Kirkland Cyclocross: The season is under way

Posted on September 17, 2012 by aa

My first weekend for the 2012 cyclocross season is in the books. Racing on both Saturday and Sunday was a great way to just jump right into the season. Okay, so I have been training for it, and I did try to start in August, but if you read my previous post, you know the Monson race didn’t go so well. So, this past weekend, September 15 and 16 was my start for 2012.

I really can’t say too much about Saturday’s Blandford Beer ‘Cross. It was just not a good day for me. The race was held at Blandford Ski Area in MA and the course was set up at the base of the mountain. It was a typical cyclocross course with tight turns, two run-ups (one was actually rideable), two sets of barriers and the “spiral of despair”. I’m sure it was a pretty decent, but I was just a mess on the course. I couldn’t get any flow in my riding and after about 20 minutes, I pretty much stopped racing and just rode for the remaining 20 minutes. I wasn’t last, but I was 59th out off 66. This was a race to just throw away and forget. And that is just what I did.

Sunday I drove the opposite direct to Clinton, NY for the Kirkland Cyclocross race. Race number one of the NYCROSS.com Cyclocross Series. Last year was the first time I raced Kirkland and being held immediately after a hurricane and a tropical storm, the course was like sponge and very difficult to ride. This year, the course was in great shape. And a great course. A course that definitely suited me better. The course was set up with wide turns, sharp turns, rideable ups, fast downs and a run-up that NO ONE is going to ride.

I was lucky enough to be called up and start in the front row. So no traffic to contend with right away. From the start, I felt so much better and stronger than the day before. I was able to hang in with the first 4 or 5 riders for the first lap. After that, the stronger riders from behind were working their way to the front. So I just settled in and rode my own pace. And it seems that I have improved over the last couple of years, because my pace was a pretty strong pace. I was able to pedal through turns. My mountain bike skills allowed me to ride sections with little or no braking. And the Kenda Slant Six tires held every single turn. I had no worries about slipping and sliding and losing traction. I ended up finishing 16th out of 31 riders. I also finished on the lead lap…and that hasn’t happened in a long time.

Racing Cat 4 is much better for me than racing Maters 1/2/3. Although USA Cycling may consider Cat 4 as the “beginner” class in cyclocross, anyone who races Cat 4 knows that isn’t the case. Sure, there are beginners in Cat 4, but there are mostly good, solid, strong riders that makes for a very competitive and fast race. It was also very cool hearing some of my Masters friend cheering me on.

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NYS MTB Series Finale and 2nd Place Overall

Posted on September 14, 2012 by aa

The New York State MTB Series finished up this past Sunday with the series finale, Riedlbauer’s Round Top Rally. The Riedlbauer course is a fun course with a lot of flowing singletrack and moderate climbing…well for a geared bike. Of course, I was racing singlespeed for the series, so a little bit of the climbing was hike-a-bike for me. Sunday’s field was a bit bigger than the previous two races. With 2nd place locked up for the overall, and very unlikely to take over 1st, I decided to just go out, ride safe and have a fun mountain bike ride. And that is what I did.

The end result was a 5th place finish in the series finale and 2nd place overall Cat 2 Singlespeed.

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Make Your own PVC Cyclocross Barriers

Posted on September 8, 2012 by aa

Ok, it’s that time of year again. With cyclocross season here, I wanted to share, again, how I made my own cyclocross barriers. They are quick, easy and cheap to make and very portable. So here is a re-post from a couple of years ago.

For me, the hardest part of cyclocross racing has always been getting over the barriers. The only thing to do is practice, practice, practice. So, I decided to go online and find plans to make my own barriers. I came across several different designs and materials used and thought the the quickest and easiest would be PVC tubing.

