Loading ...Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Off-Season Bike Prep and Storage
February 1st, 2010 Filed Under how-to
After a season of this, your bike needs some TLC © Tom Olesnevich
Before you forget that still-muddy skinsuit you left in a corner of the basement after your last race and put your bike away for this “offseason,” Dave Drumm has some tips that will help preserve your rig and have it ready to roll when it’s finally another ‘cross season already.
This is the tenth installment in our 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. Catch up on the last article about the daily maintenance and inspection routine.
by Dave Drumm
Cyclocross season has ended for almost all of us and it’s time to hang up the bike. Before you do, there are a few things you can do to ensure it’ll be ready to roll when the time comes. …continue reading: Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Off-Season Bike Prep and Storage
Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: The Daily Maintenance and Inspection Routine
January 25th, 2010 Filed Under how-to
Check and lube your cables after every ride © Dave Drumm
Good habits just after you finish a ride or race will guarantee fewer mechanical issues out on the course and better longevity from your components. Here’s Dave’s daily routine, well-honed after thousands of applications in the pits.
This is the ninth installment in our 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. Catch up on the last article about a quick and dirty power-wash.
by Dave Drumm …continue reading: Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: The Daily Maintenance and Inspection Routine
Gut Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: The Power Wash, Quick & Dirty
January 18th, 2010 Filed Under how-to
That bike's gonna need a little love © Matt Haughey
Sometimes it takes faithful pit help to keep a racer in contention. This week’s Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays feature describes how to do a down and dirty wash with a pressure hose to get a muddy bike back and ready for action quickly.
This is the eighth installment in our 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. Catch up on the last article about raising your hoods for better control.
by Dave Drumm
So your buddy asked you to pit for him during the Elite race. Just your luck. It’s muddy as hell and the conditions are getting worse; you’re guaranteed to need to do a bike change or two during the race. But how do you get a filthy bike clean and back to the pit ready to be handed off in just a few minutes? …continue reading: Gut Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: The Power Wash, Quick & Dirty
Gut Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Hoods Up for Better Control
January 11th, 2010 Filed Under how-to, training and technique
Hoods up–a good 'cross position © Dave Drumm
‘Cross bikes share many things with road bikes, but there are stark differences both in the machines and in a good rider’s position. This week’s Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays feature takes a look at a hood–and hand– adjustment that will help you improve your bike handling.
…continue reading: Gut Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Hoods Up for Better Control
Gut Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Tagging Your Gear (So You Get it Back!)
December 28th, 2009 Filed Under how-to
Silver Sharpie helps me hang onto my gear © Dave Drumm
Between the weather and course variability, heading to a cyclocross race usually involves schlepping and keeping track of a lot of clothing and gear in general. This week’s Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays feature falls under the low-tech banner, but it’s one that could pay off with better gear management and perhaps a faster pit exchange.
This is the sixth installment in our 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. Catch up on week five’s giving-thanks insights.
by Dave Drumm
Cyclocross is a sport that requires a wide variety of equipment. Each week we load our cars to the breaking point with trainers, wheels, tools, buckets, pumps and clothes. We carry enough stuff to outfit a small army. Our race days are filled with distractions and keeping track of all that stuff can become an issue, especially for an amateur racer that doesn’t have the luxury of a handler who takes care of all the little details. …continue reading: Gut Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Tagging Your Gear (So You Get it Back!)
Cyclocross Crossover: Racing on Mountain Bikes
December 27th, 2009 Filed Under how-to
Katie Compton Winning Mountain Bike Races to get Ready for Cyclocross
by David Alden-St.Pierre
I know you because I was you: a mountain biker at heart, but interested in all forms of cycling. I had read about cyclocross in the mags and online, but after checking out one race—and seeing exhausted, muddy riders battling the elements, each other, and the barriers—I knew had to try it for myself. I’ve been hooked ever since. …continue reading: Cyclocross Crossover: Racing on Mountain Bikes
Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: The Conical Brush
December 7th, 2009 Filed Under how-to, reviews, rider diary
My favorite implement: conical brush with natural bristles © Dave Drumm
by Dave Drumm
Nothing makes the life of a mechanic easier than having the right tool for the job. When it comes to cyclocross and bike washing, having the right brushes on hand can facilitate the seemingly impossible task of making the dirtiest bike shine like new, in less time than you could possibly imagine.
The most used brush in my quiver is the conical brush. It can magically cut down on time required to get your bike sparkling again. My favorite conical brush was one that I bought in Europe several years ago. It was designed for cleaning wire-spoke wheels on cars – think classic MG’s. It was the ultimate brush with soft natural bristles that did not scratch paint or hold grease. …continue reading: Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: The Conical Brush
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
Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Custom Cable Housing Solution
November 23rd, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross tech, how-to
Drumm (in Hudz-Subaru attire) might be worn-out, but his shifting is still spot on!
