Psimet2001 

+1 - It was STICKY. One of the slowest energy draining courses I have ridden cross on. I started to ride in the grass out of the race line because it was faster in most sections.

If you don't want to puke on a cross bike then you're not doing it right.

What group did you race in BTW - and next time say hey....

John Wilke

Give 'em time, they'll be posted there.

I drove up to Grafton this morning to take a look at Lime Kiln Park, the NEW site for the next WCA 'Cross race (https://www.badgerveloclub.com/untitled1.html). It's very cool. Right on the river and has a pretty good climb. I shot some video and will get that posted real quick.

As I was rolling out of town, listening to some vintage Steppen Wolf , I stopped for gas and just as I started pumping I noticed a Grafton PD cruiser pulled up next to me .

"Hey John !" Huh? He knows me?

It was Speedster 22 stopping by to say hi! He's a frequent poster here, but we haven't heard much from him lately, not since ToAD. He'll be there to watch his first ever CX race. It was good to have a short chat with him.

Looking good officer!

Cromulent

Oh, right. Patience. I could employ that.

John Wilke

No results yet, but photos are posted!

slim_77

Yeah, I did the same thing. it made a huge difference.

Man, I really like this cyclocross thing...next time I'm like going to make an effort at the start rather than just following people. What was most interesting was the warmup I took--I was waaaaaay more sketchy then than doing the same turns at twice the speed. I really love my adrenal gland.

I finished 9th in the b's. Almost 10th, a guy from DogFish and I were trading spots on the last lap then in teh mud he slid out just ahead of me and I was able to continue for 9th--he finished 10th. I think he would have held me off.

I also grabbed my frist dollar hand-up/prime...what are they called? It was off the zipper of some guy...sine we became intimate I feel like I should have at least gotten his name.

Didn't see any bacon though...

John Wilke

Lapham Video: https://madcross.org/2009/videos/2009...lafield_WI.wmv

(It's pretty good!)

More pix at Madcross.org

Cromulent

Nice photos, John! I'm in there. The expression on my face seems not to betray that I felt like I was dragging myself through an incredibly fun chipper-shredder.

Results are up. Meh. Apparently the guy who won the 4s did so wearing high-top Vans with his clipless pedals. Crazy.

Speedster22

Nice vid John! I'll be that guy (hopefully next year) tripping over the barriers! If I can find something to trip over, leave it to me! lol

3MTA3

i'll be in cincy this weekend sleeping in the back of my '96 volvo wagon... anyone need a split on a hotel room?

John Wilke

That's the spirit!

Psimet2001 

Picture of me at DeKalb. I have posted this just about everywhere but here. Might as well drop it here too. Pretty good pic...of me...

nerobro

So far this is the best shot of me racing. I think. :-)

I ride Cat4b. I'll show up early and try to say hi sometime. You may have a better chance finding me, as I stick out a bit more. ... I really do answer to nerobro...

CyLowe97

You so need a mullet flowing out the back of that helmet.

Psimet2001 

DUDE....I was standing right next to you before you started the race. I was standing along the left side of the starting group - facing all of you guys talking to Nick from xXx and yelling at a few guys in your group that I knew. I noticed the stuffed animal and knew there was a story there.

John Wilke

Which of the three is the real animal?

nerobro

Didn't see the pig on my handlebars?

Go figure. You're Phil? Not that I remember seeing you, I do remember you yelling. :-) Well, now you have a good idea of what i look like, I'll try to find you at dan ryan woods and actually say hi.

Now for the pig... The pig has been traveling. He started in vermont about a year and a half ago. He has been passed from motorcycle rider to motorcycle rider around the US. And canada. He's been to florida, texas, california, colorado, washington... basicly all the states that don't include the midwest. He got passed off at burning man. (seriously, piggy got around...) And I picked him up when he got to des plains.

He'd never been racing. Despite being in the hands of so many motorcyclists. Well, I was going racing, so piggy got to come with. Dorky, I know. He'll be going to Indiana soon.

So.. technical questions.. At Jackson park, I ran 45psi in my tires. I felt like I should have run less air, as the dusty stuff was pretty slick. At dekalb (on 2.1" tires) I ran 25psi. I never bottomed out, but I was in heavy debate as to weather it was the ground, or tires that made the bike feel so slow. Thankfully I've got two people confirming that the ground was soul sucking, so I might have done it right. Though, I'm not sure I'd go any lower, I started feeling the tire rolling at 25psi. About the only place i'm competitive is in corners, so I don't wanna go slower there.

I got advice on another forum, that I should use flats my first couple times out. After jackson I decided that clips and straps suck for CX, and I already know that I pedal to quickly to not have foot retention. I used some cheap platform/spd pedals. I had trouble getting out of the pedals, but I think I'm going to blame the pedals. I'll try it out tomorrow.

I could talk about bikes all day. I should go ride instead.

Speedster22

noob cross question -

found a deal on a used lugged steel single speed that has been built as a cross bike.. I've got some extra parts at home to make it mine, e.g. swapping drop bars for mustache bars that are currently on it and some STI shifters to use for brakes.

Anyways, question is pertaining to racing SS cross - are there a lot of people that do it locally in WI / IL? Gearing recommendations? I've got a high cadence by nature on the road, so I don't believe it would be too big of a deal, but want to send some feelers out there on this one. I could be completely wrong though!

Thanks fellas!

carlosflanders

42*17 is the classic cross gear. 18 T if there are a lot of short steeps, 16T if it's fast and/or bumpy.

I've raced 42*20 before and it was way too slow.

Speedster22

Thanks carlos - hopefully this will work out. Going to meet the new steed this weekend and see if it fits. If not, then I'll have to wait for another good deal!

Psimet2001 

Nope...Rob.

I don't know about mtb tires but I ran in the 35-45psi range all last year on clinchers. I got 1 pinch flat.

This year switching to tubulars...I have been having a hard time finding a sweet spot. I think that may have more to do with the tires I am using on the training set than the pressure.

In general you want to be on the edge of feeling that tire flop in the corners. A lot of riders just use the bottoming out thing as a guide and just get used to the flopping. Personally I find the flopping the most unerving.

I am 178-180 for reference. 33-35 in front, 35-37 in rear.

nerobro

The flop thing isn't really acceptable to me either. I'm going to raise the pressure a bit ;-) We'll see how that goes. That reminds me, mr mountian bike needs some maintenance, and a shorter stem.

John Wilke

Even if it does freeze the next few nights ... with all this rain .... it's gonna be muddy!!

Psimet2001 

Blech.

jbernaeyge

im be racing on saturday at the grafton pumpkincross up in wisco

John Wilke

'Cross without mud is called road racing.