12strings

First race is Sept. 9.

8/21:
-interval workouts going well.
-off-road turning and bike handling practice going well.
-dismounting and remounting going OK.
-DECISION: After several weeks of trying different things, I have decided to NOT attempt shouldering the bike during my race. For the following reasons:
1. My bike is not designed for it, with a slanted top-tube (less elbow room), and brake cable under the too tube (shoulder pain).
2. I can't do it quickly, and even when I get it up there, ita not as comfortable to run adjust holding the bike like I would with barriers. If I ever get a proper cyclocross bike,I'll reconsider.

redlude97

running a bike up a hill is very hard to the side. You can do the hand shoulder technique too where you don't let go of the top tube

CafeVelo

If your top tube is low enough, consider carrying the bike under your arm, holding the downtube. Due to an obnoxious saddle height (I'm all leg), that's the only way I can carry without hitting my head on the saddle.

Abe_Froman

I'm still planning on doing the race on 9/10. I think your training is probably ahead of mine haha. I HAVE done a couple of interval sessions, but haven't gotten cross tires on the bike yet. I use it for commuting and for most of my road miles. I'll probably swap tires the weekend before the race and spend a couple hours practicing in the park, just so I have some sort of idea how hard I can push corners without biting it

12strings

Yep, my master plan for easy wheel swapping came together last February with some new purchases, an it's worked great ever since:

For road:
-new fulcrum racing 7 wheels,
-new ultegra 9-speed 12-27 cassette (bike has Sora shifter and derralleurs
-used (by me) 25mm road tires.

For cross:
-stock wheelset
-stock cassette (11-28)
-new 30mm cross tires.

It's great, super easy wheel switches, same outer rim width and similar spaced cassettes means no brake adjustments (rim brakes) or even rear derrailerus adjustments are needed. I generally ride road during the week, and take the bike out for some off-road work on Saturday. So I switch them out and back once a week. It's probably a 3- minute switch, 1 minute for the front wheel, and 2 minutes for the back.

The new wheels, cassette, and tires cost about $250 total, and bow I basically have 2 bike capabilities...Best bike investment I've made, other than the bike itself.

12strings

Follow-up... for a first timer, is it worth it to bring my extra road wheels (with 25mm road tires) as extra wheels, or should I just not worry about it and assume if I get a flat I'll just be done?

(I'm not going to buy a 2ND set of cross tires just for backups...not yet anyway.)

justin1138

Personally... I would NOT use the extra wheels. Not with 25's at least. Every course I've ever ridden would be really harsh with tires that narrow.

Don't go too low on the tire pressure and you should be okay. With the pinch flats at least...

msu2001la

It sucks to flat out and DNF during a CX race, but you have to draw the line somewhere, right?

25mm road tires are going to be fairly worthless. Even if you can avoid pinch flatting, they'll be super hard to handle over bumps and cornering. Definitely not worth it IMO.

You're not alone here. Most Cat 4/5 racers aren't bringing backup wheels to local races. The reason is that even if you do have a backup set, jogging your bike around the course to get back to the pits and doing a mid-race wheel swap (then fiddling with brake and rear derailleur adjustments, if needed...), all while knowing you're likely finishing a lap down (or dead last) anyways is a pretty big effort just to avoid DNF. Unless you're working towards a series points goal, or you've traveled a long ways for a race, or you're an elite level racer with a crew, it's probably best to chalk it up to bad luck and live to race another day.

I will say, this topic runs the entire spectrum. I know a few local masters racers who buy their CX bikes two-at-a-time so they have a backup that matches their A bike. I know several others who keep their old bikes as backups and bring them to races as pit bikes. Many bring multiple wheelsets with different treads so they can determine which works best on the track that day, etc. Like anything else in this sport, someone out there is always taking it way more seriously than you are.

Having said all that, I have two sets of CX wheels (one tubular and one clincher). I use the clinchers for training/commuting and race on the tubulars. I bring the clincher set as a backup to races. I've done around 10 races and never needed them. My local series also has neutral support, which has loads of spare wheels available for anyone who needs them, so my spare set gets left in the car and would only be used if I flatted during warmups/pre-ride.

radripperaj

the 25mm tires have a better chance of getting you hurt than helping you finish the race. I am like MSU. I have a racing tubular set of wheels with a mud on the front and a intermediate on the back. Then for everyday use and training i have a clincher set of wheels. Also this past season I would always bring my tank 29er mountain bike to the race as a pit bike because I was going for points in the series. I never needed it but it was nice to know my day wasnt completely over if i had a mechanical.

