Tips for noobs? - Cyclocross Magazine2024-03-29T00:04:02Zhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/tips-for-noobs?commentId=1198434%3AComment%3A94186&feed=yes&xn_auth=noLower your tire pressure to w…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-07-08:1198434:Comment:954542011-07-08T19:46:08.207ZJ.D. Kimplehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JDKimple423
Lower your tire pressure to where you might hit the rim once or twice during a lap. You'll need the tire bite in the corners and muddy/loose sections. Also, don't fret about specific tires. Tread makes less difference than pressure and riding style. Get a decent set of clinchers and go (Even tho I'm a clincher tire slut... I know, I know).<br />
<br />
Try to follow someone faster than you for a lap. See where they are getting a gap on you, and work on it (in my case it's tight corners).<br />
<br />
Practice…
Lower your tire pressure to where you might hit the rim once or twice during a lap. You'll need the tire bite in the corners and muddy/loose sections. Also, don't fret about specific tires. Tread makes less difference than pressure and riding style. Get a decent set of clinchers and go (Even tho I'm a clincher tire slut... I know, I know).<br />
<br />
Try to follow someone faster than you for a lap. See where they are getting a gap on you, and work on it (in my case it's tight corners).<br />
<br />
Practice dismounts and remounts. And practice. Then practice more.<br />
<br />
If you can talk during the race you're not going fast enough! (See rule #1 in an above posting). As well, right after your first lap you'll be gasping for breath and curse yourself for doing such a thing. 15 minutes later you'll want to go again.<br />
<br />
Pre-ride the course, get there early enough to do a couple of laps. Sometimes the line everyone else is using is not the fastest for YOU. Sometimes the hill that everyone's struggling to ride up/down is actually faster to run. Being faster beats shame.<br />
<br />
If the local club/promoters are putting on a clinic, go to it.<br />
<br />
Learn to countersteer. Look through the corners, not down at them.<br />
<br />
Join the mailing list/group/FB listing of the group putting on the series. And if they need help setting up the course, do it! #1 - that will generally let you race for free. #2) You'll make friends with the main crew. Definite benefit - guess who will be rooting for you? #3) because they NEED it!<br />
<br />
Most of all, get off your butt and go do it! Have fun! The cross group is usually more laid back than other groups. Tips for your first CX race/s…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-07-08:1198434:Comment:954512011-07-08T17:48:16.413ZDavid whitlockhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Davidwhitlock
Tips for your first CX race/season.<br></br>
<br></br>
1)At some point during the race you will want to puke - this will pass.<br></br>
2)At some point during the race season you may start to feel rather cocky about you CX riding skills, just keep this in mind - There are bearded old men on a steel bikes with racks/fenders who can lap you.<br></br>
3)You should try and bunny hop barriers - the crowds love this.<br></br>
4)If, at the Maris Farm, Wa race someone offers you a shot of Old Crow at 7am - take it! They…
Tips for your first CX race/season.<br/>
<br/>
1)At some point during the race you will want to puke - this will pass.<br/>
2)At some point during the race season you may start to feel rather cocky about you CX riding skills, just keep this in mind - There are bearded old men on a steel bikes with racks/fenders who can lap you.<br/>
3)You should try and bunny hop barriers - the crowds love this.<br/>
4)If, at the Maris Farm, Wa race someone offers you a shot of Old Crow at 7am - take it! They know more about the course than you do (see tip #1).<br/>
5)Cyclocross is pain leaving the body.<br/>
6)Warm up well! before the race - you will hit your anaerobic threshold about 3 seconds after the race starts (see tip #1).<br/>
7)When hitting a sand pit at full speed - lean wayyyyyy back, if you don't - the crowds love this too.<br/>
8)If someone offers you bacon during the race - take it (there is nothing more thrust quenching than bacon -see tip # 1)<br/>
9)Bring muck boots to the race.<br/>
10)If your thinking about repurposing that shiney SRAM Red group from your sweet $5,000 road bike, just to see if you like cross, imagine someone dragging/kicking your shiny carbon components in a burlap sac down a wet/muddy gravel road in the rain. I'm just a master's mid-pack…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-29:1198434:Comment:943672011-06-29T19:22:50.990ZZenNMotionhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/ZenNMotion