This is the first 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.
by Dave Drumm & Josh Liberles
As you can read in our coverage of the Krueger’s Crossing race, this past weekend in Portland was the perfect testing ground for improvised techniques to seal out the weather. Shifting problems in muddy conditions are ubiquitous in cyclocross and finding a solution is akin to a ‘cross mechanic’s holy grail. Drumm actually had two different cable-protection prototypes out on the course, …continue reading: Gut-Wrenching Mechanical Mondays: Custom Cable Housing Solution
Dress for Success: Stay Warm in Nasty Weather
November 19th, 2009 Filed Under cyclocross news, how-to
The icky, sticky, slippy mud at Granogue © Bill Schieken
by Chris Mayhew
Racing cyclocross presents many interesting challenges. One of the hardest to deal with is the weather, especially the cold and rainy variety. Many racers new to the sport struggle to properly prepare for nasty, bone-chilling conditions. I am here to tell you that having a positive experience in even the harshest conditions really isn’t that hard. Follow a few easy steps and you’ll stay dry and comfortable right up until the start of your race without sacrificing an adequate warm-up. This alone will give you a big advantage over the poor, shivering souls that did not take the time to read this article.
…continue reading: Dress for Success: Stay Warm in Nasty Weather
Cyclocross Race Prep: Packing!
November 12th, 2009 Filed Under how-to
Throwing it all together, trying to make it look neat! © Josh Liberles
Cyclocross races are short, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour depending on category, yet they require the most equipment prep of any bike racing discipline. Part of that relates to the time of year and the variability of the weather. Racers need to be ready to deal with wind, rain, snow, hail, ice, mud, fog, etc.
A huge portion of the preparation involves bike equipment choices. Tire width, tread selection and tire pressure of inflation are all very course- and conditions-specific. Elite racers typically bring spare bikes, extra wheels, a stationary trainer, pop-up tent, a pit mechanic and a pressure washer. That’s an entire article unto itself – we’ll stick to clothing choices for now.
…continue reading: Cyclocross Race Prep: Packing!
BikeSnob NYC Gets Sticky: Think Before You Glue
August 31st, 2009 Filed Under editorial, how-to
So you’ve now read different ways on how to secure your cyclocross tubular tires, but should you do it? Your favorite bike snob weighs in on this sticky issue.
by BikeSnobNYC
Cyclocross, despite its inherent absurdity and discomfort, can hook you easier than your handlebars can hook the course tape. And once you’re hooked, you keep finding increasingly baroque ways to express your enthusiasm for it. Owning duplicate bikes, fashioning pit sticks, wearing skinsuits in 30 degree weather, and cultivating a pretentious affinity for all things Belgian are just a few ways you can tell the world that you’re serious about ‘cross.
But let’s be honest. …continue reading: BikeSnob NYC Gets Sticky: Think Before You Glue
Taping and Gluing Tubulars the Belgian Way
August 29th, 2009 Filed Under how-to
So you’ve picked up your tubular wheels and tires and are eying that first race. Perhaps our how-to for multi-step process of gluing cyclocross tires is overwhelming? You can kick back with a Belgian brew and enjoy the drawn-out process, or you can simplify the steps and speed things up a bit by going with a totally different Belgian concoction.
Stu Thorne, managing director of online retailer Cyclocross World, has to install a lot of tubular tires for the many sets of wheels his cyclocross team uses. To get his team rolling, he relies on the “Belgian Method” of mounting cyclocross tubulars.
“Just about everyone over there uses tubular tape,” says Thorne. “We’ve been using it for about six years. It’s …continue reading: Taping and Gluing Tubulars the Belgian Way
How-to: Gluing Tubular Cyclocross Tires
August 26th, 2009 Filed Under how-to
Gluing tubulars is a fine art, but a do-it-yourself strong, clean job is possible.
It’s that time of year. If you want to race as fast as possible, tubulars are the tires of choice. But get your tires glued up and ready to go before the races start so you can test out tire pressures, learn the traction capabilities of the tire’s tread, and be sure your glue job will hold up. Want to be confident in your gluing job? One way is to learn how to do it yourself. It’s not rocket science (it’s adhesive science). To help you get it dialed, we’ve got some tubular gluing tips for you. (A version of this article appeared in our Issue 4. See also our article on using glue and tape for cyclocross tubulars. And if it all seems too messy or risky? Hire a professional or consider giving tubeless a try. Mounting tires always involves serious risk – be careful and consult experts.)
by Nicholas Keough
The first tubular tires were developed for road racing in the early 1900’s as a replacement for the conventional solid rubber tire. Until the development of the high performance clincher tire in the early 1980’s, every serious cyclist was familiar with the process of gluing tires to their rims. Slowly the tubular tire became less and less common on all bikes but the most serious of cyclists. The art of tubular gluing slipped into the darkness, practiced only by …continue reading: How-to: Gluing Tubular Cyclocross Tires
Countdown to Nationals: Packing to Win
December 9th, 2008 Filed Under how-to
This is part of an ongoing series of national championships-related articles to get you ready for KC as a racer or spectator. You can view the rest of the series articles here.
Gear to Keep You in the Clear
Packing for a 'cross race. by Webb Zahn
With just a few days until the kickoff of the National Cyclocross Championships, eyes are turning to Kansas for the week’s events. The 2007 championships showed the harsh reality of the Midwest as snowstorms, frozen ground, and mud added to the always expected wintry chill that is oh so common in Kansas in December.
Have no fear, Cyclocross Magazine is here! Although the outlook appears promising with days set to creep into the mid-to-upper forties, we are here to provide you with a packing list of everything you need to succeed (unless your fitness is the lacking factor… we have a special packing list coming shortly especially for you.) …continue reading: Countdown to Nationals: Packing to Win