Off to the hardware store I went to pick up the materials that I needed. Here is a list of what you will need to make two barriers 4 feet in width:

  • 21 feet of 1/2 inch PVC tubing (2-10 ft lengths plus 1 additional foot if your store will cut it, otherwise 3-10 ft lengths, additional cost)
  • 4 – 1/2 inch 90 degree elbows
  • 4 – 1/2 inch T’s
  • 8 – 1/2 inch end caps (optional, additional cost)
  • PVC cement (optional, additional cost)
  • About $10.00
  • Saw (I used a hacksaw)
  • Sharpie marker
  • Tape measure
  • 20 – 30 minutes

You can use 3/4 inch if you want your new barriers a little beefier. 3/4 inch will cost a little more. If you want the barriers wider, just add to the total feet in length that you will need.

From one 10 ft length, cut two 4 ft pieces. These will be the horizontal width of your barriers. Cut the remaining two foot section in half and set the pieces aside with your other one foot section that your store cut for you. Take your other 10 ft length and measure and cut four 12 3/4 inch pieces. These pieces will be the vertical upright that will give you ~ 13.12 inches in hight. UCI specs put the barriers at 40 cm in hight, that is just under 13 1/8 inches. From the remaining 5+ foot piece of tubing, measure and cut the remaining 5 – 12 inch stabilizing legs for your barriers.

Now, put it all together. Press the 90 degree elbows onto your 4 foot horizontals. Press the 12 3/4 inch vertical uprights onto the the other end of the elbows. Press the T’s onto the bottom of the vertical uprights. Press the 12 inch stabilizing legs onto the T’s and press the end caps in the the legs (if you are using end caps). Your result will look like this:

When you set up your new barriers for practice, UCI sets the distance between the barriers at 4 meters. That equates to ~13 feet 1 1/2 inches. Have fun!

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USA Cycling to roll out USA Cycling Pro Cyclo-cross calendar

Posted on September 6, 2012 by aa

USA CyclingThe United States will host the most cyclo-cross races in the world during the 2012-13 season. The events inscripted by the UCI will be part of the 2012-13 USA Cycling Professional Cyclo-cross Calendar (USACPCXC).

In the 2011-12 season, Jeremy Powers (Easthampton, Mass./Team Rapha-Focus), Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./C3 p/b Mellow Mushroom) topped the final pro men’s and women’s standings, respectively. Andrew Dillman (Fairdale, Ky./Red Zone Cycling-Bob’s Red Mill) topped the juniors men’s standings. The points distribution in 2012-13 will be the same as the 2011-12 season.

The 51-event calendar begins with Rohrbach’s Ellison Park Cyclocross in Rochester, N.Y. on Sept. 8 and continues until Cincinnati Kings International in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Jan. 26. The calendar includes nine events inscripted by the UCI as category 1 events. The first of the category 1 events is CrossVegas in Las Vegas, Nev., on Sept. 19. The remaining category 1 events are: USGP of Cyclocross-Planet Bike Cup (Sept. 22) in Sun Prairie, Wisc., NEPCX Gran Prix of Gloucester 1 (Sept. 29) in Gloucester, Mass., NEPCX Providence Cyclo-cross Festival (Oct. 6) in Providence, R.I., USGP of Cyclocross-New Belgium Cup (Oct. 13) in Fort Collins, Colo., Cincy3 Harbin Park International (Nov. 4) in Cincinnati, Ohio, USGP of Cyclocross-Derby City Cup (Nov. 10) in Louisville, Ky., Jingle Cross Rock (Nov. 18) in Iowa City, Iowa and USGP of Cyclocross-Deschutes Cup (Dec. 8) in Bend, Ore.

The calendar also includes 10 events which will score the juniors men separately. Those 10 events are: Cincy3 Lionhearts International-Cross after Dark in Cincinnati, Ohio on Nov. 3, Cincy3 Harbin Park International in Cincinnati, Ohio on Nov. 4, USGP of Cyclocross-Derby City Cup in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 10-11, CXLA Weekend-Cross after Dark on Dec. 1-2 in Los Angeles, USGP of Cyclocross-Deschutes Cupon Dec. 8-9 in Bend, Ore., the 2013 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships in Madison, Wisc., and the Cincinnati Kings International in Cincinnati, Ohio on Jan. 26.

For a complete look at the USACPCXC, click here.

