Training for Cyclocross

[madisongrrl]

Here is a great website to get you started.

http://www.madcross.org/

[Ticia]

Here is a great website to get you started.

http://www.madcross.org/

Thanks! Just what I was looking for and I have the book on its way from the library that you recommended trinena.

Thanks for all the motivation/thoughts/experience ladies

[indigoiis]

I am also interested in this. I'm turning 40 in April, do you guys think that has anything to do with it?

[Eden]

Where in Washington are you (I guess which Washington too.... ). If you are close to Seattle, Cycle U has a great training program in the fall for people who want to give cross a try. There's also a weeknight training series at Marymoor park that has sections for everyone from beginners to experts.

In any case cross actually is pretty friendly to just jumping in and trying it (especially if you have mt bike experince - a little more daunting for a roadie like me ). It's a great community and they won't snub you for just being a beginner.

[Ticia]

I am close to Portland; out in east Vancouver, WA. Portland seems to have a very active cyclocross community. Still just doing some fun research, reading, running, riding. How can you go wrong with crazy hard lung/ muscle busting, Belgium beer and DIRT I guess I have to find out first hand in the fall

[Eden]

I'm pretty sure Portland's cross scene is even bigger (a lot bigger ) than Seattle's.

If you haven't already check out the OBRA (Oregon Bicycle Racing Association) web site http://app.obra.org/schedule#September

Looks like cross events start happening in September - Like at our velodrome here, it looks like Alpenrose has weeknight CCX clinics - I'll bet they have good beginner classes.

Oh- and don't worry about the mounts and dismounts. I'm totally a roadie (I did one cross race last year - it was fun enough, but I really focus on road and coach said no more. And I'm probably too much of a chicken to ever be really good at cross...) and I managed to learn how to mount and dismount in one class. I won't say that I'm the most graceful thing out there, but I learned how to do it and only fell once or twice.

[awats]

I also just bought a cyclocross bike and am attempting to train for the fall cross season. It looks like so much fun, yet overwhelming to learn the techniques. I feel very comfortable dismounting, but adding speed and mounting isn't working out so well. Once the rain clears up on the northeast, it'll be practice practice practice for me. Thanks for all of your postings because it's also helping me to discover training ideas, information, and motivation! To add to training tips, I've found it extremely discouraging yet helpful to ride my cross bike on rugged mountain trails so I learn better handling techniques, getting on/off as well. I pretend that stonewalls or sketchy sections are barriers. It's super hard, but fun! Good luck and enjoy!