2007/2008 Cyclo Cross dates (ACC 28 Oct, ACC Champs 16 Dec)

[Mark Leedham]

The London Cyclo-X season starts next Saturday and this year consists of 17 rounds of which the best nine will count for your series points. The races are typically of only one hour duration and are run around a short lap made up from a mixture of grass, dirt tracks and short lengths of road. They are therefore less technical than mountain bike cross-country races. The racing is inclusive of all rider abilities and despite all starting at the same time, everyone will have a rival of an equal ability to race against.

Mark Leedham and the club are promoting Round 6 at Penshurst Off-Road Cycling on Sunday 28 October. If you can spare some time to help set up the course, then please contact me.

For those interested in winning club silverware, there are two trophies awarded to Addiscombe's cyclo-x riders; the league cup and the champion's trophy. The league cup goes to the Addiscombe rider with the most London League points at the end of the season while the champion's trophy goes to the highest placed rider in a single event; this year Round 11 – Promoted by the Arctic Road Club at Herne Hill on 16 December.

So you are now tempted to have a go; what do you need? A bike of any type are all the rules say but you will really need either a mountain bike or a cyclo-x bike. £10 for your race entry and either the minimum of Bronze BC membership or another £3 for the surcharge non BC members have to pay. Race licences and affiliations to the London League are NOT required.

The event dates, locations and junior/senior start times are given below and can be checked at http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/dates.html. The web site also gives the times and race fees for the other age categories. If you have any questions please ask them here and I will do my best to answer them for you.

Hope to see some new faces out there,
Mark Leedham- cyclo-x secretary

London Cyclo-Cross Association Fixtures 2007-2008

There are a number of venues to be confirmed and we will post news when we get it on these dates

16 September 2007 London League Round 1
Club: London Phoenix CC
Venue: Temple School, Strood

23 September 2007 London League Round 2
Club: Archer CC
Venue: Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, Springfield Road, Hillingdon
Off Uxbridge Road and Hayes by-pass

07 October 2007 London League Round 3
Inc. Sussex League Round 1
Club: East Grinstead CC
Venue: Deers Leap Park, Saint Hill Farm, Saint Hill Green, East Grinstead.

14 October 2007 London League Round 4
Club: Medway Velo
Venue: The Howard School, Derwent Way, Rainham, Kent, ME8 0BX

21 October 2007 London League Round 5
Club: VC Deal
Venue: Lydden Hill Motor Racing Circuit, Off A2, Lydden, nr Dover

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[size=150]28 October 2007 London League Round 6
Club: Addiscombe CC [/size]Venue: Penshurst Off-Road Cycling, Grove Road, Penshurst, Kent, TN11 8DU
http://www.porc-online.co.uk
Events:
U10 @ 12 Free; U12 @ 12.15 Free;
Youth @ 12.45 £4;
Jun @ 14.00 £7; S/V/W @ 14.00 £12 Cat. C
**********************************************

11 November 2007 London League Round 7
Club: San Fairy Ann CC
Venue: Reed Court Farm, Chainhurst, Nr. Marden, Kent

18 November 2007 London League Round 8
Inc. Sussex League Round 2
Club: Brighton Excelsior CC / VC Jubilee
Venue: Stanmer Park, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9RA
(A27 Lewes Road, 2miles NE of Brighton)

25 November 2007 London League Round 9
Inc. Sussex League Round 3
Club: VC Etoile
Venue: Lancing Manor Leisure Centre, Manor Road, North Lancing, W.Sussex, BN15 0PH

02 December 07
South East Championships
Club: Team Chance
Venue: Hempton, nr Fakenham, Norfolk (A1065 Swaffham to Fakenham)

09 December 2007 London League Round 10
Inc. Sussex League Round 4
Club: Preston Park YCC
Venue: Stanmer Park Brighton, E.Sussex, BN1 9RA
(A27 Lewes Road, 2miles NE of Brighton)

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[size=150]16 December 2007 - Addiscombe CC Club Championships[/size]
London League Round 11
Club: Arctic RT / Herne Hill Youth CC
Venue: Herne Hill Velodrome, Burbage Road, SE24 9HE
Events:
U10 @ 11am Free; U12 @ 11.15 Free;
Youth @ 11.45 £4;
Jun @ 13.00 £7; S/V/W @ 13.00 £12 Cat. C
*********************************************************

27 December 2007 London League Round 12
Club: Gemini BC
Venue: Footscray Outdoor Activity Centre, off Rectory Lane, Footscray,Sidcup, Kent.