<p>I'm just a master's mid-pack hack, but FWIW, I choose carefully but don't worry much about the bike and components. I like to keep it cheap and reliable and easy to maintain, my equipment doesn't help or hinder my racing as long as it's adjusted properly, properly lubed (components) adjusted and glued (tires).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I had the pleasure recently of spending the weekend with both the illustrious Mike Zanconato and venerable Richard Sachs including a few fun hot laps of a Zank…</p>
<p>I'm just a master's mid-pack hack, but FWIW, I choose carefully but don't worry much about the bike and components. I like to keep it cheap and reliable and easy to maintain, my equipment doesn't help or hinder my racing as long as it's adjusted properly, properly lubed (components) adjusted and glued (tires).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I had the pleasure recently of spending the weekend with both the illustrious Mike Zanconato and venerable Richard Sachs including a few fun hot laps of a Zank designed cross course with some other plebians. Both of these guys have forgotten much more than I'll ever know about cross bikes. And despite their experience in building some of the best designed most beautiful cross bikes on the planet, their message about the bike? "In a cross race, you won't be thinking about the size of your top tube, or your components or your bike at all..." My interpretation- it's not about the bike. Ride what you like, but just RIDE! I should stop there, because that's all that's important. But I'm a (cheap) cross bike geek too, so here's what I like. But really, stop reading here, it doesn't matter...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>'ve been racing since 04 (12-20 events/year) on Shimano 8 speed Ultegra/105, the last couple of years mixed with Campy Veloce 10sp shifters. Because it's cheap to replace stuff, it works as well as anything, mud and grass friendly cog spacing and tougher chains compared to 10sp. I prefer compact cranks 36-46 or 34-44 (If 34-44 is enough gear for Katie C it's more than enough for me!)- I can turn over higher, but I'm slower. Wide profile cantis with threaded (MTB Vbrake style) brake pad posts are easier to set up and adjust so Tektro CR720, Kore, or Paul brakes rather than TRP smooth post style brakes- they all work fine once adjusted properly with good pad material (Kool stop multi or salmon colored). Brakes mounted moto- left lever = rear for smoother dismounts. Your first CX season is fine on clinchers or tubeless- your skills will be by far the limiting factor rather than tire choice in the beginning. I like Michelin Muds or Mud front/Mich Jet rear as an all-around combination mounted on something like Mavic Open Pro rims- if I had one set of wheels and they were clincher, that would be what I raced all season. Later, you'll like tubular tires- I'm not an enthusiastic tubeless convert yet for cross. Velocity Major Tom tubular rims rock for cross because they're wider with a basetape channel and reasonable cost compared to carbon wheel sets- I like aluminum brake surfaces and I like not worrying about what a mishap or crash might cost me in a busted wheel. Challenge Grifo or Fangos as go-to tires for everything but mud, I like the new Vittoria XM's for mud, never tried Dugasts or FMBs because of the expense. Haven't liked Tufos although I haven't tried the higher end Flexus models. I like having a pit bike but don't really NEED it at my level.</p> It depends. Assuming your ob…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-29:1198434:Comment:941082011-06-29T18:37:38.470ZZenNMotionhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/ZenNMotion
It depends. Assuming your objective is to gain skills and speed, you're best racing with others who push your limits. Your progress will be slower if you are not challenged to stay toward the front of the easier field, and you will not really get better by riding your own race by yourself near the back of a field that you can't hope to stick with. Struggling to stay with a field, watching the lines they take, trying different transition styles, challenging through the technical sections with…
