky, Gordon Watt, Paul Davies, Fiona Walker, John Myerscough, Jim Murray

Apologies:

Davie Graham, Martin Steele, Steven Turbitt, James Melville, Jammy Johnstone, David Mason

Agenda items discussed:

Committee

John has stepped down. No other changes to committee at this time.

Secretary’s report:

Apologies for so few of the committee being present. Last season continued to build on previous with increased numbers and good racing throughout. Highlight of the season was the understanding of everyone over the incident with Jammy at the champs. It’s unfortunate that Auchentoshan is missing this year but hopefully with the proliferation of non-series races we can have a good season from September through to February. Anyone considering organising a race should contact Davie to try to avoid clashes.

Provisional series calendar for 2015 season:

October 11th Callendar Park
October 25 Knockburn Loch
November 8th Strathclyde Park
November 22nd Lochore Meadows
December 6th Irvine: champs and series races
December 12th Cross at the Castle, Mull

Financial report:

The 2014 season finished in the green but only by £230 - largely due to the success of selling SCX merchandise. Staying out of the red in future depends on sustaining rider numbers. Series race organisers pay a small levy of £1.20 to SCX for each adult rider. SCX in turn help cover the cost of timing chips currently £1 per rider. In future SCX may have to review the levy – this would require a new levy form to be produced.

Committee suggest adult pre event entry to stay at £14 but entry on the day should be raised significantly to further encourage pre entry which helps organisers.

An attendee suggested racers would be likely to accept a higher entry fee (to £15) on the understanding that the extra was to go directly to SCX for the specific purpose of enhancing SCX with more and better events.

An attendee suggested that SCX should communicate the SCX aspiration for sustaining and growing the sport and the need for funds to do that.

It was suggested that although some events would be running at breakeven, others have a surplus and they may want to invest in SCX future.

Timing:

To be put out to tender as it is each year.

Format of the SCX series:

An attendee suggested that having separate kids races should be considered, pointing out that it would be easier for organisers to put on adult events if they were separate.

Committee confirmed that the 2015 season will have the same format as last season. Same race categories and run under Scottish Cycling.

Committee explained they consider it important to have the kids races as they were important for the future of the sport and encourage parents to race too.

Concern was raised at the lack of current series venues and the reluctance of non-series organisers to consider running a series race due to the extra work involved conformed to SC rules.

Committee explained they consider at the moment that operating under SC had advantages including allowing racers to earn BC points.

Committee confirmed they would go with another organisation such as TLI if they considered it would be best for SCX but the current format under SC is currently considered best.

Fiona Walker was asked to take away an action point to find out of SC would accommodate a SCX series without kids races taking palace in same event as adult series just to clarify if it was possible under SC.

Fiona also asked to clarify if non-series races get same BC points as a series race.

SCX aspirations for the future:

An attendee explained that he wanted the sport to grow but also wanted SCX to feel the same fun at events.

The Committee explained that the current race venues and organisers have achieved so much over the last few seasons that we are now close to a point where the existing venues and organisers just can’t grow very much bigger because of maximum numbers venues can handle.

SCX want to encourage new organisers and venues. It is expected that they would demonstrate success with at least one non-series event before being considered to join SCX series.

SCX committee currently offer advice and support to Organisers.

An attendee suggested that clubs might be encouraged to pool resources and put on new events.

An attendee suggested SCX ask SC to encourage clubs to put on CX events – one in each of the new regions for example. Fiona confirmed SC are already doing a lot of work in developing CX including with recent successful Youth and Women’s coaching events plus several go cross events and that it can be hard trying to force clubs to hold CX races when they are perhaps not familiar with the format.

SCX explained that organisers often struggle to get enough volunteers to cover the officials jobs at a CX event. It was suggested that more could be done to encourage racers to take a turn and help out as volunteers.

SCX want to know what racers value most and what direction they want the sport in Scotland to go. Use of an online survey was suggested. For consideration by the committee.

Other Business:

Champions jersey was discussed. The committee explained the problems associated with this include cost of having jerseys printed with riders/team/club sponsors logos and the number of categories required. Also, as the champs is officially an SC race it should be up to them. No further action at this time.

One attendee requested publishing separate V60 results – no request for a separate prize-giving. Mark Young said this was possible and agreed to take that forward.

One attendee suggested SCX should consider expanding its equipment inventory (eg. Clocks, banners etc) in order to help organisers and to enhance the feel or the event by making it more slick. The committee welcomed this suggestion confirming that they are keen to help organisers and want to help encourage local communities to come along to spectate. A good looking event would help with that. Funds/storage and transportation barriers were discussed but suggestions of free storage and suggestions of grant money were made. For consideration by the committee.

A suggestion of having a SCX race/event group under the SCX Committee was made. That group would be focussed on helping organisers put on a successful event. Committee indicated that although the committee is all volunteers, they do already work with organisers. Setting up a separate sub-committee seemed a bit out of scope at the moment but they would be happy to continue to working closely with organisers.

Deeside Thistle are about to give donation to Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.

Thanks:

Phil Glennie of Braemar Mountain Rescue Team for fast action and excellent care at Knockburn Loch.
Volunteers, landowners and racers who helped out at races.
Jim Cameron for all his poster work.
The sponsors for their sponsorship of the series.
Jammy for his ongoing work at every event.
All the committee were thanked for their work throughout the year

Committee’s closing remarks:
Everyone was thanked for traveling and attending

Provisional Cyclocross Calendar 2015/2016 (Updated)

martysavalas — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:26:00 +0000

Scottish CX Calendar 2015

May 19th - Lovecross, Peebles
Aug 01st - Haugh+Cross, Aberdour
Sep 06th - Portage CX, Fife
Sep 12th - Glasgow Cross
Sep 19th - Bute Cross, Isle of Bute
Sep 26th - ERC Inch Park, Edinburgh
Oct 04th - Alford CX, Alford, Aberdeenshire
Oct 11th - SCX1 Callendar Park
Oct 18th - Kick in the Knock
Oct 25th - SCX2 Knockburn Loch
Nov 08th - SCX3 Strathclyde Park
Nov 22nd - SCX4 Lochore Meadows
Nov 29th - Plean Country Park, Stirling
Dec 06th - SCX5 Irvine - incorporating the Scottish Cycling Cyclocross Championships
Dec 12th - SCX6 Mull
Dec 13th - Santacross, Mull
Jan 17th - RGCX, East Renfrewshire
Jan 24th - Doonbank Trofee (TBC)
Feb 07th - Fife CX (TBC)
Feb 21st - Dig In

National Series Dates

Oct 11th National Trophy 1 - Southampton
Oct 25th National Trophy 2 - Derby
Nov 08th National Trophy 3 - Durham
Nov 29th National Trophy 4 - Ipswich
Dec 13th National Trophy 5 - Bradford
Jan 09th & 10th National Championships - Shrewsbury
Jan 17th National Trophy 6 - Milton Keynes

Scottish Cyclocross AGM 2015

martysavalas — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 13:18:00 +0000

The 2015 Scottish Cyclocross Association AGM will be held on Sunday 15th March at 15:00 at the Low Port Centre in Linlithgow.

The GP Room
Low Port Centre
1 Blackness Road
Linlithgow
West Lothian
EH49 7HZ
View on Google Maps

Come along and help shape the Scottish Cyclocross series for the 2015 season and beyond. If you're planning to attend then please let us know by using the Contact Us form.

p.s. you can find minutes from the 2014 AGM here.

Rouken Glen CX - Results

martysavalas — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 21:58:00 +0000

Results by myeventiming
A Race
B Race

Results split by category for each race can be viewed on the "Results by category" tab. Create a free MYLaps account for more race data. Any queries on results should be directed to Mark Young by email - click here.

Many thanks to Jim and his Big Orange Bobble Hatted team for a great day of racing in the snow at Rouken Glen Park. Thanks too to East Renfrewshire Council, Big Bobble Hats, Dales Cycles and West Brewery.

Photo courtesy dR j0n

Rouken Glen CX

martysavalas — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:59:00 +0000

SUNDAY 18TH JANUARY 2015
Here we go, the inaugural Rouken Glen Cyclocross (RGCX) is just a week away.
Welcome to the rider information pack.

HOW DO I GET TO RGCX?
RGCX, in Rouken Glen Park, just 10km south of Glasgow city centre, bound the west by the M77 and to the south by a railway to Glasgow Central has to be one of the most accessible cyclocross courses in Scotland.

BY CAR
Stick G46 7LL into the sat nav and follow the machine. Full address is:
Rouken Glen Park, Rouken Glen Rd, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 7LL

There are two free car parks in Rouken Glen Park; the main one at the garden centre and a second one at the east lodge (veterinary surgery). The map at the bottom of this pack indicates their location.

For the Main Car Park - From junction 3 off the M77 head east along Nitshill Rd (A727), straight over the round about and then your first right will take you to the garden centre car park. It is signposted “Rouken Glen Park Main Entrance”. Post Code - G46 7UG

Failing that, continue east along Nitshill Rd (A727) for 500m take another right into the east lodge car park signposted “Rouken Glen Park East Lodge”. Post Code - G46 7JZ

Failing that, there is also free on-street parking along Davieland Road which runs along the eastern edge of the park. Please take extra care if you choose to park on Davieland Road. Post Code – G46 7LL

BY TRAIN
RGCX has it’s very own train station, Whitecraigs which has trains travelling into Glasgow Central. Trains typically take 20 minutes to get to Whitecraigs from Glasgow Central.

HOW DO I SIGN ON?
Once parked up please make signing on to receive your timing chip and race number your priority. Everything after that will fall gloriously into place. There will be signs guiding you to the RGCX arena from the car parks. Can I ask kindly that the A racers wait until 10.30 to go to sign on to allow the B racers to sign on first. The sign on will be in the race arena just near the waterfall in the south of the park. It will be under a Dales Cycles gazebo. It’s marked on the map below by a purple star.

The timings for the day are as follows:

Please make the most of the open course for practice and respect other competitors by leaving the course once it is closed. Announcements will be made to confirm when the course is open and closed.

WHERE IS THE START?
In an attempt to get a good spread of the field at the start and to mitigate bunching at the first turn we’ve an uphill ‘tarmac’ start chute. Think Spa-Francorchamps, just a bit more glamorous. This will be the only time you come up this hill. Getting there is easy.

From the sign on area you will notice a gravel track heading west, away from the waterfall. Head along that; it takes you along to the golf course. Continue down the track and it will disappear down the hill quite quickly. There’s a slight opening at the bottom where it starts to level out. There will be signage and grid lines on the ground to indicate the start area, please continue past that to the muster area. This will be about 50m past the start line. Please wait there until you are called up to the start line.

Please make your way there 15mins before the start of the race. A marshal will be on hand with a big bucket to take jackets etc. which you can collect at the sign on tent post race at your convenience. Again this is marked on the map below by a yellow dot.

WHAT IS THE COURSE LIKE?
Grassy, gravelly, muddy, rooty, hilly, rad, repeat. Have a look at the course map below.

WHERE ARE THE TOILETS?
There are public toilets at the back (roadside) of the Boathouse Café situated on the eastern side of the boating lake (see map below highlighted in blue).

WHERE CAN I GET SOMETHING TO EAT?
The Boathouse Café has said they are happy for muddy cross hooligans to go over get warm and get some food (see map below highlighted in blue).WHAT HAPPENS IF I WIN?

YOU GET PRIZES! Cash prizes will be given for the top 3 riders in the A race and for the top 3 male and top 3 female riders of the B race. Prize giving will take place for both the A & B races straight after the A race.

Even if you don’t win you may still get BEER. The good folks at WEST Beer have kindly supplied us with St Mungos. To claim your free beer look out for the ‘BEER HAND UP’ guy giving out tickets. (Please note drinking in the park is not allowed, you do so at your own risk)

CAN MY FANS COME TOO?
Yes of course, please bring as many fans, friends, personal photographers, past lovers, colleagues as you like. Please encourage them to bring instruments of all ilk to make a racket and encourage you and your fellow racers.

ARE PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLOWED?
Yes of course, please bring encourage all you photographer pals to come along. Cyclocross is definitely the best form of cyclesport for photographers, loads of weird and wonderful stuff goes down and you see riders again and again throughout the race.

This year, borrowed from my brothers that bring you DIATD, I’m excited to announce, and also as a matter of courtesy, that we will have a drone pilot and videographer filming the races. I believe this is a first (don’t tell me if I’m wrong, I like the bragging rights) for Scottish Cyclocross and is definitely going to boost the promotion of our beautiful sport. Look out for the videos post race!

Dig In at the Dock - Results

martysavalas — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:01:00 +0000

Results by myeventiming
All categories

Results split by category for each race can be viewed on the "Results by category" tab. Create a free MYLaps account for more race data. Any queries on results should be directed to Mark Young by email - click here.

Many thanks to Dave, John and their army of helpers, plus Pedal Power and the many sponsors for providing an astounding array of prizes.

Cross at the Castle - Sunday - Results

martysavalas — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:02:00 +0000

Results by myeventiming
Under 12s
Youth, Juniors, Women, Senior Open,Veterans

Results split by category for each race can be viewed on the "Results by category" tab. Create a free MYLaps account for more race data. Any queries on results should be directed to Mark Young by email - click here.

Mant thanks to Davie and his team of helpers, Glengorm Castle, Cycle SOS and our commissaire Jim Murphy for a great weekend of racing on the Isle of Mull. We'll be back for the 10th anniversary Cross at the Castle in 2015.

Milton Keynes World Cup weekend: A cxmagazine.com Racing Team special

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 00:04:00 +0000

Milton Keynes World Cup weekend: A cxmagazine.com Racing Team special

Well at last we’re here at a Cyclo-Cross World Cup in the UK and more specifically MK. We were one of the first to arrive to get our Junior club-mate Dylan Flesher (Harrogate Nova) signed on and ready for his race in the morning, ahead of Sven, Nikki, Helen, Kevin, Sanne and the rest of the World Cup racers in the afternoon. What a sight greeted us, not unlike our experience of visiting Hoogerheide last year! It was massive: Trucks, TV, overhead gantry, dual language commentary (American and English), basically the works. And as Dylan was about to find out, a super technical world class course, not for the feint hearted. As we mere mortals were not allowed on the course there was nothing I could say to advise our youngster, he just needed to go out there and do it. Clearly the first off camber mud/grass drop-off at the end of the tarmac the start straight was critical, and it proved decisive in every race. It was also clear that pitting and bike changing were also going to be decisive, as the mud was of the “I’m gonna clog your bike” variety. Edwyn joined me in the pits to take care of bike cleaning and having two of us made the job swift, but still challenging, and by the end of the race we were spent and a highly credible 30^thplace shows what a talent Dylan is.

Then we cleaned the bikes and headed back to the van, parked up next to a Belgian motor home which turned out to be HQ for USA legend Jonathan Page, who had an excellent weekend both in the World Cup (14^th) and the following days National Trophy (3^rd). His Belgian mechanic gave me the low down on tyres and pressures (low and down).

So now it was time to enjoy the show. We wandered around among the Telenet, Sunweb, Crelan motorhomes and warm up zones. What a great day: the whole UK ‘cross community seemed to be there, plus some overseas pals like Angus Edmond the one-man marketing machine for Malteni beer, a top guy and great rider (that’s gotta be worth a slab?), all making for a non-stop social.

First up was the women’s race. My money went on Sanne Cant which was maybe a bit un-patriotic but there was an overpriced beer riding on it. What a race, the lead changing so many times on the last lap and it seemed certain Katie Compton would win when she arrived on the tarmac first (foreshadowing #1, #2 and #3).

photo: Ian Davidson CXNE

Then it was the men and again my cash went double or nothing on the cool ruler himself Kevin Pauwels. Finally we saw how he does it, on lap 3 as he drives along the finishing straight the glasses coolly come off and are pegged onto the helmet. All riders note: this is KP saying he doesn’t need to keep the mud spray out of his eyes anymore. Another close sprint (foreshadowing #1) but KP kept his cool and took the win, and behind him our own Ian Field pulled out a fantastic 12^th spot, just beating our new neighbour Jonathan. Day 1 complete, onto Day 2.

KP - The Cool Ruler photo: Phil Ingham

Day 2: National Trophy (on the World Cup course)

Once again we were almost first on scene as my race was top of the schedule, and we got parked next to the finish, more or less less where the oversize Crelan motor home was the day before. Bikes out and pressures set as per the Belgian instructions. Today was also about testing out the new Vittoria Cross XL 33mm tubulars, so I took my Scott CX Addict out for a practice lap with the new tyres on. First up was the off camber drop off. It seemed there is no tyre yet made that could cope with this terrain and the race organisers quickly set about a course change to take the now un-ridedable and un-walkable section out for safety reasons. I love serious technical challenges, but here the race organisers got it spot on.

So onto the rest of the World Cup lap and one thing was obvious: bike changes were going to be decisive. I rode round the rest of the course, doubling back just to check sight lines into the pits. Then onto the now super greasy amphitheatre rises. I figured if Kevin wasn’t riding the corners I didn’t have to but with the Vittoria’s I was easily able to ride up with grip to spare it seemed. They were hooking up nicely. Another decision made. We had also decided to use the on-site jet washers but they had dried up (literally run out of water) and there was no more to be found. So it was plan B: our own petrol versions and the water we’d brought from home, with extra top-ups from the nearby pond, all masterfully organised by the DS: Steve, Heather and Dave & Sally Morris. (But BC please note: No water at a National Trophy, again!).

At the start and a decent gridding for me, but still two-thirds down the field so carnage ahead was likely and so it proved. Riders were falling in places I couldn’t imagine it was possible to fall, as well as those I could. It was a warning that conditions were testing. Past the first pit and onto the second pit, still on the first lap and bike swap #1 completed. Then the two running climbs, but with a clean bike on my shoulder I was in an advantageous position.

Clean bike on the shoulder. Photo: Andy Whitehouse

Three climbs meant three greasy descents, but all managed with minimal slides, then onto the amphitheatre to show Kevin how to ride it (in slow motion). Up the stairs and lap #1 complete. The course was so thick with mud in places that rides became runs but I stuck with the one-lap bike swaps and it proved good. I’d promised the DS I would stop grabbing the fenceposts on the 180 degree corners due to an incident in practice at Durham resulting in a new rear shifter, but in the race I just couldn’t resist it, and I made up time too.

The two drops over the footpaths were catching a lot of riders out and finally it caught me too on the last lap and I came crashing down helmet first. After a moment of stunned hesitation, I confirmed to the marshal I was OK (I had no idea if I was) and back I went to finish my race. Then my moment of stupidity or whatever (foreshadowing #2). I got onto the tarmac, looked behind and had a decent gap to the next rider. But not wanting to take anything for granted I set to until I thought I’d done enough. Another glance round and I got a shock, the rider behind was coming full bore and without enough tarmac left he got past me. Schoolboy error after 40 odd mins of getting everything mostly right. I should know better. I hope Kevin wasn’t watching. But overall a hugely enjoyable race and once again the support from the side-lines was tremendous too. I tried to glance up to see who everyone was, and thank all of you.

Next up for our team (and family) was the women’s race. With a few of the big guns staying on for this race including, on the start sheet, Katherine Compton this was going to be interesting for our riders Sarah and Joanna. Also going today was my wife Alison and conditions were so tricky I set up both her bikes with my best tubs, a dangerous precedent. As usual by now there was another great start by Sarah with Joanna not far behind. Our view of the race was from the pits and we were next to KC’s pit crew holding three sparkling Treks with pink FMBs.

Sarah drives through the mud, photo: Richard Bennet

With our three riders on the course the bikes were coming in thick and fast, thick with mud and needed cleaning fast. No problem for the DS: we managed to get most bikes back out on the short side of the lap (which was very short) and with Dylan acting as spotter, all our riders knew when their bike was ready. Not much more we could do to help, out on the course it was up to them. Sarah’s race was packed with thrills and a lot of spills while Joanna was in full on chase mode as she closed the gap, drafted, caught and passed Claire Beaumont (Vicious Velo) only for her to rip her rear mech off as she hit the tarmac finish (foreshadowing #3). Seriously bad luck, but that’s ‘cross. Final result: winner Katherine Compton Trek Factory Racing Team, 14^th Sarah Murray www.cxmagazine.com and 20^thJoanna Rycroft www.cxmagazine.com with both our riders comfortably surviving the dreaded 80% cut-off rule. Alison also survived the race but not the cut-off, getting in three laps to Katie’s five.

Joanna and Claire Beaumont, photo: Andy Whitehouse

Final race of the day and I was able to mainly watch as Dave Morris (Harrogate Nova), Angus Edmond (Malteni) (now 2 slabs?) and Simon Maudsley (Team Vertex) were all given the cxmagazine.com Racing Team red-carpet, pond-water bike wash treatment. It was a cruel race with Marcel Wildhaber, David van der Poel and that man Jonathan Page again culling riders from the large Senior field. Ian Field placed behind these three in fourth spot. Overall a great weekend of top class cyclo-cross racing and there’s much more for the team to look forward to with Bradford, Derby and Ripley Castle Cyclo Cross all coming up.

Well that just about wraps it up, but if you’ve got this far you probably are interested in comments of the new Vittoria Cross XL 33mm tubulars. I had FMB Super Muds (same as Katie Compton, mine were not pink though) on the other bike so tough competition in any test. In the heat of the race I can’t say I noticed a great deal of difference between the two, both tyres squirmed on the tarmac at super low pressure and hooked up in the mud on the greasy corners, cambers and chutes suggesting that the Vittoria offering is a great tubular for these kinds of conditions. I’m greatly looking forward to more testing next weekend in South Shields.

Finally, if you’ve noticed that this blog is occasionally quite readable, it’s generally due to the brilliant advice I get from a real writers like Phil Ingham and Andrew Yee and if you want to read some of their work you’d do well to get your computer onto the free issue of Cyclocross Magazine which contains a full article about the MK race bid and other top CX stuff. Go to www.cxmagazine.com/ukfree

3 is the magic number...

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 22:12:00 +0000

Today's blog is brought to you by the letter P and the number 3. But it's not kid's stuff.

There are three distinct stages in the life and times of a cyclo cross racer. There's before the 3 Peaks, during the 3 Peaks and after the 3 Peaks. Let me assure you, the place where you want to spend as little time as possible is the middle one, it's by far the hardest of all three. I am now in the third one, and having completed the course I am now fully qualified to dispense random advice about how to conquer this race. That said, if you're hoping to get yourself under 4 hours I'd suggest you find yourself another blog. I didn't even manage my goal of under 5, but we'll get to that later.

Let's rewind the clock to that other slightly worrying state, before 3 Peaks. I've blogged about my preparation already, so no need to bang on about all that. What I didn't mention was that I'd also spent the last year or so, well exactly the last year, asking anyone and everyone for advice about how to race this event. Fortunately for me, our club and team have huge experience in this department and are happy to share. To mention just a few, let's start with the DS of course (Steve), then there's Edwyn who despite his tender years is rapidly becoming an expert, Sarah who bagged the U23 last year, Tony Mills (York Cycleworks), Ian Caswell, Tim Evans, Paul Lehan (all Harrogate Nova), Simon Pateman (Saddleworth Clarion) and Phil Ingham (Pedalsport). Alongside these veterans of the race I've enjoyed long conversations with other newbies about gear and strategy. Put it all in the mix and I kinda knew what I was in for, I just didn't realise quite how challenging the reality would be (very, no make that ridiculously). Technical bike details at the bottom.

Fast forward now to 'during'. So I'm on the start line with 650 cyclo cross riders. Yes it's a MASS start. Off we go, I've been warned that the first road section is fast, as all the riders are trying to get to the first pinch point like, you know, first. Just like a regular 'cross, only with 650 of 'em! Crashes are also a hazard here, and we had some, but the squeal of canti brakes was ample warning to avoid these from mid pack where I was. I offered to pull team mate Joanna along but she soon got bored of that and let fly on up the road. Next time I would see her would be on the last descent after an unplanned over the handlebars incident.

Then left turn, onto the dirt and up we go: peak #1 Ingleborough. Following some great advice I took a look around me. A long string of riders (now walkers) carrying bikes up a very big, and very steep hill. How steep? I needed to pull myself up using the farmer’s fencing and dry stone wall. The strangest thing is the silence, all you can hear around you is deep breathing, no gears, brakes or shouts. It was probably one of the hardest ascents I've ever done (with a bike on my shoulder), and worryingly only one of three. As the Spanish say, poco a poco was my method, and bit by bit I did finally get to the first checkpoint.

