All Discussions Tagged 'noob' - Cyclocross Magazine2024-03-29T07:23:38Zhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=noob&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNeed opinions on a purchase!!tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2016-09-09:1198434:Topic:1722082016-09-09T18:23:08.686ZMichaelhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Michael50
Hello, first off thanks for taking the time to look. Second, I don't know anything about anything yet so any advice would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Finally, I have found a Trek XO1 on Craigslist for $300, in my eyes it's a great deal for my first CX but would like everyone's opinions! However, it's a 57cm and I am 5'10.5" with a 32" inseam 130lbs. I've got long legs so from what I've researched this size frame shouldn't be too big for me as I can make minor adjustments. I just don't…
Hello, first off thanks for taking the time to look. Second, I don't know anything about anything yet so any advice would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Finally, I have found a Trek XO1 on Craigslist for $300, in my eyes it's a great deal for my first CX but would like everyone's opinions! However, it's a 57cm and I am 5'10.5" with a 32" inseam 130lbs. I've got long legs so from what I've researched this size frame shouldn't be too big for me as I can make minor adjustments. I just don't want to buy this bike and end up causing myself pain or buy a bike that's obviously too big. Gran Prix Gloucester Race Report – Race for the Lantern Rougetag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2013-10-04:1198434:Topic:1484292013-10-04T12:56:49.372ZNick DiGangihttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/NicholasDiGangi
<p>Hey Everyone,</p>
<p>I had first CX race this past weekend in Gloucester and wrote a little about it <a href="http://notquitebelgian.com/gran-prix-gloucester-race-report/" target="_blank">here</a>. I had a blast and am looking forward to racing in Providence this weekend.Love to hear any exeperiences or stories about what to expect in Providence. Thanks!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hey Everyone,</p>
<p>I had first CX race this past weekend in Gloucester and wrote a little about it <a href="http://notquitebelgian.com/gran-prix-gloucester-race-report/" target="_blank">here</a>. I had a blast and am looking forward to racing in Providence this weekend.Love to hear any exeperiences or stories about what to expect in Providence. Thanks!</p>
<p></p> Using a Cross bike as your Do-It-All biketag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2013-03-13:1198434:Topic:1412542013-03-13T13:54:19.902ZNick DiGangihttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/NicholasDiGangi
<p>How many people here own a Cross bike as their only bike?</p>
<p>I made the leap last year and am <a href="http://notquitebelgian.com/new-to-cycling-cyclocross-bike-vs-road-bike-part-1/" target="_blank">writing bout my experience</a>. I would love to hear the pro/cons of why you did or didn't make the move (spoiler alert: Money was a huge factor)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.notquitebelgian.com" target="_blank">- NotQuiteNick</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>How many people here own a Cross bike as their only bike?</p>
<p>I made the leap last year and am <a href="http://notquitebelgian.com/new-to-cycling-cyclocross-bike-vs-road-bike-part-1/" target="_blank">writing bout my experience</a>. I would love to hear the pro/cons of why you did or didn't make the move (spoiler alert: Money was a huge factor)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.notquitebelgian.com" target="_blank">- NotQuiteNick</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Cyclocross for Newbs: Lessons Learned Looking Back on My First Seasontag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2013-03-12:1198434:Topic:1405762013-03-12T00:19:35.982ZNick DiGangihttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/NicholasDiGangi
<p>Hey Everyone,</p>
<p>My buddy (and fellow forum member) Seth Lincoln and I started a site dedicated to Cross, Road, Beer and Gear. CX Magazine was kind enough to host one of our articles, so check it out! We would love to hear any feedback you guys have.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cxmagazine.com/cyclocross-newbs-lessons-learned-season" target="_blank">http://www.cxmagazine.com/cyclocross-newbs-lessons-learned-season</a></p>
<p>If you dig it feel free to swing on by to …</p>
<p>Hey Everyone,</p>
<p>My buddy (and fellow forum member) Seth Lincoln and I started a site dedicated to Cross, Road, Beer and Gear. CX Magazine was kind enough to host one of our articles, so check it out! We would love to hear any feedback you guys have.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cxmagazine.com/cyclocross-newbs-lessons-learned-season" target="_blank">http://www.cxmagazine.com/cyclocross-newbs-lessons-learned-season</a></p>
<p>If you dig it feel free to swing on by to <a href="http://www.notquitebelgian.com" target="_blank">Not Quite Belgian</a> for more!</p> wheelset recommendations for a noob?tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-10-12:1198434:Topic:1341862012-10-12T17:35:58.315ZGraham Winterbottomhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/GrahamWinterbottom
<p>Hi there,</p>
<p> This is my first cross season and I love it. I have been eyeing up some new rides but I think I will keep my steel Masi for another season until I am sure that I am ‘in it to win it’.</p>
<p>Until then I am thinking how to realize some weight savings. I have read the article on the site and I am considering a new wheelset and I’m wondering does anyone have any suggestions for a decent clincher set for under $400? I am considering the Fulcrum Racing 7</p>
<p>(I realize…</p>
<p>Hi there,</p>
<p> This is my first cross season and I love it. I have been eyeing up some new rides but I think I will keep my steel Masi for another season until I am sure that I am ‘in it to win it’.</p>
<p>Until then I am thinking how to realize some weight savings. I have read the article on the site and I am considering a new wheelset and I’m wondering does anyone have any suggestions for a decent clincher set for under $400? I am considering the Fulcrum Racing 7</p>
