Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 8 Location: North Ogden
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:24 pm Post subject: 1st time racer
Just signed up for the race at Wheeler. I have never raced before but it looks like a blast. I will be riding a 29er that I put a rigid fork on and, also put on some cross tires. Just looking for any advise or tricks that could help a newbie out in the race. Anything will help thanks _________________ Get out and live!!!
Get your gear ready the night before so you can be there by 8:30 at the latest. You have to sign a waiver before the race and get your number plate. Get a good warm up and lastly join team Clammy Chamois. Josh has promised brats this week. I'll bring some non-alcoholic beverages so we can rest and eat while watching the next group of racers. _________________ http://crossthemountains.blogspot.com/
Go fast. When you feel tired, keep going fast. That's about it.
I'm pretty serious about that. I raced my first three cross races this year and have done pretty well. I think your first mistake might be putting cross tires on a mountain bike. I tried a cross tire on the back for the
Draper race. I'm going back to my mtn tires.
Here are some observations of cross racing from a humble mtn biker's perspective:
1. most crossers on a cross bike corner like grandma using her walker. I think it has a lot to do with the dumb drop bars they use. I saw one guy in men b using a flat bar. He's smart, corners fast and won last Saturday. On your mtn bike, take the corners faster and tighter and you'll pass the pure crossers.
2. when you get in a fast section of the course draft. Pass just before it gets to a more technical section. The crossers often slow down there.
3. I have noticed many racers hop off their bike before a barrier way too early. Practice hopping off and seeing how close you can be to the barrier when you do.
4. You probably know that you have to have tubes with sealant or run tubeless with sealant because of the thorns on the cross courses.
5. In the last race the men A's raced in the mud. I noticed that those using SPD pedals had a harder time getting clipped in after the muddy runup, than the racers who used egg beaters.
6. If I ever build up a cross bike I will build it with only one chainring. One with about a 40 teeth. At Ogden and Heber I only used my big chainring(44 tooth). At draper I used two, but only the large one on the last lap.
Maybe you should ignore all that. After all, I am just a beginner too. _________________ The bike and components really have very little to do with anything. It's 99.9% rider and .1% maintenance(or perhaps .1% who does your maintenance)
if you are running disk brakes be aware that mud will very quickly ruin your pads and disks. cyclocross is very mud friendly but mountain bikes are not.
canti brakes fair much better and stop with confidence in the wet.
bb and hub bearings need to be cleaned and regreased if they get soaked in the mud as well. all that sand and particles are death to them. i run steel gears and cheap bearings/chain on my cross bike for these reasons. _________________ .
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get to know me thru my blog
http://oilcanracer.blogspot.com/
1. most crossers on a cross bike corner like grandma using her walker. I think it has a lot to do with the dumb drop bars they use.
2. when you get in a fast section of the course draft. Pass just before it gets to a more technical section. The crossers often slow down there.
Those would actually be the roadies, riding 'cross. I use this to my advantage because I have a MTB background I tend to handle the corners and technical stuff much better than the roadies that have a much better fitness level than I do.
The drop bars actually allow you to corner better by getting your center of gravity lower. Again, you're probably just getting behind some roadies that aren't used to riding off road and are scared of going down. _________________ http://crossthemountains.blogspot.com/
1. most crossers on a cross bike corner like grandma using her walker. I think it has a lot to do with the dumb drop bars they use. I saw one guy in men b using a flat bar. He's smart, corners fast and won last Saturday. On your mtn bike, take the corners faster and tighter and you'll pass the pure crossers.
He races Pro in the I-Cup, so may be in the wrong category, Actually, racing with drop bars makes my skills go up, and as Hamilton says, most of those are roadies anywho.
tuffguppy wrote:
2. when you get in a fast section of the course draft. Pass just before it gets to a more technical section. The crossers often slow down there.
Again, not all Crossers
tuffguppy wrote:
3. I have noticed many racers hop off their bike before a barrier way too early. Practice hopping off and seeing how close you can be to the barrier when you do.
great idea, until you take a few teeth out on the barrier, never done it, but seen it.
tuffguppy wrote:
4. You probably know that you have to have tubes with sealant or run tubeless with sealant because of the thorns on the cross courses.
or have a spare bike, stimulate the bike economy
tuffguppy wrote:
5. In the last race the men A's raced in the mud. I noticed that those using SPD pedals had a harder time getting clipped in after the muddy runup, than the racers who used egg beaters.
