Events and dates

Cycling Weakly

To kick off this new section of the forum, here are some events within Eastern Region up to the end of October that might appeal to U14/U12/U10/U8 club members.

Who's interested in which events?

Mark F

- - - - -

Sun 5 Aug - Green Arrow CRT Grass Track, Hertford

Sat 25 Aug - Mildenhall Rally Grass Track
Mon 27 Aug - Mildenhall Rally Cyclocross

Sun 2 Sep - Thetford Cyclocross

Sat 8 Sep - Clacton duathlon
Sat 8 Sep - Essex Roads CC Cyclocross, Basildon
Sat 8 Sep - Eastern Regional Track Championship, Welwyn

Sat 15 Sep - Ashwell Autumn Grass Track
Sun 16 Sep - Springfield Cyclocross, Chelmsford

Sat 22 Sep - Hoggenberg Cyclocross, Redbridge

Sat 29 Sep - CC Ashwell Cyclocross, Baldock

Sat 6 Oct - Welwyn Cyclocross

Sun 14 Oct - Amis Velo Cyclocross, Hillyfields

Sun 21 Oct - Davy Down Cyclocross, Thurrock

Sun 28 Oct - Colchester Rovers Cyclocross, Mistley (Manningtree)

Andrew R

Mark

Holly's up as U14 for the local grasstracks

Sun 5th Aug - Green Arrow
Sat 25th Aug - Mildenhall
Sat 15th Sep - Ashwell

Could you suggest an easy/friendly intro event to cyclocross for us (including me on an MTB)

Thanks

Andrew

Cycling Weakly

It's probably worth expanding on the format of the Eastern Cyclocross League races, and how young riders are involved. The usual format is:-

11:00 Vet 45+/Vet 50+/Women
12:00 Under 12
12:45 Youth
13:45 Senior/Elite Vet/Vet
13:45 Junior

U12, U10, U8 all race together on a short lap (typically three minutes or so per lap) in races lasting approx 15 minutes. There are never any hurdles, and the terrain is usually very straightforward with no steep ascents or descents. Some kids are on CX bikes and wear all the gear, most are on MTBs, and plenty are on supermarket bikes. These videos give the rough idea:-

U12 Mistley
U12 Redgrave

U14 & U16 riders all race in the Youth race, lasting 30 mins. This race uses the full-length lap as also used by the senior & veterans races, and typically includes hurdles, sometimes some steps, climbs & descents, and generally more challenging terrain than the U12s race. You can still ride on an MTB of course, but most U14s & U16s do ride CX bikes which are faster and easier to lug up hills or steps or carry over hurdles.

Juniors ride among the seniors in the afternoon race, typically lasting one hour. A change for this year, to rebalance the size of fields, is that veterans aged 40-44 have to race with the seniors in the one hour race, while those aged 45+ race in the 11:00 race lasting 40 mins.

Lots of info here including an introductory guide, and of course our own Mark Wyer is the chairman of the association/league. All the races are extremely friendly and accessible.

See also the league's "What is Cyclocross?" document and this promotional video.

The first event of the season at Basildon is as good a place to start as any. The main course used by everyone (apart from U12 riders) was used for the first time last year. It was regarded as non-technical but it did have a particularly steep long climb. Those with very low gears and/or a good power-to-weight ratio had a happier race than the rest... See video.

If there's enough interest from U14 & U12 riders I'm sure we could put together an introductory cyclocross session before the first event of the year.

Cycling Weakly

Oh, and don't forget the new Thetford CX Enduro event on 2nd Sept. See http://www.easterncross.org.uk/cxenduro2012.htm and http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/80449/Thetford-Cyclo-Cross-Enduro. I understand that it has an U12 race like all the usual league events do, but that the main race is much longer but less technical than the usual league format.

Also, during the autumn & winter Mark Wyer usually coaches CX on Wednesday evenings at Knights Templar School in Baldock, and I mucked in last year to help.