Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Cyclocross in the flatlands

And so it begins again. Another 'cross season has started. After missing the first round of the Lincolnshire League last week to do the Sherwood XC race, my season has begun. Time to remember the pain and joy of racing once more. So Sunday saw me lining up at RAF Cranwell on a sunny (too hot) Sunday with 50+ others to blast around in the dust.







A long course including a steep gravel descent, horrid run up and some nice singletrack through the woods took its toll on me, especially combined with the hot weather. By my last lap I had finally got back into riding a cross bike, able to jump off and on smoothly and handle the twitchy bike through the woods and over roots with only 35mm tyres and without 130mm of suspension fork.

I got an absolute beasting but remembered why i enjoy cross. It hurts but there is always someone to have a race with. Hopefully now I have remembered how much I need to push, and can move up a couple of places next time.

For contrast, this weekend will be Dusk til Dawn, and after missing last years mudfest due to injury, I am looking forward to it. Am taking the singlespeed (with a low gear) and aiming to enjoy it.


I did also get asked where my friends were (after the other Fig Rolls came cross racing at Christmas) I said they all thought it was too fast and had been scared off...

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