Amen
tuffguppy wrote:
6. If I ever build up a cross bike I will build it with only one chainring. One with about a 40 teeth. At Ogden and Heber I only used my big chainring(44 tooth). At draper I used two, but only the large one on the last lap.
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 317 Location: American Fork, UT
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:07 pm Post subject:
oilcanracer wrote:
if you are running disk brakes be aware that mud will very quickly ruin your pads and disks.
When I started shopping for a cross bike, I was obsessed with getting one with disk tabs. Then I learned that disk brakes are not UCI legal. Utah Cyclocross isn't sanctioned, but I figured I'll probably be recruited to a Belgian pro team soon, so I didn't want to have a non-compliant bike.
As far as other racers and their skills are concerned. I have realized that, especially in the C flights, there really are no "crossers" There are roadies, and there are mountain bikers. And we all race cross.
As a mountain biker, maximize your skills in the gnar. Mud, sand, singletrack, and downhill. Most hard core roadies lack these skills. I usually get stuck swapping places with a guy who's killing me on climbs and flats, then I pass him in the nasty stuff. He usually ends up catching me again, but it feels good to pass him while his front wheel wobbles through the sand.
Another helpful hint: I have found that it is best to carry your bike on your shoulder, regardless of how tired you are on the run-ups. Swing your other arm dramatically, to give your tired legs a little help trudging up the hill. Carrying your bike in your arms, saps a lot of energy, and pushing it up the hill,.....well that just looks sad. _________________ Join us for weekly group rides. Stop in at the Bike Peddler or check out my blog at www.bikepeddlerutah.com/blog/ for information about group rides.
Last edited by BikePeddlerUtah on Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:00 am; edited 1 time in total
if you are running disk brakes be aware that mud will very quickly ruin your pads and disks. cyclocross is very mud friendly but mountain bikes are not.
canti brakes fair much better and stop with confidence in the wet.
bb and hub bearings need to be cleaned and regreased if they get soaked in the mud as well. all that sand and particles are death to them. i run steel gears and cheap bearings/chain on my cross bike for these reasons.
Anytime you run stuff through mud / sand / gunk it is going to wear out faster, and needs a little more TLC afterwards.
I run disk brakes on my cross bike and love them. I find I have better stopping power in every kind of condition. Maybe it is that I just have more to stop _________________ "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be.
There's something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym."
- Bill Nye, the Science Guy
Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 8 Location: North Ogden
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:47 am Post subject:
Thanks for all the replies. Lots of helpful info. I put on 700x32 cross tires, what air pressure should I run? As well if I wanted to join a team, what are the requirements and how do you do that? I look forward to meeting ya'll at the race, thanks for the help. _________________ Get out and live!!!
Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 365 Location: Mountain Fortress
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:49 am Post subject:
BikePeddlerUtah wrote:
I usually get stuck swapping places with a guy who's killing me on climbs and flats, then I pass him in the nasty stuff. He usually ends up catching me again, but it feels good to pass him while his front wheel wobbles through the sand.
HEY... _________________ Big Pig Racing: Commit to the Ride.
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 341 Location: Brigham City Utah
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:22 am Post subject:
To Join UMB Cross Team, just buy a jersey and you are on the team. With the team you get great race support and after race food. Let me know what size of jersey you need and I will have one there for you on Saturday.
To Join UMB Cross Team, just buy a jersey and you are on the team. With the team you get great race support and after race food. Let me know what size of jersey you need and I will have one there for you on Saturday.
Not so fast...Team Clammy Chamois doesn't require a jersey purchase and we'll have brats, right Josh?? _________________ http://crossthemountains.blogspot.com/
To Join UMB Cross Team, just buy a jersey and you are on the team. With the team you get great race support and after race food. Let me know what size of jersey you need and I will have one there for you on Saturday.
Not so fast...Team Clammy Chamois doesn't require a jersey purchase and we'll have brats, right Josh??
Yeah, where are those brats? And are they going to be warm? (Seriously guys, come get some beverages to go with your brats at wheeler.)
UMB Cross Team doesn't require a jersey; it just is easier to spot you for picture taking, water hand off, and on trail support. But I'm sure Clammy Chamois provides all of that too. _________________ "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be.
There's something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym."