A big, steep hill
[Photo: Jack Chevell @jackchevell]

Riding the bike again after such an effort is tricky, but you need to keep your wits about you 'cos there's all sorts of hazards. Nonetheless after a rip roaring descent (I think I was smiling at this point) I reached the cxmagazine.com Racing Team support crew at the base. Slick is the best way to describe this, a bit like an F1 pit stop I was fed, watered and off down the road chomping an energy bar and doing 30mph when I was stung on the leg by an insect of some description. I pulled over but the creature was long gone leaving a searing pain in my left leg. I re-joined the race, hooking up with the eventual Dad and Daughter winners for the road section to, you guessed it, peak #2 Whernside.

Happy days (Photo by John McCann)

Well, they say it's not as steep, but it's longer and the endless stone steps make it harder. Poco a poco once again, I made it to the top. It was not good though, I was slow. On the plus side the searing pain in my leg took my mind of the pain in my legs. On the downside the insect bite seemed to trigger a severe bout of cramp, and I had to stop at one point on the way down as dismounting my bike became impossible. Lots to remember on this descent, I think I used the Caswell escape routes once or twice, and best of all the DS was on hand to wave me away from the lethal stone steps where I would surely have perished. Another F1 pit stop, this time Heather dug out a life-saving bag of crisps as I thought salt would cure the cramping.

Tireless (tyreless?) CXM support crew: Heather, DS Steve, Alison

[Photo: Jack Chevell @jackchevell]

Back down the road I found some more riders to work with, but dropped them before Horton for the start of peak #3 Pen-Y-Ghent. This one is different in that it's the same route up and down. Different in this case equals danger with riders flying down at 20+ mph occasionally in control, but mostly not. But now you get a sense of how you are going as you see all the riders you imagined you might be close to come flying down knowing that you're still 30-40 minutes from the top. This is where I saw Joanna, and she tried to tell me she'd crashed but all I could see was a rider on her way down while I was still on my way up. By now I given up on my dream of sub-5 hours and set about just finishing. At the top one last gel and away I went, me too on the last downhill. A tricky one this, stone drainage ditches, loose surface rocks all make for an engaging time, but finally I reached the bottom where the support crew had sportingly stayed on to check I was OK.

I pinged off on to the tarmac and chased down two riders ahead, got on the wheel only for full blown cramp to set in on both legs and forced me off the bike a couple of times and pedalling with one leg at others. But after a few very dodgy moments when I thought I may not be able to ride on I found myself at the finish where Tony was changed and ready to greet me. Job done. Time? 5:04. '04! First question of course was about next year. Regular readers will know this was a one off. But '04! (?)*

Always an upside to everything, finishing a little further down the field meant the queue for the bar was acceptable so with pints in hand we politely applauded this year winners but of course went crazy ape for the U23 female winner, once again from cxmagazine.com Racing Team, this time Joanna Rycroft. A super nice way to end the day.

Joanna mildly concussed and blissfully unaware she's about to be called to the winner’s podium

[Photo: Jack Chevell @jackchevell]

So now I too get to bask in the glory of being a cyclo cross racer in the 'after 3 Peaks' phase of life. This is a pleasant place to be, the huge effort behind me, so my advice is to put all your efforts into the phase before, and train properly. Forget your bike, you need to be able to ascend, that's what'll get you (me?) round in the magic number: under 5.

Clutching that all important timing chitty: 5:04:12

[Photo: Jack Chevell @jackchevell]

* Weather conditions this year were perfect: warm, cloudy and best of all almost zero wind. Course times need to be factored against this.

Bike details:
Scott Addict CX carbon
Hope pro3 hubs, 28h Mavic open pro rims, handbuilt wheels
Shimano dura ace 10 speed old style shifters
Mix of TRP mini V front and Avid rear brake, Swisstop pads
Shimano 105 triple chain set using only the 30 and 39 chainrings
11-32 rear cassette, 105 short cage rear changer
Vittoria cross XG 34mm tyres, Conti 'cross inner tubes, 70psi

Spare bike: Unused
Punctures: None

Marks out of 10 for bike: 10
Marks out of 10 for rider: 7

Discs or cantis? With all the attention at the moment over brakes I'll share my thoughts. At no stage on this race did I feel I could have gone better with different brakes, they simply were not the defining issue for me. But it was dry, mostly. I'd put it like this, I'd happily have a disc brake equipped bike if it was not one single ounce heavier. That'd be my trade off benchmark. It's the deadweight going up that defined this event for me. You may be different. Yes you, get yourself entered and start a new phase in your 'cross life.

Clearly a massive thank you is due to the support crew of Alison, Heather and Steve, the many advisors and supporters both trackside and other competitors out on the route. Finally a quick thanks to the guys from OTE and Zipvit who took pity on me at the bike show when I mentioned I was doing the 3 Peaks and sent me back to Yorkshire with a stash of energy bars and gels. And to Jack Chevell and John McCann for the nice pictures. All much appreciated.

Stumbling across Cyclocross ...by Joanna Rycroft

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 21:04:00 +0000

Stumbling across Cyclocross ...by Joanna Rycroft

My first ever 'cross race (photo by Neil Hendry Ph-Mas Racing Team)

As this marks the start of my ‘blogging’ I thought I should give people a little background to which led me to pedalling like fury around fields… for fun.

I'm just about to start my second year at Leeds Uni, studying Sport Science. Other than the odd family bike ride at home, cycling has never been a competitive sport for me - I’ve always been a runner and a hockey player through school. I took a year out after school to work and travel and decided I fancied getting a road bike. Ending up in the Specialized Concept Store one day, I bought a bike on the spot… best money I’ve ever spent.

By the time Uni came around I had spent more and more time pottering around the country lanes at home and had ventured out on the odd ride with my Dad and his fellow MAMILs. Joining the Uni cycling club gave me a perspective on how big cycling really is and introduced me to a great bunch of people to train with. Cyclocross was first mentioned at one of the pub socials and I was asked if I fancied doing the BUCS (British University Championship Series) race… having never even heard of cyclocross I agreed thinking it would be a laugh. Its fair to say my first experience of ‘cross wasn’t a very successful one, but I came away wanting to do more.

We were very lucky to have Chris Young, Mark Thwaites and Ted Sarmiento come to Leeds over the Spring term to do some cyclocross coaching. The sessions covered all the basics and provided a great platform to get into racing.

Standing at the start of my first race in Huddersfield, I was more worried about getting round the first corner in one piece than anything else. I loved the intensity of the race and came home already thinking about the next race. Results were released, with me 101^st out of 156 finishers. Whilst I was told its all about getting experience to begin with, my competitive instinct was left feeling a little disgruntled by how many not-so-aerodynamic MAMILs were ahead of me! I then made it my aim to get further up the order with every race, and chase down the leading ladies.

After a few more races, I was asked to join Cyclocross Magazine Racing Team and jumped at the opportunity. The black and orange skin suit has definitely knocked a few seconds off my lap times. Ted and Steve’s enthusiasm is infectious and I’ve already learnt so much from them both.

BUCS mountain biking was the next race in the calendar, so a trip to Dalby forest with the CX mag team was organised. Turning up with my mountain bike it didn’t take long before I realised there was still SO much more I needed to learn about becoming a competitive cyclist. Mudguards on mountain bikes are NOT cool; not wanting to show up my new teammates, it was removed before we’d left Ted’s back yard. What followed was nothing short of a baptism of fire… following Edwyn to the black route trail signs, I assumed we were heading in the wrong direction... we weren’t. By the end of the day I was riding the bike more than I was pushing it so the day was deemed a success.

BUCS MTB XC race completed, Team Gold in the bag

A week later, it was time for the real thing. This time my bike was stripped of its reflectors… but the bell still stands. The course was a mud bath from start to finish, and that was before any racing had taken place. As the gun went, Sarah flew off into the trees, never to be seen again till the finish. I got myself into second and managed to stay there, despite opting for the belly slide instead of cycling on one part of the course. Team gold for Leeds, hooray!

My first breakthrough in the summer series was in Killinghall, when I finally managed to catch Marie and Sophie to finish second lady. I struggled to get anywhere near Sophie in the next two races, until my final race of the summer in Leeds, where it was a sprint for the women’s race win. My bike crossed the line first, barely a meter between us both, and it was great to finish the series on a high. This left me placed 3^rd woman and 65^thoverall for the series.

In the Alps training for 'cross (3 peaks style!)

Next up... the 3 peaks! Living just 10 minutes from Ingleborough, it was too tempting for me not to enter. I guess we’ll find out in two weeks time if that was a wise decision or not! A fortnight of running and cycling in the Alps has put some much-needed miles in the legs, and the fuel tank is stocked up with pastries galore! Good luck to all others racing… the day will no doubt be a memorable one!

Fluent in Cross and the Crossjunkie blog

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:24:00 +0000

My new project Fluent in Cross is now live at www.fluentincross.co.uk

As such, FiC will become the vehicle for most of my cyclocross related musings and output, leaving this blog as a more personal reflection on my ongiong relationship with cycling and 'cross in particular.

As FiC occupies more of my time and energy, activity on this page is likely to remain light, but do check back in now and again for some 'cross related chinwagging.

Thanks for being around over the past 6 years or so.

Less than a month to go (before 3 Peaks of course)

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 23:01:00 +0000

So with less than a month to go (!) before the big race it's time to summarise my 3 peaks run up. I did indeed get the running shoes out and entered and ran a full 10 kilometre running race on a course that I know well on our local farm tracks that I use for CX training. Suffice to say I completed the run, but I didn't worry any of the local club runners other than finding my way to the excellent tea and cakes well ahead of the 'faster' competitors. Always thinking!

I also managed a walk up the final hill of Pen-Y-Ghent (hill of the wind) and by golly it was. That's when I realised I needed to either A) bail out completely or B) get radical with my CX bike gearing. I've gone for option B for now. Local gal Joanna Rycroft recommended Ye Olde Naked Man Cafe in Settle for post fell recovery.

I then retuned to Horton in Ribblesdale a few weeks later to take part in the excellent 3 peaks training day organised by the legendary John Rawnsley which was truly epic. Horizontal rain, a broken front brake, and some of the trickiest terrain I've ever encountered on a 'cross bike. And we didn't even go up any of the fells! Coffee and an abundant supply of cakes courtesy of Phil and Nora Thackray saved the day (seems like a theme developing here.....?).

In the mix also I've 'competed' in our club time trail league (slashing a whopping 35 seconds off my 25 mile PB) and combined that with a few of the local summer 'cross series (although a cynic might say that by combining these two I deliberately avoided a series ranking in either). Still, all good fun. And did I mention the little training ride we took with the entire IAM Cycling Team who we found lost in Harrogate looking for the sumptuous Rudding Park hotel where they'd been billeted for the start of the Tour de France.

I even dug out the old MTB to take part (race?) in the final round of the Nutcracker MTB series on a seriously challenging course above Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales, persuaded by Tim Evans that it'd be good 3 peaks style terrain. It was just that. This time I didn't take any chances and brought along some Eccles cakes from our local baker but I needn't have bothered, the organisers had a full on BBQ on the go so it was burger and salads all round after the racing was done (with a latte to wash down the cakes).

Then the real training began, after an excellent (for me) sub 8 minute Norwood Edge hill climb I began a week of intestinal issues that saw me drop 3 or 4 kgs and become weak as a kitten. But I'm down to 3 peaks fighting weight, only with a serious lack of power and endurance. Oh well, one out of three ain't bad?

So like a naughty schoolboy I'll be cramming for my exam now just a few weeks away by taking a trip to Majorca to see if I can find some of that elusive strength and/or endurance. But most likely I'll find some café con leche and tarta de almendras. ¡Que bien!

Finally, assuming all goes well and I find myself on the start line I'll be thinking of club mate Darryl Varley who has been seriously injured while out riding his 'cross bike in preparation for the peaks race.

For more cyclocross in your life head over to Cyclocross Magazine where you'll find a free (yes Yorkshire folk, you read that right) digital edition of the magazine including an excellent article on the upcoming Milton Keynes World Cup race.

Fluent in Cross cyclocross coaching days - Summer 14

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:51:00 +0000

Pic: Jo Allen

New to cyclocross? Want to improve on your skills for the 2014/15 season? Learn from Fluent in Cross with BC qualified coach Mark Turner and myself...

Friendly and fun coaching in the basics as well as more advanced cyclocross skills
Hands-on instruction including live video analysis to become ‘Fluent in Cross’…
Max ratio of 1 coach per 10 riders

When:
Saturday August 22nd 9:30 am – 4:30 pm OR
Saturday 13 September 2014 9:30am - 4:30pm

Where:
Towneley Park, Burnley and surrounding woods

Who:
All abilities, women riders and beginners particularly welcome (over 14s)

How much:
£65 per person for the full day

Instruction will include…

The dismount and remount sequence: how to be smooth and save time
Carrying and shouldering the bike comfortably and efficiently
Bike handling – ride better and faster no matter what the conditions
Cornering techniques
Off-cambers and other tricky terrain
Barriers & run-ups
Race starts
Equipment selection and set up
The FiC Mud Arts of tyre choice and tyre pressure
Race day preparation – recce laps and warm up

Full details and online booking here

Blog special: Sportiving, cycling's new black

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:03:00 +0000

Blog special: Sportiving, cycling's new black

What is it about the sportive that seems to entice so many bike riders? They're long (often more than an hour!), difficult, usually done on tarmac, so I mean, seriously, what's to like? My first encounter with a 'sportif' was in France where my ride pal Jon and I stopped in a nice restaurant for a two course lunch (the Sportif Special I seem to remember). It was only after we got back to base that it dawned on me this was a timed event and the challenge was in getting around the 170km as fast as possible. Silly me I thought we were there to enjoy a day out on the bike in the spectacular Ardèche countryside. Schoolboy error (#1). This sportive season I've done three local but seriously challenging events as 3 Peaks training fodder.

First up, Etape du Dales (Yorkshire and Cumbria, Dave Rayner Fund, 178km) where recent good form in the Scotton 100 meant that I could expect to motor along and pull Chris around in my wake. In the event the opposite happened. The schoolboy errors just kept on coming: started too fast, not enough to eat or drink, over cooked it on the first climb, you name it, I did it (#2,3,4,5). Lucky for me a serious mechanical failure on Chris's bike meant he could only descend on the back brake so we struck together and he literally towed me home on the flat sections with our mismatch in climbing and descending levelling us out a bit. I decided that's it for me, no more Sportives this season.

That is until Chris offers me a spare slot on the Tour De France Stage 1 route (Yorkshire, Cyclists Fighting Cancer), I couldn't say no. The Tour de France in Yorkshire! (CX riders: this is a big race for roadies, a bit like the CX World Champs or e.g. Koksijde). But say no I should've. We arrived at the first feed station with an average speed of 32+kph (20+mph) and I was well into the red zone, when will I ever learn? (#6). I waved my companions Geoff and Chris (Beamish Odd Sox) goodbye, and set about solo-TTing it around the rest of the 197km course as best I could. It wasn't pretty, but I got home.

So then club-mate Paul says to me "are you doing the White Rose Classic next week? It's the toughest course by far" (Yorkshire and Cumbria, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, 183km). I know. I've done it twice and been broken twice. Proper shattered, snails pace for agonising km after km. I was too late to enter, but dopey me I got in touch with the organisers at Ilkley Cycling Club who said OK, you can ride. But here at CXM we like to tell it as it is, so in fairness they did ask me to mention it in the blog. So I'm gonna mention it.

This time no stupid mistakes, I quietly departed solo and early doors from the well organised ride HQ at Ilkley Rugby Club. An error free ride was the aim, time not important, but remaining intact was. First hill: Norwood Edge, where our club (Harrogate Nova) organise a hill climb TT, so I know this one well. A treat for the riders was French style km marker stones telling us gradient and distance to the cols and sommets. A nice touch. Then a slog on to Grassington, where as luck would have it CX friends Sophie and Rob Thackray with the Paul Milnesclub ride are heading and I shelter in their wake in a severe headwind section. They turn off and I find myself riding with Nick from Hope Technology. Yes, you do know him, he's the one who shows you how to fix your bike in all those great videos.

Next up Fleet Moss, not the up so much but the down that can be a bit nerve racking. It's not hard to get to 80 or 90 kph on this run down to Hawes, but a nice headwind tempered this a little (71kph). Hawes for me is lunch time, sadly no restaurant (couldn't we maybe stop the clock?) but a quick cheese sarnie and a bag of crisps (hula hoops).

Then a fast rolling section to Coal Road climb where I ride with Nova sportive suprema Corrine who's on a mission today. She sets off up this 20% gradient and I revert to my own pacing strategy (survival, intact). Onto Ribblehead and this is what I came to see: all three of the peaks that await in September. From this distance they don't look so big but by the time you get to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, the third peak of Pen-y-gent looms large and I keep checking to see any kind of route up or down that looks bike-able. There isn't one. I'm confused.

Two more lumps to go, first is Settle to Airton and a 25% 'côte' before the final feed stop. I’m not kidding, 25%. Try it, then try it after 135kms. You get the idea. As with all the feed stations on this event, it's well stocked with everything, including the choice of champions, fig newtons. I stuff a handful in my pocket, I know what's coming 'cos last year I watched at all I slow motion: super narrow country lanes, gravel and broken surfaces (CX riders paradise) and rolling up and downs. I get super lucky again and meet CX aficionado John Graveling who pulls me along Wharfdale to the base of Langbar, the final côte in the tail. Now John is heading home to Ilkley and could of course go over Langbar (at only 20%), but why on earth would you? Well, one reason is to have your photo taken by Rick Robson (an example of his excellent work is shown below), the other is the sneaky timing mat at the top of this nasty little côte. So I'm back riding solo, but I know I've got this one licked now. Over the top, a mad descent and I'm back safe, tucking into the WRCs complimentary sausage butty and coffee with club mates and the other tired finishers.

photo coutesty of Rick Robson

Sportives eh? Great summer training events for CX riders everywhere. But be careful what you wish for, you might just get an entry.

eye's down for a full house...

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 16:33:00 +0000

All eyes from the cycling world were focused firmly on Yorkshire recently. The Tour de France Grand Départ 2014? No, you’re well off the mark there, think much, much bigger. Yes it was the annual lottery to see who gets one of the coveted 650 starting places in the annual 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross race in September.

Remembering that this year I’ve said I’m going to attempt it, picture me (and thousands of other CX racers) sitting at home staring at the computer to see if a lucky e-mail arrives. It should be worth noting that this is a lottery you can rig in your favour if you are willing to make the sacrifice. A guaranteed place is available to those brave enough to marshal at the event, or in my case regular readers will remember I spent a freezing cold Saturday with YCCA setting out the excellent Bradford National Trophy race. But I’ve learned to never confuse theory with practice. So I waited and waited, and finally it came….

“An invitation has now been issued for Ted Sarmiento - MV40 to enter this event”

Photo by Neil Hendry (PH-Mas cycling team)

I’ve don’t it! I’m in! Oh crap, I’m in.

Then social media lights up like a Christmas tree… You in? I’m in. And for the next few days you get to see who’s in and who’s out. Both parties celebrating in their own way. In also are cxmagazine teammates Edwyn and Joanna. I’ll do exceptionally well to come third in our team.

But I’m in and now I’d better get on with the show. Or as club mate Paul put in very succinctly “the 3 peaks pretty much ruins my summer”. So with my summer riding ruined it’s time to plan for the big race, now just three months away. Yikes!

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 12:20:00 +0000

Regular visitors to this page will have noticed a paucity of posts over the last few months. This has in part been due to an accident-induced lack of riding and therefore lack of inspiration on my part, but also as my energies and thoughts have been elsewhere on a separate 'cross related project.

Fluent in Cross has been bubbling away in the background of my mind for some time now, and is beginning to take shape behind the scenes ready for an Autumn launch. Part cyclocross technique primer, part blog and part boutique store, FiC will hopefully become a go-to site for the aspiring weekend racer looking to hone their technique, acquire niche cyclocross products that are hard to source, or tap into the collective experience of our team for more personalised coaching support to achieve their 'cross goals.

Either way, visit our blog at http://fluentincross.wordpress.com to check in on our progress and get a feel for some of the content to come.

3 Peaks, 4 months to go

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Wed, 07 May 2014 23:47:00 +0000

3 Peaks 4 months to go......

While not strictly 3p training, I rode another edition of the Scotton 100 km challenge. This is a brilliant renamed 'sportive' to fit with the British Cycling categories, the other new name on the block is 'gravel racing'. This event pre-dates both nomenclatures and is an on/off road course which makes bike and tyre choice critical. CX racers normally pick out their best bike, sling on some faster rubber and set to. A puncture in the latter stages limited my performance to an equal personal best, so all good there. Plus I enjoyed riding it from the first to the last km, pretty much. A good group formed and I am very grateful to all those I rode round with on a very windy day. Most importantly money was raised for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and York Cycleworks made sure all riders got a new coffee mug as is the tradition.

Scotton 100 gravel sportive (photo Trevor 'The Machine' Schofield)

So onwards and Southwards. Spring training this year has taken place in the new cycling training hub de jour of Mallorca. This place is fascinating (bike fans). You wanna see cycle training on a truly industrial scale, come to Mallorca's North Coast resorts around Alcudia. The nearest I've seen to this is the massive Ardechoise sportif in France with some 15,000 participants. But in Mallorca there's no sportive going on, just training by plane loads of giris. Some big names too, Wiggins spotted here and there but this eagle eyed rider picked out CX legend Nick Craig and co. Rumours also of Telenet Fidea team on the island. The sunshine, great roads, bikes and organised riding thanks to SunVelo meant that team mate Sarah and I really got the kms stuffed into our post season legs (I suppose that's pre-season legs for non CXers).

Sarah, Scott and Ted training like the pros in Mallorca by stopping for a photo op

What next? I can't put this off much longer, at some point the running shoes will have to make an appearance, and if so I'll be back to report on progress.

Despatches from the Cone of Shame

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 10:12:00 +0000

It’s part comforter, part tormenter and definitely a fashion statement for the ‘broken’. We’ve been together nearly 4 weeks now, but have plenty more time planned for each other in the near future following my self-induced up-ending and subsequent fracturing of two vertebrae (C7 and T4 for the curious) in a crash at the end of March.

They gave me a fetching two-part Cone of Shame neck brace at the hospital with instructions to take it easy and not take it off for 12 weeks. At all. With no frame of reference for this type of situation, nor any experience of ever having broken any bone, let alone my neck and back, it’s fair to say it has been an interesting and steep learning curve. As a moderately, well ok, extensively obsessive rider, I thought the hardest part would be dealing with not being able to ride. Of course I asked the consultant in the hospital lots of questions about my condition.... Nothing useful about the actual condition itself you understand, more about when I could ride (not for a long time), if running was possible (NO!) and when I could get on the turbo (when you feel able). That bit stuck in my memory - excellent, I can turbo as soon as I am ready. This will be easy then, I’ll get screaming fit on the turbo over the next few weeks and this whole thing will be a minor inconvenience.

Except my level of denial (strangely called ‘stupidity’ by my wife) was somewhat higher than my level of functioning. Three weeks of shuffling around the house, fairly constant pain, codeine induced fuzziness and an incredible lethargy the like of which I have never known, rapidly disabused me of the notion that this was a minor blip in proceedings and that normal service would be resumed soon.

Things are picking up though – my energy and mobility are slowly returning, my bikes are polished to perfection ready for the day when they can be ridden and I’ve sat on a turbo, albeit for 5 mins. That earned me a Grade A b&llocking off my wife. Given that I unwisely posted the moment on social media (while she was away) and was summarily told off using said media, team mate Dave Haygarth commented it was like watching a schoolboy showing off to his mates only for his Mum to come out and tear him off a strip in front of them. Her concern was understandable but actually, sitting on the turbo felt considerably more comfortable than walking because of the way my neck was supported by the brace and the fact that all the movement takes place from the hip down. I look forward to some gentle sessions on the turbo starting soon. And all safe in the knowledge that the winter ‘cross season is still a good few months away yet and provides a realistic carrot to aim for without pressure to get back too quick. See you in the mud!

