London Cyclo Cross League 2007-08

[Andrew G]

All your dates if you fancy something a bit dirty this winter.

First one 16th September.
ACC promoted event 28th October - Mark Leedham will need your help marshalling etc.
[url]http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/dates.html[/url]

[Sylv]

I take it you are racing then Andrew?

[Andrew G]

. Mo asked about cyclo cross on another thread.

My one attempt at cyclo cross was in the Addiscombe one 2 years ago. It was done in the misguided belief that there would be a few ACC in it and it would be a bit of a laugh.

Half the course was a bog due to heavy rain the week before and I spent all my time sliding about swearing. After 10 minutes I was looking for somewhere to "have a puncture" but as it was our promotion there was nowhere without an ACC jersey to have it.

If there is a dry, flattish course, that's near by I may be tempted to do one or two if they don't clash with anything else, like my desire not to do a cyclo cross race .

[Rob C]

There's one on Sunday down in Strood.

Hasn't rained in a while. Hoping to get there myself but staying in L.A. (Little'Ampton) on Sat might so might be cutting it a bit fine to get back etc...

[MJ_1993]

ah thnx Andrew, how much of a difference does it make if ur n a cross bike or mtb?

[Andrew G]

[quote="RobC"]There's one on Sunday down in Strood.

[Maria David]

On a fast non-technical course, pound for pound, a cyclo cross bike is a better option. A cross bike is also easier to carry if you have to run up a climb (which you usually do in almost every race).

However, a couple of other useful points to note :

If you're not very good off-road a mountain bike is not much of a disadvantage.
The differential in speed between mtb and cross bike won't be much (as I have found)!
Also the gears on a mountain bike are more forgiving - you have a wider range of gears to choose from and mtb puts up with sudden gear changing better than a cross bike.
A few of the cross courses in the league have some quite technical sections, which can be quite daunting if you are unfamiliar. A mountain bike makes for a more comfortable ride - both literally and mentally.

Some strong riders have been known to finish quite high up the field, ahead of many riders on cross bikes.
A few years ago, Michelle Bergstrand (Rapha Condor) turned up on a mountain bike and finished with the main group of men who were on cross bikes. I seem to remember Sylvain doing well on his mtb a couple of seasons ago too.

When you use a mountain bike you need to put on thinner tyres though. (1.5 inch Cross country pros for example.)

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[Maria David]

Here's what I know of the courses :

Temple School, Strood - school playing fields, scrubland + a bit of woodland - fast flat course with some zig-zags through trees, and a couple of short climbs and drops - non-technical. 100% rideable.

Hillingdon - cycle circuit - grass, tarmac, wasteland (!) - moderately technical - 2 off camber steep drops and run-ups in rapid succession - single track through scrubland. Punctures frequent (probably due to rubbish and broken glass). Quite bumpy in the dry

Deers Leap Park - mainly parkland - a little woodland - on the side of a hill -not technical, however as this drains poorly it can get extremely woody, and at times unrideable. Be careful of your rear mech !!

Howard School - school playing fields - non-technical - just a couple of short drops and climbs to reach the different levels of the playing field. Long flat (sometimes windy) sections. 100% rideable

Lydden Hill - field, trails, tarmac, woodland - moderately technical - long uphill drag, steep climb, long single-track descent, off-camber zigzag through trees, a series of 2 whopdy whoos.

Penshurst - purpose built trails that drain well - traditionally dubbed a mountain bike course - last year was fast and non-technical - long descent, long climb + a couple of "step-ups". 100% rideable by half the field. Ask Mark L about this year's course.

Reed Court Farm - farmland + a little forested area - non-technical - heavy terrain makes it hard work to ride. On a false flat. 100% rideable, though very energy sapping.

Stanmer Park - parkland and woodland - very technical - dubbed a mountain bike course - long climb through field - steep run up, narrow wood trails, long fast technical descent with tree roots, a tree trunk to climb over, another climb, a fast descent through the park. Many crashes during this round !

Lancing - parkland and woodland - untechnical - on the side of a false flat then one or two short dips and run-ups - in the dry 100% rideable. In the wet a difficult course.

Herne Hill - tarmac, field, woodland, sand (!) - moderately technical - poor drainage means off-road sections are hard work - try and avoid falling in the puddles of mud - lots of zig zag sections - a steep run up, a couple of short steep descents, and a sand pit.

Footscray - parkland - untechnical - a good Xmas pudding burner - easy course - just one false flat section and a short dip - can be very hard work when wet. 100% rideable.

Axton Chase - fields and woodland - I didn't ride this, just watched - it looked mildly technical - a series of twists, turns and dips and ups through woodland - the fields are fast and flat, though a little windy. Laps are very short (less than 5 mins) so makes for a tiring course.

Betteshanger is a new cross venue and I haven't ridden Hog Hill. I suppose it's like Beastway.
Others may want to chip in on this.

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Excellent summing up of courses Maria.

[George]

Can you make out Aoden in this picture.

Looks like he's settling in nicely at the front of the pack already in the first round of cyclocross season.
[img]http://www.londoncyclesport.com/editorialGallery/galleries/lx1pics07_g/gwp_070918_012.jpg[/img]

[Jon H]

[quote="Maria David"]Footscray - 100% rideable.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

LOL

Tamar might have something to add.......

[Maria David]

Ok - so not 100% rideable for all - I must have been just lucky that day !

Mind you that dip tends to be the focal point for alot of spectators - I don't suppose they stand around to watch people ride through it smoothly

Reminder : cross race is at Hillingdon this Sunday 1pm. Make the most of the dry conditions.
And with the new facilities there'll even be chance to grab a beer afterwards (or maybe even before) to give it that Belgian feel !

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[higg]

[quote]Looks like he's settling in nicely at the front of the pack already in the first round of cyclocross season.