I entered my first time trial three years ago after reading a thread on the C+ forum. Stupidly I announced it beforehand so I had to go through with it. I'm going to do the same thing with cyclocross, it'll give me that extra motivational kick, should I need it.
I'm 40 years old. I've never entered any sort of massed start cycle race, closest I've come to that is a 3-up TTT. My bike handling skills are probably terrible.
It's going to involve a bit more work to get started than time-trialling which only requires the ability to stay calm during the push-off and not fall off while circling a roundabout. I can manage the roundabout.
I plan to do it relatively cheaply. I just got a long-service award -£400- that's my budget for the bike. Frame is on the way, the LBS are primed ready to have me some wheels built, order me some bits.
I've got to figure out how to dismount, remount, ride off-road and get some running in too. I live pretty close to some parkland and woods crisscrossed with bridleways, I'm going to be making some use of them now.
The dismount is getting there, started getting it about right yesterday. On the way home from work I've taken to riding up and down a strip of grass in the park, practising. I've just figured out that it helps to set the SPD release tension really loose, that was a bit of a breakthrough, I can now jump off knowing that the bike isn't likely to stay attached to my foot. I've also figured out that if it isn't too muddy my commute bike does OK off-road on 23 mm tyres with full mudguards. It's fun; I'm riding like a kid. I pulled a great broadie yesterday on some damp grass (although that skill won't be very useful in cyclocross).
Haven't even attempted the remount yet; that looks trickier. I'll have a go at that next week. Once I've got that down I can work out a little loop and cycle around for 40 mins or so, doing some dismounting, carrying, remounting etc.
I have no doubt that whatever preparation I do will be completely inadequate when it comes to an actual race, no doubt that I'll attract all sorts of choice comments as I cut up other riders, cause them to ride through the tape to avoid me as I bollocks up another corner, cause them to pile into the back of me as I brake too early.
I've got until November 9th to get it together enough to race. Here goes..
I'm 40 years old. I've never entered any sort of massed start cycle race, closest I've come to that is a 3-up TTT. My bike handling skills are probably terrible.
It's going to involve a bit more work to get started than time-trialling which only requires the ability to stay calm during the push-off and not fall off while circling a roundabout. I can manage the roundabout.
I plan to do it relatively cheaply. I just got a long-service award -£400- that's my budget for the bike. Frame is on the way, the LBS are primed ready to have me some wheels built, order me some bits.
I've got to figure out how to dismount, remount, ride off-road and get some running in too. I live pretty close to some parkland and woods crisscrossed with bridleways, I'm going to be making some use of them now.
The dismount is getting there, started getting it about right yesterday. On the way home from work I've taken to riding up and down a strip of grass in the park, practising. I've just figured out that it helps to set the SPD release tension really loose, that was a bit of a breakthrough, I can now jump off knowing that the bike isn't likely to stay attached to my foot. I've also figured out that if it isn't too muddy my commute bike does OK off-road on 23 mm tyres with full mudguards. It's fun; I'm riding like a kid. I pulled a great broadie yesterday on some damp grass (although that skill won't be very useful in cyclocross).
Haven't even attempted the remount yet; that looks trickier. I'll have a go at that next week. Once I've got that down I can work out a little loop and cycle around for 40 mins or so, doing some dismounting, carrying, remounting etc.
I have no doubt that whatever preparation I do will be completely inadequate when it comes to an actual race, no doubt that I'll attract all sorts of choice comments as I cut up other riders, cause them to ride through the tape to avoid me as I bollocks up another corner, cause them to pile into the back of me as I brake too early.
I've got until November 9th to get it together enough to race. Here goes..
