Saturday Cyclo-Cross training - regular?

[chamoniards]

I had a fun morning riding around Mitcham Common today with Andy on our cross bikes. It's got me thinking that if there was enough interest from others in the club that do cyclo-cross then we could have a regular ride through the cross season on Mitcham Common. There are only a couple of months left of the season but it would make a change from the usual club ride. It's a good opportunity to practice techniques and get some general off road practice. The common was very quiet today with barely a soul using the place apart from the odd dog walker. There's a mixture of woodland, small hills, open grassland and tracks criss-crossing the common so enough to keep you interested for an hour or so.

There's also a jet wash on the way home to clean the bikes off.

Obviously next Saturday we can't do it as there's the Herne Hill race but next week perhaps?

We could meet at Cafe St Germain for 10am and head out from there, is anyone else interested?

[andyw]

Shirley Hills is another good destination, and Peejay reckons West Norwood Country Park's good.

[chamoniards]

Maybe we could mix it up. Every Saturday a different place?

[Deleted]

West Norwood is pretty limited, although there is an excellent run-up to practice on. I tend to do a bit there in there on the way through to Shirley Hills. Crystal Palace is also really good - lot of hills and run-ups, although a touch busy. But it is really close, whereas Mitcham is a 30 minute ride before you even get off road.

[chamoniards]

The ride out to Mitcham is fine. We took a really quiet route and it didn't take long to get there, it's fun riding knobbly tyres bikes on tarmac and all adds interest. You got to come next time Phil, you'll love it, anyone else for that matter come and have a go.

[andyw]

Just checked my GPS, it took 18mins of soft pedalling to get from my house to the common yesterday. Must take 15mins at least to West Norwood CP doesn't it?

[Deleted]

Think I could use some training......

[Deleted]

tinyurl.com/6db6ap

Interesting article on tyre choice.