Cyclo-cross 2013

[manuel6b]

The first round of the Ulster Cyclo-cross series takes place on Sunday 6 October. As well as the main CX race there is the usual youth races and a mountain bike support race. These events are great fun. Well worth making the effort to go along and enjoy racing on mud.
See website for details.


ALSO

This weekend Lisa Millar is taking part in the infamous 3-peaks cyclo-cross challenge in England. Website
here

"It is the toughest and biggest Cyclo-Cross event in the UK."

[barryvankellett]

Good luck Lisa!

Hope to see some new faces from the club out at the cyclocross races. There was a fair bit of interest and chat about it after some of the more tortuous road races and as the season went on. I know a few people have got bikes sorted for it but its still not too late for those who haven't.
There is a bumper calendar of CX races available this season coming so even if you only do a few, you will still get plenty of racing done.

Don't forget that CX bikes make very good winter training bikes for the road too with lots of clearance for mudguards AND comfy grippy tyres.

If you want to win some road races, get some 30's of McGowan's, calvert etc and smash strava KOM's early next year, you will never be in better shape for it than after a CX race season!



BVK Race wagon for 2013:

Columbus X-Wing by barry_kellett99, on Flickr

Same bike I finished last year on after shifting the clogfest of a Colnago on. Columbus X-Wing frame and fork from Paul Milnes cycles (ebay shop). Acres of clearance I hope for all courses, apart from maybe Moira. New wheels on and a set of Tubular Challenge Limus tyres for ultimate grip.

Season goal - Try and get the full quota of laps in for a couple of races!

[manuel6b]

Pre-registration closes tonight at 8 pm.

[barryvankellett]

Round 1 at Lurgan yesterday, a rude awakening to the legs after a few months of slumber! But the cobwebs are most definitely blown out now.
The course was basically dry with only one or two nice squidgy rutted areas to keep you focused on going in the right direction. Subsequently the pace was electrifying!
As usual, I missed the piling in on the start line as I was relieving my nervous tension in the Loo at the last minute and ran out to see everyone lined up already. Class. Back of the grid again.

As expected, first race nerves were getting to some and it was a bump and grind start, trying to find gaps where there were none as the front of the race sped off. I had managed to work my way about half way through the field with a bit of polite over and undertaking and continued to mop up riders for the first 4 laps but the Cyclocross stars were long gone.

Spotted Vets National Champion, Peter McConville about 30 seconds ahead so worked on trying to catch him and shake off the newry wheelers guy glued to my wheel. On the last lap I emptied the tank, absolutely buried it but failed to catch Peter although I was gaining on him. Fortunately for me I had miscounted my laps and had another one left in which to do it, unfortunately for my legs I had just spent every ounce of effort I had and now had to endure an extra lap trying to fend off the Newry guy!

Great race. No idea where I finished but had a decent race for once and didnt get lapped. Success!

Good to see John Shanks and John McGuigan in the B race. More DCC Jerseys on show. I expect to see another new DCC CX lamb to the slaughter next week!
From what I know....

Lisa Millar was 2nd in the Ladies!
Ben Wilson won Under 12's!
Robert Davidson had a strong showing in the Support race, with a sprint finish to the line with some guy.
Bryce Hetherington finally returned to the racing scene after a long absence. Great to see.

Not sure how all the others got on, I'll let Martin fill in the rest.

[johnmcg]

Nice report BVK from an elite riders perspective, now for the report from the back off the field.

First cyclocross race in almost 30 years and only the second outing on the cross bike ( this becomes important later on ). Lined up at the back on the start line as I didn't want to get run over in the sprint at the start. Very quickly started passing other riders and after half a lap must have made up a dozen or so places. Starting to think this cyclocross is ok.

Continued to pass a few riders with a few others passing me. Was having a nice battle with two others, would lose out on tight turns but would overtake on fast flat sections or up hill. Then two of us pulled away from the other rider from Carn Wheelers and I decided that our place in the race was decided, there was a big gap to riders in front but if we kept going I don't think anyone would be coming up from behind.

Before the end of lap 2 however things changed. When remounting after the planks I heard a massive creak. Then half a lap later I suffered the consequences of a very heavy bottom hitting the saddle too hard. The saddle slipped with the nose pointing towards the sky. Rode on standing to the pit area where I pulled in and demanded a set of allen keys, levelled the saddle and headed off only for it to move again after a few hundred yards. Stopped and this time started battering it with my fist to the bewilderment of the walkers. Only thing I achieved was to move it slightly and hurt my hand.

Remounted and continued after having watched at least 20 riders go past, not sure how many were backmarkers or A racers lapping me. Continued on my way trying not to slip off the back of the saddle by sitting right on the nose, not very comfortable and not great for getting the power down ( please dont snigger ) Can I blame this on my legs tightening up for the remainder of the race and my pace noticebly slowed. Raced on with quite a few passing me on the last few laps and unfortunately my worse nightmare was confirmed when BVK insulted me for the second time as I was lapped twice by our national champion.

