Herne Hill Cyclo cross

[higg]

Just a reminder to anyone who may be thinking of dabbling in CX this year.

This Sunday round of the London League will be held at Herne Hill. Youths races are held in the moring with the senior race afterwads at 1pm, http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/. There is also youth training in HH on Saturday, see londoncyclesport.com for details

If you haven't been before it's best to be ready to do a practice lap or two before the race. The last youth race generally finishes about 40mins before the senior race leaving the course free for practice laps.

As with all London Leagues, MTBs are allowed and you will need BC membership or pay £3 for a day licence.

If you are not a seasoned off road rider this may be the event to try because being so local there will probably be quite a few have-a-go riders. (In general CX course are technically easier to negotiate than MTB course and will have plenty of passing places, expect some mud though)

If you can't make this one there are two remaining regular rounds and then the finale of the team champs (Any volunteers for an Addiscombe team or two?) :

29 Jan Axton Chase, Dartford
4 Feb Deers Leap, near East Grinstead

11Feb Team Champs in Hainault Forest Country Park

[kieran]

Aodan, well done on your result. We were there earlier in the day for the youth racing as Oisin took part in the under 10's race but then left at lunch time. It seemed a good day for it down there, what was the course like?

[higg]

Good to hear you got out yesterday morning. I'm not sure where the under 10's race went. I hope it was OK for him.

The senior course was course of two halves, the inner section did two loops of the grass inside the cycle track. Outside the track, the course went up and down the bankings at the back of the site and over ground that varied from dry building rubble to wet puddles of mud. They managed to get a 7 min lap out of a reasonably small area without it feeling too cramped.

The grass at the muddy sections started out just wet which was reasonably easy to ride through. As the race went on though it turned into that sticky mud which threw the front wheel in a different direction every time. You felt lucky just to get through without putting a foot down.

The sand pit was a bit of fun, it has the same effect on the front wheel as the mud even though it was totally dry, really hard work on the last few laps after it had been churned up for the previous hour.

I'm getting used to the cyclocross bike as well, it's certainly faster that the MTB. I'm really not sure why but the grass is a real slog on 26" wheels compared to a cross bike.

[Andrew G]

Well done Aodan 14th
[quote]We were there earlier in the day for the youth racing as Oisin took part in the under 10's race but then left at lunch time.

[kieran]

Aodan, with MTB wheels the tyres are usually too wide so you slip on the grass whereas the cross bike wheels will part the grass and connect with the soil underneath - over heard some VCL guys talking! Also larger wheels go over bumps easier. Yes Oisin came 3rd and won a bag of sweets and a water bottle - maybe I should give up my own goals and train him instead