30 December 2007 London League Round 13
Club: Team Darenth
Venue: TBA

13 January 2008 London League Round 14
Club: VC Londres
Venue: Herne Hill Velodrome, Burbage Road, SE24 9HE

20 January 2008 London League Round 15
Club: GS Invicta
Venue: Betteshanger Cycle Circuit, Fowlmead Country Park, Sholden,Nr.Deal, Kent, CT14 0AR

27 January 2008 London League Round 16
Club: Team Darenth
Venue: Axton Chase, Longfield, Dartford, Kent, DA3 7PH

03 February 2008 London League Round 17
Club: Evans Cycles RT
Venue: TBA

10 February 2008
Team Champs & Prizegiving
Club: Lee Valley Youth CC
Venue:
Hog Hill, Forest Road, Hainault, Essex

Cross dates - more dates can be found at http://www.londoncyclesport.com

[Maria David]

Anyone who wants to have a go at cyclo cross in a non-league environment, and at a lower key event might want to go to the Herne Hill race this weekend. (See details below)

Get there at least an hour early so you get the chance to ride around and decide what line you will take as you go through the different sections.
As these are classed as Go-Race events you don't need a licence.

It'll also be good practice for the events on 16th December and 13th January 08, as they are likely to use the same course.

I can't make the one this Sunday as I'm racing elsewhere, but there will be lots of local bods there.
My next cross race will be Deers Leap Park, East Grinstead, Oct 7th.

Maybe see some people there.

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


From London Cyclesport website :

Dates
Round 1 – Sunday 30th September
- U10 – 2 laps – 11am - free
- U12 – 3 laps – 11am - free
- Youth – 30 mins – 11.45am - £3.00
- Sen/Vet/Women – 1 hour – 1pm - £6.00
- Junior – 1 hour – 1pm - £4.00

The Sept 30th event will also be the first round in Eddie Land's SE Region Go-Ride Interclub Competition, so if you are in a Go-Ride Club, please make sure you let your members know of this.

More rounds
- Round 2 – Saturday 3rd November – promoted by Dulwich Paragon CC
- Round 3 – Saturday 1st December – promoted by De Laune CC
- Round 4 – Tuesday 1st January 2008 – promoted by VC Londres

Rounds 2 to 4 - Times to follow

- Entry on the line only
- MTBs welcome

Contact
Bill Wright - wxwright@msn.com

Also at Herne Hill Velodrome –
- Sunday 16th December - Round 11 of the London Cyclo-Cross League
Promoted by Herne Hill Youth CC / Arctic RT

- Sunday 13th January – Round 14 of the London Cyclo-Cross League
Promoted by VC Londres

[Marek]

My wife has a mountain bike she hardly uses, I have put the saddle up really high and reckon I could get away with using it for a laugh, but won't be competitive. If I rock up on this will it be ok, I would only be using normal pedals as I don't have any mountain bike cleats etc is this going to be an issue. The bike has front suspension which can be turned on or off but apart from that is pretty standard Alloy MB. Claud Butler so I presume it is reasonable.

I was thinking about doing the one at Deer Leap Park as it is just outside EG which is perfect for me. What time of day do these things tend to start and would I be put with the beginners? I hope so.

Cheers

Marek....

[George]

Marek your more than welcome to borrow my Cyclocross bike if you like, it has a long seat-post Ideal for lanky legs.

I was planning on racing the cyclocross season this winter but not now after my accident.
[img]http://pic18.picturetrail.com:80/VOL918/3864513/8935503/279952397.jpg[/img]
Just one thing, if you borrow it you must ride for Addiscome in Yellow
It is a super lovely bike and you will be very competitive on it, go on get that Agreeable kit back on you know you want to!!

[Maria David]

Great looking bike George - the last cross race will be in mid Feb. So you may still get the chance to use it.

You can use a mountain bike in cross races. There are no specific restrictions. Some people race with suspension (sometimes useful) and fat tyres but you'd be better off on thinner knobblies if you can get some - espcially in Deers Leap Park !

Re pedals there are no restrictions. Last year Keith Coffey did the Addiscombe cross race at Penshurst on a fat tyred mountain bike with flat pedals and toeclips. Didn't stop him finishing in the top 10 !


Racing starts at 1 pm. If you are there 45mins/1hr before you can ride round and recce the course. Everyone sets off together (apart from kids and youths you would have had their own race earlier). They grid the top 15 or 20 riders in the league, and then after that it's a free for all. The course is generally wide enough for riders to overtake each other. Otherwise, faster more skilful riders usually find a way of steering themselves around beginners, as long as you keep your line.

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

[Sylv]

16th December it is then!

Might try the P.O.R.C one too if we're not short of marshalls.

[Marek]

George, what size is that frame, that looks a bit small for me, but I suppose I could give it a try. Will let you know nearer the time if I can make it and we can arrange a handover.

Cheers

Marek....

[George]

Marek it's a 56, I was a little concerned at first it was gonna be too small for me but after lots of riding it didn't seem to matter.

Your toes will clip the front wheel but when your riding this really isn't a problem.

Yes go on give it a go you'll love it plus if it's too small.... well there you go another excuse to slot in your resume

[George]

[quote]George - the last cross race will be in mid Feb. So you may still get the chance to use it.

[Mark Leedham]

Remunder - The Addiscombe Cyclo Cross Promotion is in Sunday 28 October at Penshurst