10/11th Oct races

[Deleted]

There are a couple on this weekend, one Sat, one Sunday, both about half an hour away on the train. Anyone keen?

Race 1, Sat

Welwyn Wheelers - League Event 4

Event Details:
Competitive
Discipline: Cyclo-Cross
Date: 10.10.2009
Event Website
Entries on the day: Yes
Location:
Stanborough Park, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts
Location Map: (Google Map)
Organisation:
Promoted By:
Welwyn Whls CC

Race Organiser:
Mr Martin Fry
8 Hill Crest
POTTERS BAR
Herts
EN6 2RT
01707 642561
Click to Email
Race Details:
Name Starts Fee
Youth 11:00 £7.00 (£7.00)
Vet/Women 11:00 £12.00 (£12.00)
Under 12 12:15 £1.00 (£1.00)
Senior/Elite Vet 13:30 £12.00 (£12.00)
Junior 13:30 £12.00 (£12.00)

Race 2 Sunday

Hemel Hempstead Cross/Central League Round 2

Event Details:
Competitive
Discipline: Cyclo-Cross
Date: 11.10.2009
Event Website
Cheques Payable To: Hemel Hempstead Cycling Club
Entries on the day: Yes
Location:
Longdean School, Rumballs Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
Location Map: (Google Map)
Organisation:
Promoted By:
Hemel Hempstead CC

Race Organiser:
Mr Keith Fletcher
Greenacre
Troutsream
LOUDWATER
Hertfordshire
WD3 4JN
01923 774494
Click to Email
Race Details:
Name Starts Fee
U10 11:00 £1.00 (£2.00)
U12 11:15 £1.00 (£2.00)
Short Cross (Novice/V50+/W60+) 11:45 £10.00 (£12.00)
Youth 11:45 £6.00 (£7.00)
Junior 13:00 £7.00 (£8.00)
S/V/W 13:00 £10.00 (£12.00)

[chamoniards]

If I don't have to work next weekend, I'd be up for one of those.

[andyw]

I'll probably have room for one for the wellwyn race, but i won't be coming back as i'm going to continue up to derby for the trophy.
Is markthescott doing wellwyn? If does most of those eastern leagues. Any idea on the course?

[delia]

I can't make Saturday but I'd like to do the one on Sunday if I could get a spot in someone's car. If anyone who's going has space for me and David it would be great, otherwise room for just me would be much appreciated. We can arrange David's bike in the Smart through the art of oragami.

Given the rain this week, it'll be like a proper winter cross race. Eek!

[Deleted]

I'm going back to Trackie things this weekend.

I'll think of you whilst I'm warm and dry in Newport

However, in preparation for the 17/18th weekend, any muddy tyre recommendations?

[chamoniards]

My favourites for when it's properly muddy are Michelin Muds (now Mud2s I think).

[andyw]

Maxxis Mud Wrestlers look excellent but may be hard to come by (only launched recently) www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Cyclocross/Mud-Wrestler.aspx
Michelin Muds are a favourite www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Cyclocross/Mud-Wrestler.aspx
And Vittoria XMs look great - I have the tub version, not used them yet though www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=VITTTYRF525

[Deleted]

So who is doing what? I may be able to get to one of these but have a list of chores as long as a long thing to do this week end.

Just 30mins away did you say?...

[davidr]

Delia and I are aiming to get to the sunday race (open to lift offers, otherwise it's trains, planes, kayak, and riding etc). They're both north north london-ish (30mins on the train from Euston station - it's about a 45min ride from CP to the station).

Anyone interested in some Saturday morning training?

[Deleted]

Melissa - as Kevin wrote, if it's "proper" mud, the sort that's runny after a long period of rain then Michelin Muds or the ones in ANdy's links are the thing, but they'd clog up in your ordinary commonplace mud. A chevron pattern tyre is perfect for this time of year. Mud doesn't stick to them.


.

[Deleted]

Cracking ride from Mr Waterman today, who finished first Brit (fourth overall). Take out the Belgians and he was the winner!

[delia]

David, Kevin B and I all did the Central Cross League race at Hemel Hempstead today. It was a decent course with a mixture of off-cambre sections on playing fields and more technical sections through the woods.

Apparently they hold Dulwich riders in high regard, as David was gridded on the front row with Kevin and me just behind. It was a small but strong field. David and Kevin had a good battle near the end with David catching Kevin on the last lap and just beating him to the line in a sprint finish. Results to follow but they may have been within the top ten. I came in as the first woman and actually got my place on the podium this time!

All in all it was a good day. The race was really well organised, well marshalled and everyone was very friendly. They are trying to build up the league and attract more people so we should keep an eye out for future events. Plus, it was really easy to get there on the train.

How did everyone else get on?

[andyw]

10/11th Weekend

Day 1 - Welwyn Garden City, Eastern Cross League
Dulwich riders - Markthescott, KevB, (not dulwich but nearly) Ian C
I fancied testing my legs and thought that with there being a Trophy race the following day, I might pick up some easy ranking points (which affect your gridding at trophies.
No such luck.
Within minutes of arriving we heard the rumour that a bus load of Belgians had shown up, also on route the Derby Trophy race. There went the idea of easy points.
I somehow got gridded secod row, and had a good start which found me in the top 10. From here it was a bit mental for a couple of laps - they were very short laps, we did 13 in 1hr - and then I found myself in a group of 4, fighting for third place. There were three brits and one belgian in the group, and the belgy, being better versed in the art of tactics refused to do any work whatsoever. I had one dig off the front, which resulted in me crashing, so I got back up and held back till the end.
With a lap and half to go, just as myself and Gary Lingard were discussing how we could flick our Belgian guest, he attacked and we never saw him again. With half a lap to go, I also attacked into the steep, fast descent that led to some attractive, if not altogether safe, riverside singletrack (still can't believe Bryan Taylor didn't end up in the drink...). This was enough to see me come home in fourth and first Brit.
Mark the Scott came in 17th which is probably because he's ill - he's been a regular top 5 rider so far this year.

After the race I came down with an almighty dose of CycloCross Gut. I don't know if other people get it, but I get it real bad sometimes where your stomach just feels like it's been tied in knots for half a day after the race. It's not fun. Any doctors int he house who can shed some light on it?

Day 2, National Trophy, Derby
Stomach cramps and a long night time drive had conspired to give me a pretty ropey night's sleep, so I didn't expect much from the trophy.
The course was pretty bonkers.

All those dead turns on slick, wet, off camber grass meant staying upright was not easy, and a prolonged shower before our race didn't help.
I got a pretty crap gridding on the back row of the 60 strong field (no ranking points on the board yet... thanks London League!) and had a bit of a battle to get through to the better riders. I eventually found myself riding with the same Belgian as the day before, plus 5 others, in a small group. Things were going great when with 2 laps to go (10 lap race) I stacked it on a downhill. I dropped my chain and messed up my brakes so had to change bikes, and got lapped shortly after by the leader (a German over for a quick buck).
The positives were that I was riding with people I would consider a step above my level - last week's eastern region winner for instance - and I lasted the longest I've managed yet before being lapped - 55mins of a 1hr race.
The negatives were that I crashed going in a straight line and I could easily have been 6 places higher up if that hadn't happened.
I'm a bit gutted right now but hopefully I've learnt a bit this weekend, both by doing 2 races in 2 days, and by riding with some better people.
Next Trophy race is in two weekends time in Ipswich, almost looking forward to it....

[Deleted]

What was that sandpit like Andy...looks like it part of a long jump pit?!

[andyw]

It just went round the sand in the end - the uci has banned course designers from incorporating artificial sandpits. If it's natural, like koksijde it's allowed though.