THE Three Peaks

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:11:00 +0000

Les trois sommets (well it is Tour de France in Yorkshire time)

My first ever 'cross race

It all started here, 13th October 2007. Well maybe a bit before. Tony, one of my cycling pals from Uni, oh so many years ago, had his Italian custom made steel MTB stolen. This was proper custom, integrated seat post and everything so no-one else could really use it, ironic eh? So he replaced it with a…… ‘cross bike. A what? Not an MTB, not a road bike, what is it? “I’m gonna race it” he said, sure OK, that’s what you do. “No, I’m gonna race it over the Three Peaks”. Now I knew he’d lost the plot. But with a little further persuasion we set off for Huddersfield New College for a typical Yorkshire series points race. My first ever. I can distinctly remember two things: 1) a high speed wipe out on a super fast corner when I decided this was the sport for me and 2) Tony insisting I leave nothing out on the course (I didn’t). I was hooked. Now it was me badgering him to get to the next race.

So cut to six or seven years later and I’m regularly racing National Trophy with two bikes, supported by a great team and cycling club and enjoying it more than ever. So why spoil the party? Well, I suppose ‘cos it's there, always lurking in the background of everything, everywhere and everyone in UK cyclo-cross: The Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross Race. Tony has been racing it every year, killing his bikes and crushing wheels but placing higher each time. He makes me sick.

Now let’s get one thing straight, it’s not a cyclo-cross race. Yes there’s a mass start, yes there’s National ranking points available (lots in fact), race numbers, entry fees, marshalls, a course (!), prizes, winners, finishers, times, DNFs, DNSs, etc. You get the idea. But that’s where ANY comparison to a cyclo-cross race ends. It’s a sportive/enduro/mountaineering/fell race or something like that. But it’s there. A bit like Paris-Roubaix in that if you tried to organise this race for the first time today, you’d be laughed out of the Health and Safety briefing. It’s surely not sensible. But yet it’s there and it seems it aint going away. So it looks like I’m gonna give it a go. My plan: do it once, finish it and hopefully forget it. Forever.

Let the training commence…..

Chute

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 11:12:00 +0000

Chute, valpartij, incidente, choque......

If you ride a bike, at some point you will crash. Pro cyclists know this as an inescapable part of the job, the 'metier' of being a professional bike rider. Many mentally allow for a certain number of crashes per year, hoping that none will be too serious and put them out of action for long. It is a part of their existence that they neither welcome, nor deny, but just work through. Cycling lore is choc full of stories of suffering, of incredible feats against injury, of overcoming physical damage that would put most of us out of the running for any activity for a while, let alone the brutal world of professional racing. Hinault's broken nose, Hamilton's collarbone, Hoogerlands barbed wire injuries....all legend.

But what of the amateur or recreational cyclist, one for whom riding (and therefore it's flip side, crashing) is merely a hobby, an obsessive one perhaps, but not a means of making a living from day to day. How does the act of falling from one's bike, self-inflicted or otherwise pan out in a life only part-lived on and for the bike?

I had the chance to reflect on this the other day, when managing to have my most serious crash in some while, solo and with only my own stupidity to contribute to its execution. The act of crashing is a strange one, and influenced to some degree by who is around you. In a group ride or race, there's the unusual noise of tyres rubbing, a skid or bits of metal clashing that jumps out from the normal noises of group riding, and precursors what can be a frightening and all consuming barrage of noise and movement, depending on how caught up you are in it. Crashing solo (or at least without anyone or anything specific to precipitate it) is different. A lapse of concentration, the sudden realisation that things are not as they should be in terms of line, balance or speed - the silence of it all as it goes wrong in front of you. With you. As part instigator, part passenger.

My own recent crash was a surreal mix of calm, noise and total confusion. A moment of calm when I realised I had got both my speed and my line totally wrong for a left-right combination, bordered on its right hand edge by a dry stone wall right next to the tarmac. It was all calm in the sense of there being nothing I could realistically do to get round the bend, so it was a question of waiting, with a bizarre curiosity to see how things would unfold at this point. After hitting the wall with my right hand and handlebar, it all went quiet for a little while. It was a bit confusing really, knowing that something was happening, but not being sure exactly what. The contact between my head and the tarmac moments later broke the spell, with the whole of my right side grounding an instant later to emphasise the point that things had probably not gone too well.

The aftermath of crashing is a funny-old affair - childhood habits kick in, those years of social conditioning of not wanting to betray the fact that you are hurt, stiff upper lip stuff (don't cry it's not manly, at least not at the age of 45), jumping up and walking around when by rights you should be sat down assessing things, and of course the biggest question and daftest thing of all - is my bike/clothing/sunglassess etc all right? Cycling at the higher levels, at least, is known as a sport of suffering. So, to call yourself a cyclist, it follows that you have to get back on, to shrug it off and to at least ride on a little while before succumbing gracefully and in a dignified manner to the fact that your injuries are severe enough for it not to be sensible to continue. Curling up in a ball, having a little cry and generally throwing in the towel are not really where it's at, however appealing at the time.

To be fair, there are also usually some practicalities involved around getting home somehow, unless you are unfortunate enough to need transportation by ambulance. This wasn't the case for me, so coasting down the hill, as others in the same event passed me, the consternation of friends enquiries in my ears, penetrating through the fog of pain and adrenaline, I settled in for a short ride back to where I had parked the car. With a hug from a friend at event HQ, that nearly precipitated a 'dangerous' display of tears and emotion, I got myself home before I felt any worse. And entered the world of the recently-crashed recuperating rider. And into a world of road rash, bruising, recrimination, financial calculations as to the cost of damaged stuff and the complex mash-up of concern and reproach from loved ones. In an age of social media selfies, I had to resist the temptation to bare more than was appropriate and demonstrate to the world, who must have been waiting with bated breath, just how I had hurt myself. I resisted on the grounds that such self-obsession is a little misplaced when others have hurt themselves far worse, and besides Tony Martin cornered the market and had the last word in road rash pics last year.

Road rash. That's a tortuous bedfellow if ever there was one. Add in some choice bruising and you have a combination that conspires in a perfect storm to prevent sleep and rest just at a time when you need it most. Your only hope for sleep is that you can find even one position where lying in vague comfort is possible, though this is usually rendered irrelevant when in your half-awake state you forgetfully move and find one of the other million and one positions in which it hurts and wake yourself up all over again.

After a few days of this but with some fairly severe neck pain to boot, I began to wonder if I had done something more than a bruising and rash job on my body. The fact that I had split my helmet in the crash had surprisingly not informed my thinking up to this point, at least in terms of getting checked out. Too much 'man-up' and not enough common sense I would venture. A trip to Urgent Care prompted X-Rays and then......... the sort of quiet, calm response from an ever increasing number of medical professionals arriving from nowhere and saying 'do not move' and 'do exactly as I say' that directly impinged on even my blunted sense of self preservation to suggest that actually something might be up with my neck.

Five hours of lying immobilised in foam blocks, a c spine board and a rapid trip for a cat scan at another hospital as well as contact with a number of serious-minded and senior doctors, confirmed 2 fractures to my vertebrae (C7 and T5) and landed me in an immobilsing neck brace for 12 weeks. And induced a very intense feeling of having been extremely lucky that I walked out of the hospital unaided.

There was already for me, prior to that visit to hospital, a sense of balancing the 'what might have been' with a future full of the desire to ride still and the risk of doing something again - I had after all, split my helmet in the crash. But the realisation that I had been not just lucky, but extremely lucky will take some further processing and balancing in my head in the months to come. Any lesson to take from this? Go and get yourself checked out if you have a big crash. Notions of epic suffering, being tough, Pro and the like mean nothing when faced with a potentially serious complication that might otherwise remain undiagnosed. And Ride Safe out there.......

Stone Riders

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:52:00 +0000

Dave Haygarth writes:

Like all people who do not realise that we are all cyclists at heart, David Bramwell went and inadvertently wrote a song about cycling. He just needed this video to let him know that. PLEASE SHARE THIS, because...
As you may know, the new Oddfellow's LP is finally coming out in May via a Kickstarter-style French record label, Microcultures.
There are a lot of goodies on offer, from unreleased material to album artwork and even the chance to have Oddfellow's record a cover of your favourite song (provided you don't ask for Side One of Tubular Bells).

All support is gratefully received and you'll get a lovely CD featuring the plaintive sounds of a band at the peak of their powers!
A link is below has all the information you need to know. http://www.microcultures.fr/oddfellowscasino/?status=on%2F%3Flang%3Den

https://vimeo.com/90415025

Ronde van Oost Lancashire update

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:53:00 +0000

Andy Waterman's shots for the Cycling Plus feature on the Ronde, 2011

I won't be running the Ronde van Oost Lancashire this year. Or any other year.

After last year's cancellation due to adverse weather, I sat down and thought long and hard about the wisdom of running an unsanctioned, unlicensed and uninsured event that was beginning to attract well over 100 riders. What started through my own personal obsession with cobbles and was shared with a few mates, had grown into something altogether different, and though I and others loved the informal vibe that RvOL had developed, at the end of the day we live in a litigious society....

I considered running RvOL as an event, for paid up punters and with proper insurance but felt on balance that that was not what I had in mind personally when I set it up, nor to be frank did I have the inclination to spend the time doing it. Besides, there are some great events out there, similar in style and certainly showcasing some of the same great countryside.

So, thanks to everyone who turned up over 3 years - riding with you was a privilege. And huge thanks to David and Laura from SportSunday who provided for the 2nd and 3rd runnings, a free cake stop the like of which we are unlikely to see repeated.

~~RvOL is dead, Long live RvOL.......~~ Richard from The Green Jersey shop in Clitheroe has taken on the name of the ride, and with an altered, solely Lancashire based route is putting on a cobble-themed event to coincide with the Tour of Flanders pro race on Sunday 6th April. Details here

~~I may see you there. Or I may just sneak off and ride my old route. Just for old times sakes....~~

UPDATE: No sooner had I posted this piece, than I learned that the Green Jersey Ronde has been cancelled. Sorry....

So, instead I urge you to find some time in your diaries and go for an adventure round the route on your own sometime.. Full route details on the right hand side of this page.

CXM - DS's review

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Smales) — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:28:00 +0000

As I sit here confined to quarters through injury, it struck me as good a time as any to look back on cxmagazine.com Racing Team's (CXMRT) first season. The highs and the lows.

Whilst the team was my idea, it would be fair to say that we could not have possibly functioned through 2013/14 without Ted's efforts and enthusiasm. So much so that that it was only reasonable that Ted and I now take decisions jointly around all aspects of the team's operation. Ted has supported and mentored Sarah selflessly through this season, whilst Heather and I have kept the logistics of racing week in week out on the road. The fact that Ted was involved in delivering cyclo-cross training sessions was a key factor in him coming to the team in the first place, in spring 2014 Ted's going to achieve British Cycling accredited coach status. This can only be good for us.

CXMRT was created to provide a springboard for talented U23 riders of both sexes to race cyclo-cross at a national level with some support around logistics of travel, pitting and competition. Through the generous personal contribution by Cyclocross Magazine's Andrew Yee, some input by Ted and myself, we have established a competitive presence right across the UK that will continue through 2014. We have raced in every round of the National Trophy, the North of England Championships, the Inter Area Championships and the National Championships. We have also been present at regional level having scored several wins across the CXNE and Yorkshire series and have new British University Cyclo-cross champion in our team.

As with all things, the devil is in the detail. Getting the team clothed and affiliated took us longer than hoped. We suffered some setbacks around agreeing a clothing design due to the sudden vogue for predominantly black clothing designs in the UK - presumably 'The Team Sky effect". Frustratingly, CXM had been racing in the US for years with an existing design that I naively thought we could just register over here. It wasn't to be as British Cycling wanted a more overt design and to their credit they were easy enough to work with on this. A fiercely contested competition was run via the cowbell forums to come up with a design, and the winner's design by Anne Racioppi is in our totally objective eyes flattering, distinctive and incredibly classy!

Our two riders, Ed and Sarah have flown the flag with some considerable success in 2013/14. It should be noted that these two have made their achievements whilst busy with academic study at high level. Ed during fever pitch study for his A levels and Sarah at a crucial part of her medicine degree and training to be a doctor.

Ed was second U/23 at the Three Peaks which given the number of participants and nature of the event must only bide well for his future. The only sadness for us was that due to the delay on the clothing, this achievement was made in the colours of the now defunct Boneshakers Team. Maybe he'll go one better in orange and black next year. Later in the season he achieved wins in senior races at regional level, remarkable given that it was his first season as a senior.

2013 was very much Sarah's first 'proper' year. When Ted suggested taking Sarah, we didn't know much about her other that she'd made a big impact in the comparatively small number of races she'd done in the first season. BOOM, she delivered beyond our wildest dreams with being on a completely different level to the other women in the North East. She was consistently top ten in National Trophy races and ended up ranked in the top ten nationally. She is mixing it week in, week out with the very best national level riders and given the typically non linear nature of progression in cycle sport, I get the sneaky feeling that one day she'll suddenly ride away in a National Trophy.

Ted, our rider-manager just got better and better as the year went on. Us old guys are supposed to go slower and slower.....but that's not the way it was for Ted. After a race at Milton Keynes that we all thought was solid....but Ted was disappointed with, he never looked back and just got faster, fitter and technically better each race. Unbeknown to us, Ted was really revved up for the National Champs and he delivered a great race with spectators remarking how well he'd ridden in the mudbath that was Derby.

Looking back, I now know where we can make improvements to the way we race. In particular, we need to improve our logistics and preparation. We need to arrive earlier, work on our warm up and course pre rides. We also need to make our pit arrangements more resilient and find ways for Ted and I to better support our riders in subsequent races, whilst looking after our own basic needs post race (food-warmth etc).

We have achieved great exposure for Cyclocross Magazine with the our friend Matt Payne never missing an opportunity to mention us when announcing at major national events.

My final thoughts and thanks should go to some of the friends of the team who've helped us race. Heather, my girlfriend has been nothing short of an angel, driving us to events through the night and then doing a full day in the pits. Our friends Ian Caswell, Dave and Sally Morris, Scott Fraser, Tim Evans and my son Callum have all done hard service in the pits and spent Sunday evening's removing mud from places it shouldn't be....

Smalesy - Trials & tribulations of the off season.

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Smales) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 08:55:00 +0000

The National Cyclo-cross Champs was my last cross race of the season. Whilst cross is my first discipline, having the event behind me couldn't come soon enough. I was looking forward to laying some high quality road miles in to build some base fitness ready for the road season.

I set to. Well and truly, I was in the groove. I always put a couple of kilos on through the cross season and was sat at a reasonable eight percent body fat the day after the champs with my power to weight on the turbo 'there or thereabouts' from last year. On track, reasonably rested and good weather conditions available for road training.

Two weeks in, I'd laid down two back to back weeks nudging ten hours of volume, moreover quality volume. Perhaps the fact that I'm currently helping a couple of local riders with advice around training at the moment was helping me keep rigidly in the zone, as knowing that they would be looking at my training files - they'd be certainly wanting me to practice what I preach. Perfect, feeling physically tested at the end of each session but also like I could have done a little more.

At 9.30am on Tuesday 28th 2014, everything changed. As I ran back into the house from nipping out to my vehicle for a phone charger, I fell. I heard the crack. To cut a long story short, as I sit here writing this, I have an eight inch long set of stitches, a titanium plate and four screws that I didn't have before. I've also had my first experience of an emergency hospital admission, hospital food and morphine. The low point was undoubtedly being told ten days in that I had to have my leg re-broken to adjust the alignment which had shifted. Back to square one.

The standard of care I have received under the NHS was second to none, however I am now left to feel like I am subject of a one size fits all recovery schedule. Despite the surgeon telling me that the plated bone is very nearly as strong as if nothing had happened, it would seem that the timelines are set much the same as if I was relying on natural knitting of the bone. It would seem that the fact I weigh less than 75kgs makes no difference to the point where I can load bear. Perhaps the consultant's seen it all before....obsessive endurance athlete's who start load bearing early, resume full training when they'd normally still be in plaster and then end up getting airlifted of Helvelyn half way through a fell run. So it would rather seem I'm stuck with six to seven weeks in plaster.

My son sent me a text - "You're the master of timing, love Callum x", to which I replied "So when is it a good time to break a leg? Love Dad x". But ultimately I can manage this. The break to my fibula is about 2" up from the ankle and the surgeon's work has not impacted on any muscle mass. Once I get the cast off, I can ride. I've done lots of reading on the subject and in summary, it sounds like the bad news is that I'll suffer some muscle wasting and around a 20-25% decrease in VO2max etc over the eight weeks. The really good news is that the longer and deeper an individual is trained, the faster it all returns back to pre incident levels. The key principle for well trained riders would also seem to be you get it back at the rate you lost it.

Realistically twelve weeks training then after the cast comes off in early mid March. Nineteen weeks from now, I'll be pinging again. 23rd of June it is then.

The challenge now is to make sure the day the cast comes off, I slip a pair of S-Works shoes on and gingerly climb onto a turbo (note the rollers will have to wait), I'm in the best physical condition I can be. If I'm going to be initially down on power, then there needs to be a little of me as possible to haul uphill, push through the wind. My BMR is about 1700cals, plus activity factor puts me a 2150cals. Out come the scales, the rice cakes and the cottage cheese. 72kgs is the target. No sugar, desserts, biscuits or cakes. The core is getting an hour of solid training a day along with some modest quad work.

In terms of racing, I'm faced with a dilemma. Do I start in mid April, and race below par? Or do I delay and lay down a solid 100hrs of base before turning a wheel in anger. Mixed emotions and lots to consider. But I've got lots of time to think about it.

One thing's for sure - I'm not retiring yet.

What a Season: Sarah

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Murray) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 13:26:00 +0000

December (if you can remember that long ago!) is in many ways the apex of the cyclo-cross season. The races come thick and fast, everyone is going that little bit quicker and it's generally freezing, which unfortunately seems to be a necessary prerequisite for "proper" 'cross. Unfortunately I picked up a cold towards the end of November which I didn't manage to shake until mid-December. Note to self: book a holiday next year!

Ploughing through the Boxing day mud

Coming in to the 5th round of the National Trophy at Bradford I hadn't been able to train as much as I would have wanted to so I wasn’t optimistic about doing particularly well. However I'd watched the nationals on the same course in 2013 and I knew it’d be worthwhile because, if nothing else, the course looked like great fun.

I was gridded on the front row for the first time which was both exciting and daunting; I knew I had a real chance of doing well but if I didn’t start well then I’d be holding up everyone behind me up. As it happens I got a really good start and by the end of the first lap I had established myself in about 8^th position, in a group with Delia Beddis and Amira Mellor.

We remained together for the remaining laps until Delia managed to power away, leaving myself and Amira Mellor battling for the 7^th spot. On the final lap, I managed to sneak in front on the final run up before the finish straight and sprint away for 7^th place. I was super happy with the result considering my training prior to the event. I would like to thank Dave, Alison, Ted, Steve, Heather and the Cyclocross Magazine gang for all the help!

After the race I left my Yorkshire student digs and headed back to the Newcastle homeland for Christmas. Next up on the race calendar was Cyclocross North East in Carlisle on the 22^ndDecember. What is usually a pleasant drive across the A69 became a battle with the driving rain. The only description which comes close to doing it justice is biblical and even that’s an understatement. To give you an idea the fastest mode of the windscreen wipers wasn’t even keeping up! A standard day up North right?

To ride or to run? That is the question....

A “quick” lap (about 10 minutes in actuality!) of the course was enough to realise it was going to be nothing other than a slog fest. Again I got a good start, cemented my lead which, with much hard effort and multiple bike changes I was able to maintain to the finish.

Four days later it was time for the South Shields Boxing Day cross. It was a beautiful crisp morning, a bit frosty and a low winter sun. Conditions were perfect for cross and the mud was just about right. Again, a good start, pushed me well up the field, which I managed to maintain with some camber riding I was quite proud of! Two great CXNE courses and two top steps of the podium served as a lovely confidence booster heading into the headed into the final round of the National Trophy in Shrewsbury.

Sloppy....

Coming into the final trophy round, I was lying 9^th overall in the series, just one race away from my top ten goal at the start of the season. A super early start from Knaresborough began the mammoth commute to Shrewsbury in treacherously icy conditions. After a significant detour, we arrived running purely on diesel vapour – sure enough the van ‘konked out’ just as we were parking. But at least we made it! Getting petrol back in the car and back on the road (that minor, trifling issue) was something to be confronted later, right now it was race time.

I picked the less favourable side of the grid (although I made the front row again, whoop) which set me up on a dodgy line up the first steep camber. A great start placed me about 4^ththen after an unplanned dismount I settled into 6^th. Then before I knew it, I went over the top of two girls who had crashed. Picking myself up I started again quickly but I had lost so much of my hard earned advantage from the start. Into the woodland section of the course, I worked my way up a few places into about 8^th, but then second lap I punctured. This wasn’t a major problem in the deep mud of the tree section, but it was a total nightmare and practically unrideable on the fast tarmac straights. I lost a further 3 places and to add insult to injury and through no fault but my own I missed the pits so had an extra half lap on the rims. To cut a long, frustrating story short I finished in 11^th position and moved up the rankings into 7^thoverall. Having not had the best of luck this made the long drive North considerably more pleasant. I was over the moon to finish 7^th in the national trophy in my first season racing ‘cross - happy days!

The final race of the season was the National Championships in Derby. I spectated the veteran’s race on Saturday then attempted to ride the course afterwards. My findings from this research excursion can be succinctly summarised: absolute mud bath! In the hour I practised I almost managed to ride one full lap; almost. Amidst the enveloping darkness I retired for the night, with some serious bike washing to be completed before the big race and the even bigger problem of working out how I was going to get round.

Race day, was unusually quite relaxed! With a hotel 8 minutes from the venue, we arrived with plenty time before the race. After a proper warm up for once, I took to the start line with an excited grin on my face. Gridded second row, I slotted in just behind Wyman and Harris assuming they had a good start in them! Luckily they did and I clung to Harris’s wheel into the first corner following her presumably well researched line. I held onto 5^th place all the way until the sandpit, where a bad line took me down. Although the cameras did catch me and it was deemed worthy of a replay on the Eurosprt highlights, about ten minutes in, check it out! Anyhow, this meant I lost 3 or 4 places. However I got back on the bike and settled into a rhythm. The battle with the mud took its toll on me and my bike. It may as well have been made of lead, I could hardly lift it onto my shoulder and that was with changing every half a lap!.

Crossing the finish line at 40 minutes, I heard Wyman joining the finish straight behind me. Oh well, just another 10 minutes to suffer! With one rider just ahead and another behind, it was going to be tough lap. Places 13 to 15 were to be decided here. Sitting between the two riders, I just tried to stay upright. Finally my moment came at the boggiest section of the course, the rider in front slowed and started to run, whereas I managed to stay on the bike and plough slowly through it, which must have looked like a battle of snails! I managed to open a good gap so it was just a case of staying upright to the line, which is a lot easier said than done. I managed to get round the last lap relatively unscathed and I crossed the line in 13^th.

One of the many tough climbs at Derby

So to conclude what has been a pretty whirlwind season. I started of looking to dabble in a few local races whilst being pushed to enter maybe one Trophy and see how it goes. A season later, I won every CXNE race I entered, won the British University Cross Championships, finished 7^th in the Trophy and 13^th at Nationals. When I look back to Abergavenny in October and remember how it felt to be the last gridded in the rain on completely the wrong tyres, I can see how far I have come in just one season. I was gridded front row in Bradford and Shrewsbury which was an amazing experience

I could not have moved from the back to the front of the grid without the help I have received this year. Such people include ‘Coach Ted’, DS Steve and Chief Cowbell ringer Andrew Yee at Cyclocross Magazine, who have enabled me to race a full season in quality kit. Big thanks also go to the awesome guys at Bioracer for the great kit and Tidds for all their help too.

Further mentions should go to all the gang at CXNE who put on amazing races week in, week out and all the lovely people I have met as a result of racing ‘cross of whom there are too many to mention. I would like to thank everybody who has helped me this year in the pits, Scott, Dave, Alison and Heather. And finally I am grateful to Jamie Brady and Tony Glover for their invaluable cyclocross tips and advice, I don’t know where I’d be without the help!