Only other incident worth mentioning was my summersault getting off the bike approaching the planks for the 2nd last time, thank God all the spectators had moved on to the finish line and so it was only witnessed by a dog walker, his concern quickly turned to hilarity when he realised I had not suffered any serious injury and I rode away as fast as I could to drown out his laughter.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable experience as I expected, and despite the fact that I may well have ended up last ( waiting on the results to be published ) I will be back for more.
BVK when he heard of my saddle problems pinpointed the cause straight away by asking was it a one bolt seatpost, which it was, but not anymore as it has been change to a two bolt post.
Anyone got a four bolt post ?

[barryvankellett]

Results are up:
www.ulstercyclocross.com/Results/Ulster_Cyclo_cross_2013_Round_1_Lurgan_Park_Results_Ver1.htm

Well done Diane Wilson on a resounding victory in the MTB Support race and John Shanks 3rd in the cyclocross B race at his first attempt!

[Zako]

Really want to race Moira now...someone give me a bike

[Graham B]

Indeed Zak, sounds like great fun.

What licence (if any) do you need to enter the MTB support races? Or has anyone got an extra large CX bike they want rid of?? ;-)

[Zako]

In all seriousness..if anyone has or knows anyone with a cross bike that could be borrowed for Moira...let me know.

[manuel6b]

Graham, you need to have an off-road licence to race. This would be the next one up from the club competition. We can't process any more licences at the moment because the Cycling Ireland membership for 2013 has now closed. It will reopen in November and I believe they are planning on merging the off-road and club licence into one (at the club licence price too!!!).

If you want to have a go then you can upgrade your licence for £9 at each event. As regards to large CX bikes then you should be able find them online as they tend to be the ones left over and shops are trying to get rid of them. Search online for them using "Northern Ireland" first of all.

Zak, you can use mine at Moira if you want. It's a medium (I think).

[barryvankellett]

Oct 8, 2013 13:38:13 GMT 1 Graham B said:

Or has anyone got an extra large CX bike they want rid of?? ;-)

How large is extra large? 58cm sort of thing?
Budget?
I've seen a few for sale over the last few months but was only on the lookout for titchy wee CX bikes for our "smaller" club members.

Whatever you budget for the bike, budget a bit on top for really good CX tyres. It will make a world of difference to your initial experience! You don't need Tubulars unless you are obsessed like me, there are plenty of quality Clinchers available now that will do a great job.

[garybailie]

Oct 9, 2013 15:02:20 GMT 1 barryvankellett said:

Oct 8, 2013 13:38:13 GMT 1 Graham B said:

Or has anyone got an extra large CX bike they want rid of?? ;-)

How large is extra large? 58cm sort of thing?
Budget?
I've seen a few for sale over the last few months but was only on the lookout for titchy wee CX bikes for our "smaller" club members.

Whatever you budget for the bike, budget a bit on top for really good CX tyres. It will make a world of difference to your initial experience! You don't need Tubulars unless you are obsessed like me, there are plenty of quality Clinchers available now that will do a great job.

there will be a ticthy one making an appearance very soon lol, nearly there, just putting a 56-40 on her........ for the power climbs , does my open road license cover me?

[Graham B]

Thanks for the advice chaps.

Barry, my budget is technically zero, as I hadn't planned buying a CX bike! However I guess I could find some loose change down the back of the sofa ;-) Will probably come along and watch this week's race to get an idea what it's like...

[barryvankellett]

Oct 9, 2013 21:37:17 GMT 1 garybailie said:

does my open road license cover me?

Yea
Thats what I am racing on.

[barryvankellett]

Oct 10, 2013 8:42:49 GMT 1 Graham B said:

Thanks for the advice chaps.

Barry, my budget is technically zero, as I hadn't planned buying a CX bike! However I guess I could find some loose change down the back of the sofa ;-) Will probably come along and watch this week's race to get an idea what it's like...

Have you a spares box full to the brim already or a sparse corner in the garage?

This weekends is sure to be a bumper set of races with a lot of guys coming up from down below to check lady dixon out for the nationals

[barryvankellett]

ROUND 2 - Lady Dixon

A bumper crowd turned out for yesterdays race, all looking to get a feel for the Nationals CX venue in a few months time. The course was revamped from last years with a much shorter lap, squeezed into a smaller area. Great for John McGuigans fan club to get a good look at him at several points of the course without having to move. It also made for very aggressive racing with about 10 minutes less race time to suffer out there than the previous weeks course. More power and less endurance required. Not very much up my street at all.

