Oh, my. I just need a little advice!

[vilelamb]

Hey there,

I just got an e-mail to do a cyclocross race. They want total beginners (women) to race and if 15+ women show up, one of the women will win a brand new cyclocross bike in a random drawing. I have never cyclocrossed before and I just recently took up road cycling recreationally over the summer (July). This race is on Nov. 19 and I was wondering how much experience/training a person requires to do a category C race?

[jfmckenna]

No experience necessary please enquire within :)

1 out of 15 is good odds even if you have to walk the whole course. I would say some time this week you ought to find a nice field you can ride on and just ride around on it as fast as you can for 30 minutes. Make sure you get off the bike and run about 20 ft or so for each lap. Show up to the race early and do a few warm up laps if they permit it.

[metal_cowboy]

Before my first cyclocross race, the only thing that I "trained" to do, was the dismounting and mounting of my bike. For most people this is a piece of cake, but at 6'4", it took me a while to get the hang of it. Other than that, I would recommend that you make sure all your equipment is in good working and you get to the race early enough to ride at least one practice lap.
Just remember to have fun.

http://mikuna.image.pbase.com/u38/turnert/small/40260440.DSC_0249.jpg

[oldskoolboarder]

Surf City!! I'm trying to convince the wife. She's done one tri sprint, otherwise, no outdoor biking. Just time on the trainer.

Practice on the course may be tough since this is a USGP race and the men's C's is just before this. Practice on a field before that day and just have fun and cross (HA) your fingers on the raffle. That propad is nice.