So thanks everyone and see you in August for some good old summer ‘cross!

Moment of fame

Steve: 2014 Nat Champs...how it turned out

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Smales) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 13:40:00 +0000

And so it came to pass….We arrived with a leisurely three hours to spare, signed on whilst the pit crew set up. What I’d anticipated was confirmed when Tommo (James Thompson) said “it’s a shitfest, you might get away with changing every lap….at a push”. We rode the course. Once. It was.

In such a situation, I’m not entirely sure that there’s anything to be gained by riding lap after lap in practice. If a four metre wide course is like a ploughed field (no exaggeration) from tape to tape over eighty percent of the lap, there’s not a lot to be had in terms of marginal gains. In fact, seeing the marshals pushing a half full water bowser to the pits after half of the first day, I had it pretty clear in my mind that having plenty of water would make more difference than anything.

Back at the van, we discussed a pit strategy. Which is a posh way of saying that the four of us discussed how two bikes could be washed in four minutes and 100litres of water could be made to last twice as long as it actually would. The cyclo-cross equivalent of ‘Feeding the Multitude’…..It was clear we were going to struggle. Being most likely to pit before Ted, if I took bikes every half lap, four things would clearly happen. Firstly the pit crew would struggle to service Ted, then they’d probably miss me coming through the second time… thirdly, we’d run out of water after about twenty minutes…..And then the whole job followed by my rear mech would fall apart. I thought it was better to change once a lap. That was the plan, stick to it and hope for the best.

Gridded up, about five rows back and away we went – a big field of 115. Hell for leather. Into the first right hander all hell broke loose on the flooded inside with bikes and bodies everywhere, before going into the technical stuff. Award of the day went to Brian Johnson who overtook me like a train and piled it right in front of me. Even more remarkably, he managed to remount and got back up with us in what seemed like about twenty seconds.

Now as is the way with my blog, I often talk about ‘settling in’. None of this today. The whole race was just pure attrition, ride, nearly fall off, ride some more, dismount at a near standstill, remount untidily. No rhythm, no consistent lines, horrible. Despite the pit crew doing a magnificent job, each lap my 16lb bike was weighing a good 30lbs as I shouldered it and did myself in attempting to run. Such was its weight, the top tube literally felt like being beaten with an iron bar. And goodness, there was a lot of running.

As we approached the bell, I had gapped a small group of four by mashing it through the 4”deep gloop by the pits when Nick Craig came literally flying past. The first time I’ve been lapped this year, and goodness he was impressive. Whilst no one likes to be lapped, this was perfect timing….I hung on for the last lap knowing that this, the most attritional of race of 2013/14 was virtually over.

As I crossed the line, I didn’t even stop. It was straight to the van, grab a rucksack and then straight to the pits to drop my bike before a bin bag job and cold shower. My 48^th was OK. Frankly I’d struggled with clumsy remounting and commitment. I’d be the first to admit that I ride cross very much on my aerobic capacity rather than technique. But I suppose to finish 48th in an event that had four hundred entrants wasn’t so bad.

Coming away from the event, I certainly felt that I’d had enough and it was very much a case of ‘job done’.

Steve: UK National Champs – Pre race thoughts…

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Smales) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 13:23:00 +0000

All good things come to an end….thankfully.

So, here we are. My last cross race of the season. The British Championships at Moorlands, Derby . For some, this is the climax of their season, in all honesty, for me at two days to go, feeling like the lowest key race of the year. Why, for a variety of factors…..

Firstly, honestly, it’s a race where I’ll make up the numbers. In a race where the best of the best turn up, and riders are accepted…or not as the case may be, a mid field finish is a reasonable outcome, not a lot to get excited about, especially when I’m not at my best. Hopefully I’ll become locked in a race long battle with Jough to push me like last time I raced there. (Despite the fact he nuked me at the bell!)

Secondly, I’m wrecked. Not physically, but the relentless cycle of training-loadingthevan-drivethereat5am-practice-washbike-race-washthebikesagain-drivehomeat5pm-washbikesproperly-unloadthevan-laundry…..and repeat…. for five months without a break has taken it’s toll. I want to lay in bed on a Sunday morning until eight, get up, eat breakfast in the kitchen out of crockery, not Tupperware at 70MPH on the M42. I want to waft out on the bike, do some quality training and then do some quality soaking in a bath.

Thirdly, I typically get the best results in the mud….but only up to a point, I’m a gangly clumsy and uncoordinated bag of bones. When it becomes a case of repeatedly transitioning from running to riding, I struggle. Much of the exhilaration of cross is leathering it on the fast bits, scaring myself to death and coping with the Belgian bowling green when it happens. Problem is, that the massively wet month we’ve just had has meant that the last few races have been very sloggy. My experience at Moorlands last time was good, but it’s going to be a real slog. It needs to hammer down all race to make it sloppy, and it isn’t going to.

Enough is enough for the time being. Let’s get it over with.

Ted heads to Derby for the National Cyclo-Cross Championships

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:32:00 +0000

National Championships, Derby, 2014

Ted Sarmiento heads to Derby for the National Cyclo-Cross Championships. It’s his biggest challenge of the season and his biggest goal too and, whilst he’s not looking for a win, there are plenty of firsts on his mind as he reflects on a busy few months.

....Well here we are, the finale of the UK 'cross season and somehow - I’m still not sure how - I'm on the start line for the Vet 40-49 race at the National Championships……pinches self to check I’m not dreaming.

But, before we come to all that championships stuff, a quick retrospective. What a season it's been! So many new experiences! On a purely personal level, new this season were a number of “firsts”, beginning with riding and helping run a dedicated cyclo-cross team (thanks to cxmagazine.com's Chief Cowbell Ringer Andrew Yee and Director Sportif Steve Smales). There was also a first full season of National Trophy racing, a first broken chain (and first DNF), a first season riding in a skin suit (scientifically wind tunnel tested at the outdoor South Shields Gypises Green facility) and a first season with two bikes, leading to.... first puncture mid-race and first bike swap.

And, taking in the wider perspective, there have been yet more firsts: starting coaching Leeds Uni and Met students; a first CX gold medal for team rider Sarah 'Muddy' Murray; a first Senior win for team rider Edwyn Oliver-Evans in his first season as an Under-23; my first time helping organise a 'cross race with first class organising team (Ripley Castle CX); my first of many head-to-heads with self-appointed “arch-rival” Phil Ingham (Pedalsport, a story set to be continued); and the first of many, many, many mid-race bike changes! For the latter, I am totally indebted to PIT crews Heather, Callum, Scott, Sarah, Alison, Sally, Dave, Dylan (hope I haven't missed anyone there). Oh yeah, on that subject, a first time in the role of PIT-helper myself. So I now have a decent understanding of just how tricky it can be.

But today is not a first. This is my second time out at the National's and at this venue. I'd set myself a pre-season goal that was simple and for me highly motivating. Last time out I came 86th, so my season-long aspiration was simply to do better than that. I knew this would be tricky from the outset as, firstly, my chances of getting a place on the start line were not good as the number of entrants was to be restricted and, secondly, even if I could get a spot, the central Derby location was bound to attract more top riders that last year's more northerly Bradford venue. But, I did get a place and so……

Well, yes, back to the National Championships. I'm on the start line looking at a huge sea of riders…..from behind! Despite not quite being last to be called up, I am on the back row. This never bothers me: it's where I am and I've got a decent start in me.

But I’m not prepared for riders going sideways before we’ve even exited the tarmac! No worries, I nip through the melee to the top corner, aka 'the lake'. Some riders chose to run, but I go for the wide splash and do so every lap. Today's flavour of mud is officially 'clingy'. And it lives up to its billing! Frequent bike changes were planned and they are duly executed with precision. I’m so indebted to my PITs I can't even begin to say. My race result owes as much to their efforts as to anything I do.

Ploughing: cyclo-cross style

As with last year’s National Trophy at the same Derby venue there are plenty of decisions about running vs riding. One decision I do make, as much for my own amusement as anything, is to ride the sands. I'm trying to evoke visions of Koksidje here but, in reality, think about the sandpit you had in your primary school. More like that. Nonetheless I ride the sands and I don't think Niels Albert could have done it better. I then go even further in my Albert-like racing by checking the pedal position of my shouldered bike as I begin the bog run each lap. A bit silly maybe, but it all helps keep me concentrated on the task in hand. And so, my race is run. I’m done. Finished!

I know, it's quicker to run. But as this is the National's a litte showboating can't hurt?

You know, the main thing that catches me by surprise on the day is the constant shouts from well-wishers trackside. Given the location, I am taken aback at the sheer number of people egging me on. I'm not sure who you all are as I daren’t look across, but you know it helps. The cyclo-cross community really do get behind their riders. “Heartwarming” is the word I used last time. I'll stick by that. See you all next season. Thank you.

Thanks also to our team supporters cxmagazine.com, Tidds and great to see such a show and shouts from Bioracer cycle clothing. Those jackets looked very warm guys! Face with stuck-out tongue and winking eye!

Race result 59 of 85 (cf season long goal: laugh/cry?)

The season is almost over now for most of us but never fear ‘cross fans: Get in touch with us as we have a special discount code offer for UK subscriptions to the print or digital version of Cyclocross Magazine, the only magazine desiccated to our sport. Drop us a message and we’ll send you the code.

Kerstperiode racing

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 21:22:00 +0000

Even for a cyclocross obsessed nation like Belgium, it is excessive. Six elite races in eight days between Boxing Day and Jan 2nd. Welcome to the kerstperiode.

Opportunities to race to that degree in the UK simply aren't available, but undeterred I set about trying to complete a mini version of my own, to enter into the festive 'cross spirit, so to speak. Actually many committed riders have done something similar for years, travelling around to races and honing form for our early January National Championships with regular Xmas and New Year racing.

No Nationals for me this year, but instead an opportunity to pack in a week of racing, aided and abetted by some fortuitous race dates and a trip to London to see relatives. The scheduling of the classic old-school mudder Todmorden Cyclocross, an exciting new promotion at a Yorkshire stately home and a conveniently falling London League race gave me my 3 part kerstperiode spread over a week. Whilst I love my 'cross as much as the next obsessive, because of the cycling/family teeter-totter I tend to only race fortnightly, on average. Three races, some long distance travelling and all the festive socialising were definitely going to stretch me.

It turned out that my trio of races each highlighted an important lesson in the art of 'cross. The process of racing is demanding on equipment and rider and like many things, 'cross is simple in concept but infinitely nuanced in execution. Todmorden was first up and I tend to view Todmorden as my personal 'nationals'. It's local, the course is traditional to say the least being centred around a big cobbled climb and ensuing woodland descent and it is always stupidly muddy. In other words it suits me down to the ground.

Tod Mud (Pic: Dave Haygarth)

My pit monkey, Mark (Pic: Dave Haygarth)

I had probably my best race since returning to 'cross a few years ago. Conditions on the Sunday on the course were heavy, Todmorden heavy. This necessitated careful consideration of when to ride and when to run. This also meant that momentum was critical too. I'm strongest when there are on/off the bike sections, or at least decisions to made about whether to be on or off the bike. On that day, there were many riders stronger than me who were racing, but few had better technique and so were losing time constantly, getting bogged down or being slow on and off the bike. I started well, kept plugging away and moved up the field all race to what was for me, a hugely satisfying 8th in the Veterans and Womens race. A big part of this standout result for me was down to clean, effective technique - committing early to the running parts and executing the transitions quickly and efficiently. What I lacked in overall speed and fitness, I more than compensated for with flawless technique. It was hugely satisfying.

Two days to recover, wash kit and fettle bikes and on New Years Day I travelled to the inaugural Ripley Castle Cross, also in Yorkshire. There was also going to be more mud here, lots of it, but unlike the heavy conditions at Tod, the shocking forecast of low single digit temps, constant heavy rain and gale force winds meant a different challenge. All the more so as I'd identified this as a promising day out for the family. Faffing around worrying about my wife and children's comfort in the horrible conditions, I contrived to be late to the start and was still stripping off clothing and trying to find super-soigneur Jo Allen with the 'one minute to go' call. No panic then. The course was as superb as the weather was atrocious. I'm told people started dropping out fairly early on, succumbing to low temps and driving rain. In my panic I'd left a buff round my neck and my head fully covered under my helmet. As things got colder and wetter I was more than glad of that. 'Cross is a winter sport, and this went ahead in bad winter conditions. It was startling, like it had been at the 2012 3 Peaks Cyclocross, how some folk had failed to take this into account when they dressed for the event. I had a reasonable race, not as successful as Todmorden had promised but workmanlike nonetheless, after a ropey start. The lesson in dressing for the conditions continued as I rolled over the line - Jo shouted me immediately and I had warm clothes, hat and leg covering withing 30 secs. In the aftermath of the race, I saw many others wandering around, wet through, shivering and looking suitably miserable.

Ripley Castle (Pic: Jo Allen)

Wet (Pic: Jo Allen)

More frantic kit and bike washing and I was off next day to London. The promise of a visit to the London League scene, the first in many, many years saw me toe the line at Royal Bethlem Hospital, a week after Todmorden. Except I nearly didn't make it all. Racing 'cross is kit intensive. Racing 'cross in mid winter is really kit intensive. I'm normally pretty organised, trained up and routined thanks to the experienced Dave Haygarth tutoring me on our previous National Trophy forays in years gone by. But not being at home, and with the distractions of a stay at my parents I got it wrong. Wrong as in no shoes, wrong, left behind in the airing cupboard, drying. I'm not really gung ho enough to ride round on small SPD pedals in a mudbath, wearing trainers so resigned myself to an early drive back North with the kids. But, friend and Captain Cross stalwart, Konrad magicked some shoes and unfamiliar pedals up for me and it was game on. Another great course, more great mud, very friendly folk and a fun race starting at the back (no gridding) and working my way toward the front part of the race. And then a 6 hour drive home.

Moonlighting in the London League (Pic: Dave Hayward)

For several days after my kerstperiode I've been knackered. Racing in bad weather, challenging conditions, lots of travel have all contributed to tax this average punter's constitution. I have no idea what it must be like for the European pros, racing so often in such a short period of time. Sure they have teams around them to help, but still, it has merely increased my respect for those at the top of the sport. Fijne Kerst and veel success for your cyclocross in 2014.

More pics:

Tod cobbles. Pic Dave Haygarth

Pic with thanks from SportSunday

Tod running. Pic Dave Haygarth

Pic Dave Haygarth

Wasted. Pic Dave Haygarth

Pic Dave Haygarth

Flyover! Pic Jo Allen

Jough + umbrella. Pic Jo Allen

Bethlem. Pic Dave Hayward

Pic Jo Allen

Bike change. Pic Jo Allen

AbsoluteBlack single ring set up

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:52:00 +0000

I used to run a single ring, with guards, in the 1990s. I liked the simplicity of concept, it reduced weight a bit but more importantly it helped a bit with clogging. But since then I haven't really bothered to set one up again, mainly as the guards always seemed to rub with the chainline being difficult to set up. Modern re-inventions tended to involve chainkeepers attached to the seat stay, rather than the simple traditional double guard I used to use, and so lost the advantage of getting rid of a front-mech like object, neatly positioned around the bottom bracket area to successfully collect mud and vegetation.

It was with interest then, that I received a test 38 tooth ring (via Dave Haygarth) from Marcin at AbsoluteBlack. This ring differed from stuff I had seen previously, borrowing from the growing mtb market for single rings, and featuring a cleverly milled ring that requires no guard, chainkeeper or any other device to make it stick on. I was initially skeptical but equally hopeful that this could be the ideal solution to dealing with super muddy conditions later on in the 'cross season.

Matched to my On One Pickenflick and it's huge mud clearance, I've been running the ring in training and racing and can now report back. Set up is key to getting this ring to work. It's not hard, it just needs to be done right. Chain tension as well as the teeth profile is what keeps the chain on through the rough and the boggy, and chain length needs to be optimised to gain maximum advantage from the ring. Successfully installed, with clear instructions from AbsoluteBlack, the initial feel through the pedals was instantly positive. Maybe you don't pay too much attention to how your chain feels as you pedal, as opposed to your legs, but I could feel a smoothness that wasn't present on my perfectly good double chainset set ups.

The ring has now done a variety of races, and training sessions and in a variety of conditions and has passed all tests with flying colours. Bumpy tracks don't faze it - it hasn't been possible to bounce it off, though me and Dave have tried hard. It's trained and raced in thin sloppy mud, sticky mud (Bradford) and Todmorden (ie biblically thick) mud and simply kept on going. In many hours of use, I had one small problem at Todmorden Cross when a large, ripped up clod of soil got under the chain and onto the ring and caused the chain to fall off. But, and here is the crucial bit, it was super easy to get back on - no jamming on a chaincatcher, no falling between ring and bottom bracket and sticking, just an easy flick to get back on. Over the period of use and in the conditions I rode it in, I would have expected to drop a chain or have problems on a double set at some point anyway. No system is perfect, but the AbsoluteBlack ring works as well, if not better than anything else I've used.

Pic: Dave Haygarth

As I indicated earlier, the main advantage for me of a single ring is reduced clogging and this positive effect has been clearcut. No bike is clog free, and even if the frame keeps free then the cassette can often stop working properly anyway. But, the AbsoluteBlack ring set up and the resulting simplicity around the bottom bracket area has markedly reduced mud and vegetation build and kept the bike not only trouble free, but weighing less as a result too. Paired with an 11-28 block (10 speed chain, Sram Red rear mech), my 38 tooth ring gives me all the gears I had before and I have never missed the potentially wider range of gears a more traditional double set up gives. From now on, I'll be running this setup on my Pickenflick during the winter season and for me it's a perfect solution to the increasing levels of mud our climate seems to bring u.

UPDATE Jan 14:

I rode the last NWCCA race of the season recdently, starting on my bike with the single ring on. To my surprise, I had a couple of problems with the ring, dropping the chain on both occasions. After consultation with Marcin from absoluteBlack and some careful analysis of my actions and course conditions at the time, I feel fairly confident I've pinpointed the problem.

In essence, both 'drops' were caused by my very rapid changing of gear up the block on transitions from bumpy descent to slow grinding section. According to Marcin, changing 3 or 4 cogs in one movement will result in instability for any chain (on a single ring or otherwise). Ally that to a bumpy section, with no chain guard or front mech to hold the chain on and you have the problem. The solution, a technique which he maintains pro mountain bikers have been following for years, is to shift one cog at a time, rather than the multiple cog, rapid shifts that I was doing. The concession for this is that it takes a little forward planning so as to avoid rapid dumping up the block as the speed slows down. Marcin maintains also that the mtb testers for his single ring have not dropped the chain in testing due to their attention to this technique and that he often finds cyclocross riders are a bit 'gung ho' in shifting technique and could do with refining their actions. Certainly, I have never dropped the chain in thick mud, nor even on a descent - the 3 times I have had a problem have ALL followed multiple shifting into an easier gear before a slow boggy section.

UPDATE 2 Feb 14:

After some discussions with Marcin from absoluteBlack, it's important to point out that the spring tension on Shimano mechs needs optimising to make the ring work to the best of its capability. Here's what it says on the absoluteBlack website....

Important information for SHIMANO derrailleur users:

In order to get best results we recommend increasing cage return spring tension. New derailleurs are assembled with the spring in the mount that allows the most relaxed position of the spring. However there is another position on the cage which will increase that tension. It is a standard procedure, please navigate to point no.7 in the link. You may also ask your LBS to do it for you.

Sram users are not required to do that as oem springs are already in high tension position.

If you missed it, here's Dave's recent video too:

Steve - 2014 Nat Trophy, Shrewsbury.

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Smales) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:28:00 +0000

No Excuses.

Back in August when I was mulling over committing to a second full National Trophy, thing’s weren’t clear cut. In practice, no matter how carefully one pursues cyclocross, it’s costly in terms of time and cash. My 2012/13 season had been disproportionately intense and left me seeking a more sensible approach. So the prospect of riding the final round whilst suffering from the after effects of a heavy cold had me resigned to wrapping up, and I’m about to say one of those things that underperformers say all the time….. ‘Just use it for training’.

Questionably, I thought to myself that perhaps riding would be worthwhile if nothing else to improve my experience and fly the www.cxmagazine.comflag.

So to avoid another whole weekend being consumed by a forty min race, it was a 5am start to travel to Shrewsbury. As we joined the A38, a major dual carriageway, the butterfly flapped its wings and the whole day started to be a case study in chaos theory.

As we glided along, silently, suddenly a rapidly unfolding situation became apparent. With cars and vans everywhere, right way up, upside down, it suddenly became apparent that we were doing seventy miles an hour on black ice. We were in the middle of an unfolding pile up. Not good. Perhaps, just perhaps cyclocross saved my life. Brake in straight line, don’t do anything sudden and come of the brakes and go round it…….. The next forty miles were done at a snails pace until we crossed out of Derbyshire and into the land of salted roads. We were running really late now. So late that we couldn’t stop for fuel, just hope for the best. Shit or Bust.

Shrewsbury wasn’t a good course for me last year. There’s not a single thing wrong with it, It’s just very technical and it doesn’t suit me. There’s a few steeps that I struggle on and with barely time to do a single practice lap, I wasn’t really able to work out the lines or gain the confidence to hit the dodgy bits hard.

Wrapped up, gridded and bang. We were off. My start was OK, no better or worse than usual as we entered the one feature that somewhat sets Shrewsbury apart. A simple starting straight followed by a marginally ridable bank that never fails to cause complete chaos for a seventy strong field. Going into the bank I was forced to dismount and then hit heavily from behind by another rider. It’s funny the things that go through the mind, I can distinctly remember thinking ‘that feels like a Rhino’ as the following guys tread ran up my calf. I came out of the mêlée in roughly 35^th place before the white knuckle ride that is a race paced lap on a technical course I hadn’t properly reconnoitred.

(Photo - Andy Whitehouse)

For all Shrewsbury challenges, it also rewards. Of all the Trophy courses this one has one of my favourite features. An ultra fast off camber bank section running off a wind assisted tarmac section. Try and ride it with anything less than one hundred percent commitment and it’s a big crash or untidy zero speed dismount. Hit it absolutely full on , accept that for two seconds you’ll be utterly out of control and it rewards with both wheels off the ground over the brow. Scares the living daylight out of me. Makes me grin like a Cheshire Cat…

This course is for some reason the epitome of my friend – Andrew Yee, editor of Cyclocross Magazine’s ethos…..”The best designed courses are ones where riders have to make decisions”. So many decisions to make on this course, which pit to change bikes at, to shoulder or to wheel, to run down the bank or not, to remount left or right, or high line or low line. Brilliant despite my constantly getting it wrong and a one hundred percent consistence of pants rides there.

As the race progressed, I managed to pick a few riders off and worked my way up to about twenty fifth position or so. With really muddy conditions, I had my girlfriend red lining in the pits with changes every lap and a half.

At the bell, I found myself exactly where I didn’t want to be – at the front of a group of four behind, I somehow found a strong last two minutes to drop them and come in 27^th place. Exactly the same position as in 2012…Given my stronger season this year, disappointing. Given my cold, OK.

So what did I gain from riding? Probably not a lot other than a handful of BC points, a bit more experience at a classic venue, another week of coughing and further confirmation that Shrewsbury is the most technical course of the series. But ultimately, slithering around a cross course is thoroughly good fun and as always, my cxmagazine.com team mates were thoroughly good company.

Once I’d suffered the indescribable shame of admitting to the AA man that my van had not only run out of fuel, but had done so whilst I was keeping warm in the car park pre race we were away for a McRecovery meal and less eventful drive home.

Ed's Ripley Castle CX and York CX report

noreply@blogger.com (Edwyn Oliver-Evans) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 22:02:00 +0000

New Year's day is the scene of celebration, drunken antics and people staying awake long into the morning of New Year's day. Normally, I wouldn't blink an eyelid and I'd be engulfed in this scene, with me probably ending up doing very little the following day. However, on New Year's day was the Ripley Castle Cyclocross race, a race that has been on my calendar for a long while. This gave me a dilemma: have a good race or have a good night.

Hmmmm… why not try have both? It was New year's after all…

So, after a reasonably fun night with all my mates, with 'some' alcohol being consumed, I got up on New Year's day as late as I possibly could. I'd ridden the course the previous day, so I had the gist of all the corners, straights and obstacles. All I needed to do was rock up, sign on and race. Simples! And, although I had for some reason I had woken up with a slight headache, I didn't feel too bad.