I got down early, keen to try and ride the uphill sandy steps obstacle the phoenix guys put so much work into. First attempt, my front wheel sank in the sand. Second attempt I got up two steps out of 5 I think. Then Graham Boyd gracefully floated up them all before me so I had one go and grunted my way through making it to the last step before all momentum was lost. Getting off at this point was a ridiculous task withyour front wheel stuck in soft sand and your back wheel falling down 18 inches below it. "Yes, I will run these in the race"

XMTB coaching guru Mark Harvey then led me round a lap and deliberately tried to sabotage my chances by making me dump my front wheel into a hole causing the tub to roll off the rim as I performed a professional looking Over The Bars Manouevre. These skills take years to perfect kids, but keep trying. The entire warm up period was then spent srounging around all my contacts for a new front wheel. Joe Henry of Phoenix and Velo Cafe Magasin fame to the rescue! What a guy!

As for the side note of the race, It went off hilariously fast as expected. I managed to get into 5th/6th place early on and wondered why I was still able to see Adair, Seymour and the like just in front of me. After about 5 minutes the signal from my legs to the brain started working again and I suddenly realised I was going quite a bit harder than I was ever going to be able to maintain, so I did the logical thing and tried to go harder again.

Round the end of lap 2 I realised Jason Henry and Peter McConville were both gaining on me from behind, and the nutty fast boys were stretching away and I was stranded and absolutely dying a death. I eased up hoping I would be able to latch onto the two behind rather than get dumped off the tail end. Thankfully it worked and the 3 of us raced together at a decent lick for a couple of laps. Unfortunately Peter had a bit of a bad crash so just down to me and Jason. Until I noticed An Posts Ronan McLaughlin coming along like a steam train. Clearly lacking the necessary off road skills but getting better as the race had been going on, we managed to keep him at bay until the tarmac road up to the end of the lap. Well that was a sight to see taking off.

Lesson of the day people - Don't try and sprint onto a pro's wheel when he is in full flight in your 36t ring. In fact, don't even try unless you are on a motor bike.

So onto the last lap, still wheel sucking good old Jason in front - I decide to finally put in an effort to lose him up the steps. Managed to get a wee gap of a couple of seconds but he quickly shut it down and I knew it was going to come down to a sprint. I remembered to engage the big ring this time. A sprinter I am not. Doors blown clean off.

Still, 8th place again this week in a very strong field so happy enough.

Steps of Doom:

DSC03883 by stewart_mairead, on Flickr

[colinr]

Here Barry, why are them two boys running like mad but you just seem to be walking round?

[deek]

Van Kellet is still flyin!!..8th in a top class field of riders. Well done!
How'd everyone else get on??

[johnmcg]

Nearly last !

Thought I was better prepared than last week, the course couldn't have suited me better as no real difficult technical bits and no real mud. Got a reasonably good start but then got pushed into the tape ( maybe my own fault trying to dive up the inside before a right hander )after only a few minutes and tangled in the handlebars, when it broke it somehow managed to wrap around both sides of the front hub. Carried on not stopping for anything today.

Was pacing myself a little bit on the first 2 or 3 laps so i could finish stronger than last week and all was going according to plan. Started to push on at the half way point and then the first disaster. There is a ditch to go over and then a sharp right hander in the trees, you can approach the ditch really fast and I thought this speed could be carried over the ditch and through the trees. Got the first part right, if a little sketchy over the ditch, but the second part, taking that corner at speed eluded me and I ended up in the briars. Chain off so another dismount and away I go. Lost the tail of the boys I was with and lost sight of those in front of us.

Really hammered it ( by my standards ) and then the ditch again. At the last minute I decided I was unlucky on the previous lap, so bounced over the ditch as fast as possible and....down into the briars again. OK, need to make up time so off I hammer and while completely knackered feel as if this last lap is my fastest. Just the ditch to negotiate one more time. I'm not catching anyone, no one seems to be behind me, so I should just ride to the finish. No...I decide that this ditch has to be conquered and have a plan. I need to approach at a slight angle and take that corner tighter on the grass, then the front wheel will not wash out as it did on the dusty clay. The plan was a good one, but it didn't work. I hit them briars harder than before and hit them again when trying to run off with the bike, which was completely tangled and pulled me down. Eventually remounted to find the chain off and this time wedged between bb shell and crank. More time lost.

Highlight off the day was sprinting for the line, thought I was sprinting for a place but now I think the rider was warming up for the A race !

This is fast becoming like a blog for "how not to ride a cyclocross race". Yet, despite the mechanicals, falls, cuts and bruises, and the embarrassment of finishing 2nd last, I have to say the races are great fun and the craic before and after makes it all worthwhile. I'll be there next week with a new plan, hopefully a better plan, and hoping it will be even more fun.

[bigpeter151]

Good stuff lads.. I miss my bike.....
Got extra work on at the min so I'll not get out much, but reading your blogs are helping me get by...