Cyclo Cross, BMX other riding

[Michael]

Hello all,

Just testing the water.

First of all, who out there is interested in riding/training/racing cyclo cross this winter?

If you dont know already, cyclocross is basically not very technical offroad riding, done on slightly heavier weight road type bikes, (CX bikes)

I will be CX racing this year. The races are relatively cheap (£10ish +surcharge for non BC licence holders), usually 1hr long. They are great for beginner racers, as its not as technical as XC racing and you cant get dropped as in road racing. Its also good for women as there is normally always a womens category.

Its excellent threshold training, and the cold will toughen you up a bit. Again i am happy to organise fixed training sessions, could probably do it at warncliffe. There is also a BUCS race, which is quite easy to do reasonably well in, last year i came 10th on a touring bike that weighed more than my heavy mountain bike.

Also, i have started quite a bit BMX track riding, and have found it is excellent sprint/interval training as well as good for improving bike handling skills. So if anyone is interested i can make bolehill sessions a bit publicised or more set. you can do it on a mtb.

Post up if you are interested in any of the above or want more info.

[bahwid]

im wanting to go down to bolehills, but there are other places aswell. Monkeybumps off abbeydale road, and 2 places in rotherham and doncaster aswell i'd like to try out. I'm sure denni would be up for it, and there's dirtjam aswell coming up.

[andyd]

I've never been to Bolehills or done much BMX track riding, I'll be up for going up there and having a mess about in the mtb. Be cool to get a few tips of people who are into that kind of thing too.

I'm away for the next 2 weeks but I'll be back on the 2nd of October so I'm good for anytime after that.

[ben]

If I can get hold of a cyclocross frame and some canti brakes I'll be more than happy to race this year! I've got plenty of spare parts to build up a bike!

[Nyle]

I'm up for both. Michael make sure you get me ship shape I have done a fair bit of riding this summer but these past few weeks been earning so need to get training again.

As for Bolehills Ruari and I will be going up there quite a bit, early morning sessions?
What are the rules on what bikes you can use for CX? I don't think they are allowed disc brakes are they so that rules the mtb out. Are v-brakes allowed or is it strictly cantis?

[Michael]

This is a good response. As for cyclo cross frames, i started out on a really heavy touring bike frame and will be using my old road bike for it this year. I reckon you pick a CX frame up second hand around the £100 mark.
According to BCF rules (the last time i read them) you're allowed any bike with no exception, in the bucs last year someone got podium position on a full sus MTB. Although in some races they apparently dont allow bar ends.

As for getting in shape for it, start out with intervals, bolehills is good for this, Then build up the length of the intervals. From the CX i have done it is pretty much flat out for an our, with very short downhill rests and very short uphill bursts.

A few bike carrying practices are a good idea. Unclipping at just the right moment, picking bike up by downtube or by looping arm underneath crossbar and holding the bars, then pushing off and getting clipped back in. Or you can just get very well practiced at riding up slippy muddy banks.

In terms of equipment i would say the most important is the tyres you use. They need to be narrow enough to cut through mud and nobbly enough to get traction. I used MAXXIS Larsen tyres last year.

[Michael]

Just looked at evil bay and you could get a frame for £85 and forks for £60. I bought some alu hybrid forks recently for £27 to put on my road bike.

[Nyle]

I've got a CX bike I can borrow for the bucs so it will be mountain bike with locked forks
Can't have the bike up all year as i would be borrowing it.