- Bill Nye, the Science Guy
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 317 Location: American Fork, UT
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:
Hamilton wrote:
Not so fast...Team Clammy Chamois doesn't require a jersey purchase and we'll have brats, right Josh??
Affirmative on the Brats for Saturday. Come hell or high water.
thesnail wrote:
Hamilton wrote:
. I'll bring some non-alcoholic beverages so we can rest and eat while watching the next group of racers.
thats not really a selling point, of course I wear a sierra nevada brewing jersey.
If it makes you feel any better, I cook the brats in George Killian's Irish Red.
trailgeek wrote:
UMB Cross Team doesn't require a jersey; it just is easier to spot you for picture taking, water hand off, and on trail support. But I'm sure Clammy Chamois provides all of that too..
If I recall, your on-trail support garnered a fall from 2nd place to 30th last week. So if that's the standard,...
Cobes wrote:
I have yet to see the brats I was promised. I provided the cheer section.....
So.....you get a Brat. _________________ Join us for weekly group rides. Stop in at the Bike Peddler or check out my blog at www.bikepeddlerutah.com/blog/ for information about group rides.
UMB Cross Team doesn't require a jersey; it just is easier to spot you for picture taking, water hand off, and on trail support. But I'm sure Clammy Chamois provides all of that too..
If I recall, your on-trail support garnered a fall from 2nd place to 30th last week. So if that's the standard,...
touché...
It was a learning experience; now we have an extra set of wheels for any teammate. (Except me, who runs disk brakes. ) And while the first rider with a flat fell from 2nd to 30th, our next rider with a flat only fell 3 spots. We're quick studies. I mean come on; the video you posted has you running with your bike. At least you had your cheering section. They had bells, right?
BTW, who does your decals? They look very well done... _________________ "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be.
There's something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym."
- Bill Nye, the Science Guy
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 317 Location: American Fork, UT
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:
TrailGeek wrote:
....BTW, who does your decals? They look very well done...
Couldn't tell if that was sarcasm font or not.
Riley from the shop makes all kinds of stickers. He uses his Mom's Cricut Scrapbooking thing.
If he can get it on a computer, he can make a sticker out of it. _________________ Join us for weekly group rides. Stop in at the Bike Peddler or check out my blog at www.bikepeddlerutah.com/blog/ for information about group rides.
Couldn't tell if that was sarcasm font or not.
Riley from the shop makes all kinds of stickers. He uses his Mom's Cricut Scrapbooking thing.
If he can get it on a computer, he can make a sticker out of it.
Totally serious! Thanks! _________________ "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be.
There's something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym."
- Bill Nye, the Science Guy
My wife has a cricut. We'll have to check in to making some decals. _________________ The bike and components really have very little to do with anything. It's 99.9% rider and .1% maintenance(or perhaps .1% who does your maintenance)
Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 8 Location: North Ogden
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:36 am Post subject: first timer racer/experience
Wow what an experience. I had no idea what to expect when I showed up, but it exceeded my expectations I had a blast. My wife and boys 7, 4, and 2 loved ringing the bells and cheering on the racers. The race was great, other then my back tightened up on me about half way through, I started cycling a few years ago because the Doc said it was low impact for my back, and a great exercise, but I do not think cyclocross was what he had in mind. Want to say thanks to the UMB team for the help, sorry I could not stick around for the other races; my son had a indoor soccer game in Ogden we had to get back to. Can’t wait till the next race on Sat. See ya’ll there… _________________ Get out and live!!!
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:23 am Post subject: Re: first timer racer/experience
GO_DEEP wrote:
Wow what an experience. I had no idea what to expect when I showed up, but it exceeded my expectations I had a blast. My wife and boys 7, 4, and 2 loved ringing the bells and cheering on the racers. The race was great, other then my back tightened up on me about half way through, I started cycling a few years ago because the Doc said it was low impact for my back, and a great exercise, but I do not think cyclocross was what he had in mind. Want to say thanks to the UMB team for the help, sorry I could not stick around for the other races; my son had a indoor soccer game in Ogden we had to get back to. Can’t wait till the next race on Sat. See ya’ll there…
My back does that to me most races, really cuts down on the power to the pedals. Glad you had fun, I've been addicted since my first race. The next race is in your backyard, Weber fairgrounds. _________________ http://crossthemountains.blogspot.com/
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) And while the first rider with a flat fell from 2nd to 30th, our next rider with a flat only fell 3 spots. We're quick studies. 