WhirlyBird reg is open:

https://www.bikereg.com/NET/16959/WhirlyBird-Cross-at-Bensalem-High-School-Race-5-of-the-MAC-Series

Mike, I'm seriously considering Iron Cross. Will know by the end of the week. I would also want to drive up the day before.

Mike, I'm seriously considering Iron Cross. Will know by the end of the week. I would also want to drive up the day before.

Awesome. There is also this hostel with lodging for $20 a person. Right at the start / finish.

http://centralpaconservancy.org/node/335

I'll email the promoter to get details. It looks like they reserved all the beds.

@mperlberg,

yes 45 minutes of 100% heart rate vs 5 hours at 70% heartrate. I am sure on a dollar per heartbeat IronCross is a bargain. 

IronCX's facebook cover photo has a Kissena prominently in it, though their facing down, it is tough to tell who it is.

Dave Trimble is the former KCC memeber.

I like the idea of cx, I came from mountain bikes so love that stuff but I dont have a cx bike. I know this question is open ended but how much would I need to spend not to have a piece of shit but without going too crazy? Im assuming most if not all of the racing is out of town ie non ridable to?

If you search around on the forum there was a big discussion on this last year (I think)

I think if you go used you can make it pretty affordable.

I think the cheapest way to do it:

find a used aluminum frame that fits
find some used shimano 105 or (my preference) sram rival stuff

find durable wheels and splurge on good tires

top it off my searching the buy sell thread for bars, seatposts, etc.

I did it a little fancier and just bought a new bike with sram rival, put me back about $1400.

Van Dessel makes well regarded cross bikes. The bikes pros would ride if they had to buy their own equipment. They cut us a very nice discount, but are a bit pricier. I will be riding a G&T this season.

http://www.vandesselsports.com/?page_id=31

Ashley - Not sure about your size but Eric M is selling his 60cm Van Dessel G&T over on the marketplace thread for $600. Nice bike, good price.

Pretty much all the racing is out of town. Some is trainable but there is also no shortage of cars going to most races from Brooklyn.

Ashley - You can also take public transit to Whirlybird, Staten CX, and Supercross, when they roll around I can post info (but based on the amount of stuff most folks bring, and not wanting to take a train home muddy, most folks drive\carpool).

Ashley, don't worry about rides to CX races. Yes the races are out of town, but there are plenty of drivers and rack space for any racer who wants to go.

if you want to do CX on the cheap, eBay is your friend. You can either build yourself from parts or get a used bike for very cheap via eBay. One thing to spend money on is sealed cables. They're going to save you huge amounts of headaches and miserableness.

Here is a good deal for anyone looking to play with tubulars this season:

http://www.williamscycling.com/CYCLO-CROSS-Alloy-Tubular--TIRE-SPECIAL_p_48.html

Neuvationcycling with discount is a better deal.

@mperlberg / @jules - who / how should I be contacting van dessel? I sent an email to the general email address from their site and haven't gotten a response since Tues (I could give it more time).

Try calling. I think others have had this problem before.

Edwin is the easiest to reach by phone.  Definitely call.

Used stuff:

seems to be a lot of posting on this site, including a $250 lemond steel cross frame which seems sweet to me:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/211715905548876/

and this bike by Matt Cutler:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/3203558800.html

Just talked with Edwin at Van Dessel. Got his blessing to publish prices in the forum. Basically, Kissena gets 35% discount. So, frameset (frame, fork, headset) prices are as follows:

Gin & Trombones (Al frame): $715
Full Tilt Boogie with Van Dessel fork (carbon): $1169
Full Tilt Boogie with Envy composite fork: $1299

there are some options about disc vs cantilever brakes. All I can really remember is that G&T has both on frame and option for one or the other on the fork.

NJ sales tax if you pick it up. $25 shipping with no tax if you live in NY.
Couple of 54 cm carbon frames left, other wise you have to wait until 1st week in Sept for shipment to arrive.

^ - did he mention full bike discount? same / different?

I did not discuss full bikes.

Anybody planning on going to Louisville for worlds?

I mean, besides Ragot who is going to win his masters division.

Craig Zolan - in 2010 he did full bike discounts at the same basic rate (I think mine was 32% or 33% , not 35%) . Assuming nothing has changed (since he has the same deal on frames he has had for a while) , you can probably get that discount % on full bikes as well. 

I am going to watch worlds. Maybe race masters.

Anybody planning on going to Louisville for worlds?

I mean, besides Ragot who is going to win his masters division.

Booked transportation/lodging yet? Relatives? The girl i dated there in 1996 is probably still in hiding.

Nothing booked yet.

We need to see if you are coming. Plus who else is coming? More people equals more fun.

Depends on how long the road trip is but I would be interested in going. 

+1 for Louisville interest. 

It's already in my calendar.  Unless something goes wrong, I'll be there with J. and few others.

Todd