<p>(I realize tubulars are the cross norm but I want the versatility of clinchers to swap with my road bike and to use my existing tire quiver)</p> Noob Cornering and Off-camber help/tipstag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-09-03:1198434:Topic:1316222012-09-03T00:29:54.060ZNick DiGangihttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/NicholasDiGangi
<p>Hi Everyone, complete noob to cx. Ive been riding road for 3 years but never raced. I signed up for a couple cross races this year and just recently completed a clinic with a practice race. The course had a winding uphill off camber section that I must have tried to ride 15 different times at different lines/speeds through out the course of the day and I completely sucked each time. Any one have any pointers as to what I am doing wrong?</p>
<p>Also, I am awful at cornering...I break way too…</p>
<p>Hi Everyone, complete noob to cx. Ive been riding road for 3 years but never raced. I signed up for a couple cross races this year and just recently completed a clinic with a practice race. The course had a winding uphill off camber section that I must have tried to ride 15 different times at different lines/speeds through out the course of the day and I completely sucked each time. Any one have any pointers as to what I am doing wrong?</p>
<p>Also, I am awful at cornering...I break way too much and lost 3 places with every turn. Ive read a bunc h of stuff about cornering but i need some really basic help. like cornering 101. any help would be much appreciated</p>
<p>THANKS!</p> All Condition Tires for 200-pounder?tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-09-19:1198434:Topic:1082572011-09-19T19:04:58.822ZJeffrey Davishttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JeffreyDavis
<p>This is my first post here at CX magazine so thank you to the admin's for approving me. 2011-2012 is my first year cross racing, but i've been a bike rider for many years. I have pretty good bike handling skills but have been working on CX specific training with a couple of friends who are roadies and mtbr's, but started cross racing last year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We're were working on some tight off-camber turns saturday when my back tire repeatedly slipped away from me (enough to send me to…</p>
<p>This is my first post here at CX magazine so thank you to the admin's for approving me. 2011-2012 is my first year cross racing, but i've been a bike rider for many years. I have pretty good bike handling skills but have been working on CX specific training with a couple of friends who are roadies and mtbr's, but started cross racing last year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We're were working on some tight off-camber turns saturday when my back tire repeatedly slipped away from me (enough to send me to the ground each time). My buddy said he was afraid that would happen due to the vittoria cross xg pro's that came with my ridley X-Bow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm a 200lb gym rat (so lots of muscle) and he said that a guy my size might have problems with lots of tires b/c the tread won't grip under my weight and leg strength.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>So here's my question...</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>What are some good tires TO RUN TUBELESS on alex dc19 rims and will tend to slip less under my 200lbs? I will NOT be setting up multiple wheelsets this season (and don't wanna have to reseal multiple tires depending on conditions), so i'd love some help finding a tire that will perform well in many conditions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So far i've read that the kenda slant six, wtb cross wolf, and michelin mud 2's may be a good option for me (though the edge tread on the latter seems like it may not grab enough for my size).</p> Post race clean up.tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-08-22:1198434:Topic:1016352011-08-22T19:36:11.905ZAaron Jhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/AaronJ
<p>Hey all. This will be my first year racing cross. I was wondering something and hoping you all could offer some insight on your methods. What is your choice of post race clean up if no pressure washers are available? If it was a very muddy event, how do spiff yourself up? I've seen some pics of riders using those one gallon handheld garden sprayers and thought that would be perfect. Your thoughts?</p>
<p>Hey all. This will be my first year racing cross. I was wondering something and hoping you all could offer some insight on your methods. What is your choice of post race clean up if no pressure washers are available? If it was a very muddy event, how do spiff yourself up? I've seen some pics of riders using those one gallon handheld garden sprayers and thought that would be perfect. Your thoughts?</p> MORE COWBELL, LESS BRAKE: Things I'm learning... things I have yet to learntag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-11-09:1198434:Topic:730942010-11-09T00:51:12.654ZJ.D. Kimplehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JDKimple423
<p>As this is my first full season of 'cross there's a lot I've been trying to absorb and/or learn. Here's roughly where I am at:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1) <strong>More cowbell, less brake:</strong> I have a habit of trying to go "deep" into a corner (those familiar with auto racing probably get where I'm coming from), brake, and then have to jump on the pedals to get going. Watching others who are kicking my butt shows that they let off a bit sooner but roll through the corner with no brake, or very…</p>
