Cyclocross! - Forum Archive

Nov 11, 2014 at 02:47 AM

dsanos said:

Ok, so I just reg'd for Supercross.......looking for volunteers to wave flags, light flares, shoot at me with water cannons - whatever it takes to keep me from riding off the course two years in a row.....not looking to embarrass myself again, unless I do so in a far more distasteful manner.......

Not sure what you are doing on Friday (teaching probably), before the weekend, but if you could get over to the course to help with set-up, then I'm pretty sure you'll have all the double secret lines dialed in!

Unknown

Nov 11, 2014 at 02:51 AM

BTW, Mill Creek was a blast yesterday....aside from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro once a lap, it had some nice off camber stuff, a swooping left handed drop off, a quick steep section, and some good flats for making up time. We had a small field, only 14, which made every spot gained or lost all the more significant. I was 6th into the hole shot, and felt good. One rookie mistake later (I kicked my crank hopping a barrier and dropped my chain) I found myself quickly in 9th. Being able to pedal up the long climb helped me pick up spots, and we ended up pulling 5 laps in a 35 minute race. All in all, it was a good day for Kissena. I finished in 6th, Harry 7th, and Nelson finished 7th in the 3's. Nice job boys!

Unknown

Nov 11, 2014 at 03:29 AM

Yea, teaching Friday....I can just hear the conversation in my head...."hon, I'm gonna take a half day to help set up for a cyclocross race." After we finish, I'll just keep driving north. Where did I leave my passport? I'll start practicing..."Oh Canada!"

harry bolick

Nov 14, 2014 at 03:52 PM

14nov 2014
re: Sussex CountyCx (SCCX), sunday 16Nov

rented a small car for SCCX, departure from 234 stJamesPl, brooklyn @7:00a...

- room for 1-2 people&bicycles (w/bike rack)

- race start: 10:30a, Mstr 40+ cat4 &cat5; return 1:30-2p.

-harryB;-)
hbolickgmail.com / 718-640-8680

mperlberg

Nov 15, 2014 at 11:53 PM

Kutztown was better than I expected, but not amazing. Still lots of turning but some added power sections, and the pump track thing, which was fine but could have been better.

I got out into the lead group and eventually finished 5th. Best result of he year, I'm happy with it. Todd finished top 20.

mperlberg

Nov 16, 2014 at 01:57 PM

another superprestige race going live in around 9:30 - going to be a slippery nasty one.

http://www.vier.be/streaming/nieuwsbladveldrijden.html

eloy

Nov 16, 2014 at 02:24 PM

congrats!!

harry bolick

Nov 17, 2014 at 01:07 AM

16nov2014
re: SCCX (sussexCo cx)
course/conditions: dry, cold 34dF, over cast, 1st snow shadows, lovely rural venue, power/climbing 60:40.

i raced mstr40+ cat4 :35m (am52yrs) 10:30a, field of 33 w/25 cat 5's -1min. staggered start; JimNelson in race 2nd/3rd row. i linedUp 1st row w/200m +2-3% grade tarmac start to 1st corner.

ok start, unclipped after 50m, reclipped&caught up to top 7 by corner1, &grass single file incline, held position for 1 1/2 lap which was a BiG effort for me including meduim (ouch!) hill climb/ uphill (BiG ouch!!) &crazy slow 4me (ie. jerry's kids runner)double barriers-planks/ and short run-up to a 1/4mi grass lake levey.

I rode well &marked my target Eric Niese 3rd in overall points for NJBA CX Cup series for 1st 2laps...falling behind ALL at each set of barrires and making NO progress on either the Hill Climb or the heavy grass flats!

...by lap3 of 4 Jim Nelson's steady power &superior technique caught me and passed, i passed back but failed to hold, on power&barrier sections, Jim was impressive esp. given that He has just returned to CX late in season after early injuries.

ultimately, finished 11th/33 7s behind JimNelson &30s behind nemesis ericNiese. held onto 4th in NJB CxSeries just off podium.

CX is FUN...but req, training, training, training! +gdLUCK!
-harryB;-)

ps. witnessed power&elegance of a smattering of strong Kiseena's including:
ToddL 5-6th in awesome sprint finish, w/NelsonM @14/13th in killerB's4; a JesseL - survivalist in cat5, JeffA agian on podium 1-2nd PatrickG 4-5th, WesT STRONG as OX in 14th place on way up 3-4 positions on lap 3of5 then toreUp casette&hanger &BrendanR gutting it out for strong finish in his 1st-2nd CX in cat4 C's!;-)
.

Myles

Nov 17, 2014 at 02:28 AM

Oh. This.

waylon-jennings.jpg

Myles

Nov 17, 2014 at 02:29 AM

and this

rickjames.jpg

Myles

Nov 17, 2014 at 02:29 AM

and this

parbo.jpg

Myles

Nov 17, 2014 at 02:33 AM

(burn!)

And this, and this... and this.. and this.. and this...

canyousmellwhattherockiscookin.jpg

I+love+the+smell+of+napalm+in+the+morning.+Smells+_5e431179a589a61f71f96f5c19552e5e.jpg

yardsale.jpg

limopromo.jpg

facebookprofilesmall.jpg

Jules

Nov 17, 2014 at 02:34 AM

WHERE IS MY CHUCK NORRIS POSTER YOU GODLESS COMMIE?!?!?

mperlberg

Nov 17, 2014 at 12:13 PM

Hey Guys,

This Thursday afternoon I'm getting the registration stuff together for a little stapling, binding, and collating party in DUMBO.

Craig Zolan has kindly offered up use of his office at 55 Washington Street in Dumbo.

If you can join us, say around 6:30, it would be very helpful and we can make short work of it.

