1996 National Cyclocross Championships
How does mud affect your race strategy?
What do you think of using a mountain bike in a cyclocross race?
What's a gentle way for a roadie to get into cyclocross racing?
How do you keep your workouts from getting boring?
What is the most challenging part of switching to cyclocross?
What do you do for cross-training? Do you lift weights?
Should mountain bikers be in the same class as cross riders?
How do I figure the correct frame size for a cyclocross bike?
Can you tell us what your training diet consists of?
What is the best way to outfit a bike for snowy conditions?
How and why did you first get started in cyclocross?
How do you feel about mountain bikes in cyclocross events?
How can I gain skill and confidence on more technical trails?
What's a gentle way for a roadie to get into cyclocross racing?
Question: I entered a 'cross event on my mountain bike as I can't yet afford 'cross bike equipment and don't have any frames that will accept wide wheels. Anyway I found myself, a roadie, left behind by some pretty poor specimens because I can't jump my bike over logs or descend sideways with my brakes locked. I'd like to try this again
sometime, but do mountain bike courses have as many dismounts? What's a gentle way for a roadie to do a few races a year without having to jump big obstacles? And lastly, with all the dismounts clogging my SPD cleats I wasted a lot of time just trying to clip back in. Is there a trick I don't know about?
Linda Mack
Jan: Most mountain bike races don't have as many dismounts. That also depends on your own ability to maneuver and deal with obstacles. Don't think that you have to jump every obstacle ... I don't do that. Sometimes it is safer and faster to dismount than to fall while attempting to jump. Practice is the key to being more comfortable in
those situations. It will also help you during a road race or criterium if you ever need to bunny hop a curb or bike--or person--in order to avoid a crash.
As far as your SPD cleat system, make sure your pedals are loose enough to allow you to pull out quickly ... and then, lube them with a spray oil (Pam) ... it works!
|