It was weird to see Ripley filled with hundreds of vans and bustling with familiar cycling figures. Normally a sleepy, tourist village only miles from my front door, it seemed the complete opposite scene to when I usually cycled through Ripley. One thing that was quite familiar was the rain, which poured down in bucket loads! I made my way over to signing on, pushing passed the many spectators and film crews (which was a different sight for cyclocross in the UK). But before I was able to sign on, I was collared into doing some filming for Look North, with a GoPro on my bike. I couldn't say no!

It was when I was riding parts of the course with the GoPro that I realised what the rain had done. What was lush green grass the previous day was now a quagmire, with almost every corner riding completely different to my recce the previous day. Thankfully, rain doesn't affect tarmac, cobbles and woodland so much, so those parts of the course weren't too different. In the race, they'd prove a welcome break to conditions similar to the Somme! But, to give you a quick insight into the course's features, here's a few words that sprung to mind: mud, steps, scaffold-bridge, cobbles, roots, disco-temple (oh yes!), adverse camber, hurdles, gravel, wood-chippings, oh, and some awesome local spectators!

The cobbles

So, onto the race. To start, I was gridded on the second row; I positioned myself behind Paul Oldham, knowing he'd set off well and would probably end up winning the race. So, as the gun went, and I broke my shivering stance on the start line, I put feet to the pedals and the red mist of racing came down. Within 100 meters, sleek, lycra clad cyclists, me included, had become mud men, with muddy water dripping from both bikes and bodies.

My start was good, and for quite a while I had contact with the lead group. But the pace of Oldham and Bibby on the front soon smashed the race to smithereens. After about a lap, the chaos settled down a tad and I found myself in a group with Chris Barnes and James Thompson.

The nature of the course didn't allow much 'working together', so it was more of a battle than gentlemanly affair. Eventually, Chris got away, but the elastic between me and James didn't break. James put in some big efforts on the straights, leaving me scrapping behind with my legs burning, but I too tried to get away, using my strength in running to get away on the off camber section alongside the ha-ha wall.

A couple of laps later, and I was starting to fatigue, and James eventually got a significant gap on me, which was helped by me being cocky and attempting to bunny hop the hurdles, which ended up with me on the ground. Nevertheless, I pushed on, hoping to catch any rider unfortunate enough to have a mechanical or crash. One such rider was Jake Poole, who I soon caught up and passed, but was obviously not 100%, most likely due to the horrendous weather.

The last few laps passed by, seeming no easier than the previous frantic laps playing cat and mouse with James. And so it was, the last lap; all I needed to do was keep up the tempo and roll home, but it wash't to be the case. Just after passing the pits for the last time, I rolled my rear tub on the hairpin bend. S***, I thought. But, straight away set off running, hoping no one would catch me before the line. I exchanged a glance with my dad in the pits, which I can only assume looked like a mixture between sadness and annoyance.

Unfortunately, I was caught by two riders before finally crossing the finish line, knackered, muddy and a bit peeved off.

After crossing the line

I finished the race in 15th position, which looking back wasn't too bad. But minus the rolled tub and the strange headache I woke up with, it would have been much closer to a top 10 placing. Back to the glueing board!

I also raced, last weekend, at York Sports Village, after deciding not to go down to Shropshire for the National Trophy. It was the third time I'd ridden the venue, with the course pretty similar to the night event I did there before just christmas. It wasn't a massive event, so I was hoping to come out with a podium position.

On the day, the course was greasy on top, with some very boggy sections before and after the finish line. Sadly, due to rolling my mud tubular at Ripley, I had to use a much less grippy tyre on the rear wheel, which made cornering very sketchy.

For the majority of the race I was playing catch the mouse. Tom Ramsey, Crosstrax, had set off like a bullet from a gun and had a 12 second gap after the first lap. This left me and Darren Binks suffering in his wake.

It wasn't until the penultimate lap that we caught Tom. I couldn't take the corners as fast as Darren and Tom, so this hampered my lap by lap gains and sometimes left me digging deep to latch back onto Darren's wheel. When the junction with Tom was made, the tempo slowed right down; it was obviously going to be a very tactical finish.

Just before receiving the bell for the last lap, I made a break for it on the tarmac section of the course. I managed to stretch out a 20 meter gap. But, turning back onto the mud I managed to overshoot, definitely carrying too much speed. Tom was back on my wheel, but I had managed to break Darren, who was still 20 meters behind us.

Tactically, I went into the sloppiest corners first, so that Tom couldn't gain any advantage with my lack of grip. This worked, and we stayed together until passing the pits for the final time. This was where I made another attack, it was all or nothing.

On the tarmac I managed to string out another gap, maybe 15 meters this time. I turned left, back onto the mud, but must have subconsciously taken it too cautiously as Tom had latched back onto my wheel. There was only 100 or so boggy meters to the line. Both me and Tom were aiming for the right hand line, which had seemed to be the fastest. Both of us converged onto the marginally drier line, but managed to collide. Tom went down, but I just about kept up and pushed on.

I crossed the line with my first ever Senior win! It was great to put my hands in the air and take the top step of the podium, especially with it being so close to the end of the season.

For both Ripley and York, I would like to thank my dad for pitting and cxmagazine.com for the kit and support. My final race of the cyclocross season will be the National Championships this weekend in Derby, then it'll be all eyes on the mountainbike!

Sport Cross 2nd Feb - ride and watch 'cross with The Green Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:26:00 +0000

I love the Ribble Valley - endless quiet lanes, great climbs and some cracking cafes. But it's somewhere I've never really taken a 'cross bike to, aside from the odd run round Gisburn Forest with the kids.

Consequently, I was interested to learn about the forthcoming SportCross event on 2nd Feb. And hooked when I learned about the after event party with beer AND live cyclocross from the World Cross Championships at Hoogerheide. No brainer.

For those not in the know, The Green Jersey is a cracking little independent bike shop, tucked away in a corner of the picturesque Ribble Valley town of Clitheroe. And it also happens to be my favourite coffee and cake stop on my rides North of home. Like many independents, they put a lot back in to cycling with some already legendary film, beer and live screening events.

So their concept of a 30 mile 'cross sportive through the lanes, bridleways and moors of the Ribble Valley area is sure to be a great day out, 'cross season finisher and general all round 'grand event'.

Make sure you get an entry for what promises to be a fab day of riding, socialising and watching the biggest 'cross event of the season.

Ed's Todmorden Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Edwyn Oliver-Evans) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 20:55:00 +0000

Todmordennoun1 A town in Calderdale, West Yorkshire.2 A permanent mud bath, where crazy cyclo-crossers grind up cobbles, battle through mud and run up steps each year.

Every time I have raced at Todmorden, except once, there has been deep mud; thick, sticky mud that makes every inch of the course a leg busting slog. For that one exception, the course had frozen solid, which turned it into a skating rink, with some of the course removed for being too dangerous. I'm not sure there has ever been a race a Tod with dry, green grass, even for the summer series race it was a mud bath. For the final round of the Yorkshire Points Cyclocross series, it was no exception, with much of the course unridable or quicker to run, due to thick, deep mud.

After getting to the race early, I sat in the van and thought why the hell I was there. Outside, it was only just above freezing and I'd have to go and prance about in deep mud for an hour, whilst freezing my knackers off. I began to think what I could get from the race: the satisfaction of races, the ability to indulge in large quantities of food afterwards, complete my set of 7 races to count for the series, maybe get a great result… the list goes on. But, all I could think in my head was of the warmth of my bed, that I had dragged myself from to come to this muddy and cold park in the depth of the Pennines.

However, I soon realised I was being a complete wimp, pulled on my cycling gear and headed out to the course.

There weren't many changes to the course compared to previous years. The start loop took you around two waterlogged football pitches, as if to say "if you weren't cold on the start line, you sure will be now!", and then joined the proper course just after the finish line, the start of the upwards struggle. Although the first section was pretty flat, the deep mud made it feel like a 20% gradient, with it only marginally quicker to ride, over run. After a quick 'break' on the tarmac path, you hit a wall of sheer mud, deep enough to engulf your shoe and ankle, which took you higher up the valley side. Sadly, this resulted in your feet turning into two balls of mud, which made clipping in for the following stretch of path a nightmare. This path was the calm before the storm, or the hill before the mountain. After taking the sharp right hand bend at the end of the path, you are faced with "The Chimney", as it is called on Strava. A few hundred meter section of cobbles, with an average gradient of over 20%; not hard enough for you? Add in the fact that the cobbles are as slippery as ice, meaning standing up is not an option. Running is also not a good idea; there is very little room alongside the cobbles, and cycling shoes definitely won't grip them. When the suffering does end, and you reach the top of the cobbles, there is a slight relief that the course is pretty much downhill from there. The top section of the descent incorporates a tight chicane, and then small a set of steps, made possible by the course coming back in itself. From there to the pits, it was nearly all mud, which mostly was quicker to run, even with the downhill gradient. Then, after a definite bike change, you negotiated the small maze of slippery hairpins, before crossing the finish line.

Tough, but fun. Any thoughts of my nice warm bed had now long gone from my head. Time to race!

I sat on the start line cold, but focussed on a good start off the line, which is actually what I didn't get. I set off, but my legs seemed to have no go. I tried to power on, but people just kept coming past; this wasn't a good sign. I kept powering on and eventually I stopped slipping back places and actually made some advancement. I made up a few places on the boggy slog, and then nearly half a dozen on the 'wall of mud' run up. Finally I was finding some speed! After a little bit of a let up on the path, we hit the cobbles. I rode them nearly all the way to the top, but a rider in front had slipped, forcing us all the get off and run. Everyone decided to jump back on their bike pretty much straight away at the top, but I decided to run that little bit further. This gained me about another 3 places, and I was finally among my usual rivals.

The infamous cobbles

For the start of the next lap, I was alongside Ben Cooper, who I'd been very close to in previous races. On one of the running sections we joked "what a nice day for a run it was" (obviously not trying hard enough). I was with him until the cobbles, where I managed to dig deep, avoid slipping and ride all the way to the top of them. I'd managed to open a gap on Ben, and, so, set to work catching James Dalton.

I eventually caught James, and stayed with him for a few laps. Then, like I did with Ben, I managed to drop him on the cobbles. I was free to keep pushing on, with the next rider in my sights being Jon Hopkinson.

I measured my gains on Jon with the top section of the course, where it loops back on itself. I was hardly catching up with him though, and, behind, Ben Cooper was making his way back up to my wheel. I checked my watch- 45 minutes of racing gone. The bell can't be far away!

I really dug deep for the last two laps, and began to see I was starting to catch Jon. I powered up the cobbles for the penultimate time, and pushed on to the descent. That was where disaster struck; my tub rolled on the first corner of the chicane. I pulled it back on as quickly as possible, but by this time Ben had caught be up and powered on ahead. I was able to ride on my tub, but I had to take it carefully on all of the corners, which meant Ben's gap only increased.

I changed bikes in the pits, just before receiving the bell, for the last lap. Ben now had a large gap, and there was little chance of me catching him. Naturally, my pace eased slightly, and I carefully made my way around the last lap, trying not to make any last minute mistakes.

I crossed the line in 7th place overall, which was one of my best results of the season, and pretty commendable considering my start. But in my head all I could think of was the 6th place and potential 5th place I could have had, if it would have not been for my tub rolling with a lap and a half to go.

7th place though, I have to say, was still a pretty good placing, which was made even better when I found out that it had pushed me up to 5th overall in the Yorkshire Points series. 2 points ahead of Dave Morris, who I'd had many battles with though the series.

I'd like to thank my amazing pit crew, who had to work none stop for this race due to the mud. My next race is at Ripley Castle on New Year's Day; perfect for starting 2014 with.

Addicted to cross? Then check out www.cxmagazine.com for all the latest news, reviews and action from around the globe; and if you like what you see, why not subscribe and get 10% off by using our voucher code, which you can get by dropping me a message.

Ted @ National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Round 6: Shrewsbury

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 14:02:00 +0000

Ted Sarmiento reports from the final National Trophy Cyclo-Cross of the season, but whilst his body is heading to Shrewsbury, it appears his mind is back in Yorkshire. This has consequences, both bad and good!

National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Round 6: Shrewsbury Sports Village Sunday 5th January 2014

Well here we go. I’m on the road to Shrewsbury, the last event of the 2013-14 National Trophy series, along with my cxmagazine.com Racing Team DS Steve Smales, who is at the wheel, his other half Heather along with break-though star rider Sarah Murray. But I have to admit to being somewhat distracted. Not by the early-doors motorway run, you’ll understand. That's par for the course these days. No, the distraction is the result of the Ripley Castle Cyclo-Cross event, staged by my club, Harrogate Nova, just a few days ago. There’s simply so much to talk about. And then the inevitable – Whoops, that was our motorway exit! Now we’re running late and short on fuel. Not part of the plan!

We turn off on to the A38 and something's not right - blue flashing lights ahead - looks like an accident maybe? It is. One car’s perpendicular to the road. Strange? No, not really, we find we’re driving on sheet ice. The DS hits the brakes and we go into an ABS powered slide/stop. We're OK, but as we crawl on we see two more vehicles prostrate at the side of the road. That’s three separate accidents inside a mile and it dawns on us that our detour probably prevented us from being one of them. So today's blog is all about making the best of things, as we just can't control how some stuff pans out.

Finally, with barely enough fuel to park, we get to the race venue. Heather immediately sets to, hauling gear to the pits, while us mollycoddled riders set tyre pressures and change into many, many layers of racing gear. Just time for a half lap, but which half? I go for the woods section. Ooh this is fun, a trip through the woods over roots covered in sloppy slurry.

So onto the grid, and by sheer dogged determinedness I'm way off the back end. As Woody Allen once said: '80% of success is showing up'. But here's where I find my flaw: the woods are fun, but the other part of the circuit is anything but. 'Technical' I think is the fashionable term, but in reality it’s littered with unrideable off-cambers, slop (by the bucket-load) with some stairs thrown in somewhere.

All this comes as a bit of a surprise during the mass start. Then it’s the tarmac finish straight, back into the off-camber slop-fest, on to the pits and a hardpack path, then my favourite: the 'veld' section. Here I find the Sven line lap after lap by going wide and cutting diagonally across the track. I have no idea if it’s any faster like this, but it keeps me amused all race long.

Onto the penultimate lap and something very strange happens. It's not happened before at National Trophies, but today it does. I start overtaking a few riders. Not those with Pauwels’ chains or Nys’ punctures, but riders with working bikes and race numbers, and I’m not lapping them either. No, this is genuine, bona fide race passing. The leaders don’t even fluster me, much, in their futile attempts to lap me, despite Matt 'the voice' Payne egging them on to do so.

Photo by Andy Preston

So I get the bell and it's lastste, laatste ronde, at least in National Trophy terms, for this season. Off I go: just time to pick up a clean bike for the final trip to really nail the Sven line, through the woods, onto the silly off camber runs. I drag my once-again sorry-looking bike up the stairs a final time and I'm done! All six rounds of the National Trophy Cyclo-Cross series: nil points and one DNF (first ever) to show for it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcyclingphotos/11783682915/in/photostream/

But this is a not always a sensible sport. There’s always plenty of opportunity for something to go wrong, but after the icy road incident, today we're just happy to just be here and be riding and making the best of it. We're even happier when we break out the home-made soup to accompany the hog roast burgers as we make a serious attempt at post-race recovery ahead of the National Championships, next weekend.

Thanks as ever go to pit crew Heather and Sarah, the race marshals and officials, and all those involved in putting on the National Trophy series this year. I've loved riding the series with cxmagazine.comRacing Team, and we've enjoyed further support from Tidds, Bioracer cycle clothing and those nice guys at Pedalsport and YCCA. Cyclo-Cross, perhaps more than other branches of the sport, relies on huge globs of unselfish support from so many people, it's very heart-warming.

Race result 37 of 44

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Ted goes to Todmorden

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Todmorden

Ted Sarmiento heads West across the vastness of Yorkshire and tackles an event shrouded in myths and legends, not to mention mud and cobbles.

I’ll start with a conversation overheard at the recent Bradford National Trophy:

"I reckon Peel Park has to the best National Trophy Cyclo-Cross course in the country"

"What you on about? It's not even the best Cyclo-Cross course in Yorkshire"

This made me chuckle at the time, but it also tells you something about a) the quality of the racing in these parts, b) just how stupidly BIG Yorkshire actually is and c) the sense of humour prevalent around these parts. Todmorden is proper miles from my part of Yorkshire and genuine contender for the title of Yorkshire's top course. But, however far you travel to reach it, you definitely need to bring your sense of humour with you if you intend to enjoy the experience.

The event enjoys a fearsome reputation and is regarded as something of a “classic” in ‘Cross circles. Not one to be put off by a bit of 'technical' I literally went up hill and down dale to get over to this race and ride for myself.

I'd heard about the mud and cobbles, so I cleverly got my hands on some mud specific tyres. Imagine my shock on the practice lap (I could only summon enough reserves for one) when I found that the vast majority of the race was actually on hardpack paths. But it's not the majority that is the problem: no, it's the minority features that count here.

The first and biggest “minority feature” is the cobbled climb. If there was a saying about the cobbles, it might go a bit like this – “Ride 'em and you'll do well, don't ride 'em and….?” Well you can guess the rest! However, perhaps because most riders are reduced to speechless impotence by this wickedly slippery mosaic of shining stones, there isn’t a saying about the cobbles that I’m aware of. All I can say is that I didn't, or, frankly, couldn't “Ride ‘em!”

The second “minority feature” is the down-hill slop-fests. Now these are Fun, with a capital F. But are they quicker to run? Probably, but aren't we here to enjoy ourselves? Oh yeah, we're here to race, drat.

Finally we have the infamous “minority feature” of the cloying mud on the lower 'veld' section of the course. Again, is it faster to run it? Do you change tactics for the second half of the race when it really cuts up? Decisions, decisions. Oh who cares? Let's race.

So it's off we go for the start loop, a lap of a waterlogged soccer pitch, along with fifty-odd other Vet-40s with the Vet-50s and women chasing us down two minutes later. Another great start and I'm up with the leaders on the first corner, where it promptly gets seriously boggy and my power curve heads South.

On to the course proper and it's more of the same, but something great happens, we get a full musical accompaniment from a drumming group. Fantastic. It almost makes the silly run uphill, when I reach the cobbles, enjoyable. This being a run that makes Bradford's wall look tame, and that's not a good thing.

Then it’s hardpack, cobbles, hardpack, slop, hardpack, steps, hardpack, slop, more slop, pits, more slop etc. In other words, a seriously tricky 'cross race.

Fortunately I had support in the pits with a spare bike and cleaning facilities which allowed me two changes during the race: I was so grateful for these I could almost have wept.

Laatste ronde! Into the final bit of slop and a Harrogate Nova club mate runs past me. It's Tim Evans and as a Vet-50 he's caught me for two minutes! But more importantly – this still being a race - he shows me how to take a few places, by getting off and running downhill! I don't need asking twice and peg it down to the pits and then ride on to the finish to offer my heartfelt congratulations (snagger fragger) to Tim. A terrific race, but brutal by any 'cross standards.

So, how did Tim catch me? Simple: he rode the cobbles. Doff caps in unison!

Paul Lehan, Ted Sarmiento and Tim 'Pave' Evans

Thanks as ever go to pit crew, shouts form the trackside, race marshals, cxmagazine.com, Tidds and Bioracer cycle clothing from Belgium, the home of 'cross. And of course Chipps Chippendale and the YCCA for organising this one. Back next year to ride the cobbles? Maybe!

Race result 25 of 56 (7 DNFs!)

Peel Park, Bradford - the UK's best 'cross course?

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:17:00 +0000

The National Trophy course at Peel Park, Bradford is for me, the complete cyclocross course. It has everything – hard climbs, running climbs, treacherous descents, tricky off camber, barriers and slick corners. Lots of slick corners. It is regarded as the hardest of the current crop of National standard courses and as successful ‘cross book author Simon Burney puts it – ‘it shows up the technical limitations of many.’ As he explains, good technique there leads to 'free' time gains, no extra training required.

I also always look forward to riding Bradford because with its December or January slot in the calendar, mud always plays a big part. Lots of mud. Even when conditions are relatively dry, as they were this past weekend, the mud makes itself felt in the most innocuous of places, where very short sections that are ridden sub-optimally can result in big time losses over the course of a race. When properly muddy is it is the ultimate mudder where you better hope you can get a spare bike, or better still have a competent pit crew.

And then there is the run up before the finish straight. Steep, very slippy and uneven under foot, this too can be a race decider or somewhere a lot of time can be gained with good technique. Try it without toes studs and you’ll be flat on your face. Teammate Dave Haygarth took this great video of action on the run up:

Bradford is also a great social event - as the main Northern National Trophy round it attracts a lot of people as spectators rather than riders and catching up with everyone is always part of the day. I met up with friends Richard and Jo Allento prepare for my morning race. As well as being an elite level startline-helper and all-round ‘cross soigneur, Jo is also a prolific photographer of all things ‘cross. She has been snapper-in-chief to the growing contingent of Here Come the Belgians riders for some time now and as over the years documented mine and many others cyclocross related exploits with great insight.

In a shameless fit of narcissism I asked her to do a bit of a feature for me. Her pics below, tell the story of my day and the full set with some great shots of Rich too is here:

Steve: Bradfod Trophy and Forestry

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Smales) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 20:11:00 +0000

Peel Park, Bradford. Sound’s like any other venue. It’s not. It’s a combination of factors. Firstly, Bradford is the epicentre of Yorkshire, the county where they conceived the sadomasochistic Three Peaks Cyclocross. A race where competitors compare vibration white finger syndrome post race and spectators choose their vantage points proportionate to the likelihood of riders doing endos. Secondly it’s a classic course…..if you went to see The Clash in concert, you’d choose The Hammersith Odeon over the NEC…..With Bradford, you know what you’re going to get. Mud, off camber, crashes, partisan spectators (cycling’s a religion in Yorkshire), apocalyptic pits and a great course.

One lap on soft mixed setup of FMB/Rhino’s more or less confirmed what was in store. A classic post overnight rain race where pit crews were undoubtedly going to be busy, if not frantic. Two more laps and the Addict weighed roughly 25lbs. There was little to be gained by riding more and more practice laps, other than to see how the conditions were developing. Now was the time for keeping warm.

As I went to sign on, a perfectly timed distraction meant that I committed the schoolboy error of not signing on, an appalling mistake for a qualified commissaire, and I was lucky to have sufficient time between the UCI com’s verbal spanking and my name being read out for gridding to rectify the situation.

Gridded four rows back next to Paul Lehan, I guessed the uphill tarmac start might see me struggle, and it came as a surprise to hardly loose any places at the start. As we rounded the first proper corner, the realisation that 1.4bar might be alright for warming up chatting with my pals. However, committed riding, with even more committed tyre folding mid bend was going to end in tears or worse still a 'I've-always-used-your-products-and-I'm-a-fan-of-British-engineering-and-by-the-way-are-those-rims-still-available-as-spares?' letter to our friends in Lancashire sooner or later. Second time through the pits, I grunted a breathless “BACKSTOOSOFTNEXTTIME” as I went through in a small group. I saw Dave immediately spring into action sourcing a track pump for my spare bike.

As I came through the pits next time, I knew I’d had a good half lap as the elastic had broken as I’d dropped my group, I elected to delay swapping just for the time being as I consolidated my gap by really trying to get the power on fast coming out of the slower turns and stay off the brakes. I'd got a good gap as Steve Bottomley came through, I didn’t need much persuading to latch onto him, feeling as proud as punch to mix it in good company.

Through the pits and onto the spare bike with more pressure, it felt fast with a nice clean front tyre gripping like glue at first. I still had a gap, on a cluster of three perhaps ten, twelve seconds. I wanted more and saw regaining Steve as my ticket. As we came down ‘the’ descent I kept my brakes off to carry as much speed as possible and not compromise steering by silly braking.

After the crash…..people asked me where it happened. I could tell from their glazed over expression that they couldn’t even remember the slight kink it all went horribly wrong for me. I suppose there’s a simple logic. The less the bend, the faster one’s going when it goes wrong. A simple one to remember, the biggest crashes happen on the least memorable bends…..