Reply here or contact me off list if you're able to pitch in. mperlberg@gmail.com

Best,

Michael

Phil Maronilla

Nov 17, 2014 at 10:05 PM

We are still looking for more people to come help with course prep, and day of labor. Anyone? Anyone at all?

The success of this event, means success for Kissena and each member, and to the whole NYC cycling community as a whole. If you're racing anyway, come pick up an axe or shovel or a rake or man a crossing for a couple of hours after.

Sign here https://www.volunteersignup.org/Q9PB4

and here http://www.usacycling.org/forms/waiver.php?url=volunteer_release.pdf

Phil Maronilla

Nov 17, 2014 at 10:08 PM

I guess I should mention the above pertains to SuperCross!!

Brendan Rigby

Nov 18, 2014 at 01:08 AM

So I had my first cyclocross race the other day and wow! My learning curve is steep. Yours may vary. Discovered a couple of things:

initial separations matter because gaps are harder to close. there are a lot more variables along a given length of race...more turns, more dismounts, etc. more opportunities to do something on your bicycle right or wrong in a way that subtracts or adds time.
don't sit in! the gap is probably just going to get bigger and you're not getting a benefit from drafting, at least on some courses. not only is there no benefit to drafting, but there seems little cost to passing. it's not like you're pulling for the guy behind you...he has to brake when you do, more or less, depending on that particular stretch.
turning technique is crucial, practice is more necessary than on the road (on the road you can ride in a straight line for a while 4-7 days a week and as long as you do enough watts you're more or less set to race. not so in cross). this does not bode well for me as I don't live next to Cunningham. if you don't know how to corner you will waste a lot of energy, a la crit racing, and drift slowly backwards
everyone loves watching videos of you fall on your ass (based on my test group of 3 coworkers)
what I thought was low tire pressure is apparently not (30/32 with clement pdx clinchers)

I dread the day when I land on my top tube. Didn't do that this time, but I did have an awkward moment. I tried to remount, missed the seat but landed my right insole on the pedal, hovered over the top tube while feverishly mashing my unclipped feet in circles, and savored my exhaustion for what felt like eternity.

Overall I had a great experience and am perfectly content with my perfectly middling result: 12/24. I ended the race with a little too much in the tank (which is odd because I think I redlined for 75% of the race) and only fell off my bike once. I see many places to improve. Patrick asked me how I felt about my decision to buy a cross bike before ever racing cross. Would I do it again? A thousand times yes!

mperlberg

Nov 18, 2014 at 02:14 AM

@ Brendan.

How much do you weigh? That tire pressure sounds reasonable to me. I weight in a 172lbs right now and run 23/25 for tubulars. The tubular - clincher difference is pretty huge though. I've flatted 4 times training on clinchers at semi low pressure this year, and 0 times on tubbies.

Phil Maronilla

Nov 18, 2014 at 03:29 AM

But it was fun, right Brendan?

Brendan Rigby

Nov 18, 2014 at 11:16 AM

mike: I'm 155ish.

phil: IT WAS SO FUN

mperlberg

Nov 18, 2014 at 11:41 AM

mike: I'm 155ish.

phil: IT WAS SO FUN

You could probably go just a hair under 30 but I wouldn't push it too much further.

dstokes

Nov 18, 2014 at 07:15 PM

Depends on the course. Roots and rocks increase potential for pinch flats. Grassy crits are more forgiving.

Rick Perner

Nov 18, 2014 at 07:18 PM

Depends on the tire too. You can run a higher volume tire lower. Clement PDXs have a lot more volume as compared to say a Michelin Mud 2

eloy

Nov 18, 2014 at 10:09 PM

As mentioned, depends on rider, tire, terrain, mud, and even mood.

30/32 is not particularly high, but the gist is: if it felt high, go lower.

a couple of PSI 27/28 could be all you need.

That's what pre-riding is for, hitting the rim on lots rocks and roots, fast dry course? then up it... lots of slipping? then lower it.

My personal rule is to allow for one section where the rim hits whatever it is that it hits. Your mileage will vary.

Is not unusual for pro-riders to have to re-learn pressure and how to drive when they change tire sponsors.

You are basically going thru that process --- including all the other skills --- trust your instincts, push and experiment. It is gonna be awesome.

To illustrate, here's JP hitting his rim at SuperCross 2010.

Jules

Nov 18, 2014 at 10:19 PM

OUCH!

eragot

Nov 19, 2014 at 12:55 AM

Why is he in the drops going up the stairs!

Jules

Nov 19, 2014 at 01:17 AM

Testing rims?

Marc Bertucco

Nov 19, 2014 at 02:48 AM

eragot said:

Why is he in the drops going up the stairs!

The answer to this question is easy...because JP will always ride the drops regardless of conditions, terrain, etc.

The more puzzling question, is why hasn't Ragot signed up for Supercross? I'm pretty sure that Dave Sommerville would like more than just Edward Nessen representing the skittles rainbow at the only UCI CX race within 3000 miles this weekend. #zing #kittens #signupalready

eragot

Nov 19, 2014 at 03:41 AM

I'll be there for course reset. Time to take Luka to soccer. I'd do the elite race if the UCI license were good for next year.

Its time to hang it up . It has been a really good CX season.

mugwump

Nov 19, 2014 at 04:03 AM

eloy said:
To illustrate, here's JP hitting his rim at SuperCross 2010.

Why?

First, the rim. No damage.

Second, stairs. I did the whole set on several occasions. I saw Myles do it and figured I could manage it as well. Everyone should try. Great skills practice.

Third, better wrist position. I find it easier to pull the bike up from the drops. I also am more centered over the bike,which I find better for control.

Fourth, I should hire Eloy as my personal photographer.

(eloy, can I get a copy of this from you--for personal use only and happy to give attribution regardless)