Fixx Supercross Cup Round 1. // race report

Today I managed to do something that I wanted to for a very long time: get into cyclocross racing. I was looking forward to experience what this unique discipline is offering to me and the 2012 season opener Fixx Supercross Cup Round 1 was the perfect race to test myself.

I was very excited in the last few days about the race and also a bit nervous because the CX bike is ready for about a week at this point but I never had a chance to ride it properly before the race...so I wasn't super confident about how things will go today! But hey, the only way to find it out if I give it a go, hah? 

Got to the race venue nice and early enough so I had plenty of time to get myself and the gear ready for the race. Luckily the weather was super sweet to us today so at least I did no need to worry about this part of my race day. :)

John & myself, ready to roll

After the super fast registration and preparation I went out to do a couple of practice laps on the course. The first thing that surprised me was the lenght of the course: it was very short compare to a normal MTB race course but this is pretty standard in CX. I really got a nice feel of the course straight after the first lap, so I was looking forward to the start of the race. I have no experience or anything but I thought there was a very nice balance between the tarmac and the grass sectors and also liked the twisty lines on the course. I think the run-up and also the boards were good and easly manageable. The lovely looking park was just a bonus on the top of all this, was nice to have a race venue in such a nice looking place.

Quick chat before the start

Only few seconds 'til we shoot out! :)

START!!! - We went off like a bullet! The pace was insane straight from the start, we went eyeballs out! Super intense it was and I have to say I needed about 2 laps to settle down and start to feel a bit more "comfortable" if there such term exists in CX!!

I was racing in the B race, so we had 6 laps to ride on the 2,3 km long race course with the estimated race time of 45 minutes. So there was no place and no time for any sort of tactics, just ride on 100% for the whole race. The speed was unbeliveable at some stages. Checked the Garmin after the race and the max speed we hit was 49,3 km/h which isn't bad on knobbly tyres I'd say. Savage!

Trying to stay with the leader group in the first lap - keyword: trying...

On the run-up bit

Super fast tarmac sector

On my own for a little while

Hopping the boards

One more run-up before...

...I get closer and closer to the finish during my last lap

After 44 minutes and 24 seconds and a LOTS OF SUFFERING I crossed the finish line in the 16th place (out of 51 riders) and completed my very first cyclocross race. Of course there's plenty to improve for the upcoming races but for now I'm happy with this. Fantastic experience it was, brilliant atmosphere! Loved every minute of it! :)

Wrecked but still with happy face: great time on the bike today

I had a great race, I really enjoyed myself today. I'm glad I could give CX a shot and after today I can tell for sure I will do more races in this brilliant and special discipline. The buzz was amazing and the course was so much fun to ride that it's hard to explain! I have to say I'm still buzzing and can't stop thinking about today's race! If the upcoming season will be as cool as this race was I can't tell how much I'm looking forward to the 2012 CX season. Bring it on!!!

Custom chain guide for CX single ring setup

The CX bike is ready for the upcoming season, but there was still one thing that needed to be sorted. I've decided to run a single ring setup on the front but that requires some sort of chain guide that makes sure the chain wont come off. Yes, there are specific chain guides out there but I wanted to work out something different and a bit more unique (not to mention a bit more wallet friendly) solution.

So here is my project that I just finished yesterday: I managed to salvage an old XTR front mech that was broken on the bottom part of the cage. In that condition the mech was pretty much useless but for what I need it for it was just perfect!

Perfect in many ways: suitable clamp size, fully abjustable position, deep enough profile of the inner plate, light and very durable.

But let's see the details of the DIY project:

1., Cleaned the old and damaged XTR front mech

2., Checked out where to cut off the bottom part of the cage

3., Cut off the cage (with angle grinder)

4., Filed off the rough edges and also rounded off the outer plate

5., Cleaned the body again to ensure there are no metal traces

 

Ready with all the work

And here is the "prototype" :)

Once I was ready all I needed to do is get the new "guide" fitted on the bike and make sure everything is adjusted properly. The whole job took me about 20 minutes all in, so it's straight forward! Happy days! :)

Ready for test run No.1

This idea is not far from just using a regular front mech to keep the chain on but in the end of the day I think this solution would be better for me. Mainly because the MTB front mech has different profile (plate comes deeper on the inside) and because it's all cut to pieces it is more minimalist and definitely lighter option.

At this point all I have to do is test it out in every possible conditions to see how does it work. It may not going to work the way I hope it's gonna be but I have to say I'm very optimistic about this project! So bring on the test runs!! :)

Giant TCX 2 - New sponsor bike for the CX season

Here it is: my new team bike for CX racing! After a few modifications and changes I finally finished my bike for the upcoming CX season. Thankfully I managed to get everything done a week before the Fixx Supercross Cup starts so this way I can get to know the bike a little bit before the first race. 