As my front wheel slid ever so slightly, going really quite fast, I thought I’d just ride through the tape. When I hit the marker post the slide turned into a catastrophic, veering loss of control and towards a silver birch......I headed towards doom at what felt like a hundred miles an hour, probably about twenty. Fast enough. As the 9” wide trunk headed straight for my front wheel, I knew it was going to hurt/cost lots of money….or perhaps end all my pain. Forever. My mouth made that involuntary noise a split second before I hit.

I stopped very suddenly. Much more effective than disc brakes and not subject to recalls.

I knew it had been a good one because two guys had not adopted the usual Yorkshire protocol of uncontrollable laughing and had gazelled the course to see to me. My shoulder and collarbone took the hit. I couldn’t straighten my middle three fingers on my left hand and I had a dead leg. I could taste blood in my mouth.

I had a bike race to ride, so back on the bike and away and see what happens as four went past. If I’d done my collarbone I’d soon work it out, I’d rather make the decision to abandon on the move than watch the race go by in pain only to decide to keep going. The next lap was agony.

Slowly the pain subsided and I found my composure returned as I got mopped up by a group of two. At the bell, I was comparatively happy and my thoughts turned to getting those last two places. No fancy plans or tactics this week, just a simple case of making sure I was technically tidy on the horrible off camber section with right handed remount before the last grassy bank, to carry as much speed as I could and dismount decisively for the run.

My plan worked perfectly as I came out the bank first and buried myself for the last 200m to the line.

I finished 26^th. Physically wrecked and bloodied. At the time of writing, I am walking with a limp, I cannot lift my left arm above shoulder height and looking at the excellent bruise on my collarbone, I’ve come very close to a premature season end and liquidised Christmas lunch. Nothing that forty mins on the rollers wont fix….

Probably my best race of the year on an ace course.

More crucially the bike’s OK.

Steve

Ted @ Round 5 Bradford National Trophy Cyclo-Cross

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 16:41:00 +0000

Ted Sarmiento gets all cinematic as he reflects on a weekend at Bradford and the fifth round of the National Trophy Cyclo-Cross series. He began by doing a turn as part of the event’s set-up crew and you could argue from that point onwards, the rest was pretty much self-inflicted!

Picture my favourite scene from the 1994 movie ‘Cross Fiction’. You know the one with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, directed by Quentin De Vlaeminck, that goes a bit like this:

Vincent: But you know what the funniest thing about ‘Cross is?

Jules: What?

Vincent: It's the little differences. I mean they got the same stuff over there that they got here, but it's just...just there it's a little different.

Jules: Examples?

Edward: Bradford’s Peel Park?

OK, so here’s where the plot differs slightly. But you get what I mean don’t you? No? Well, Peel Park is one of the best Cyclo-Cross courses there is (OK so I live in Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross country, guilty). It’s full of hazards and difficulties that are sometimes present in other courses, but rarely in such abundance, and rarely so easy to watch for the spectators - ‘the little differences’.

I heard a few riders talking about it being muddy. Well come back another year and then it’ll maybe be muddy! This time it was just a bit mushy in places: OK, sometimes ankle deep mushy, but that’s why we love it!

Sarah Murray ploughing through the mush [photo courtesy of Emma Osenton]

At Peel Park it’s the combination of all these little differences, and some sodding great big ones, that differentiate one rider from another. And by differentiate, I’m talking time gaps. Anyway, to cut to the point, one way or another, I’m getting round to admitting to the fact that my unbeaten run (of not getting lapped by the leader) came to a sticky end in what was, nonetheless, probably my best National Trophy ride of the season.

My race began at 8:00 am on Saturday (oh yes), thanks to my volunteering to help set out the course. Work finished around 1:00pm at which point I quietly removed my bike from the back of the car before heading off for a few laps of this terrific circuit to get the feel of it. How did it look? Well, more or less the same as last year’s National’s, only this time with a coating of green stuff all over the park. Grass? Yes, and lots of it.

The exact layout of the Peel Park course is a bit of a mystery to me. There’s a flyover built right into the park and no matter how many times I lapped, just like last time out, I was still confused as to how it all linked together. But, like a tangled multi-stranded De Vlaeminck movie plot, it all falls into place in the end. Of course, as a rider, it doesn’t matter, just so long as you know where to ride, where to run and where to jump off. Oh yeah, and where to ascend an absurdly steep bank.

Funny thing though, this grass stuff provides plenty or traction and the course was 98% ride-able in practice. Another funny thing about grass is that by the time 90 odd Vets and others got to work ‘practicing’ on Sunday morning, they’d turned it into sticky mush. No more traction, yeee haaa!

So onto the start grid and for once I feel locked, loaded and ready to go. On the whistle I’m off like a jackrabbit and onto team-mate Steve’s wheel by the end of the tarmac. That’s a good spot to be for me to be: I know it won’t last, but why not make it hard for ‘em behind me? After a lap or two Simon Pateman (Saddleworth Clarion) comes past on the tarmac uphill and I latch onto his wheel and hold it for a bit.

Unfortunately for both of us the rider we catch overcooks a nothing corner and brings us both down and I land hard on his razor sharp disc brake (are you watching UCI?). But I‘m lucky: Simon’s back wheel is the loser this time, and I get up and get going. Fortunately he has a spare bike and is soon back racing, nudging past me again in the closing stages.

'I've had enough of this, I'm off to the Sven line' (photo by Trevor Schofield)

I get the bell at the same time as our race leader, but having given serious beans to this race I only know this is a “thing”. By that, I mean I can no longer compute as to whether it is a “good thing” or “bad thing”. No Matter, as I haven’t been signalled to stop racing, I go on to my ‘laaste ronde’.

Any beans left? Just a few! Enough for me to cling onto Charles Warren’s wheel for a windy top section as he does damage to his over 50’s rivals. Final ascent up the bank and I find I’m still running, well at least jogging. Not like last year where I was one pace behind a plod. No last minute overtakes then and suddenly I’m over the line safe and sound. Finished. Done for. Kaput. Crevé. Hecho polvo. Brilliant!

Bradford really is Cyclo-Cross racing at its best. And as a volunteer on Saturday I could see just how many dedicated ‘others’ were involved in making this day of racing happen. They all know who they are - mainly from Pedalsport and YCCA - however a stand-out mention must go to race organiser Fred ‘CX’ Rothwell, who headed up this particular show. Many thanks to you all.

By the same token, our small cxmagazine.com Racing Team owes another debt of gratitude to a less numerous but equally dedicated army of volunteers who operated jet washes and bike changes like a precision instrument in a very un-precise, sloppy, messy environment. Astounding. And then there’s the course-side supporters too. Thanks for all the shouts.

Would you work here?

Meanwhile, as images of Bradford still play across my mind like a recently viewed movie – to cling onto my cinema theme for a little longer - your thoughts, like mine, are probably turning towards the festive period. If you have a ‘cross fan in your house (and you probably wouldn’t be here if you didn’t) we have a special Christmas discount code offer for UK subscriptions to the print or digital version Cyclocross Magazine. Drop us a message and we’ll send you the code.

Race result 48 of 54

Today’s race blog was brought to you by the letters C and X and the numbers 48 and 54. Plus Cyclocross Magazine, Tidds and Pedalsport. Happy Christmas and a very happy Ripley Castle New Years’ Day.

North of England Cyclocross championships- Ed's report

noreply@blogger.com (Edwyn Oliver-Evans) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 19:46:00 +0000

A lot of people think that there is no such thing as luck. Supposedly, the more training and preparation that you do for something the luckier you get; in other words saying that luck is just another way of denoting the amount of preparation someone has done. Although I believe this to be true, in a bike race you will always need a bit of pure luck. Last month I experienced very little luck, resulting in a DNF because of a mechanical, a missed race because of illness and another mechanical, reducing any chances of winning the race. November was an incredibly frustrating month, and I wanted to start December off on a positive note, hopefully, with a good result at the North of England Cyclocross Championships.

To the soundtrack of Muse and White Lies, I arrived at the venue, York Sports Village, nice an early, with time to get a practice lap in and watch some of the other racing. The Senior race, which I was competing, was not starting until 2:30, so I was still deciding whether or not to put my bright winter lights on for the later stages of the race.

Should be suffering not grinning- sorry!

From afar, I have to admit I didn't really like the look of the course- it looked flat and a bit 'tame' for my liking. I've never really suited flat, fast course; hard gruelling climbs, tight technical singletrack descents and a good load of running was more my cup of tea. But, on my practice lap I found that the course had more depth than just an off road crit race circuit; there were a few stings in the tail. The course began with a number of sweeping, slippy corners, some being off camber, which snaked their way around the area in front of the sports complex (I'm sure any spectators watching the swimming would have been distracted by the more interesting event happening outside). After one final sharp left corner, the course headed straight, passing the pits for the first time, and up to the higher part of the course. A number of switchbacks took the course higher up the gradual banking. At the top was two very slippy off camber climbs, which had multiple route choices and felt like a balancing act between power and stability while riding them. Following on from this, the course entered deeper mud, where the course took a sharp right over a steep sided ridge. In practice I was able to ride the ridge, but sharp drop coming off of it resulted in a momentary front wheel manual. Definitely a runner in the race. From there, the course headed down towards the pits again, with a tight chicane and a few sweeping corners on the way. From the second passing of the pits to the finish there was very little technical riding. The course followed a fenced ginnel, before emerging on the neighbouring road race circuit, for the final stretch of the lap. You don't usually have such a long section of tarmac in cyclocross races, but this section really added something to the course and I thought it was pretty cool- a nice component to a pretty fun and varied course.

The team

Anyway, onto the race.

Being the North of England Championships, the field size was about double the size of a normal Yorkshire Points race. The cream of the crop had come from the North East, North West and, of course, Yorkshire to battle it out here in York, which added to my surprise when upon gridding I was called up for the second row- there was no excuse for a bad start now!

Thankfully, come the fire of the gun, I got my foot in and was away and still high up the field 200 meters up the road. The skittishness of riders behind me on the first corner adided my advantage. Entering the offroad section for the first time, the field had already become strung out, but I was sat in the top quarter and was hungry for more places, I felt good.

Not long after, gaps began to form and grow, gaps that I made it my mission to bridge. I managed to pick off a few places without any major injects of pace; I simply maintained a good tempo and gradually caught up with the next wheel up the road. I was ahead of the usual race nemesis Dave Morris, as well as a few others I'm normally battling with. Feeling comfortable, I watched the minutes tick by on my Garmin; but maybe I was feeling too comfortable, for behind me, gaining time on me each lap, was Ben Cooper, a fellow under 23 and a threat to my current position in the class.

A couple of laps later, Ben bridged the gap to me, immediately trying to pass and drop me, but I was straight onto him and sat on his wheel. By this time, I had worked out that me and Ben stood as second and third under 23 on the road. My main focus went on sticking with Ben and trying to get that second place.

The sun began to droop towards the end of the race

I sat on Ben's wheel for most of the race; we were both pushing hard, but he couldn't drop me, and all I wanted to do was stick with him. I didn't even think of riders up ahead, but I knew no one could catch us. In my head, I was planning on attacking Ben with a lap to go, and do as little work as possible during the sections with headwinds.

With about 1 to 2 laps to go, I made my move, trying to get a gap on Ben. I pushed hard for maybe a quarter of a lap, but I didn't succeed and we came back together. I could tell it was not just me who was fatigued; Ben and me were both breathing deeply and suffering a little. Unfortunately, this got to me more and just before receiving the bell to signify the last lap, I made a stupid mistake on the off-camber section, loosing some time, and Ben got away. I chased hard. I couldn't let him get away after our near whole-race ordeal.

Pushing hard to get back onto Ben's wheel

Just after the bell, I got back onto the wheel of Ben, but this time I was definitely more fatigued than him. I couldn't pass him, so just sat on his wheel and tried to get a little respite. But then came that off-camber banking again. It was either psychological or just plain fatigue that caused me to make the same mistake I made the previous lap, but nevertheless, it resulted in the same outcome. Ben got away again, which left me chasing.

With less than half a lap to go, Ben had about 30 meters on me, and I was digging desperately deep to claw it back. We both entered the tarmac section, running up to the finish line, with about 20 meters between us. We sped round the final two corners, coming into the final straight, with Ben still ahead. I stood up, putting in all I could to try and get him on the line. But it was not to be. Ben finished just under 10 meters ahead of me, meaning I finished as 3rd under 23. A bit annoying, but hey, 3rd is still pretty good.

There was a silver lining to my slight annoyance though. The battle between me and Ben in the final couple of laps meant we made up about 3 places overall in the Senior race. This meant that we finished 11th and 12th, which I have to say, I'm pretty damn pleased with. It was nice to see that a bit of proper training was taking effect, and I was definitely in a good mood that evening.

There was a pretty stunning sunset over the course

Finally, I would just like to say thank you to my dad for pitting for me, as usual, to my mum for the photographs I have used, and also to cxmagazine.com for kit and support. Check them out at http://www.cxmagazine.com where you can currently get 10% off a subscription, a perfect gift for any cyclocross fan this christmas. If you want the voucher code, just drop me an email and I will happily sent it out to you.

My next race will be the National Trophy cyclocross at Peel Park, Bradford this Sunday. It's gonna be a muddy one!

Steve: North of England Champs

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Smales) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 07:41:00 +0000

Had it not been for a friend of the team coming out to take some team pictures yesterday, I’d have most likely stayed in bed. As I drove across the moors towards York, there was barely enough light to see, despite it being 10.30am. I felt low, my thoughts were consumed by concocting reasons not to start.

Upon arrival, I met Paul Lehan, a great friend, strong as hell and all round nice guy. He immediately picked up on my frame of mind “come on mate, you’ve got to race – we’ll have a real ding-dong” For all the right reasons, he’d intuitively backed me into a corner. I couldn’t possibly slip away then.

So with a heavy heart I pulled my kit on, whacked my baseline pressures in headed for the technical part of the course to have a look at the drop off and off camber section. Ted who ran the section with 100% commitment in practice. His mind was made up. It was a run, doubt nagged my mind.

I dawdled back down to the start for gridding. A third row start with an eighty strong field. Bang we were off….with grumpy at least having the presence of mind to ram it into a bigger gear after a couple of revs.

Eighty blokes sprinting like hell turning dead left into a three metre wide course, rubbing shoulders, whilst my front wheel tread thrummed on the back wheel of the guy in front suddenly brought a smile to my face. Some one flicked the switch....Game on.

Time to race…….

I don’t know if it’s a case of the big field, the course or being a champs but the first four laps were some of the most cut and thrust racing I’ve done. In a group, screw up, go out the back, regain group, get carried forward by better riders coming through, and repeat. Strangely, I saw lots of attacking with really concerted efforts being made to split groups up. I’d imagine that in the third of the race, my position will have yo-yoed by as much as ten places. Running the off camber was one thing in warming up, committing when already at near maximal intensity was quite another, I genuinely thought I might die I had to go so hard to regain my position first lap.

I settled in and started to find my consistent lines. Riding the horrible, uphill, off camber suddenly happened and went pretty well, sometimes I could hold the high line, sometimes not but I was getting up it and crucially entering the subsequent run much more composed. Nicely placed in a group of five, probably the weakest technically, probably there or thereabouts physically.

With two laps to go, the task was now to make the best of where I was in the race…to ‘win’ my group. As we passed the pits the course went 100m straight along a grassy perimeter track, into a ninety left, ran straight for another 100m before dropping onto the 400m exposed tarmac finishing section with a cross/headwind. It was clear that everyone was riding the grassy track to the left….the right looked alright, perhaps a little slower. I had to get to the pits on the bell lap still in the group. We took the bell, I unashamedly wheelsucked to conserve energy.

Towards the off camber tricky section I came through to the front, If my technical skills were going to let me down riding across the slope, I was sure as hell going to make sure I wasn’t going to be the only one to loose by quietly slipping out of contact from the back. If I was going to slide, I wanted to be in a position to cause chaos behind. A rare moment of clarity.

Try as I might, I slid down the slope, safe in the knowledge that my difficulties would be thankfully causing chaos behind. Out of the technical mire and heading down to the pits fast, Jough shouted “come on fella, last two minutes”. Past the pits, I was sat where I wanted to be….. at the back.

Through the pits, along the first 100m track and then through the ninety left. I could almost sense the lack of urgency from my peers holding back for the tarmac finish. For the tall guy with no sprint….shit or bust and don’t look back.

I hit the untried right hand line hard out the seat and punched through the front of the group. After a near miss with a guy who’d just finished and had ridden across the course recovering, I was out onto the tarmac and away. A quick glance back and head down, hugging the right hand gutter making them work for it into the wind. I had two in hot pursuit and two had been spat out. As we rounded the bend into the finishing straight glare of the commissaries I faded.

The outcome was 50% successful. I didn’t quite hang on. I’d ditched two, and got narrowly outsprinted by two. Not perfect but OK. All good experience. Fantastic fun.

I finished 22^nd from 87 starters, about 3mins down. I’d had a massive race long ding-dong and felt great.

Perhaps I’m sad, but I know I love cross, I’ll settle for that!

Steve

Ted's North of England Championships | York | Sunday 08 Dec 2013

noreply@blogger.com (EJ Sarmiento) — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 11:07:00 +0000

You know how the old saying goes..."Cyclo-Cross is a bit like life". And just like life you can make you own luck by being fit and technically well prepared but just like life, bad luck can strike at any time. Today I had another small spot of bad luck a la Kevin Pauwels, who I regard as the unluckiest guy in CX. Or is he?

Back to the the racing. Today it was the North of England's Championships, a biggie by anyone's standards. Big enough to attract Sr. Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) himself. Nuff said. So it was with 80 odd other Vet 40s we set off for a half lap of York Sport's excellent new road race circuit and then onto the rough stuff. Another cracking start, I bridged the initial gap to the leaders and then hung in until the first turn off road. After that some of the 'I didn't get such a good start' crew started coming past and I had just started settling down when I get an almighty bellow from behind "CMON TED LETS GET GOING" from club mate Paul. He got going all right. I tried to hang on his wheel and gained a further place.

As the race began to take shape I found myself in a cracking dogfight with another rider who seemed to have supporters all over the track. I could tell 'cos as he clung to my wheel everyone it seemed was giving him a cheer. Anyway we hit the tarmac headwind and he sticks solid to my wheel. I swerve violently to the other side of the track to invite him to come past (I've seen KP do this, so it must be OK) and he stubbornly refuses. Then he pulls the dirtiest, nastiest trick I've ever seen in 'cross. Now, I don't want to get anyone in any bother with the officials or even, god forbid, disqualified so for the sake of this blog lets just call him Phil Ingham (Pedalsport, for example).

What he did was, he was 'nice' to me. Yeah, nice. He did it by telling me he'd entered our new club 'cross Ripley Castle CX, then he told me he enjoyed reading these blogs. It was a clever and subtle trick, and one I fell for hook, line and sinker. I was momentarily distracted and messed up the sharp left hander off the tarmac. But as I gave chase I couldn't help but admire the sheer genius of it as I set to catching this clever hare.

Photo courtesy of Neil Hendry

It took almost a full lap to latch onto and his wheel and then pass him through the mud. I knew though that he was riding the whole circuit, including the gnarly lump which needed top skills and guts. I ran the entire section, no time lost but I had to keep up a decent pace. Back onto the descent and that was when when Lady Luck played another part. Changing up onto the big ring my chain did a Pauwels and wrapped itself round my BB. By the time I'd pulled it out and changed bikes soon after, I'd dropped 3 or 4 places. Well I suppose it wasn't a rainbow jersey I was saying goodbye to, not like poor old Kevin.

Another very enjoyable day of racing, and as ever I'm super grateful for all the shouts and support. What was also really special was it was the first time all four of cxmagazine.com Racing Team were at the same event. So a final and special thanks to Andy Preston and Bridget Oliver for capturing this moment on film.

Race result 59 of 84.

Introducing the On One Pickenflick

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:19:00 +0000

My riding career, 'cross wise, started in steel - good old fashioned 531 and then 653, eventually handmade for me by a NW framebuilder. And great those frames were too - comfortable, light enough for the job and cost effective. As frame technology moved on, so did my taste in frames and a pair of aluminium Planet X Uncle John's served me well for many years. The Dirty Disco and XLS took things off in an interesting carbon direction but until last year, I hadn't ridden a 'cross bike made out of the one remaining mainstream material, titanium.

On One produced a Ti 'cross frame a few years ago - it was light and popular and ridden to winning effect by one of Britain's few 'cross pros, Matt Ellis and to 3 Peaks success by the ever-green Nick Craig, both of whom had a hand in the design. My old training partner had one too, and very nice they were, attaining a bit of a cult status amongst riders in the know. But production only lasted a couple of years and On One has never revisited the wonder material for 'cross.... until now.

Ignore the Planet X frame sticker - it's an On One!

The new On One Picknflick looks absolutely gorgeous - a sleek, Georg Jensen-esque tapered headtube doubles as home-art if your spouse allows you to keep it in the front room , the brushed Ti tubing is understated but beautiful and the tidy welds all give off an air of assured quality. Suffice to say that the frame has attracted many admiring glances and comments when myself and Dave have been out and about on the prototypes, including slightly breathless conversations about availability mid race in both the last two 3 Peaks Cyclocross events.

Formwise, a chunky 1 1/2" tapered headtube gives absolutely rock solid handling on the roughest of terrain, allied to a big beefy carbon fork, and the super clearance, even with a mini bridge across chain stays means that even at a Peel Park, Bradford mudbath, the Picknflick keeps running. In fact it clogs less than the other disc frames I've ridden, and they don't clog at all compared to many current canti offerings. Subtle changes in cross section accross the downtube and toptube allude to performance enhancing design of the tubeset - stiffer and broader in areas of most stress. A lovely curved piece across the seat stays aids this, allied to rearward disc mounts and befitting a proper do-it-all 'cross bike, it has useful double bottle mounts. The toptube is ~~left rounded rather than~~ flattened and is still super comfy to carry, as many 3 Peaks-style Bull Hill sessions have proven as well as 2 outings in the Peaks itself.

The geometry has been tweaked from other On One offerings, and the overall effect is an extremely calm and compliant ride. The Ti tubing works to kill off much of the low level buzz, but is still more than stiff enough, superb for fast hacking across uneven surfaces, and with impeccable mud manners.

Whilst not a super stiff 'cross crit monster, it's still more than stiff enough to respond to sharp changes in pace and direction and has seen regular duty for me and Dave Haygarth at 'cross races over the last year or so, performing flawlessly in classic mudders at Bradford and Todmorden, as well as drier Yorkshire Summer Cross rounds. Finally, as a 3 Peaks/rougher off road machine it is imperious. Handling, compliance all come together to make it an all day bike on any terrain and the best Peaks bike either of us have ever ridden.

Update:

I have received the full production version of the Pickenflick now. Suffice to say that those little improvements that we asked for have all been included. It now boasts a brace between seat and chain stay by the rear disc, beefing up the braking performance at the back, a slightly flattened top tube for easier carrying, subtly moved cable mounts at the rear (away from rear wheel), more 'shaped' tube profiles for rigidity, and finally better clearance.

Did I say clearance? It is now absolutely massive, when it was merely brilliant before. If I had to have one bike (and not just one 'cross bike either), this is the bike I would have. It simply covers all the bases, and has a real 'wow' factor about it to boot.

Rapha Super Cross - Broughton Hall

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 10:08:00 +0000

Pic: Ed Rollason

The Rapha Super Cross series has been in many ways a game changer for UK cyclocross. My first introduction to ‘cross was in the fields outside a windswept farm near Macclesfield in the 90s and the course, facilities and atmosphere were consequently somewhat agricultural. To be fair, my next race was held in some slightly more salubrious Northern parkland but the concept of small, facility-lite, muddy races around non-descript bits of grassland and watched under (usually) leaden winter skies by a faithful band of willing and more likely, un-willing spouses and kids was pretty much what you got in standard League ‘cross. They call ‘cross ‘Veldrijden’ in Flanders – field riding’ – and this is where most UK ‘cross seemed stuck (even at National Level where it wasn’t much more exciting either).

Except in Belgium and Holland it’s different despite the field riding origins. Frenzied crowds of 20,000 are common at big races especially over Christmas, beer tents are everywhere along with ubiquitous frites vans and there’s a pumping euro-techno soundtrack much of the time. ‘Cross is big business there. And so, with a nod to the Euro scene, some of the elements for the Super Cross series were born, adapted subtlely for the slightly less rabid UK ‘cross fan.

