We seem to be at about the same skill level, so let me know if you ever want someone to go and be clueless with. If you're short, I have a spare hardtail mountain bike. Although, your cycocross bike is probably way nicer.
However, we may just reinforce bad habits in each other.
Braking seems to be a recipe for disaster, yet I can't stop myself from doing it.
I was at the bicycle escape the other day and talked to some guy for a while - I didn't pay attention to his name, but he was discouraging me from buying a full carbon bike and thought I just should adjust the fit on my current bike and put wider tires on it.