Abe_Froman

So, went out for a few miles in the local park. Wow it is tough to ride in grass...couldnt do much better than 13mph or so without putting out some serious effort. This is going to be hard lol.

msu2001la

If you're in the Cat 4/5 race for Caldwell Woods, it should be a pretty fast track this weekend.
Lots of riders earlier in the day will have "mowed the lawn" for you, and it's been dry so no mud.

The early masters races will have to deal with long wet grass (from morning dew) which can feel like riding with the brakes on, plus it gets stuck all over your bike/drivetrain.

Abe_Froman

Yup, Caldwell woods the cat 4/5 at 4pm. Wish me luck, I'm sure I need it lol.

Although...I'm starting to feel slightly better about my chances. I went out last night just for a 30 min spin around one of the bigger parks in my neighborhood...tested tire grip, practiced a few dismounts/mounts. I'm not going to set any land speed records...but I'm getting a bit more confident I wont make a fool of myself

Which is a good thing....bunch of my family recently decided they're going to show up. My little sisters will never let me live it down if I create a spectacular wreck

msu2001la

If that's not enough to make you nervous, Sven Nys and Sven Vanthourenhout will likely be in the crowd spectating!
You're gonna have one of the greatest cyclocross racers of all time heckling and handing out Twizzlers during your race!!

Also if you want to spend $80 on a 3 hour clinic, this might be a good deal. It starts right after the Cat 4/5 race: https://xxxracing.org/thesvens (and no spam, I'm not affiliated with xXx racing)

Also, since they're running this clinic on Saturday I think there's a chance the course will be set up then. I might sneak up there on Sat. afternoon and try to pre-ride it.

msu2001la

Also, good luck! You'll do great, I'm sure.
25 minutes of followed by

Abe_Froman

Thanks. Hey, quick question regarding tires (from what I can gather...probably the most agonized over thing in cyclocross...).

In my brief off road park excursions...I noticed the ride was QUITE bumpy. Not quite so bad I couldnt keep reasonable speed up, but it was rough. Basically I'm wondering if this is normal for cyclocross, or if I've got a major issue with my tire setup. I've got 33mm tires at ~45psi. I'm a bit hesitant of going much lower...I'm 190lbs, and the tires look awfully squishy underneath me already. I'd hate to drop out of my first race halfway through due to a pinch flat.

12strings

I'm no expert, having not yet raced, but I'm riding 30mm clincher tires as a 165lb rider on a 23lb bike. For my grass and gravel practice runs, I've been staring them at 40PSI, then letting a bit out, I may also not pump them up every ride, so I'm sure they get down to 35PS. They do feel and look squishy on the road, but I've had no problems with them. But it is still bumpy on bumpy ground. I'm not sure if I notice a large difference between 35&40 psi.

JeffOYB

have there been any group practices on the actual course? that's the ideal. if you're racing local you might as well get home-field advantage!

for tire pressure, you'll want something where you feel the rim a couple times per lap. ... every course is different and likes different pressures. and, heck, gauges are all relative. go by what works for you then be consistent. (courses and conditions also like different tires but i'm not near that level yet. i tried once using filetreads on a hardpack course and slid too much. i'll stick w allrounders coz i only have intermediate skill.)

you can't compare CX riding to anything else and if you're not on a course you can't compare grass riding or whatever you're doing to CX riding on the course you'll be racing. remember, everyone out there is in the same boat. 13mph means nothing. ride in your "tolerable pain zone" and be happy.

Do you have a mtbike? you could have that as your pit bike. but really very few Cat 5's ever need pit bikes. except for me because i always roll tires in my first race coz I never reglue. ...except for this year! my first race is gonna go awesome! it's this Saturday. Alma GP! ...of course, i have zero CX fitness so there's that. but everyone else is gonna be lame as well. NOT! i also don't have summer road/mtbike fitness. oh well! and this is a power course. the roadies eat it up. who cares! it's fun!

definitely arrange your day so you can PRE-RIDE THE COURSE! ideally pre-ride the sucker still today or tomorrow. PRE-RIDE!!! then during the race work on doing things better each time around. you only have a half-hour so it'll be over w before you can suffer too much for too long. but it'll be fun to try to dial in and relax for the 3 or 4 tires you'll get at each feature.

enjoy!

msu2001la

It's normal for clinchers to feel pretty bouncy and rough. It's one of the main downsides and why you see so many CX racers on tubeless or tubulars.