This year’s Northern Super Cross weekend was hosted at stately home Broughton Hall, nr Skipton and the following day, within sight of the Velodrome in Manchester. A series finale is next weekend in Alexandra Palace, London. On offer this year was racing for regular weekend warriors, followed by the UK’s finest riders slogging it out in teams for the Eilte race, the usual beer/frites combo, a Spiral of Doom, bands of various description, and a foam wall over the course and the ever-popular tequila shortcut for the fun race. And lots of atmosphere with plenty of spectators coming simply to watch and not participate.

I opted to ride the Broughton Hall round on the Saturday (heading to spectate at the Manchester round on the Sunday) and my front row gridding for the Vets race ensured that maximum effort would be required at the start on the rolling but tough course in the grounds of the Hall. What it lacked in technicality it made up for in off-camber, greasy corners. Low tyre pressures would be critical to avoid being dumped on the outside reaches of many of the bends. Seeking out alternative lines became important later in the race as the course cut up and muddied significantly – it’s always good to remember to look for how the course evolves over your race, especially if you are one of the early races on the day. A quick bike change toward the end and I rolled over the line in a reasonable 16^th. Normally a swig of water suffices at this point, but this being Super Cross it was a treat to have a large glass of Belgian beer thrust into my hand, obtained from the beer tent we had just been racing through.

Not all ‘cross races are like Super Cross and nor should they be. Grassroots ‘cross is still about volunteers putting on great races in local venues, on a shoestring budget. But for a couple of weekends a year, a little taste of Belgian ‘cross really does the trick.

The Helper (my helper)

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:45:00 +0000

Very remiss of me not to post this earlier....

Dave Haygarth followed Mark, my ever faithful 3 Peaks supporter around on race day. Here's his short film about Mark and those other 'backroom' folk that make it all happen for riders like me...

The loneliness of Penyghent Lane

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 09:19:00 +0000

Hands down my favourite shot of yours truly at the Peaks this year. Geoff Waugh has form with the Peaks already, though he is best known as a multi award winning photographer specialising in mtb and pro road cycling.

His dark film of 2012 superbly captured the epic conditions of last years race and contrasts nicely with this sunny, though somehow lonely, shot of me on Penyghent Lane shortly before Crampgate. Geoff concurred about the loneliness, commenting that he felt it was a 'solitary race with lots of riders'. Sure feels like that...

3 Peaks Cyclocross 2013

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 18:22:00 +0000

“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.”

- Francois de la Rochefoucauld

That should be my 3 Peaks maxim from now on. I messed up this year, despite dishing out supposedly learned advice only the week before.

It all started well - a personal best by minutes over Ingleborough and in a good-for-me 75th place too, a clean descent to Cold Cotes and a quick timecheck dib and bottle pick up and onto the road. However, I then made the mistakes that when compounded would cost me a trouble free and potentially personal best ride.

The gel tasted good in the shop out the squeezy sample bottle but when breathing out of one's proverbial after the climb out of Ingleton, trying to stay with a fast group, it was more akin to ingesting an acrid fruit concentrate. Result, a little gagging and some coughing and the group rode away. Lesson 1: try your gels/drinks in race-replica training situations and NOT on the day. Then my brain switched off and with hindsight I simply didn't drink enough. I'd had a vague notion of drinking water late in the race as it tastes cleaner and goes down easier when tired than a sugary carb drink. I hadn't communicated this to Mark who, on my instruction handed me this 'unloaded' bottle at Cold Cotes. My mistake, not his. Lesson 2: even your most trusted support crewer is not a mind reader.

Whernside went OK, well as OK as one might expect whilst being blown all over the shop by a mean spirited crosswind that actually dumped riders from on their bikes into a heap a little way downwind from their take off point. Being tall with a large gate-like bike to boot did nothing to improve my mood as it tore into me as I walked/jogged, pushing me around so I looked like a Friday night drunk weaving my way home.

I was hungry coming down into Ribblehead, hungry as in it would have been nice to sit down and have a nice pie and chips, or something equally comforting. A friend commented after that I looked grim making the change to the Penyghent bike there - truth was I was bloody starving and panicking a bit about getting enough food down. There's nowhere you can really eat on that descent so you have to wait till the road down to Horton. My wife's legendary Aga-baked flapjack tastes like heaven at all other times, but was simply too dry and sticky to get down easily whilst trying to push on, on that road section. I got it down eventually, not a pretty sight chewing and breathing at the same time. Cue another slightly less acrid gel and a reasonable amount of liquid.

But the damage had been done with the lack of fluids I suspect, being the prime suspect. I started slowing toward the top of Penyghent Lane and felt the first twinges. Cramp is a funny thing - it can tease, flirt with you and think better of it and bugger off to wait another time. Or it can decide that today is the day, it's having you and there's nothing you can do to escape its unwanted attentions. By the time I was approaching the turn right onto the final bit of the climb, it had done its worst and my quads were ballooning into Robert Fosterman-esque creations. In my mind at least.....

They locked solid and that was that. Cue the following rigmarole: sit down, look at the view for a bit, swear blind you were never coming back to do this bloody race, snivel a bit, try and stand up, fall over again, curse. Eventually they unlocked enough to affect a half-hearted shuffle and upward progress resumed. But my impetus had been lost and it was hard to pick up the pace, waiting for that 'laugh-in-your-face' twinge that signalled a return to a seated position.

I made it to the summit, disheartened to have seen riders I was racing only a short time ago, already well on their way back down. But I finished, not too far outside 4 hours, but still a way short of my target time and position.

The positives? My pair of simply wonderful On One Bikes Ti disc Pickenflicks were totally controllable, dependable and never missed a beat. And for 2 Peaks at least, I was going well and on target. As ever there is next year.... I think.

Thanks as always to my pit crew Mark for being there for the 20 seconds of contact time we had during the race.

Planet X Pro Carbon XLS - team bikes 2013

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 08:37:00 +0000

I'm fortunate to be riding two new Planet X bikes this season, both Pro Carbon XLS disc bikes.

I rode the sample XLS last season and found it superb for flat-out racing - click here for my initial review. This year's builds are Ultegra based with some dedicated Shimano 'cross equipment in the form of top-pull front mechs and 'cross specific chainsets.

The frame at the heart of my XLS is a full carbon monocoque, hand-laid up to optimise strength and stiffness in the areas that count. It has a tapered headtube, wider at the bottom than the top, that makes a big difference to the handling in bumpy or technical sections, allowing you to ‘point and steer’ much more than with a conventional ‘straight’ headtubed bike, which can allow you to be knocked off line more easily.

The bottom bracket area is beefed up with extra carbon and also in size, and you can really feel this stiffness when putting pressure on the pedals and in technical riding. Whilst coloured paint finishes look great, the glossy black 12k weave finish on the XLS helps hide the inevitable scratches and scrapes that a season of muddy cross races brings. One of my favourite aspects to the XLS frame is its top tube. Flat on the top and bottom, it makes for really easy grabbing and very comfortable shouldering during the running sections of a race. Additionally, the cables are internally routed through the top tube – less maintenance as they are protected better from water and grit and contribute to less scratching of the frame in that area.

As with many new generation ‘cross frames, the XLS has disc mounts to allow full disc braking throughout. The debate on whether discs are better than cantilever brakes for ‘cross still rages. Certainly they are more powerful, but do you need the power? Some say yes, some no, citing a little extra weight for disc systems as a negative. For me the debate is less about the braking power, weight, or feel, but about two main advantages over cantis. Disc brakes mean no rim braking, and in ‘cross where rim and brakepad are covered in a fine coating of grit or mud on a constant basis, this means no rim wear. Which means your nice (expensive) wheels don’t get trashed every time there is a muddy race and don’t need replacing so frequently – a big advantage to the cost conscious ‘crosser. Furthermore, discs give clean lines around the fork and seatstays where on other traditional bikes, the cantilevers are sited that cause a big build up of mud and vegetation. In certain conditions, I have ridden disc bikes that kept working for longer than their cantilever rivals due to the reduction in build up of clag in those places. For someone with one bike only, or a lack of willing pit crew, a disc bike can be crucial in getting to the end of the race without grinding to a muddy halt. Whilst there are newer and pricier part- or full-hydraulic systems on the market, the mechanical Avid BB7 brakes make for super easy maintenance, predictable modulation and if used with harder sintered pads, great wear even in the worst of conditions. For 1 hour ‘crosses, I personally don’t feel the need for anything more complicated.

With crisp white graphics against the laquered carbon weave of the tubing, my 'crossjunkie' edition bikes should look fairly smart. For a lap or two, at least.

Lister Lion Cyclocross 14th September

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 09:13:00 +0000

It's not often that there are completely new 'cross events, in new venues. This is one of them. Put on by the experienced team from My-Tri events, led by Emma Osenton, it's set in the beautiful grounds of the Lister family’s Shibden Park Estate, Halifax, and promises all the normal features of a full-on cyclocross event, with a new course that winds it’s way around Shibden Hall itself.

There are races for everyone from beginners to seasoned riders, with separate races for women, novice, senior, vet and juniors/youth along with kids races too.

Win a prime as you pass Lister’s Lion or join in with the Roller Racing / Kids activities and Bike.

But it's more than just a race event too as in the grounds there will be food stalls, a bar, trade stands along with family entertainment and roller racing. Well worth a trip with your cowbell just to come and join in the fun.

U8 / U10 10am
U12 10.30am
Youth/juniors 11.30am
Novice 12.45 pm
Women 2 pm
Vets 3.30pm
Seniors 5pm

30 days of Peaks

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 16:38:00 +0000

So for September, I thought I'd run a little microblog covering the 29 days leading up to + 1 after, this years 3 Peaks Cyclocross.

Follow it here

Preparing for the Cross Season

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:13:00 +0000

August – summer days, holidays, barbeques, a bank holiday to look forward to, preparation for cyclocross.

Old timers will know all this already. Hopefully. But if you are thinking about starting 'cross or coming back to it after trying it last season, some of this may help.

It’s always a bit strange to be thinking about January and it’s mud, rain and snow and ice during the summer. But for those wanting to get stuck into ‘cross this winter, perhaps for the first time, now is that time to start preparing for riding and racing in foul conditions. ‘Cross is very technique, and equipment intensive and some time spent now will pay dividends later in the winter.

Get your bike sorted now – recable, replace worn parts, reglue tubs. All of your cross bike will take a battering as the weather worsens and getting things sorted now and will save you mid-season and most likely mid-race malfunctions. It’s surprising how fast a seemingly functional ‘cross bike can grind to a halt after a few rides and races if it starts from a point of disrepair. Tubs that were glued last season need checking and most likely reglueing, bottom brackets and headsets regreasing and drivetrains replacing.

In ‘cross, technique can make the difference between winning and losing. For those of us not at that the sharp end of a race, it is still crucial. I’ve known super strong riders on the road come to a cross race and languish near the back as their oof-road technique and in particular on/off the bike technique is lacking. Whilst fitness is clearly important, you will lose minutes per lap if you cannot smoothly negotiate the obstacles on the course – time that you will never make up no matter how hard you train.

To that end, get out on the ‘cross bike. Where you can do longer rides in the woods that involve carrying and other technical sections, or at the very least find a playing field and practice cornering, jumping on and off and picking the bike up at speed. 10 minutes several times a week at this time of year will make a big difference when things get tough in December. Do it in your garden even, if you have one big enough…

I made a couple of videos last year to give people the basics:

Dismounting and remounting - http://youtu.be/_ihR_PjNfYo

Barriers and carrying technique - http://youtu.be/fl-QkCAevSU

Fitness in ‘cross is all about short, sharp efforts as the races only last up to an hour maximum. Later in the year, short sharp training in the form of intervals is usually standard fare for regular ‘cross riders, either on simulated ‘cross circuits outdoors or on the turbo trainer. But at this time of year, you need to be looking at building your base fitness for ‘cross with some longer ‘threshold’ type efforts – the kind of effort where you are breathing heavy but not gasping. Long climbs in amongst a road or off-road ride are good for this – as reported elsewhere, I had the ‘luck’ to be on a recent family holiday to the Pyrenees where the quiet roads and cols were perfect for this type of training. Nearer to the season start introducing shorter, harder efforts as ‘cross is very intensive from the gun.

Above all, enjoy your ‘cross – it is a very friendly, accessible and relaxed scene. Come on your mountain bike if you haven’t a purpose built ‘cross bike and ask questions of those around you. You’ll soon find you’re hooked and thinking of cold winter December days, even in August…

Pyrenees 2013

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 13:08:00 +0000

Shots from my recent family holiday that also included regular riding partner Mark and his family and a conveniently chosen Pyrenean location in the Departement de L'Aude nr Ax-les-Thermes.

Cue plenty of beautiful hill and mountain riding including the HC Col du Pradel and the Port de Pailheres that featured in the recent 100th edition of the Tour. And a guest appearance from rock climbing partner of old, Richard who serendipitously was holidaying in the same location...

Early morning ride toward Limoux

Chateau de Puivert - base for our rides

The beautiful and quiet Plateau de Sault above Ax-les-Thermes

Defiles de Joucou - amazing limestone gorge

Summiting Col du Pradel and below, the top section of Port de Pailheres

Col de Montsegur

In the footsteps of the Tour - Port de Pailheres from Axat

Down the Pailheres after climbing from the Ax-les-Thermes side and the Col du Pradel

A 3 Peaks Cyclocross survival guide

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:46:00 +0000

After the flurry of excitement in early June that is the lottery of how to obtain a Three Peaks Cyclocross entry, my Inbox has been reasonably inundated with anxious newcomers to the race asking how best they might prepare.

So without giving away too many trade secrets, and with all the hard work still to be done by the individual, here is my potted guide to getting round, or hopefully fully racing the hardest cyclocross race on the planet.

Into worsening weather up Simon Fell during the 2012 race

Training:

For me there are 3 main elements of specific fitness for the Peaks which distinguish it from fitness for a long hilly road sportive, for example, where threshold stuff is important and endurance essential.

Firstly, condition your body for the battering it is going to get - core fitness, upper body strength and endurance are all important as you are on and off your bike, picking it up for stiles/carrying/rocks etc on a fairly constant basis. If you have good overall conditioning, great but as most don't naturally have this, long off road rides help in this respect. Core work or visits to the gym will also pay dividends in the later stages of the race as your body really takes a good all-over battering from carrying, on and off stuff as well as the ubiquitous rough descents with a vaguely unsuitable bike.

Secondly, there is the running thing. Except for mortal folks like you and I, as distinct from Jebby/Craig et al, it is not running. It's trudging. If you like running, then run as it won't hurt your performance. More importantly though, make sure you are also trudging around carrying your bike as much as possible. Your shoulder will take a beating in the race, but it can be conditioned over time to withstand it. Hill reps carrying the bike, running or fast walking and a good deal of long carries on those long rides will all pay dividends over pure running training. Every time.

Lastly, many people struggle on the transition from riding (often after the road sections) to trudging climb. And back again to riding. I'm convinced that that was behind many of the cramp issues I used to have but have largely solved now. Think triathlete brick session - go for a ride and finish it running or walking up a steep hill. Better still, find a circuit which involves riding then running/walking then riding. Like mine and Dave Haygarth's Bull Hill sessions (below). Practice that on and off and on again stuff and it will pay dividends too.

I also do rides with off-road bits then hammer out a road section then more off-road. Gets you used to the rhythm of the race. But in the race, be careful you don't go mad on the road sections (see below).

Equipment:

Long cage rear mechs and dinner plate cassette are a definite advantage - think SRAM wifli or a mountainbike mech. A one-to-one gearing ratio is good only on Penyghent (nowhere else) but how good it is! I run 34 front and 32/34 rear. It's heaven up the Penyghent track when you are simply wasted. Elsewhere it is not much use as it's quicker jogging or you are walking. If you are on a 2 bike strategy, you can run 34 x 28 on the bike for the first 2 peaks and then swap to the crawler bike at Ribblehead.

Often people like to pad the top tube for comfortable carrying, sometimes using their orange survival bag. Personally I don't like it as for me it makes the bike harder to carry and I would argue that good carrying technique and some long rides will sort out the inevitable aches. Your call...

With tyre choice, punctures and sidewall rips are the big risk. You can reduce the puncture risk somewhat by using tubulars, 34mm ones at that. Artisan products from Dugast and FMB are risky unless they are the latex walled ones - instead use Grifo, Gommitalia, Tufo which are cheaper and often suitably general in tread performance. With tubulars you have the option to ride a bit on a puncture - it will probably trash the tub but can keep you moving till you pick up a spare wheel or bike. I have used clinchers too - only thick sidewalled ones (Schwalbe Landcruisers, Kenda Cross, Maxxis Locust) - but never tubeless. Some top riders are using tubeless with success, but I am not really qualified to comment on how good that set up is.

Pressure wise, go for 65psi in your tubs (or a little more) but check they will stand that sort of pressure. For clinchers look toward 70psi or even a little higher. Carry gas cannisters for easy inflation of a new tube but best of all don't puncture. The number of times I have had riders shouting to blast through on rocky sections only to hear the inevitable 'psssst' a few moments later.... Get down smoothly and with flow, not in a tearing hurry, and you and your machine will be in one piece, and not broken.

Tread wise, Ingleborough is usually greasy in the morning but after that the route is pretty dry, or at least gravelly and definitely only muddy in a very few places. Unless we have the 'off-the-hook' weather of last year..... I have run file tread too before now, but braking can be hard on gravel or dust with file tread. On balance, tread is not really important for the Peaks, puncture resistance definitely is so choose accordingly.

Bike swap at Cold Cotes after horrendous weather on Ingleborough during 2013

Nutrition:

I have half a bottle of carb-type drink over Ingleborough - you don't have time to drink more as it is either 'too steep' or 'too busy' with other riders around you jockeying for position.

If you have support, get a fresh big bottle and gel at Cold Cotes going onto road. Don't smash it on the road and neglect eating and drinking. Also your road legs can buckle when you hit the long walk up W'side. That said, watch out for a group to get in on the road as you can pick up time compared to riding solo. There is a fine balance between the two to be had, which comes with experience. You can get a cup of water at base of the Whernside climb where you have to off your bike anyway for the bridleway section.

Make sure you drink and eat something quick at Ribblehead when the descending calms down, grab a fresh big bottle and caffeine gel to drink and take on the road section before Penyghent You will need it...

Sometimes there is water high up on Penyghent, carried up to the turn by a kind man whose name I have never learned.

Overall, just be well hydrated before, carry something easy to eat and digest if you begin to struggle and try to drink on the road to Whernside as much as possible. Save a bit of drink for climbs up Whernside and Penyghent but there isn't too much you can do to drink if you are really going for it.

Unsupported is obviously harder and you will have to Camelback it. Same rules apply though about using the road for nutrition.

Recce:

Simon Fell is off limits except race day, and the rest can mostly only be recced on foot, NOT bike. The main exception is Penyghent track till half way where you will still have to ditch the bike and run/walk to remain legal. Recce can either frighten you or reassure you - it's an odd one. Some knowledge of the terrain is useful and I now know every inch of the route, quite literally. But I'm not really any faster for it. Well, maybe a little.

There's plenty more to the Peaks than all that lot, but if you get hooked as I have done, you'll come back again and again and discover the nuances for yourself.

Have a good race!

And so it begins... #cx13/14

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:09:00 +0000

Now we've got this out the way.....

We can get on with this.....

Pic: Joolze Dymond

And the questions I hope to have answered by February are:

Which of the big Euro pros will be on discs? And if so, which hydraulic system (if any) will they be on?

Will Sven be able to boss it still, despite advancing years? Or will Niels Albert finally stop throwing strops and get some consistency together?

Will we get full coverage of Women's racing from Europe, particularly World Cups?

Will the Americans make inroads into Euro racing or merely continue to head up the biggest domestic scene on the planet?

Will FMB tubs start to threaten Dugast in terms of volume, or will the artisan tubular producers suffer at the hands of quality mass produced products from the bigger tyre manufacturers.

Will we have a mudbath in NW England from September onwards like last year or actually get some fast races as well? Where I get to use more than full-on mud treads?

Can I get close to 3:45 hrs for the 3 Peaks Cyclocross?

Will my teammate Dave Haygarth get his shoulder operation out the way quick enough to make a come back at the end of the season? Fingers crossed. Missing you already Dave.

Check back here later....

Choosing your tread for cyclocross tubulars

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:55:00 +0000

The most common question I get asked about 'cross tubs, at races, in emails and on twitter is....

What's a good all-rounder tread to get?

Or a derivative thereof.

It's a good question - most people asking it are just starting off with tubulars, or only wanting to invest a modest amount and are therefore looking for one wheelset, on one bike to cover all conditions.

Unfortunately, it's a bit like the question 'how long is a piece of string?'. There are so many variables to take into account - rider style, weather, soil type, frequency of use and so on. However, I've tried to put together a handy guide to get you thinking about how to choose your first or sole pair of tubulars, with a few recommendations to start you off. You will doubtless pick holes in my reasoning, find exceptions, struggle in snow and want a clincher alternative to boot. You're probably right on all counts but life is too short to cover it all.... unless you want to buy me a pint and make your pitch.

Rider style:

Mountainbike background? Roadie? BMXer? The higher your confidence in your bike handling skills, the less critical the choice is in many ways. I'm not the best bike handler so make up for it by getting tread choice and tire pressure absolutely right for the conditions. In really slick conditions, I've been outridden by better bike handlers on a less than optimal tread choice ie their only choice, but at least stacking the odds in my favour keeps me moving forward. If you are not blessed with ninja skills then err on the side of a more mud oriented tread as you will struggle less in the mud than you will lose in the dry.

Climate:

I always laugh at London-based 'crossers. No, not because they are in London (well a little bit) but because they seem to be using general tread choices long after we North-West riders have switched to mud treads. Last year, in the NW of England, we started on muds and that's how it stayed all season. Most of the recent seasons have been like that too. Even in Summer Cross, us Northerners are using muds most of the time. If where you live is not the rainfall capital of the country then perhaps a more general tread is the best one-shot choice. If you live in NW England, then just get muds and be done with it, for all year use.

Soil type:

I have a twitter acquaintance (@philipglowinski) that studies geological maps of new race venues to get clues about the likely soil type. Most people would probably scoff but I'm a bit geeky too and thought that was brilliant. Either way, the point is soil type can make a big difference even given the same rainfall as on a differing type elsewhere. Case in point, Sutton Park, much loved as a classic venue for National Champs, was usually pretty fast and dry given the sandy soil. Heavy rain rarely turned it into a complete mudbath, unlike Peel Park, Bradford which only requires a light sprinkling to become pretty tasty for the mud lovers. South East soil types tend to be different to NW soil types to South West soil types etc etc Check yours out - is it essentially a faster drying soil type, or more loamy, or clay based. It'll give a starting point at least.

How often are you racing?

Most treads wear reasonably well these days, but more aggressive treads do by definition wear more when used on frequently on harder surfaces. Thus your mud tread specials might look a bit worse for wear if you blast around on hardpack surfaces a lot in between the odd mud race. Worth thinking about as tubs of any description are not cheap these days.

So what do I rate?

Predominantly muddy races/NW England/Yorks - FMB SuperMud or Dugast Rhino

You won't go far wrong with a mud tread like FMB SuperMud. Designed as a direct competitor to the imperious Dugast Rhino, I've written about them here, and rate them as better all round than the Rhino which is still pretty damn good. They work well in drier conditions too as they are not quite as aggressive. Comprehensively pre-sealed and double stitched by Francois at FMB, they will last you a few seasons too if looked after.

FMB SuperMud

Dugast Rhino

Recently a lot of folks have been impressed with the Challenge Limus - it has a great tread, a good supple casing and seems to shed well. Perhaps struggles a bit in quicker conditions due to the aggressive tractor style tread but nonetheless a good choice and more available than exotica from FMB or Dugast.

Challenge Limus

Alternatives worth looking for - Clement PDX (super aggressive tread). Vittoria XM (robust, reasonably agressive tread)

Intermediate conditions - not too many mudbaths, drier soil types

The benchmark for years has been between Dugast Typhoon and Challenge Grifo. Both great, both proven. But... there are new interlopers in the scrap.

