Loading ...
Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Sealing Tubular Sidewalls with Liquid Urethane
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross tech, how-to
Urethane on a Challenge (front) and one without (rear) © Dave Drumm
This is the second installment in a weekly series of from-the-crew-pits tips. Some will be straight-forward, others more involved, but they’ll all help you to keep your cyclocross bike humming smoothly along. Dave Drumm is the Webcor chief mechanic during the road season and wrenches on a freelance basis during cyclocross season for the likes of Amy Dombroski, Adam Myerson, Dee Dee Winfield, Will Duggan and many more. Catch up on week one’s custom housing solution here.
by Dave Drumm & Josh Liberles
While many tubular cyclocross tires have no need for the application of extra sealant (think of the rigid, robust sidewalls on a Tufo, for example), the more supple and sensitive sidewalls can benefit from extra protection from water absorption. For the ultra-supple, pricey tubulars that feature natural casings made from cotton or silk, like Dugasts and FMBs, some form of sealant is a necessity. Otherwise, get the tires wet often enough, and they’ll start to rot – not what you want to see from some of the most expensive ‘cross tires on the market.
…continue reading: Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Sealing Tubular Sidewalls with Liquid Urethane
Foreign Riders Prevail at Ohio State Cyclocross Championships
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross news, race results
Ohio state champ Card would lead 99% of the race, but not the 1% that counted. © Jeffrey B. Jakucyk
Yellow Springs, OH – Greasy, to bone-chilling, to idyllic — three contrasts in weather conditions and three words that characterize the last three years of Zipp OVCX Tour events at John Bryan State Park near Dayton, Ohio. If this year’s race weather had been any more perfect, it wouldn’t have been cyclocross. Sunny skies and temperatures in the high 40’s (about 9° C) greeted the 300 riders from 8 states that made the trek to Yellow Springs for the penultimate event of the 2009 Zipp OVCX Tour calendar: the Buckingham Financial Ohio State Cyclocross Championships at John Bryan State Park. …continue reading: Foreign Riders Prevail at Ohio State Cyclocross Championships
Last Chance to Register Online for Nats
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross news
Colorado Springs, Colo. (November 30, 2009) – The USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships are quickly approaching and online registration is set to close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 3. …continue reading: Last Chance to Register Online for Nats
Sydor and Guthrie Crowned BC Champions – Brief Report
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross news, race results
Sydor adds another title to her impressive palmares. © John Irvine Photography
British Columbia’s Cyclocross Championships were held this weekend in Mahon Park, North Vancouver. 140 racers came out and enjoyed one of the first rain-free days in close to a month. A very balmy 11 degrees was on the menu as well. It was a great course that offered no rest to all competitors and certainly one that made for worthy Provincial Champions. …continue reading: Sydor and Guthrie Crowned BC Champions – Brief Report
Shoe Week Is Here! Day 1: Specialized and Shimano Reviews
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross news, new products
Searching for the right 'cross shoe. © Cyclocross Magazine
Introducing… Shoe Week! We at Cyclocross Magazine will run a week-long roundup in our search for shoes well-suited for ‘cross, featuring everything from wicked cheap to ultra-bling. Some we love, others we don’t – and we’ll provide unbiased feedback on the lot. Several members of our staff will write about their experiences and preferences so you’ll hear from a wide (and narrow) variety of feet. We’ll start here with some of the mid-range options, which can be some of the best cyclocross performers out there.
Cyclocross gear has always been a bit of a hodge-podge mix of repurposed road and mountain bike goods. Although more and more cross-specific items continue to emerge – like frames, forks, tires and even wheels – the shoes typically come straight off of the mountain biking shelves.
What separates cyclocross from mountain biking is the guaranteed running involved. So, while a stiffer sole may be an asset for efficient power transfer to the pedals, a little bit of flexibility is necessary for comfortable running. Although many top cyclocross athletes do use the ultra-bling, carbon-soled, custom-fit mountain bike shoes, this is often due to sponsor obligations.
…continue reading: Shoe Week Is Here! Day 1: Specialized and Shimano Reviews
Colorado State Championships and Nationals Loom – a Column by Lee Waldman
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under rider diary
Waldman pushing himself to a new level of 'cross prowess © Annette Hayden
It’s down to the business end of the cyclocross season as Master’s racer Lee Waldman fine-tunes his preparation for the Colorado state championships and master’s nationals. This is installment #7 of Lee’s regular column, catch up on #6 here.
by Lee Waldman
One week until our state championships, two weeks ’til Nationals. Cyclocross season seems so, so hard: just surviving from week to week and then, it’s over. Now is the time when I start to ask all of the rhetorical questions. Have I trained hard enough? Did I do enough lactate threshold training, enough intervals? How are my starts? Are my transitions quick enough to keep me in contention when I’m racing against the best in the nation? Have I eaten well and rested enough? All of the pieces that need to fit together to make up a complete and comprehensive program are overwhelming.