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Motobecane Fantom CX: Entry Level Cyclocross Bike

Posted on September 1, 2012 by aa

I might be a little partial to this bike. You see, this was the bike that started cyclocross for me…and I am still riding the frame. Over the last few years I have added many upgrades, but the frame is still going strong. The Motobecane Fantom CX, in my opinion, is the best entry level cyclocross bike out there.

Motobecane Fantom CX

Motobecane Fantom CX

Cyclocross is Sunday morning bike-race madness. It’s all the fun you can stand. Lap after lap around a dirt course you can’t entirely ride. You’ve got to run some of it with your bike on your shoulder and run over barriers. That is what makes the Fantom CX such a versatile bike. It has to be fast, durable, light and capable in nearly all conditions and this bike is all that.

The 18 speed Shimano Tiagra/Sora equipped Fantom CX is the ultimate entry level ‘cross bike. The frame is butted 7005 aluminum alloy tubing, custom butted and shaped with an engineered downtube. The components on this bike have been chosen to withstand the rigors of cyclocross or the daily commute. You will find a cromoly fork, TruVativ 36/50 compact crank, Ritchey stem, Tektro Oryx brakes, Alex double walled rims and Kenda Kwick tires. While this bike is race ready, I would strongly suggest to change the seat. It’s probably the most uncomfortable saddle I’ve ever ridden on a bike. Other than that, this bike is ready to go.

Size: 49cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm, 64cm (Geometry)

Color: Blue, Yellow, Matte Slate Gray

Price: $549.95

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to get into cyclocross, this is the bike for you. Sure you can use your mountain bike, but a ‘cross bike will take you from liking cyclocross to loving it.

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FREE Cyclocross Clinic: Saratoga Springs

Posted on August 29, 2012 by aa

Saturday, September 8th 9:30AM-11:30AM:
Cyclocross Race Clinic.
Spa State Park (Golf Parking Lot)
Saratoga Springs, NY

Join PRO MTB Racer Aleksandra Mooradian and SPA CX Co-Organizer John Onderdonk will demonstrate how to quickly mount and dismount the bike, practice jumping over barriers, and master bike-handling skills over semi-technical terrain. FREE and open to the public.

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WD-40 BIKE Launches to the Cycling Industry

Posted on August 28, 2012 by aa

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – WD-40 Company is pleased to announce the launch of WD-40 BIKE, a subsidiary business unit focused exclusively on cycling-specific maintenance products. WD-40 BIKE will offer an initial product range including wet and dry chain lubricants, a heavy-duty degreaser, a foaming bike wash and a frame protectant.

Developed over a span of 12 months via collaboration between WD-40 scientists, professional bike mechanics and independent bicycle retailers, the WD-40 BIKE line was designed for maintenance-minded and discriminating cycling enthusiasts. The line will be featured in bicycle retailers across the United States.

” The WD-40 brand is definitely no stranger to bicycling,” offers Mike Irwin, Managing Partner of WD-40 BIKE Company. “The original WD-40 Multi-Use Product has been a mainstay in the toolboxes of bike mechanics for decades. The new WD-40 BIKE line blends our considerable experience with the demands of today’s bike technology to present a comprehensive high-performance maintenance package.”

WD-40 BIKE will make its public debut at the Interbike and Outdoor Demo tradeshows, both held in Las Vegas, NV from September 17-21, 2012. Orders will be accepted at that time and begin shipping to US bicycle retailers in November 2012.

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Going to CrossVegas!

Posted on August 28, 2012 by aa

I’m going to CrossVegas! Ok, not to race, but going to see what I think is the coolest cyclocross race you’ll find.

CrossVegas is the biggest cyclocross race in America.  The night-time race takes place in September each year at the Desert Breeze Soccer Complex in Las Vegas, Nevada, just minutes from the famous Vegas Strip.

CrossVegas has seen impressive growth since its inaugural race in 2007,  and each year attracts an increasingly elite field of U.S. and foreign racers as well as over 10,000 spectators.  Despite its relatively short history, CrossVegas has quickly ascended to the top of the international cylcocross racing scene and now boasts the accolade of being America’s biggest cyclocross race.

