Cyclocross! the other "Off-Road"

[JayT]

Miss the excitement of an off-road race series? Think the competitive season is over for the year? Think again! The cyclocross season has arrived!!

<center>http://www.mcf.net/images/CRY.JPG</center> (http://www.mcf.net)

Check out all the action of the Cyclocross Rider of the Year Series (CRY Series) at the Minnesota Cycling Federation web site. (http://www.mcf.net)

In addition to the Cry Series and new for this year is the Wednesday night (5 of them!) Under the Lights series at French Regional Park in Plymouth, MN. (http://www.mcf.net/pdf_files/WedNightCX.pdf) Promoted by MN Junior Cycling this series is being run as an introduction to cyclocross. There will be a clinic run by the Alan Factory Team from 5 to 6pm followed at 6:30pm by a 15-minute beginners race, and then, a 40-minute open race at 7pm.

The Wednesday night races are a great opportunity to give cyclocross a try <b>or</b> to tune up for the weekend CRY series.

Visit the MCF (http://www.mcf.net) web site for full details.

<b>Please note:</b> Off-road cycling is <b>not</b> typically permitted at French Regional Park. The Wednesday Series is being held by special permit authorized by Three Rivers Park District.

[SPR]

Cyclocross is a blast, did it some years back.
Be prepared to catch some flack if you show up on any kind of suspension mountain bike. But beyond that it is quite fun.

[ostertoaster85]

So what are the rules for what kind of bike you can use for cyclocross.

In fact, how exactly does cyclocross work. I've been racing xc this summer and I just started bike commuting to school. Some kind of competive riding in the next couple of months could be cool.

[nigel]

From what I know, you can use a mtn bike as long as you dont have bar ends on it, and you have bar plugs in the end. I know tons o' folks that use Unicoggers too.

[mtnbykr]

www.cyclingnews.com (http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross/?id=faq )

www.cyclocrossworld.com (http://www.cyclocrossworld.com)

roadbikereview.com cyclocross discussion (http://forums.consumerreview.com/crforum?13@@.ee7b574!RANDOM=1060795)

minnesota cx scene (http://www.mcf.net/cgi-bin/RaceCalendar.cgi)

that should get you started....

k

[ostertoaster85]

Thanks for the links. That helps. I'm thinking about trying it out now. It sounds like fun.

[SickBoy]

25 minutes into a cx race.... mud in the cleats, trippin over barriers... the HAPPIEST place on earth. :)

And don't worry about doing it on a MTB. Makes no difference in the B/C race levels.

[mtnbykr]

"Makes no difference in the B/C race levels."

andy's right. just take off your barends, air up your tires for less rolling resistance and have "fun". you'll probably be faster on your mtb the first year or 3 than on a cx bike. if you get serious about 'cross, then buy a real 'cross bike. tons of them on ebay.

any more questions, let us know :)
k

[ostertoaster85]

So if I've been finishing about midpack in the sport class this summer racing xc, what class should I be racing for cyclocross?

[mtnbykr]

do the b race. you should have enough fitness.

try to goto the training races the mcf is putting on during the week. those should give you a good indication where you'll fit and you can work on your dismounts w/o the pressure of a race.

good luck, let me know how you like it....

k

[SickBoy]

Yeah, dave, and if I remeber right I remember seeing you at the MTB races with clip/strap pedals. These are a serious liability in cx, since you get on and off the bike so much... I would either remove the straps and just ride flats or else take the dive and go for some clipless pedals and shoes.

Time Pedals are the best in mud, some say the Crank Brothers pedals are good in mud as well. I'm afraid of them because the platform is so small and they might give me hot spots on my feet. Pedals that are good in mud are worth their weight in gold in MTB as well as cross. Believe me, I rode Ritcheys for six seasons and then switched to Times last winter. I had no idea the difference in ease of entry in mud and snow and ice was so great.

[ostertoaster85]

I was just thinking that myself. My clip/straps slow me down enough during xc starts. I think that they would totally kill me in cx. I was thinking about getting eggbeaters. I can get new ones for really cheap on ebay.

[SickBoy]

Yah, the one thing I'll say about the Crank Bros. pedals is that if you get 'em, get good shoes with stiff soles. That would compensate for the small platform.

The reason you never see Times on ebay is because no one who knows how good they are ever sells theirs.... :D

[ostertoaster85]

Actually, I just checked, and there are more Times on ebay than eggbeaters. Heh heh heh.

I wonder if this means that it would be easier to get a good deal on Times. Maybe I'll get those instead.

[mtnbykr]

go w/ the times.

[i have 5 pair....]

k