It is the 2012 model of the well known and famous Giant TCX range. The TCX 2 was the entry level cyclocross bike from Giant in 2012 but it will change in the new 2013 range. It has aluminim frame and fork, Shimano Sora / Tiagra gear system, FSA crankset, Giant wheels, Tektro brakes and Giant finishing kit. I also got my faithful CrankBrothers EggBeater pedals fitted 'cause I know they will save me few times during the races.  

I have the bike in factory setup in about 95% but of course I had to swap few things around to shape things to my liking! :)

The first thing I've done was to convert the bike from the standard double ring setup to a single ring one. Now, it might be a kamikaze move but I'd like to try it and also I wanted to simplify things. So I got a 38T single ring fitted on the front and use the standard 11-28 casette (9 speed) on the back. Instead of using any sort of chain guide to keep the chain on the front I left the front mech on the bike to do the same job. I hope it'll work...

1 x 9 setup on the bike with the mud specialist EggBeaters

No front shifting means that there's no need for anything that is related. I removed all the inner & outer cables, so this way there's a bit less cable mess going on. Also got rid of the crosstop levers, I felt they don't need to be fitted.

The view from the saddle

So, now the CX bike is ready there's only one thing to be done: ride it a lot! I can't wait to give it a proper go and get a good feel of it. :)

Ready to roll!!!

And here is the current setup for the upcoming racing season

I would like to say a big thank you to John Clarke and ThinkBike for the bike and for the opportunity to represent my club on a bike like this. I'm sure it will serve me very well in the upcoming months.

CX season is coming // Am I ready for this?!

The good thing about cycling is that I can always find something that keeps me going forward and motivate me to do what I like the most: racing on my bike! I've been racing on the mountain bike for 11 years, tried a bit of a road racing as well but there's something that I always wanted to try but just never quiet got the chance to have a shot. Yes, that's the one, I'm talking about CX here!

Well, the 2012 racing season is just around the corner and I got the chance to try myself out in this discipline also. I will be taking part in few races in the next couple of months to test my skills and experience the world of CX racing! 

I am super excited about this now indeed but also a little bit "nervous" as well since I never ridden a cyclocross bike bike and I have about next to zero technique. I can only hope that my mountain biking history and experience will give me good enough basics to survive and finish a race like a man! :) 

So, there's not too long time until the first race! Need to prepare the bike and more so myself! I'm excited for sure and can't wait to line up to the start line of my very first CX race! I know it's gonna be cool! Bring it on!!!

 

Djouce is still the KING // ThinkBike.ie Club Spin

I'm still buzzing! We had possibly the best summer club spin up around Djouce this morning with the lads from the club. Normally I ride on my own, and since I have the joy of the fatherhood, this rule applies even more. But this time I decided to team up with some of my good friends and team mates and joined our regular Saturday XC spin, needless to say that I did not regret the decision! :)

I don't like to drive to the place when I'm out mountain biking, I rather prefer to cycle out so I went out nice and early to meet up with the guys at 8 am in the Djouce carpark. The morning was fresh at 7 am when I left the house. 

After everyone got there and everyone got ready we took off and started our spin that was led by the man himself: Ian Kingston. He practically lives on Djouce mountain, so he knows all the trails very well. We all knew he was going to take the group to some of the scariest and most deadly trails that we can possibly find! :)

Oh..and I still didn't mention the best thing yet: the trails were bone dry!!! Honestly I don't remember when I've seen the place soooo dry! There was a single puddle (needless to say that we managed to find it) but that's about it. The rest was just amazing: super fast techical trails with tons of roots! Perfect! 

Our group today (L --> R: Dan, Kevin, Dave, myself and Ian) + Fintan to took this photo

Sun & dry trails, that's what you want!

What a lovely part of the World! :)

After we got most of the coolest trails done and had so much fun on the bike it was kinda time to head home. Got back to the carpark where the group split up and I started to make my way home on the very same route that I did cycled out on. 

Now, Djouce is an amazing place. I knew that before. But...this time was just simply my best time up there. Every single square meter of that mountain is brilliant and in my opinion it's still 100% the best place to have a proper XC spin done! I'm lovin' it! :)

...check out the details on Strava

Today I rode 55 km with 1219 m total elevation gain just slightly over 3 hours and 20 minutes. It was my only spin this week so I think I took the most of it. Was great to join the lads, I had great time with today's group. It was fantastic spin all together, cheers lads. See you next time! :)