It depends. Assuming your objective is to gain skills and speed, you're best racing with others who push your limits. Your progress will be slower if you are not challenged to stay toward the front of the easier field, and you will not really get better by riding your own race by yourself near the back of a field that you can't hope to stick with. Struggling to stay with a field, watching the lines they take, trying different transition styles, challenging through the technical sections with riders a little better than you is the sweet spot for improving IMO. Riders with experience in other (road, MTB, track, Tri) events are usually surprised at the level of difficulty and skills required for cross in their first few events. It IS different. The learning curve for these people is pretty steep though, it doesn't take long before they're at or near their respective level in their other events. For riders below Cat 2/Expert in other events, I'd do a CX race or two at beginner/Cat 4 level to get your feet muddy, then see how it goes. If you're placing in the front half of the lower race then upgrade to the Cat 3/"B" races, or do a few more beginner races if you want, but don't get too comfortable and cocky- the sooner you upgrade the faster you'll improve. If you have the fitness, I'd consider doing both the lower and higher category races, especially if you have a bit of a break between them, you should be able to stick out a few laps with the later (higher cat) race and get the experience of a few faster laps before you explode. Then you can puke and go get a beer knowing you worked as hard as anyone on the day. how about how to decide on a…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-29:1198434:Comment:941862011-06-29T07:20:17.072ZCyclocross Magazinehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/cxm
how about how to decide on a category, if you're new-ish to cx but accomplished on the road or on fat tires?
how about how to decide on a category, if you're new-ish to cx but accomplished on the road or on fat tires? And while I'm at it, howabout…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-28:1198434:Comment:941782011-06-28T23:47:34.807ZSloniehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Slonie
And while I'm at it, howabout "don't look at too many dramatic photos of racers caught in the instant of a high-flying remount" before learning how to do it. That image tends to exaggerate the motion. It's much closer to stepping onto your bike than taking a flying leap...
And while I'm at it, howabout "don't look at too many dramatic photos of racers caught in the instant of a high-flying remount" before learning how to do it. That image tends to exaggerate the motion. It's much closer to stepping onto your bike than taking a flying leap... Noob tip: No baggy shorts, it…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-28:1198434:Comment:943632011-06-28T23:44:18.159ZSloniehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Slonie
<p>Noob tip: No baggy shorts, it's going to mess with your remounts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(and yes, I was wearing MTB shorts when I first started)</p>
<p>Noob tip: No baggy shorts, it's going to mess with your remounts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(and yes, I was wearing MTB shorts when I first started)</p> All of these are such great i…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-28:1198434:Comment:940832011-06-28T12:16:08.541ZMolly Hurfordhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/MollyHurford
All of these are such great ideas, thanks a lot! I think the first few responses lead up to an article about what you can/can't legally do in a CX race. And profiling elite components/talking about what's out there is a great point. Little tips and tricks to improve your racing as another great idea as well. Thanks everyone, and keep the ideas/questions coming!
All of these are such great ideas, thanks a lot! I think the first few responses lead up to an article about what you can/can't legally do in a CX race. And profiling elite components/talking about what's out there is a great point. Little tips and tricks to improve your racing as another great idea as well. Thanks everyone, and keep the ideas/questions coming! Also their are so good little…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-28:1198434:Comment:943472011-06-28T03:39:29.927ZNolan Van Dinehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/NolanVanDine
<p>Also their are so good little trick out there like putting griptape on your shifter levers, and top tube.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also their are so good little trick out there like putting griptape on your shifter levers, and top tube.</p>
<p> </p> I think it would help noobs i…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2011-06-28:1198434:Comment:942662011-06-28T02:58:18.727Zrobert garnerhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/robertgarner
I think it would help noobs if you profiled some of the more elite/seasoned cx'ers bikes and components, why they choose what they have, etc.
I think it would help noobs if you profiled some of the more elite/seasoned cx'ers bikes and components, why they choose what they have, etc.