Cyclocross Who's Coming to Play

[George]

Well I've got the bike and I'm gonna be riding my debut cyclocross race Sunday morning at Herne hill.

I've got no idea what time it starts etc but I'll be there, who else is coming?

First few London Cross League fixtures are as follows:

Rd 1: 14 Sept: Herne Hill (NB Morning meeting) South London.
Rd 2: 21 Sept: Hillingdon, West London.
Rd 3: 28 Sept: Fowlmead, nr Deal, Kent.
Rd 4: 05 Oct: Deers Leap Park, East Grinstead, West Sussex.

[Sylv]

George come and practise the Herne Hill course this Wednesday night at 6.50pm for 45 minutes of fast-packed action

I predict a successful season for you!

[Sylv]

I can't make round 2 but the following ones would be happy to ride to your place & share petrol cost for a lift in the magic van

[George]

Sylv working late Wed so I'll be keen and green on Sunday

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I might make a comeback this season but can't make the first few as doing other things.
Guru P

[Sylv]

Another tough but enjoyable race last night, with a big and strong field. I fitted my mtb with 1.5" tires and rigid forks to make it a bit more cx-worthy. Saw Maria, Rob C and young Jake who rides the clubrun in the 17s I think.

Went for a practice lap during which they called all the riders for the start, got to the line late to start almost at the back of the field. Made up quite a few places on the opening section inside of the velodrome, but a minute later dropped my chain between the big ring and the crank arm (a poorly adjusted front mech and I've only got myself to blame). Almost wrecked my fingers trying to untangle the mess, then it was a matter of catching up a maximum of riders, who had all come past me while I was stopped.

Race only lasted 45 minutes, it was somehow fun trying to pass people, Jake was doing real well and it took me over a lap of riding in his wheel before I managed to come past, came up to Rob on the final lap, he'd had a puncture and got lent a wheel, so not sure if he was a lap down or not, we battled it for the rest of the lap, coming to the finish line a few seconds apart. Rob enjoyed his first cx race a lot.

I chose to ride back whilst Rob was driving, thankfully he caught me up as I was starting the long climb to Palace, so when he offered me a tow I didn't think twice - grabbed his door pillar and went up that climb faster than I ever went - the final, steepest bit was the only place I had the chance to look at my speedo (the speed bumps before that required maximum attention), and it was showing 18mph - or twice as much as an usual speed there. Cheers Rob! Hadn't done that for years.

[Rob C]

That was great fun, unlike Slyv I started at the back on purpose. I'd let my tyres down from the commuting suitable PSI of 80 but I think I over did and ended up getting a pinch puncture on the second lap. I was thinking of a way to get back across to the velodrome when through a bizarre set of circumstances I ended up borrowing a wheel from someone. I'm not sure that they really meant for me to borrow it but they looked like they'd said yes so I took it. Got back on the bike and was pretty much on my own, caught up a few places and saw a young vcl girl crash in front of me. I asked her if she was ok and she said no so I did the decent thing and stopped. After I removed her bike from her tangeld legs she got up and said she was ok and off I went again. Next time I'm not stopping!

It's intense mentally and physically, there was so much going on the whole time. Looking forward to the next one already...

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]went up that climb faster than I ever went - the final, steepest bit was the only place I had the chance to look at my speedo (the speed bumps before that required maximum attention), and it was showing 18mph

[Sylv]

The last person I saw doing this was you Paul! And on an unsuspecting driver's car too

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Me??????? Surely not.

[Jon H]

Should be plenty of proper "Battle of the Somme" type cross courses this winter after all the rain we've had.

[Sylv]

i must be imagining things ...

[Rob C]

Seniors + Youth U16/14 (youth riders in blue)

1 Chris Ansell Corridori 7 laps
2 Jarvis Wollendorf Poland 7 laps
3 Scott Bugden Team Corridori 7 laps
4 Mattias Kunz Ride Beyond 7 laps
5 Matt Seaton Mosquito Bikes 7 laps
6 Mick Bell London Fire Brigade 7 laps
7 Kevin Knox Dulwich Paragon 7 laps
8 Ben Spurrier 7 laps
9 Matthew Lucas Sydenham Wheelers 7 laps
10 James Wilson Rapha Condor 7 laps
19 Sylvain Garde Addiscombe CC 7 laps
61 Rob Crozier ACC 6 laps
69 Maria David Dulwich Paragon 5 laps


80+ started, glad to have finished after getting a puncture. Going back for more on Sunday, anyone else fancy it? See you there at Herne Hill 10:50am...

[Sylv]

Rob, my knee's started playing up again today (hadn't done any long ride since Brighton, the pain had been menacing to surface on the commute but hadn't gotten worse until today).

I'll see how it feels tomorrow on the mtb riding to Herne Hill, I might take my camera with me, and if it gets bad again I'll just take photos.

[mlocke]

Don't ride Sylv - that how my ain started and now i'm FCUK'd

Well done guys - sounds good fun