Eastern cyclo-cross season

Lee H

Hi, the 1st round of the eastern cyclo-cross league kicks off on Sunday at Writtle College in Chelmsford. I see there are a few CCA riders names down on the league list. I'm riding on Sunday, is anyone else? might see you there.

Lee

Jon.c

the youth A (u16) team will be riding at this event,

Jon

mwyer

Lee,

Stevie and I will be there. Can you help out with our club event on 1st Oct please at Baldock please? You should still be ok to take part in the senior race in the afternoon.

Thanks,
Mark.

phil k

Sunday 11 Sept 11 – Round 1 Eastern Cyclo Cross League at Writtle College Chelmsford – CCA were well represented with Theo, Cameron and Jon in the youth event, Mark and Lee in the Senior event and Me and Stevie riding in the Vets/Womens race.

Youth – Cam was on the front row of the grid which gave him a good start, Theo on row two didn’t start as well but within a couple of laps had got himself up to Cam fighting for 2nd to 4th place with a Cambridge Tri Club rider (the leader Sean Dunlea pulled ahead of the rest of the riders very quickly and was 100yds clear within the first lap – yes he won!!) - Jon kept himself in the top third of the riders and battled hard on the exposed windy sections. Cam, Theo and the Cambridge rider worked together to keep themselves ahead of the following riders and maintained a steady 30 sec gap to the riders behind. The placings were decided with a sprint finish at end of the final lap with the Cambridge rider just edging Theo into third and Cameron taking fourth with the same time. Jon held his position finishing 13th a couple of seconds in front of Daniel Maynard in 14th of 33 starters.

Vets and Women – with 77 riders competing, the first part of the race was a congested battle to keep places after the very fast start off the tarmac, across the gravel track and on to the grass – a ‘pile up’ half way round caused bit of a split but luckily i was on the right side and managed to pick off a few places over the next couple of laps. It was a flat course with lots of sharp tight bends, a triple log dismount and two small “humps” to ride over - both with hairpin bends on them which were a good technical challenge!! I dropped a place towards the end of the last lap when a lapped rider i was about to go past ‘got it all wrong’ on the last hump and held me up only for the rider behind to take the advantage and slip pass me and pull clear on the fast tarmac closing straight. I finished 4mins behind the winner in 30th and Stevie 71st

Senior – with the large field racing in the Vets/Women race Mark transferred to the Senior Event to race with Lee – Mark finished 36th and Lee in 43rd out of 55 starters.

Round 2 is Saturday 17 Sept 11 at Hog Hill Redbridge – see you there.

Lee H

This was my first experience of ‘cross, so wasn’t sure what to expect. To those of you who are of a competitive nature and don’t mind getting a bit muddy, I’d say give it a go.

Less aggressive than road racing, bit less geeky than time trials, it’s a good way to spend an hour of your life.

The weather was good, with sunshine through most of the day, although it was rather breezy, as the tail end of hurricane Irene hit the UK.

I arrived to find Phil sitting in his car, having ridden in the Vets category earlier in the morning. Jon, Cam and Theo were just about to start their juniors’ race and myself and Mark W were down to ride in the Senior/Elite vets’ race. Stevie had ridden in the Women’s race earlier.

The course is flat, a triple log hurdle being the only point requiring a dismount. The start was a short blast over a gravel road, onto the grass (missing out the logs first time round), onto a twisty section through the trees, with some off camber 180 turns and a slippery pine needle carpet, no mud of any note though. Out of the trees to be greeted with a side on blast of wind, couple of twisty turn, down to a tarmac road section and onto the pit area. A bit of a drag with a face full of wind, was a killer for me, before reaching the next technical section over a few minor humps with off camber, 180 degree uphill turns thrown in, before a downwind blast on the road section, past the start/finish line, over the gravel road and onto the logs. For 1 lap completed

Starting positions are based on previous performance, with pole position going to the best 6 riders, with the others lined up in 6s behind. I was in row 6 I think.

The whistle goes and off we go, for what I assume will be 60mins of painful fun! The start is fast as everyone jockeys for position before going into the wooded section, where overtaking opportunities are limited. I’d managed to pass a few riders early on, but the front runners were off and away.

Before I knew it, we’d done a lap and it was over the logs for the first time. It’s not normal to voluntarily leap off the bike, pick it up, run, jump and leap back on again all within the space of a few seconds, but its adds a very different dimension to a bike race.

The effort is intense, so intense in fact that half way round lap 2 I thought I was going to puke my guts up and then on lap 3 I thought I was going to have an heart attack!! However, that soon wore off and I’d settled into a rhythm, I’d been passed a few times and was soon to be lapped by the leaders. A shout from behind to tell you they are approaching, and I even got a thank you from one flying rider, how very civilised!!

Before long, the lap board was showing 3 to go, not long now. My confidence on the technical sections was growing and I was gliding through them, only to be rudely interrupted by the howling winds on exiting the trees! Shouts of “come on Ashwell” give me a huge boost and I really dig in for the last bit. 1 lap to go and soon enough it’s all over with a sprint to the line.

I came 43rd out of 55 riders, bagged 36 points for 9th place (out of 13) in the senior category.

CCA currently stand 6th (out of 13) in the team rankings.

Finally, just like to say a huge thank you to Stevie, Phil, Stuart, Cam and Theo for the shouts of support out on the course, it’s really does give a lift!
Lee

Cycling Weakly

If you're considering entering one of the Eastern CX events for the first time, take a look at my video of Sunday's veterans/women's race to get the feel of it.

Mark (City Cycle Centre)

Senecio [Daniel D]

Great race at Hoggenburg (Hog Hill aka Redbridge). My first and it was jolly hard. Phil K punctured early on which was a great shame. I laked basic fitness and elementary skills which contributed to my heroic finishing position. Erm, last. Still lots of fun and I look forward to next time.

Theo and Cameron were magnificent in the Youth race. Cam 5th, Theo 6th. Jon had a great race too coming in 12th. Daniel M rode well too (17th).

Saw Lee start. How did you get on?

Daniel