Beginner’s Guide to Cyclo-Cross

PostDateIconSunday, 11 October 2009 15:38 | PostAuthorIconWritten by Tricia Dennison
1.  Just because you’ve had an enjoyable year of cycling and you normally do cross-country races (on foot) at this time of year this does not mean cyclo cross is a good idea. The skills and risks of doing a cross country course on a bicycle are in a different league.

Tricia in action!2.  When Barry suggests that cyclo cross will improve your bike handling skills you need to have some bike handling skills to improve. If you have no bike handling skills to speak of I would recommend that you develop some before entering a cyclo cross for the health & safety of you & the other entrants.

3.  If your idea of fun is to have repeated goes on Oblivion at Alton Towers you have the right mindset. If the thought of plummeting down steep drops onto slippery mud at the bottom doesn’t excite you cyclo cross is not for you.

4.  Cycling on grass is hard work. Cornering on wet, muddy grass requires bike- handling skills (see2). Cornering on gravel ,skidding & falling off hurts

5.  You will need to get on & off your bike during each lap at least once. If you are as flexible as an ironing-board this will be inelegant. Look the other way when an elite cyclo cross rider passes you, hops off, clears an obstacle and hops on again & away in less than 10 seconds. They are just showing off.

6.  Practice well in advance. Don’t badger Barry the week before and have an emergency practice at the Priory the Wednesday before the event where you fall off 3 times and end up covered in blood. Barry is a very good coach. Start nagging him in June

7.  Take Richard Muchmore with you to your first event so when you have fallen off repeatedly in the warm up , are covered in blood and are fighting back the tears you are cheerfully told to get back on the bike and do the race so you can get your £10’s worth. Sound advice & I didn’t actually fall off in the race!

Seriously though in three races I have progressed from being a quivering wreck to thoroughly enjoying these events. They are held throughout the Eastern region & there are different categories. Veterans and women go off first & are joined by the youth category after 10mins. The youngsters go next and finally the seniors /elite veteran category.

The courses consist of laps of around 1.25 miles that you repeat until the leader finishes around 40minutes. You always finish the lap you are on. The league is very friendly, even more than the running events. I found the first event pretty terrifying but you soon get the hang of it and I’m hooked now. I am one of the slowest and there are very few women in it but it doesn’t matter where you finish. It is a fabulous way to keep fit in winter – very hard work!

 

 

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Last Updated (Sunday, 11 October 2009 19:13)