FMBs SSC is similarly styled to the above, in terms of tread but the knobs are a little taller and a little more aggressive - like a Rhino on the edges. Therefore, it handles muddier conditions just that little better whilst still rolling fast in the dry. I've used them and really rated them.

FMB SSC

The new kid on the block is the Dugast Small Bird - my test pair are about to arrive so I can't yet say what they are like, but the idea is sound with them being essentially a revamped Rhino style tread, busier like a 'small block 8' type mtb tread for the dry, lower central knobs with a harder compound in the centre and softer more aggressive side knobs. Best of both worlds job hopefully and they could maybe be the ultimate one-job tread.

Dugast Small Bird

Alternatives worth looking for - Schwalbe Racing Ralph (light, supple casing, bit low on volume in the casing), Gommitalia Magnum (see Grifo), Vittoria Evo XG (robust, bit sketchy in mud), Challenge Fango

Summer Cross

If you live in the North West or Yorkshire - see mud tires.

For those elsewhere, FMB Sprints are pretty awesome in the dry, AND pretty awesome in light mud too. With a surprising amount of grip from the stipples, the really aggressive side knobs keep you upright in most light mud conditions, and even on greasy, rain-slick, previously sun-baked grass. Just.

FMB Sprint

Alternatives - Challenge Grifo XS (more an out and out dry tire than the Sprints)

Everybody has their own favourite, their own opinion. Feel free to take me to task in the comments below and add your bit. I have ridden most of the treads outlined above but not all and there are some out there that I haven't mentioned that are worth a look too.

Gruff but friendly Nottingham importer John Holmes does great prices on Dugast tubulars as well as FMB - mention my name when you call him on 07946 461972.

Fangoso should soon also be able to hook you up with some FMBs.

Going Dutch - an immersion in cycling culture

noreply@blogger.com (crossjunkie) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:33:00 +0000

A family holiday to the north of the Netherlands, to a city where the per capita use of bikes is allegedly the highest in the world, seemed like a good excuse to load the car with the full compliment of family bikes and go Dutch style..

Our base, at friends, was in Groningen, not too far from the German border and in a traditional part of the Netherlands. Got a stereotype image for Holland? We ticked them all, apart from tulips.

It is flat, eye openingly flat. It is windy, constantly so. The people are tall, the girls often blond. Everywhere is neat, straight, criss-crossed with canals and there are definitely windmills.

And then there are the bikes. They are simply everywhere and used by everybody. Riding out early on a Monday morning into the countryside from our hosts, I came to the first major bike path on the local A road and ran into what can only be described as multiple 'flotillas' of cyclists. Mostly college/school students with some commuters, they rode in groups, 4 or 5 long and two abreast. Chatting, laughing, texting, one handed. Like a clubrun of experienced riders, but with bags, panniers, casual clothes and a complete mastery of their mode of transport. For someone used to riding into work and seeing the odd grizzled fluoro-jacketed factory worker returning from a night-shift or dragging himself into work, it truly was an eye opener indeed.

Later in the trip I participated in the two-wheeled school run for our host's kids - to find that the rest of the (primary) school arrived on bikes too, leading to the largest collection of two-wheeled transport I have ever seen in one place. For one school.

Shopping, as well as the school run was accomplished on the 'bakfiets' - a two wheeled box big enough for 4 kids bolted to a normal Dutch bike. Heavy but surprisingly manoueverable, I had fun loading up with a selection of mine and borrowed kids and going beer, I mean essentials, shopping with ease.

I asked our hosts if the numbers and usage diminished in winter or in bad weather, and I got a slightly quizzical look which answered my question. People have well-suited bikes, clothing to match and an attitude of stoicism when it comes to the weather.

This was in evidence on the 2 family Sunday ride we did to a local village and cafe where 15km into a brisk headwind didn't phase the Dutch half, even if it presented problems with cold hands for my littlest. They just got on with it, warmed up with hot chocolate and blasted back home after.

My own training rides were unique in flavour - headwinds there are steady but not depressing and assuming you plan well, the returning tailwind is a thing of pure animal satisfaction. I hadn't ridden that fast on the flat since the last group crit race I had done. The wind is ever present and during winter I am sure can become nearly untenable, but it is constant rather than gusting and therefore allied with the flat terrain, allows you to chose a gear and effort to suit, and just get into the groove. More pleasingly, I rode for mile after mile, or rather km after km, on purpose built bike paths, usually on BOTH sides of a road, often with 2 lanes on the path itself and with utter deference and respect from the motorists whom I came into contact with. I hadn't realised how relaxing riding at speed could be, without traffic and surface hazards to sharpen the senses. The roads in that region, and the rest of the country I believe, are in incredibly good condition. In the Groningen region at least, revenue from natural gas reserves are used to keep them in such good condition. I saw one pothole in the whole trip, on the motorway near Amsterdam.

I expect that flatness would grate after a while, and certainly it was a pleasant surprise to come back to East Lancashire's vertiginous terrain but it is truly a wonderful place to immerse yourself in cycling culture in the widest sense. They don't do proper cobbles though, which was a shame...

Yorkshire Cyclo Cross Points series Dates 2010/11

CafeRacing — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:32:00 +0000

All Event times for the series.

Youth 11.00am

Under 12 11.45am

Veterans 12.45am

Senior/Junior 13.45

010-2011 Calendar
Sunday 5 September - Yorkshire Points Round 1 Results
Category B, Bronte Wheelers
Oakbank School, Oakworth Road (B6143), Keighley, BD22 7DU.
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 14:00 £10.00
Peter Charlton, 30 Slaymaker Lane, KEIGHLEY, BD22 7EU.
Tel: 01535 64318

Sunday 12 September - John Stevenson Memorial Cross/Yorkshire points Round 2
Category B Hambleton RC
Hambleton Leisure Centre, Brompton Rd, Northallerton, DL6 2UZ.
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Allan Waton, 139 Bankhead Road, NORTHALLERTON, North Yorkshire, DL6 1JB
Tel: 01609 776390

Sunday 19 September - Yorkshire points Round 3
Category B Charge Bikes
Aerial Extreme, The Camphill Estate, Kirklington, Bedale, North Yorkshire, DL8 2LS
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Jonathon Watson, 16 Sherwell Rise, Allerton, BRADFORD, BD15 7AL.
jon.watson@cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk
www.chargebikes.co.uk

Sunday 26 September - 48TH Three peaks Cyclo-Cross
Category A Bradford RCC/Lynn Motors
Helwith Bridge, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, BD24 0EH.
S/J/V/W 09:30 Entries Closed
web site: www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk
Sunday 3 October - Jonathon Noble Memorial Cross/yorkshire points Round 4
Category B Seacroft Wheelers
Temple Newsam Park (off A63), Leeds, LS15 0AD.
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Steve Barnes, 9 Rutland Drive, Kippax, LEEDS, LS25 7HH.
Tel: 0113 287 2109

Sunday 10 October - Yorkshire Go-Cross
Go-Cross Huddersfield Star Wheelers
non-ranking event Newsome High School, Huddersfield, HD4 6JN
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
S/J/V/W 13:00 £8.00
Graham Piccavey, 436 Wakefield Road, Dalton, HUDDERSFIELD, HD5 8PS.
Tel: 07875 296250
Sunday 17 October - Try Cycling Cross/ yorkshire points Round 5
Category B Inc. Yorkshire Under 12s Championship
Huddersfield RC
Huddersfield New College, New Hey Road (A640), Salendine
Nook, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL.
Youth 10:30 £4.00
U12 11:15 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Andy Whitworth, 2 Beaumont Street, Longwood, HUDDERSFIELD, HD3 4RE.
Tel: 01484 646387
Sunday 24 October - Yorkshire points Round 6
Category B Condor Road Club
Bradley Woods Scout Camp, Brighouse, HD6 3TU.
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
John Ginley, 4 Willow Park Drive, Shelf, HALIFAX, HX3 7TZ.
Tel: 01274 601567

Sunday 14 November - Sheffield Stars Go-Cross
Go-Cross Sheffield Stars CSC
non-ranking event Graves Tennis & Leisure Centre, Bochum Parkway, Sheffield, S8 8JR
U12 11:30 Free
Youth 12:00 £4.00
S/J/V/W 13:15 £8.00
Martin Gamble, 19 Stockley View, Bolsover,
CHESTERFIELD, S44 6HZ.
Tel: 01246 824220 martin_gamble@hotmail.com

Saturday 20 November - Cyclists v Harriers
Go-Cross Bradford RCC/Lynn Motors
non-ranking event The Fisherman’s Inn, Wagon Lane, Bingley, BD16 1TS.
S/J/V/W 14:00 £6.00
John Rawnsley, East Howgill, Bishopdale,
LEYBURN, North Yorkshire, DL8 3TG.
Sunday 21 November - Yorkshire points Round 7
Category B Bradford RCC/Lynn Motors
Myrtle Park, Bingley, BD16 2LF.
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Mark Gill, 38 Birchlands Grove, Wilsden,
BRADFORD, BD15 0HD.
Tel: 01535 271902 markgillridesabike@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday 28 November - Norton Trophy Races
Category C Norton Wheelers
Graves Park, Sheffield, S8 8QA.
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Paul Sleaford, 9 Kensington Drive, Lodge Moor,
SHEFFIELD, S10 4NF.
Tel: 0114 230 4297
Sunday 12 December - National Trophy Series Round 5
Category A YorkshireCCA
Peel Park, Bolton Road, Bradford, BD3 0LR.
Practice 09:30 – 10:15
Veteran Trophy 10:30 £18.00*
Premier race Junior Trophy 11:30 £18.00*
Premier race Women’s Trophy 11:31 £18.00*
U12 12:30 £1.00
Practice 12:30 – 13:15
Youth Trophy 13:30 £8.50*
Premier race Senior Trophy 14:30 £18.00*
Entry details
Sunday 19 December - Yorkshire points Round 8
Category B Wakefield Tri Club
Thornes Park, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield, WF2 8QE.
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Andy Blanshard, 4 Royds Park, DENBY DALE,
West Yorkshire, HD8 8N
Tel: 01484 866226 andyblanshard@aol.com
Tuesday 28 December - Christmas Charity Cross
Go-Cross Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC
non-ranking event Heptonstall Bowls & Social Club, Heptonstall, West Yorks HX7 7LT.
U12 11:30 £1.00
S/J/V/W 12:00 £5.00
Fred Rothwell, 5 Church Close, St. Peters Avenue,
Sowerby, SOWERBY BRIDGE, HX6 1HA.
Tel: 01422 832195
Sunday 2 January 2011 - yorkshire points Round 9
Category B Yorkshire CCA
Centre Vale Park, Burnley Road, Todmorden, OL14 7BS
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 12:00 £1.00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 13:45 £10.00
Chipps Chippendale, Lockside Mill, Dale Street,
TODMORDEN, OL14 5PX.
Tel: 07977 570271 chipps@singletrackworld.com
Sunday 6 February - End of Season Madison & aGM
Go-Cross Yorkshire CCA
non-ranking event SBCI Cricket Club, Friendly, near Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2UB.
All Cats 11:00 £5.00
Followed by AGM at 12:00
Fred Rothwell, 5 Church Close, St. Peters Avenue,
Sowerby, SOWERBY BRIDGE, HX6 1HA.
Tel: 01422 832195

Round 2 Paul Milnes Summer Cross

CafeRacing — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:43:00 +0000

Wednesday 19th City school

A very warm Sheffield greeted the Cyclo Riders at City School

The freshly cut playing fields made for some very good close racing.

First Sen Neal Crompton

First Jun Jack Clarkson

First U16 ?

First Vet Jon Watson

First Youth ?

see you all on the 19th for Round three

WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE
Colne Valley High Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 3
Go-Cross Huddersfield RC
Non ranking event Colne Valley High School, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5SP.
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Andy Whitworth, 2 Beaumont Street, Longwood, HUDDERSFIELD, HD3 4RE.
Tel: 01484 646387

Summer Cross round one results

CafeRacing — Fri, 07 May 2010 01:07:00 +0000

Oakbank school played host to first round of this years Paul Milnes Summer Cross

Nearly 200 hundred rides turned up to Compete on one of the toughest course of the series with its numerous climbs and tight corners

Paul Oldaham tock the overall on the night followed in by Mountain Biker Mark Twiates

First Sen Paul Oldham

First Jun Oliver Webster

First U16 Ed Mcparland beating the First Jun

First Vet Richard Binks

First Youth Joe Moses

see you all on the 19th for Round two

WEDNESDAY 19 MAY

City School Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 2
Go-Cross Norton Wheelers
Non ranking event City School, Stradbroke Road, Sheffield, S13 8SS
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Darrell Bradbury, 51 Hurlfield Avenue, SHEFFIELD, S12 2TL
Tel: 0114 264 6409

Charge Bikes Cyclo Cross

CafeRacing — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:12:00 +0000

Cyclocross - Charge Bikes from Charge Bikes on Vimeo.

Summer Cross is here

CafeRacing — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:07:00 +0000

2010 Yorkshire Summer Cyclo-Cross Series

Entry Form As last year you will have the same number for all events. It will therefore make results a lot easier if you pre enter. Thanks

Check your entry

WEDNESDAY 5 MAY
Oakbank Cyclo-Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 1
Go-Cross Bronte Wheelers
Non ranking event Oakbank School, Oakworth Road (B6143), Keighley, BD22 7DU.
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Peter Charlton, 30 Slaymaker Lane, KEIGHLEY, BD22 7EU.
Tel: 01535 643184

WEDNESDAY 19 MAY
City School Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 2
Go-Cross Norton Wheelers
Non ranking event City School, Stradbroke Road, Sheffield, S13 8SS
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Darrell Bradbury, 51 Hurlfield Avenue, SHEFFIELD, S12 2TL
Tel: 0114 264 6409

SUNDAY 6 JUNE
Duncombe Park Cyclo- Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 4
Go-Cross Huddersfield RC
Non ranking event Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5EB
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Pete Sutton, 17 New Park View, Farsley, PUDSEY, LS28 5TZ
Tel: 0113 257 4435

SUNDAY 13 JUNE
Temple Newsam Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 5
Go-Cross Seacroft Wheelers
Non ranking event Temple Newsam Park (off A63), Leeds, LS15 0AD
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Chris Beetham, 12 All Saints Drive, Woodlesford, LEEDS, LS26 8NE.
Tel: 0113 282 9496

WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE
Brigshaw Summer Cyclo-Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 6
Go-Cross Leeds Mercury CC
Non ranking event Brigshaw High School, Kippax, WF10 2HR
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Phil Norfolk, 2 Holt Park Green, Adel, LEEDS, LS16 7RE.
Tel: 0113 2610482

WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE
New College Cyclo-Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 7
Go-Cross Huddersfield RC
Non ranking event New College School, New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Owen Mitton, Trycycling, 9a North Road, Kirkburton, Huddersfield. HD8 0NX
Tel 07973 678734

WEDNESDAY 14 JULY
Brooksbank Cyclo-Cross
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 8
Go-Cross Pedalsport CC
Non ranking event Brooksbank School, Elland, HX5 0QG
U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Fred Rothwell, 5 Church Close, St. Peters Avenue, Sowerby, SOWERBY BRIDGE, HX6 1HA.
Tel: 01422 832195

WEDNESDAY 28 JULY
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 9
Go-Cross Venue to be confirmed
Non ranking event U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Fred Rothwell, 5 Church Close, St. Peters Avenue, Sowerby, SOWERBY BRIDGE, HX6 1HA.
Tel: 01422 832195

WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST
Paul Milnes Cycles Summer Cross Series Round 10
Go-Cross Venue to be confirmed
Non ranking event U14 19:00 £1.00
Youth U16 19:30 £3.00
Junior 19:30 £5.00
S/V/W 19:30 £7.00
Fred Rothwell, 5 Church Close, St. Peters Avenue, Sowerby, SOWERBY BRIDGE, HX6 1HA.
Tel: 01422 832195

Jonathan Jolly update

CafeRacing — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

As you may be aware Jonathan tock a big fall at Marley Wednesday night training early at the start of the cross season. I just wanted to give you all a little update on his progress

Jonathan is now out of hospital and starting to think about riding his bike

here are a few pics of his last few months

Well Done Billy Harding

CafeRacing — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:38:00 +0000

Well done to Yorkshire's own National Champ.

Todmorden Cross Jan 3rd Yorkshire Points Final Round

CafeRacing — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Results

Youth
1st Ed Mcparland Jd Cycles

2nd Tom Armstrong

3rd Joe Moses

Vets
1st Matt Denby www.zepnat.com
2nd Roy Hunt Skins colonago
3rd Paul Whatmouth Shepards Cycles

Sen
1st Ian Bibby Motor Ponit

2nd Dan Mclay Hargroves cycles

3rd Nick Craig Scott

Under 12s

1st Joe Parker

2nd Joe Pilling

3rd Jack Ford

And yes it will include the infamous Cobbled Climb.

Myrtle Park short Video from the Vets/Wms race

CafeRacing — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:30:00 +0000

North of England's Champs.

CafeRacing — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:53:00 +0000

This Week we move to Wakefield for the

North Of England Cyclo Cross Champs

Seniors

1st Paul Oldham

Vets

1st Chris Young

Junior

1st Tom Moses

Youth

1st Joe Moses

More to follow

Entry List

See Video below for an Idea on what the Wakefield course has to offer.

Event Info
Thornes Park, Denby Dale Road,
Wakefield WF2 8QE

Youth 11:00 £5.00
Under 12 11:45 £1.00
V/W 13:00 £10.00 (£10.00)
Senior/Junior 14:15 £10.00 (£10.00)

Myrtle Park 'Cross Yorkshire Points Series 6

CafeRacing — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:15:00 +0000

29th November Richmond, N Yorks Yorkshire Points Series 7

CafeRacing — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:14:00 +0000

£1200 PRIZE POT FOR ‘YORKSHIRE POINTS’ ‘CROSS RACE

Winner Last time he raced at Richmond. UK No.1 Paul Oldham (HOPE FACTORY
RACING) pictured right.

Event Preview Round 7 of Yorkshire Points Cyclocross Richmond School organized
by Cyclo Cross North East (CNXE) and Westbrook Cycles
Richmond School, North Yorkshire, Sunday 29th November 2009

Once again Cyclo Cross returns to the popular venue of Richmond School, by kind
permission of School Deputy Headmaster Mr. Dave Clark of Richmond CC.

Despite the venue being midway through a vast redevelopment parts of the popular
course remain in tact, and the organizer Keith Murray promises a wide, flowing
course to challenge all styles of riding.

Despite being a CXNE event, it is a counting round of the Yorkshire CCA Points
series. The Yorkshire Points format allows for separate races the timetable being:
Youth 10:30
U12 (separate races for U10/U12) 11:00
Vets & Women’s 12:30
Senior & Junior 14:00

As usual in CXNE races this season there will be a gridded start with electronic chip
timing will be used. This will give an instant result with each rider getting their lap
times to compare with fellow riders. Any sprint finishes can be decided with
accuracy to 1000th of a second!

10:30am sees the 1st race will be for Youths with a £50.00 fist prize, local rider Adam
Martin (Activ Cycles) has dominated proceedings in the CXNE League and will be
looking to see if there are some Yorkshire League regulars like Joseph Moses and Edward McParland who is 3rd overall in the National Points series can challenge him.

Depending on numbers at 11am it is hoped the U12 race can be split into U8/U10 &
U12 races, with prizes for all entrants

The ‘Vets’ racing in Yorkshire has boomed this season, with over 70 riders for last
weeks Vets/Women event in Myrtle Park round of the season long Yorkshire Points
Competition. It is hoped that the local Veteran Riders will turn out and put a stop to
the Zepnat Train of Jough Watson, Matt Denby & Steve Barnes who seem to be on
fine form at the moment!
‘Jocky’ Watson must start as favorite as he has been a course advisor for the CXNE
organisers so he’ll know what to expect and no doubt have the racing lines already
planned! North East League regulars Cliff Featherstone & Barry Kipling (both MTS
Cycles) will be looking to stop a Yorkshire invasion and take home the £100 value
first Prize. With Prizes to the first ten Vets overall, Vets 50 and Ladies there are
plenty of spoils to battle for.

The Feature/Support race of the day at 2pm will see a National Trophy standard field.
Organiser Keith Murray has managed to attract some top names in domestic cyclocross
to battle for some big prizes.
The Hope duo Paul Oldham (current National Trophy leader) and the big powerhouse
that is Dave Collins have to start as favorites to take the SCOTT CX Team Frameset
worth £599, possibly the biggest prize ever offered in a North East CX race? With the
second placed rider getting a pair of Dugast Tubulars and 3rd £100 they will be
looking to see off the challenge of other confirmed riders including former U23 &
Junior ‘Cross star now turned Professional Road Rider Ian Bibby (Halfords) North
East duo of Stu Wearmouth & Steven Ward (MTS) and Yorkshire riders Rob Jebb
(Wheelbase) Noel Clogh (Fietsen Tempo) and Chris Young (JD Cycles) Other top
riders like National Junior Champion Tom Moses (Team Wallis CHH) Tim Baldwin
& Robert Watson (Paul Milnes Cycles) Paul Young (Glendene CC) Oli Webseter &
Neal Crampton (Crosstrax) should make for a thrilling race.

Venue.
Richmond School is 10 minutes from the Scotch Corner junction of the A1, on
Darlington Road, post code DL10 7BQ.

Any further information please do not hesitate to contact Keith Murray 07841 594846
email m15kwm@me.com

22 November Myrtle Park 'Cross Yorkshire Points Series 6

CafeRacing — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Well with the series now in full swing we move on to Myrlte Park ,Bingley West Yorkshire for Round 6 of the Yorkshire points.

Well done Mark and the Team at Bradford Racing for a fantastic day of close racing

Senior
1st Tom Moses
2nd Robert Jebb
3rd Chris Young

Vets
1st Matt Denby www.zepnat.com
2nd Jonathan Watson www.zepnat.com
3rd Steve Barnes www.Zepnat.com

Youths
1st Jake Wormersley
2nd Joe Moses
3rd Billy Harding

Ladies
1st Adela Carter
2nd Lynn Bland
3rd Rennee Saxton

Full Results can be found at the Yorkshire web site and Photos can be found at http://www.ianrhimages.co.uk/Sports/Cycling/

and here.

Event Details
22 Nov Myrtle Park 'Cross Yorkshire Points Series 6
Myrtle Park, Bingley BD16 2LF
Youth 11:00 £4.00 (£4.00)
Under 12 11:45 £1.00 (£1.00)
Vet/Women 12:45 £10.00 (£10.00)
Senior/Junior 13:45 £10.00 (£10.00

ALSO This Saturday

21 Nov (Sat) Cyclists v Harriers, Bingley
The Fisherman's Inn, Wagon Lane, Bingley BD16 1TS
S/J/V/W 14:00 £6.00 (£6.00)

Jonathon Noble Memorial Cross Yorkshire Points Series 5

CafeRacing — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:17:00 +0000

Noel takes the Senior win in a close ran race between Tom Moses and Himself.

Vets
1st Matt Denby Zepnat.com
2nd Jonathan Watson Zepnat.com
3rd Dan Cook Peak rc
Women
1st Adela Carter
2nd Lynn Bland
3rd Penny Rowson
Seniors
1st Noel Clough pictured.
2nd Tom Mosse
3rd Rob Field
Youth
1st Joe Mosses
2nd Ed Macparland
3rd Billy Harding
Under 10s
1st Mason Holyman
2nd Jack Ford
3rd David Lewis
Under 12s
1st Jack Beech
2nd Joe Parker
3rd Thomas Humphrey

Well Done Seacroft Wheelers for a cracking race and a Fantasic Cyclo Cross Course.

for full results Click here

Pictures from Senior Event

Bradley Woods Cyclo Cross. Go Race Series 2

CafeRacing — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:48:00 +0000

Bradley Woods Scout Camp, Brighouse

1st Neal Crompton sen
2nd Simon Maudsley sen
3rd Dan Cook. vet40

A Classics Cyclo Cross Course

31 Oct (Sat) Bradley Woods, Brighouse
Bradley Woods Scout Camp, Brighouse HG6 3TU
Youth 11:00 £4.00 (£4.00)
Under 12 11:45 £1.00 (£1.00)
S/J/V/W 13:00 £10.00 (£10.00)