<p>As this is my first full season of 'cross there's a lot I've been trying to absorb and/or learn. Here's roughly where I am at:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1) <strong>More cowbell, less brake:</strong> I have a habit of trying to go "deep" into a corner (those familiar with auto racing probably get where I'm coming from), brake, and then have to jump on the pedals to get going. Watching others who are kicking my butt shows that they let off a bit sooner but roll through the corner with no brake, or very little. Have to work on that</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2) <strong>Less REAR brake:</strong> Ugh. Least weekend I was in second after the first hairpin, down a short fast chute and into the left 180. I grabbed the rear brake and promptly hit the deck, sliding in front of most of the C field. Not a good place to be. I've really had to work on relying more on just the front brake.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>3) <strong>You can take most corners faster than you thought:</strong> If there is some grass, vegetation, or about anything other than loose dirt or stone I'm finding I can really corner faster than I thought possible. Last race I went throught the C race and halfway though the B race before I realized I didn't have to swing so wide for a Right to Left set of 90 degree turns.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>4) <strong>Look where you want to be, not where you're going:</strong> I know, I know. I keep telling this to my teenage boys as they are driving. I should know this. But on the bicycle (not so much on the motorcycle) I have a nasty habit of looking down. "STOP" I tell myself! By looking further through the track I'm seeing that I can cut corners smoother, more arc and less "sharply". I can anticipate gearing better. Let the peripheral vision take care of the close up stuff. Why I have difficulty with this on the bicycle, I don't know.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>5) <strong>Gear big for rough ground</strong>: I took a page from the roadies who ride Paris-Roubaix here. When the ground is bumpy, uneven or rough go to a larger gear. You end up supporting more of your weight with your legs, allowing you to flex and absorb the bumps more. To me, it seems that I am going just as fast as if I'd try to spin like a roadie on the pavement. As well I find that if I spin on the rough stuff I end up bouncing all over the place.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>6) <strong>You can go faster for longer than I thought</strong>: Right after my first race this year I thought I was cooked. But after an hour or so afterwards I really felt like I left some cards on the table. So the next race I tried to remember that and went out harder; went for the holeshot (did really well until we got off the pavement and then I got shelled!), went after whoever was in front, tried to hold off who ever was behind and generally tried to keep a higher pace throughout the race. It worked - I moved up from mid pack (18th-20th) to just outside the top ten in the last two C races.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>7) <strong>You may be stronger than you thought</strong>: Last year I bough a cyclocross bike and promptly swapped out the rear cassette for something with a wider range, lower low gear because that is what I had been used to riding during my long wandering road rides with the steep climbs in them for years. This year I ended up having to get another bike for myself and didn't have the extra scratch to buy even more stuff to recreate my beloved wide and low range gearing so I ended up riding what came stock on that bike. Even up the long steep climbs near my house. And strike me dead if I didn't make it up those hills with the harder gearing. Wow. This was a major revelation to me. I do end up standing more but I'm no more or less tired when I get up the climbs. Which translates pretty well to the race course.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>8) <strong>Stuff to work on</strong>: <em>Off-camber stuff,</em> how to get through it without wiping out. Still trying to nail down tire pressure which I think has some to do with this but I think it's also a matter of picking the right lines and technique. <em>Speed</em> - I just need to work on being faster. Yeah, when I will work on it I don't know but it'd help! And <em>endurance</em> - pushing myself just a little harder for a little longer. Keeping a higher pace in general. Prior to racing this year, I've been happy to tool around at whatever speed. I don't recall what it's close to as I tossed the bike computer years ago. But now, I need to get the acceleration, cruising speed, recovery speed; all these I need to increase somehow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yes, I'm sure intervals and weight lifting and all those sorts of things would help. I'm working on intervals at the local super-secret dirt track that the ATV guys tear up (it's short, about a 2 minute lap depending on how I ride it) with one easy lap, one fast lap, and so on. Or I stitch together a series of steep hills nearby which seems to help some. But most of all, I have to get out there and DO IT.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There is of course more I need to work on than I can identify. So if you race with me and want to point it out, by all means feel free!</p> Cyclocross-Focused teams?tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2009-03-26:1198434:Topic:262002009-03-26T07:09:16.818Zandrewhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/cyclocross
We're calling for names/locations of cycling teams focused on 'cross. There's a growing number of them out there, and it was cool to see a newbie find a 'cross-focused team ( <a href="http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/teams-1">http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/teams-1</a> ) thanks to Mafia Racing. Along with Mafia, Hup, BKB, Crossniacs, Altezza 40, (and probably half of Portland OR), what other amateur cyclocross racing teams are out there? We think it'd also be a great…
We're calling for names/locations of cycling teams focused on 'cross. There's a growing number of them out there, and it was cool to see a newbie find a 'cross-focused team ( <a href="http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/teams-1">http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/teams-1</a> ) thanks to Mafia Racing. Along with Mafia, Hup, BKB, Crossniacs, Altezza 40, (and probably half of Portland OR), what other amateur cyclocross racing teams are out there? We think it'd also be a great resource for newbies or relocated racers. Not looking for road or mtn teams that also do 'cross but teams really built around the racing and culture of 'cross.<br />
<br />
Throw out your names, and if you have a website URL and contact person, that'd be awesome. We might just do a profile on them!