You should definitely experiment with lower pressures (in a non-race situation) and see how low you can go without bottoming out. I recall going down into the 30's with my clinchers, but I'm a little lighter than you. It also depends on the course and your style of riding too, I think Caldwell may have a small stretch of singletrack mixed in (I might be confusing it with other courses) and there could be roots and stuff that will be a problem if you're rolling too low.

For comparison, I'm typically at around 25psi on my tubulars, and can go a little lower if the course is really bumpy or muddy. I know some guys will run them down below 20psi. You can still pinch flat a tubular, but it's much harder to do so. I've always felt that at some point, the ultra low psi doesn't really help even if you're not bottoming out because the bike starts to handle weird in corners. There's definitely a break point there.

JeffOYB

With lower PSI the tires will smush some and handle a bit differently but can still be fast by the clock -- even tho they might feel slow. You're definitely too low if your tire starts folding over. Again, you don't wanna feel the rim more than 2-3 times per lap.

You also mentioned a problem w shouldering the bike. Many courses don't have any sections that require this. Another good reason to know the course ahead of time. Many courses that do have run-ups are easily done while pushing the bike. Or, as someone else said, leaving your hand on the top tube while shouldering.

I wish we had more shouldering run-ups, that would be cool! I'd love to really hoof it while carrying my bike. But, come to think of it, I don't think we have a single course where we really shouldered the bike. Hmmm. I have a bad memory, though.

msu2001la

The first Chicago race (Caldwell Woods) will have a run-up (it's a steep hill with a barrier at the bottom to force you off the bike). This is one area where shouldering would be helpful, but as long as you can dismount and clear the barrier, you can just push your bike up the hill too if you're not comfortable shouldering it. The hill is maybe 40-50 feet long, so it's not going to make a big difference either way.

Abe Froman, there's a preview page up on the series website with a map of the course. Be sure to take a look: 2017 Caldwell Woods Preview - ChiCrossCup

Abe_Froman

Oh cool thank you. Yeesh that run up is going to be steep. That's a fairly serious hill. Used to be a toboggan run there.

12strings

Today's musings:

1. Driving 2 hours tonight, don't forget anything important!

2. Will my sister-in-law's 13-year old son still think I'm cool after he sees me in my spandex getting ready for the race in the morning?

3. Any sugary food I eat from now until race time will be categorized as "fuel".

hubcyclist

Turns out I'm doing my first race on Sunday. I've been hemming and hawing about it and decided to just do it. I've done road racing, just haven't done it in a couple of years because I can never seem to have my fitness in a place I want it to be. Frankly, it isn't even up to snuff now, I have mostly been rebuilding base and working on sweet spot, like pretty much exclusively, for the past few months, so my ability to suffer above threshold is no where near where it needs to. But for 30mins, I might be able to fake my way through.

I'm actually pretty ill prepared, I have been working on a cheapo build I put together with a free univega frame I picked up off craigslist, and need to get tires and fix the length of housing on one of the brakes. I also have SPD pedals but no cross/mtb shoes (previously used them with my road shoes until I switched to SPD-SL), so I'll be looking cool with running shoes and platform pedals. Hopefully i have some fun regardless and maybe it'll force me to sign up for the tons of other races happening in my area.

Abe_Froman

Hrmm well good news...rode by the course after work...it's not set up yet, but I took a few laps around the area...and it is surprisingly smooth. Much better than other parks i've ridden. Also the hill really isnt that bad. Definitely rideable...but not if I've got to come to a dead stop beforehand. At least not by me.

Abe_Froman

Wow what a blast. Finished 99/125 racers...apparently Sven Nyes was in our race too. Pretty sure he blew by me when I was trying to reseat my wheel in the dropouts after getting clipped/banging it on a tree. Was either DFL, or wothin sniffing distance of it after I got my wheel back in halfway through the first lap. Passed about 20 people the rest of the race....pretty darn happy all things considered. Wheel I rebuilt myself even held up and is true as an arrow!

Was wheezing the whole time. I've got more legs/endurance/power than I need for the cat 4/5...had no problem powering up all the hills where lots of people dismounted and ran up. But cardio was seriously lacking...I sacrificed a ton of speed on the straighter sections due to fear of heart explosion. Being 38 is a ***** lol!

Need to do it again