Who's ready for cross season to start???

[cwodiva]

It's August and I"m already searching the calendars for races and the season start in October. Anyone else daydreaming about cross season?

[han-grrl]

Well not exactly...very very nervous though! I am borrowing a friends cross bike for this season, which will be nice to try, and i am not sure my fitness is up to cross standards (ok i know it isn't!) but i am excited none the less!

[Kalidurga]

I don't race 'cross, but I looove to watch! I've done the same thing as you, putting races on my calendar so I can plan around them this fall

[Voodoo Sally]

Me too. I've been sitting here since last week looking at the upcoming 'cross calendar for my region this fall, marking my calendar, getting excited . . .

[segolene]

I wish! Cyclocross is like a sect here: gotta know the right person who is going to tell you where and when the race is happening!

[crazycanuck]

Please explain the diff betwn mtn biking & cyclocross??

We don';t have this type of biking (cyclocross) in Western Australia...It's not caught on yet.

Actually...We had a guy participating in the 12hr a few years ago on a cyclo cross bike..Let's say they're no match for pea gravel...

C

[Kalidurga]

Here are a couple of links about cyclocross:

The Case for 'Cross

Wikipedia: Cyclocross

Cyclocross Circuit: The Cyclocross Bicycle

The 'cross races I've seen so far are very spectator friendly. The courses were fairly small, so it was easy to walk around and get different vantage points. And it's amazing to watch the dismounts/remounts at barriers!

I've been toying with the idea of contacting a cycling website or local paper to see if I could submit race reviews and photos this season. The idea of that, though, makes me as nervous as racing makes some of you ladies

[SheFly]

It's August and I"m already searching the calendars for races and the season start in October. Anyone else daydreaming about cross season?

OH YEAH BABY! Our first race of the season is August 23rd! WOOHOO! New frame coming, time off the bike in prep... Can't wait! Counting down the days.

SheFly

[Eden]

I've got a line on a used itty bitty cross bike (a Redline Conquest 24) for cheap. If it fits me - if its not actually too small, that would be amazing... I've never tried a bike that was actually too small.... I'll be giving cross a try out this fall.

[SheFly]

I've got a line on a used itty bitty cross bike (a Redline Conquest 24) for cheap. If it fits me - if its not actually too small, that would be amazing... I've never tried a bike that was actually too small.... I'll be giving cross a try out this fall.

Uh-oh - you're gonna get hooked...

SheFly

[Sheesh]

I was in the shop tonight talking with the owner about getting a cross bike. He doesn't have much in stock, but he spec-ed out a Salsa Chili Concrosso and a Redline Conquest Pro for me. While the Salsa is beautiful (I LOVE the colors!), it's a bit expensive so I'm going with the Redline.

[Eden]

Uh-oh - you're gonna get hooked...

SheFly

double uh-oh - I looked up the geometry of the Conquest 24 - its really not much smaller than my road bike.... I think I'm going to get in trouble for bringing home another bike. BUT honey, it followed me home.... can I keep it, can I, can I .....
who doesn't need 5 bikes
(now how do I break it to my coach that I'm not going to be stopping racing in September)

[SheFly]

double uh-oh - I looked up the geometry of the Conquest 24 - its really not much smaller than my road bike.... I think I'm going to get in trouble for bringing home another bike. BUT honey, it followed me home.... can I keep it, can I, can I .....
who doesn't need 5 bikes
(now how do I break it to my coach that I'm not going to be stopping racing in September)

Only 5?!?!?!?!? Tell him that you know someone on the forum who has 8 - that will put him in his place, and make you seem much more responsible .

Racing is just BEGINNING in September! I'm back on base training to gear up. I think I'd better get out and do some running though - UGH!

We've hooked another one - WOOHOO!

SheFly

[Drtgirl]

I am both excited and nervous! I just picked up my bike today and took for a short spin before it got dark. It is so much fun to ride! Tomorrow I'm taking a "cyclocross 101" clinic...that is going to be interesting

[Eden]

I've actually borrowed the dinky bike for a little while to see if it will work for me or not.... it definitely would need some modifications, its really tiny. I put a longer stem and my seatpost/saddle on it this afternoon and took an hour long spin. Most of it was on the road, but I put in a bit of playing around in the grass too. It felt pretty darn zippy, feels like it flies up hills, but that could be the really fast spin from the 155 cranks fooling me too...... wish I had a speedo on there this afternoon.
so there's a bunch of pros and cons..
pro - "adult" sized cross bikes are pretty much all to big for me, at least I could modify this one to fit....
con - tiny wheels could be quite a disadvantage, they are 24"ers - that's even smaller than 650's. I'm not even sure that there's much selection in tires or replacement wheels in this size. pro though.... I'm not sure I could manage a cross dismount/mount with 700c wheels - not sure my feet would clear the wheel. It seems like it would be relatively easy with these little wheels.
con - I cannot get my whole arm through the frame - I certainly can pick it up and carry it, but its a bit akward as my elbow hits the BB
We'll see. I'll probably have my coach look at it to see if I'm crazy or not for considering this.