Dirty Tactics

In order to keep the competitive edge and help build some strength over the winter I have been heading off-road to do some cross country running races and cyclocross races.  The common theme with these races is that the courses require bursts of extreme effort and you will most likely get very muddy!

 

Cross country races vary between 6k and 15k in distance and the terrain is some combination of grass, gravel, mud, small sections of tarmac, leg-searing climbs and frightening downhills.  In terms of equipment you may be able to get by with trail shoes if conditions are good.  However, getting a pair of cross country spikes is a good idea and they can be picked up for under £30.  Spikes are essential for hilly and/or muddy courses without tarmac sections.

 

Cross country running is fantastic for strength due to the hills and is quite gentle on the knees as the ground is usually quite soft.  It also gives you a killer core workout.  Unlike road running where you can pretty much run without much thought to where you place your feet, cross country is often on unstable ground and requires constant balance adjustments throughout the whole body.  I’m always surprised at the places that ache after a race.  But in the end, it’s just plain fun and the races have a great atmosphere.  Cross country meets tend to have a carnival feel with a series of races beginning with under 13 year olds and ending with the seniors/veterans race.  At the end there’s always an abundance of homemade cakes and treats available as a reward for your hard work.

 

I’ve been keen to try cyclocross racing for some time as I’d heard it is not only great fun but is very accommodating to novices.  For those that may not be aware, cyclocross started over 60 years ago as a way for road riders to train during the winter.  Cyclocross courses are around 2k to 4k long and will comprise of grass, dirt tracks, mud and sometimes sand, but will usually include some short asphalt sections.  Each lap will include forced dismounts where you have to dismount and carry your bike over obstacles making mountain bike shoes a must.  There may be other sections such as steep up- or downhills and dead turns where it may be quicker to run with the bike on your shoulder than to ride.  The majority of participants ride dedicated cyclocross bikes but many ride mountain bikes which adds to the accessibility of the cyclocross racing.  

 

So what is a cyclocross bike?  They look pretty much like a road bike but have a few subtle differences: slightly more relaxed geometry, higher bottom bracket, greater tyre clearance to accommodate knobbly 30mm to 35mm tyres, cantilever brakes and smaller chainrings (generally a 46/36 or 46/39 setup).  ‘Cross bikes are easily converted to a road machine by putting on a 50+ tooth outer-ring and road tyres and so make great training/winter/commuter bikes.  Interestingly you’ll see the top level ‘cross racer using deep section carbon wheels similar to what you’d see at a triathlon.  The theory is that these wheels cut through the mud with less deviation than a shallow rim wheel.

 

Cyclocross races go for one hour and require the racers to complete as many laps as possible.  So once a race gets into swing your position in the field is hard to determine and that makes it a more relaxed type of race for newbies.  You can go at your own pace and no one knows if you are coming dead last.  Another interesting feature is the pit area.  Serious riders have spare wheels and even a spare bike in the pits in case of mechanical issues.  Riders have been known to drop off a muddy bike in the pits and take off on their second bike and by the time they complete a lap their no. 1 bike will have been cleaned by their pit crew, ready for the rider to swap back. 

 

 

‘Cross races are a great way to practice dismounting and mounting the bike which is obviously a valuable skill in triathlon.  Each lap may require two or three dismounts, so you’ll be repeating this anywhere between 15 and 30 times over the course of a race.  You’ll also pick up some great bike handling skills from the constantly changing terrain. 

 

 

So if anyone is looking for some fun and interesting ways to race over the winter I highly recommend some off-road racing, whether it be on foot or bike.  I’m hoping that it will translate into some faster triathlon times come summer.