CX for dummies

[Owlie]

Does anyone know if CX "clinics" are a thing in the midwest/Great Lakes region? I'd like to be able to try it out one day.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm not sure of any large/formal clinics, but the LBSs around here tend to put on clinics. Perhaps a shop near you would do something like this. Though it's already nearing the end of the season, here, so I wonder if clinics would have been in late Aug. or Sept.? That's kind of how they've been in this area.

Truly, though, most people just go out and try it without any formal instruction. You learn a lot just being on the course. We have a nice C race that is only 30 minutes long and a lot of brand new racers give it a try.

[Owlie]

I'm not sure of any large/formal clinics, but the LBSs around here tend to put on clinics. Perhaps a shop near you would do something like this. Though it's already nearing the end of the season, here, so I wonder if clinics would have been in late Aug. or Sept.? That's kind of how they've been in this area.

Truly, though, most people just go out and try it without any formal instruction. You learn a lot just being on the course. We have a nice C race that is only 30 minutes long and a lot of brand new racers give it a try.

Thing is, I'd like to be able to try it with no pressure whatsoever, and relatively few people. I'm not the greatest at bike handling to begin with (although it might be a bit different on a bike with a stem that isn't insanely short!), so I'd prefer a gentle introduction.

[zoom-zoom]

There are some good tutorials online, which is one way to cover some skills, then find a place to go practice...some mowed grass replicates CX terrain pretty well. The things I found to make the biggest difference were learning to do a rolling dismount. I still need to figure out rolling mounts. Those are trickier, since I don't run very fast and I have a hard time getting my bike moving to a decent speed and then trying to find my pedals.

[Owlie]

I just discovered that my old LBS does actually host clinics. So they are out there.

A few of my coworkers race cross and one records the races. Watching some of them do rolling mounts is pretty amazing. I'm pretty sure any attempt at that on my end will result in my getting well-acquainted with the taste of dirt...

[spokewench]

I think rolling starts are easier than dismounts; I'm always afraid that i'm going to get stuck in a pedal as I step out and get off so it freaks me out a bit!

Go out with flat pedals and try this stuff first - it really is easier to learn and then you don't have the fear of getting stuck in your pedals.