The race is rated as a Category 1 on the International Cyclocross calendar, one of only seven Category 1 cross races in North America.   In 2011, participants from 11 nations competed and the entire men’s elite podium was swept by non-U.S. athletes.

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Belleayre Mountain All Terrain Challenge

Posted on August 26, 2012 by aa

Today was the Belleayre Mountain All Terrain Challenge, race #4 of the New York State MTB Series. Bellaeyre Mountain is a State owned ski area in the Catskill Mountains of New York. This was the first time I have rode or raced there. Last year’s event was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene while Belleayre was being used as an evacuation center for the area.

I have always heard good things about the trails at Belleayre. Everything that I have heard is right on! These trails are great. They weren’t all eroded away like a lot of ski areas’ trails. I think that the trails  are probably used by locals and not the hoards of people that ski areas can get.

The course was laid out on the lower portion of the mountain, which meant that there wasn’t a ton of climbing. Each lap claimed 750 feet of total climbing. I don’t see it, but most of the climbing over the 4.5 mile laps was pretty gradual. Even on a singlespeed, I could ride the vast majority of the course. There was however, two short steeper climbs that I just couldn’t get the pedals around for the whole climb, and a rocky singletrack ascent that was also a short hike-a-bike for me. For me, the best part of the course was about 2 miles into the lap with a fast flowing singletrack descent that worked it’s way back to the base of the mountain.

There wasn’t a huge turnout for the race, but all the regulars were there. Anyone who wasn’t there really did miss out on a good race. This was one of the better race courses that I have been on. Not 100% singlespeed friendly, but more so than most.

I finished 2nd in a small field, but more importantly, my second lap was faster than my first and my third lap was faster than my second. What that means is, I felt good and finished strong.

The final race in the series is Riedlbauer’s Round Top Rally to be held on September 9. The overall series will be quite the long shot for me, but I do have at least 2nd place overall secured for Cat 2 Singlespeed. Feeling like I did today, I’m looking for one more podium to finish out the series.

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August Cyclocross…Getting The Bike Dialed In

Posted on August 25, 2012 by aa

A summer cyclocross race might not sound too inviting. After all, cyclocross is a fall/winter sport, right? Well…yes, it is. But having an pre-season, summer race, is a good way to get your bike dialed in for the real start of the cyclocross season in mid-September. And that is how I approached the Monson Cyclocross Race. I have made quite a few changes to my bike set up over last season, and there is only so much I can test out on my little 1/4 mile course in my back yard. So, off I go to an 80 degree cyclocross race in August.

The most significant change that I made on my bike this year was going tubeless. I also switched to Kenda Kross Supreme tires, a more aggressive tread patter than I’m use to. I’m not new to tubeless, but cyclocross tubeless is new to me. I first set up my tires with just Stan’s No Tubes rim tape. A very easy set up, but certainly not the proper set up. Then I installed Stan’s Cyclocross Rim Strips. Clearly a better set up…the right set up. That is obviously why Stan’s has the cyclocross rim strip. My mountain bike rims don’t require the rim strip, so using the rim strip is actually the first time for me.  And after some questions and answers with Stan’s and what I though was following the instruction, tires were mounted and sealant was added. After a few minutes there were no leaks.

Off to the races I go. After pre-riding 3 laps, I wanted more air in the tires. There was a lot of pavement on the course, so I went to 40 psi. That’s a hard tire. I never thought that I could roll the bead off the rim at 40 psi, but I did…on lap 2…about 15 minutes into the race.

When I got home, I took the tire off and immediately saw the problem. The rim strip wasn’t seated in the rim properly. I’m not sure if I installed it wrong, or if it was a result of using tire levers, but it clearly affected how the bead sat on the rim. I’m also not 100% confident that these tires are tubeless friendly. I may have to go back to the Kenda tires I know.

So, both rim strips are re-installed, correctly, and tires are mounted and filled with air. With three weeks until the real start of the cyclocross season, I have plenty of time to make sure I didn’t make another dumb mistake.

Needless to say that the race for me was a complete bust. I have to settle for a DNF.

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