I like your ascent of LI glacier.

NO flats...tubeless seems the way
The glacier was actually in a parking lot where the snow plows push it.  That snow will be there until May

Yacks needs a pit bike...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/112787150001?ul_noapp=true

Yack’s has no social media...soooo here’s today’s ride.  Now these wide rims with tubeless tires means I can ride much lower pressure and the sidewalls are much stiffer so the tires aren’t flopping over.  No flats so far either
was a beautiful day to push pedals

trees be downah 

Yacks shredded

got this weird green shmutz all over the wheels

then I found this rad wheel washing station

rain into Slender Man

when I got home the Cateye Warranty computer was in the mail box...all is good in the world
Tomorrow I'm wishing for snow on the trails

Wow. Huge wow.

http://www.velonews.com/2018/03/news/world-champ-van-aerts-road-debut-beyond-expectations_461116

Not even close to new news, but if you're planning your USAC race-watching travel

https://www.cxmagazine.com/cyclocross-nationals-december-2018-2019-louisville-tacoma-usa-cycling

Myerson's Cycle Smart clinic is open for registration.

This is high on my list to attend, please let me know if you are interested. It sells out every year, so we might want to get in earlier rather than later. 

The clinic is one weekend, offered twice 

Fri Aug 3 - Sun Aug 5

https://www.bikereg.com/cycle-smart-cyclocross-camp

Fri Aug 10 - Sun Aug 12

https://www.bikereg.com/cycle-smart-cyclocross-camp2

I am. Do you know, anecdotally, by when it sells out?

Not sure, but they sell out at only 50 riders.

Also: awesome! is there one of the weekends that works better for you?

I did it a couple of years ago with Josh and Marc. I highly recommend it. Myerson does demos which is great, but there is a lot more to it than that. First off the camp takes place on a vineyard which is a semi-permanent CX training course. Lots of opportunities to work on a range of skills. There are a variety of different corners to master, sand pits, barriers etc. They break up into groups based on skill level. My group was with Alec Donahue (who is a great teacher), Anthony Clark (who made jokes the whole time) and Stephen Hyde (who had yet to burst onto the scene). Afterwards, when Hyde became national champ, I didn’t feel so bad that I had difficulty keeping up with him on the fast corners. He could lean I to corners like no one else at the camp. 

The repeated practice of specific skills leaves you exhausted at the end of the weekend, but you leave the camp with a whole new level of skill and are ready for cx season (skills wise).

When we have held Kissena cx clinics we have tried to copy some of the aspects of the clinics that we can mimic in Cunningham Park, but what they offer is at a whole other level.  

I will probably do it again. You can never get too much practice and you can always learn something new 

Hey guys, what are your thoughts on a beginner going to this clinic?

That's what clinics are for.

RobertPeras said:

Hey guys, what are your thoughts on a beginner going to this clinic?

DO IT!!

@Jules I am definitely interested, but I have to check with the boss. Life with kids 

RobertPeras said:

@Jules I am definitely interested, but I have to check with the boss. Life with kids 

Understood! Don't let experience (or lack) keep you away.

@RobertPeras the cyclesmart camps are good for beginners as well as experienced cross racers. 

I am likely to go to first clinic/camp. I am happy to get together with you (or anyone else) for a tutorial on the basics so that you a) get the most out of the clinic and b)  feel a little less foolish 

Thanks @PatrickGrehan but I just realized where these clinics are being held and I don't think I can get away from the kiddies for a whole weekend. I am definitely interested in practicing with you guys though. All I need now is a CX bike 

Robert
The club will be putting on a cross clinic at Cunningham as the season draws nearer and we typically practice early mornings in prospect park also, so , get your self to redbeard ASAP ....cross is coming (earlier every year ( )

Thanks @Mark Taylor! I’m debating on what bike to look into. I am considering the TCX Advanced SX, but the reviews make it seem like a lot of the components and the wheels it comes with are sub par. Does anyone else have it? Or should I be looking at a Pro 2 or better?

@RobertPeras my 2 cents would be to get an inexpensive bike that you don't mind crashing... a lot. People's first CX bikes seem to take an inordinate amount of abuse in the first year.

Between the slipping and sliding and whomping... not to mention the "I'm too tired to visit the carwash afterwards..."

1000% agree with Jules on this. Don't worry about getting something nice. Save money on the bike and use that to buy pit wheels or even different tires for different conditions. 

There is a ton of advice here in this thread on buying a cross bike, or even pulling a Yang and throwing drop bars on your mom's hybrid and playing in the dirt. 

RobertPeras said:

Thanks @Mark Taylor! I’m debating on what bike to look into. I am considering the TCX Advanced SX, but the reviews make it seem like a lot of the components and the wheels it comes with are sub par. Does anyone else have it? Or should I be looking at a Pro 2 or better?

The TCX SX is amazing, just go to red beard and buy it.

Thanks guys! It’s great to have all of you giving good advice.

Behold the 2019 Giant Cyclocross bikes.

Worked out with Giant so they would do one Kissena Color bicycle:

TCX ADVANCED PRO 2

Oh shit where is the fainting couch?

Do you think now would be the time to get a good deal on a 2018 @eloy ?

@RobertPeras the prices of the 2018s are just a tad lower ($100~$300 depending on model) often with very similar or just as competitive specs.

My suggestion, honestly, is that you go to redbeard and have them order the best one your budget can afford. 

The 2018 Advanced SX is still available and sits at a great place price/spec wise. Just do it.

Thanks @eloy! 

Rapha no more

Wow.