Cross is coming
Almost every weekend over winter you will find a bunch of cyclists on skinny tyres zooming round a field. This is 'cross (Cyclo-cross for full, or often abbreviated to CX).
The start line at a frosty Camperdown
📷Tom Owen
What is it?
For us women it's 40 to 45 minutes of fun!
Races are lap based around a course which usually involve some grass, gravelly tracks, little ups and downs and if you're lucky mud.
The course can also have man-made obstacles like planks to hop over, referred to as hurdles but not that high! Expect fast straights, wiggly corners and lots of places to move up on your nearest rival. You race until the first person crosses the finish line so you won't be pulled out of the race if you're lapped. Usually there's enough people in the field that you'll always have someone to chase or keep behind you.
Sandy battling the sandpits at Irvine
📷Barry Primrose
How much running is there?
This is very course and conditions dependant but courses are planned to be majority rideable and in my experience not overly technical. Getting off for the hurdles, unless your bunny hops are excellent, or if you didn't quite make an uphill is not uncommon.
Lauren running up that hill!
📷Matt Davies
What category should I enter?
Depending on the race the categories are done by age. Under 40s are all in the 'senior' category. No elite or sport to worry about
What to bring?
A bike - any bike! A gravel bike is perfect or anything you pedal under your own power is very welcome. Flat pedals, flat bars, full sus if you fancy! Other than that a smile, dry socks and shoes for after
Lauren and Jodie did not follow this advice - wearing everything they could find while waiting for the podiums at the end of the season
📷Tom Owen
Sound like fun?
There's some upcoming events with give it a go and relaxed coaching opportunities. Hervelo will have a contingent at both!
Inch park 28/9 - women's and youth only + coaching (entries close 22/9) put on by ERC
Rouken Glen 15/9 - give it a go + women's race + coaching (entries close 10/9) put on by Roukie riderz
Still not sure?
Our smashfest training sessions on Thursdays will have a CX vibe for the upcoming months. We’ll be practicing many of the skills you need for CX such as fast starts, dismounting and mounting and riding through bumpy grass!
Sign up here!
What other races are there?
Most details on CX in Scotland can be found on the SCX website:
https://www.scottishcx.org.uk/
Entries are through British Cycling - link to events here (many close before the day and some have early bird pricing so worth getting your entry in early!)
Sharon totally hooked at Fife College!
📷Steve Murphy