And… it’s too late to worry about any of it now. To use a cliche, “it is what it is.” For the next two weeks, it’s all about being tough mentally: believing in myself, my preparations and my abilities. Doesn’t matter who the competition is.
…continue reading: Colorado State Championships and Nationals Loom – a Column by Lee Waldman
Farewell to a Friend at Louisville’s Storm the Greens
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross news
The Elite men in a long thin line in Louisville © David Crimson
I don’t know why I love you like I do
All the changes that you put me through
Sixteen candles there on my wall
And I’m comin’ on the biggest fool of them all
I wanna know, can you’ll tell me
I’d love to stay
Take me to the River
–Talking Heads, “Take Me to the River”
Louisville, KY – Louisville’s Storm the Greens cyclocross race will close out not only the Zipp OVCX season, but also an era on December 6. With a near-decade-old master plan for a multi-use urban park finally reaching the construction phase, all expectations are that this year’s season-ending Storm the Greens will be the last-ever cyclocross race at Louisville’s iconic River Road Country Club.
An end of an era does not mean the end of the road, however. Few, if any, cities in North America offer the political support that cyclocross enjoys in Louisville. There are already other ‘cross venues in the city (the Tour de Louisville cyclocross race, for example, takes place at Fisherman’s Park on the other side of the city). And, in the larger picture, the success of cyclocross at River Road Country Club has made the construction of a full-time, permanent cyclocross facility high on the short-term objectives of the city’s parks department, according to Jason Cissell of Metro Parks.
…continue reading: Farewell to a Friend at Louisville’s Storm the Greens
Convert Cross: Southern California / Nevada Cyclocross Championships
November 30th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross news, race results
Overend 'crossed the nation to take in a SoCal race, then raced in Iowa. © Kate Ybarra
November 23, 2009: Ojai, CA – With clear skies, no winds and a fantastic course, Lake Casitas park was this year’s venue for the Southern California / Nevada Cyclocross Championships sponsored by Shimano. The course supplied one of the most consistently flowing races of the season. The combination of turns with loose dirt, fast sweeping grass sections, climbs and the two flat road sections gave riders a lot of opportunities to race more tactically, which was evident all day.
We have to say congratulations to all the new champions who went out and worked so hard. There were many excellent races but a few can’t go without mentioning. In the men’s 35-39 event, Fritz Bottger (PAA) and Garnet Vertican (Giant Bikes) battled for the entire race, putting on one of the best shows. They destroyed each other, lap after lap, exchanging the lead until it ultimately came down to the final sprint were Bottger was able to take the title. In the men’s 50-54, it was Bob Langin, Sr. who has been sidelined off and on recently due to a heart condition. It didn’t seem to slow him today, however, as he pulled off his biggest win of the season.
…continue reading: Convert Cross: Southern California / Nevada Cyclocross Championships
Jingle Cross #3 Rocks Sunday – UPDATE: Photos
November 29th, 2009 Filed Under race results
The bikini women take over the single speed race at Jingle Cross © CXMLive
by Brian Morrissey
IOWA CITY, IA – Clouds and wind arrived as the Elite women staged in the starting grid, chasing away the spring-like sunshine enjoyed by the racers on Saturday. The final iteration of the Jingle Cross course was much dryer, however, and many riders even in the lower categories were riding up what previously was a muddy slog.
Both Todd Wells and Meredith Miller escaped early on in their respective races, each growing insurmountable gaps throughout the race to cross the line comfortably alone to complete hat tricks for the weekend. Planet Bike, however, was equally impressive on the teamwork front, posting a series-long podium presence in both fields.
…continue reading: Jingle Cross #3 Rocks Sunday – UPDATE: Photos
Wicks and Scott Withstand Crossaflixion Finale in Bend
November 29th, 2009 Filed Under race results
Rider airs the "snow drop" while Bart Bowen chases © Wade Miller
Bend, OR – The weather could not be any better for racing ‘cross in Bend, Oregon with Cyclocross Nationals right around the corner. Hosted at the Seventh Mountain Resort, the Crossaflixion course featured lots of fast sweeping turns with huge opportunities for hard accelerations. It started out as an icy cold morning but the sun broke through the cold and gave way to some beautiful Central Oregon ‘cross racing conditions.
The Elite mens race started with a first lap lead out by Ben Thompson (Desalvo Custom Cycles), but the Twin Towers of Kona (Barry Wicks and Ryan Trebon) were there to keep him in check, eventually getting around and permanently distancing Thompson.
…continue reading: Wicks and Scott Withstand Crossaflixion Finale in Bend
