After a load of swithering I decided that today would be my first cyclocross
race. I've been helping setup a youth cycle club and watching (and
occasionally trying) the exercises made me wonder about trying cyclocross.
My first attempt at going off-road was a bit of a shocker, I was amazed at
what passed for a cycle trail in the eyes of the MTBers (I'm a cycle
commuter/ non-competitive road-rider) but surprised too at what my budget
tourer could do despite the mudguards and semi-slicks.
After picking myself up a few times, muddy, sore and wondering where the
others were (it was a night ride too!) I put the cyclocross idea on hold for
a bit.
However time heals and partly due to reading a great first CX report here I
decide just to do it. I convinced myself that putting cyclocross tyres on my
Dawes Horizon would give me enough grip to control the bike. Once I got the
tyres (Conti Speed Kings £14.95 Ed-Bike Co-op) I was kind off committed.
Today was the last chance for me to try a cross this season.
I turned up at the venue this morning early enough to get a few laps in
before the youths' race started. The first "obstacle" was a set of steps
(which went diagonally down a slope) made from vertical wooden planks
holding the earth in a steppy way. There was a 8" smooth track at one side,
further over a steepish drop off, about half way down this track disappears
and have to go onto the steps themselves then there was a short flat bit
before you had a 90 degree left onto a bridge. Are we expected to cycle
this? I thought. Apparantly yes! I ran(1) down the steps on the first
practice before I realised that I would have to ride it eventually so'd
better try in practice. Back to the start then an attempt at these steps
again, I managed down a bit inelegantly. Starting on the narrow side track,
too slow and I'd wobble, too fast and I'd be in dire straits when I hit the
treads, also too heavy on the brakes and I would slide sideways off the
track. I did a couple of practices and survived but I didn't feel in anyway
in control. I should point out that others didn't seem phased by these
steps. I enjoyed the weaving round trees, the tyres gave me confidence here
and I got a better idea of keeping my weight back for gaining traction.
There was very little mud on the course which was a pleasant surprise given
the recent weather.
Before the open event I watched the youths race on the same course, many of
them made the obstacles look easy, the local club riders looked especially
strong.
Off to the start, 'made sure I was right at the back in the wide line up (38
riders I believe), then off. The charge to the first corner was fun, with
the front riders powering ahead, the field started to lengthen and after a
couple of zigzags downhill there was an incline to the top of those steps.
Down the steps carefully with a load of riders in front but had to stop at
the bridge bottle neck. Over the bridge and sharp left up a steep rooty
path, apparantly this is rideable but I never managed it even on 28-32 (yes
28 on the front) due to traction issues. However I was finding that I could
keep with the other back markers and maybe even gain or pass especially on
tarmac. However I would loose bags of time whenever I fluffed a remount
(which I did often) or had to stop because I had a poor line into an
obstacle. I had another one of those "do we go down there?" moments on a
part of the course that I had somehow missed in my practice. A small set of
concrete stairs, at the side a concrete slope with rocks in to make it look
nice. Luckly there was a marshall there who assured me that _was_ the route
and that I should just go straight down the rocks no-brakes, just as well
otherwise I might have bottled it.
I think there were 3 of us competing for the Lanterne Rouge in lap 1 but I
felt I was techically the weakest. I happily stayed at the back as we
finished lap 1 (I was quite chuffed at surviving a lap).
Into lap 2, all the same obstacles but with a bit of tiedness too. I felt I
was getting happier letting the bike cruise round the curves, no constant
covering the brakes. Then up the incline to the top of the steps.
I'm not sure what happened, I think I probably didn't control my speed
enough on the side track, which meant that when I had to go over the treads
themselves the bike was bouncing all over the place. At this point I
probably should have gone sans-brakes and just ridden it out but I tried in
vain to control the bike with gentle (as I thought) braking. Next thing I
knew I had crashed out, bashed my right side and lay winded for a bit, I
didn't feel like getting up for a good while and decided that for me the
race was over. I would have liked to have finished and sort of regretted
pulling out as I watched the real finishers. Much respect to anyone who
completes a cyclocross at their first attempt, also to the youths who did
the same course and AFAIK none had a problem with my Nemesis steps . I'll
try again next year but I need to do some off-road practice especially those
descents.
The Dawes Horizon seemed okay, longer and heavier than a cross bike and
awkward to carry, like a mountain bike. However it doesn't have MTB
benefits, like suspension, disk brakes etc. I think that overall I probably
didn't benefit much from clipless pedals either as it just added to the time
I lost whenever I stopped and restarted, flat pedals may have been better
for me at my level. I guess the more competant riders would need to unclip a
lot less than I did.
Crashing out of the race got me back quicker to my other reason for being
there which was videoing.
I went back to those steps with the camera, partly to get evidence of the
beast that had dumped me out. It was amazing to see how trivial this
obstacle looked when it's not being viewed over a pair of white knuckles. I
videoed a few riders coming down, some came pelting down, only braking in
the last second on the flat before the bridge, others took it more
cautiously. Neither the suspension equipped MTBers nor the crossers seemed
troubled by it at all.
I watched the finish from the other side of the tape, it was won by an
Aussie (Olympian) who sealed his win with a magnificent crowd-pleasing
wheelie over the finish line. Second placed was riding an MTB so I'm not
sure which type of bike had the upper hand.
After the open event it was the primary kids and although their course was
shorter and easier I reckon a fair number would've probably kicked my butt
on the main course given a chance. 'Good to see a big turnout in the
children and youth event.
Cheers
Jim J
(1) or as near a run as I could manage with a bike built for carrying rather
than being carried.