midschool22

I can't wait for fall to arrive and with it another season of cross. Last year I did my first cross race and I am now smitten with this crazy sport. Hook, line and sinker. There was a feeling of pain and fun I have never experienced in one event. If you have never tried it and are thinking of doing it, just do it.

So, are you missing cross yet?

Andy_K 

Oh yeah. I've been missing it since late November. There's always a discussion about this time of year where people say 'it's muddy in the spring why don't we race cx?' But soon short track mtb season will ease the pain.

simonaway427

I was missing it until yesterday, when I did my first MTB single track ride in 15 yrs. The bug has bitten and am now shopping for a 29'r HT. Cross can wait.

Sourpuss Magee

I miss the racing, but I don't miss the registration fees.

Cynikal 

Totally agree Sourpuss, it's nice to go out and get muddy without paying $35+ to do it.

I'm easing the pain shopping for a new wheelset.

Rumpled

I miss it enough to be racing CX next week at Sea Otter!

Someone's gotta finish last in Cat 4.

eddubal

I did my first ever road race last weekend and it really hit home why I love cross so much and made me miss it even more. Compared to cross, that race was boring an tedious! Maybe I'll try my leg at short track MTB.

The fees don't bother me at all. My wife and daughter love watching the races, so it's a day of family fun for a great price! Compare that to three tickets for an hour's worth of entertainment at a Broadway $how. $35 vs. $350+ not including lunch or dinner. That single hour will cost the same for a season's worth of CX!

Fat Boy

I think I'm going to make a once-a-week cross bike ride mandatory, even during road season.

midschool22

Right on! Does this include some dismounts and re-mounts along with some barrier hopping?

Fat Boy

Off-road and off-ons. If you're not going all the way, then you're just riding a heavy road bike with knobbies.

In comparing myself with the really good bike handlers in the area (think Jon Miller in the old guy group or Brian Lopes in the younger group), I just suck. At one point last year I watched these guys take a steep loose descent, tight 180 turn on loose dirt, then a steep run-up. This was probably a 20 second little area of the course that required no pedaling at all. I bet these guys averaged 10 seconds faster than I did here. They also did it with more efficient movements and less total energy output. You can see they're working, but it looks freakin' effortless. It was just a good wakeup for me. It's not all just pedaling and power. You have to be able to get the other stuff done as well.

Commodus

Yea I really miss it. I see that the same guys who put on the cross series I like do an XC series. So I'm thinking of dusting off my old MTB, but I'm not sure what to do about the ancient fork...can't find parts for it anymore and I'm not sure about riding the courses rigid.

Ah well I'll figure out something. Maybe do some road racing if I can get some more group rides in to brush up my pack riding skills. I do some rando though, so that's keeping me busy for the most part.

Fat Boy

I took the cross bike off road today. It was just a bit over an hour, but I had a ball. 35 psi feels a bunch better than 100 (on the road bike), that's for damned sure.

Oil_LOL

Was feeling depressed about the lack of 'cross these past couple months, but my first weekend racing road, especially my first criterium, has quenched my competitive thirst for the time being, and just doing any sort of racing is just getting me hyped and excited for a new season, not really upset about the last one being over.

Fat Boy

'Cross Wednesday tomorrow. Looking forward to the best ride of the week.

Fat Boy

Fried my legs a little today, but enjoyed myself. Getting just a bit more comfortable going fast on loose stuff and with low speed bike handling. I'm always surprised at how much upper body I use when riding the cross bike hard. My arms and back are both worked...

Rumpled

Raced CX at Sea Otter and indeed I finished last in the 45+ group. Not so fair racing against the current World Champion when I'm only a 4.
The course had too many long straights, but I did like the pump track section and the beer garden barriers - lotsa fun there.

Fat Boy

Good for you for doing it, anyway.

I had my weekly CX outing today. I'm a little fried and a dirty, but it's all good. I know that spending time on the 'cross bike all year is going to help me come race season. I know I'm getting just a little better every time out.

jfmckenna

Just a little incentive to win some of those fee's back



--



$35 really? I think most of the ones I do are $20 and then $5 for an additional race. The big events like UCI races are going to run more but typically not that much for me.

midschool22

Still getting antsy. I even ordered some embro although I'm six to seven months away from needing it.

Rumpled

Yep, out here in California; nothing is cheap. $35 is pretty standard for a normal 45 minute race; sometimes it's more $. Luckily, second races are often $5 - so the average is better for two.

colobrio

Which is to say, "yes."

But in a couple weeks I'll take my 'cross bike off the trainer and start getting in a weekly ride on the dirt, so it's all good. I've got a soft spot for taking the 'cross bike out on (relatively non-rocky) single track. Bonus -as noted by others above - it's good for the skills.

2005trek1200

Careful. The active ingredients in embrocations loose their effectiveness over time. anything over 5-8 months,

Fat Boy

Today was my CX workout for the week. Changed my 'lap' around to include a really nasty run-up. Did a total of 5-5 minute laps and then a bit of road mileage after that. Legs felt good and I didn't crash. Bonus.

kmancrx

I was definitely sad when February rolled around and cross racing was over here in NC. Short track MTB was kinda fun but not quite the same.

The MTB season has started but I don't enjoy racing MTB as much as cross. The state games are this Saturday at the single track right behind my house yet I think I am going to skip them in preference of riding for 3-4 hours with friends. I prefer to ride MTBs with friends rather than race them. Although the 24 hour race was fun, but when it comes to racing cross is the best by far.

Last season was my first season racing cross and it was a blast. It made the winter so much more bearable. $20 per race and $5 for a second race. So I built up a single speed commuter/cross bike junker to have some more fun with. Great thing about cross racing is here the races are short 30 min (CX4), high intensity vomitfest then you are done, beer to follow. My only regret is that I didn't discover it sooner.

midschool22

Picked up some goodies for my other wheels. Is it fall yet?