first cx race: should I race ss or cat 4?
10-08-12, 07:57 PM
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first cx race: should I race ss or cat 4?
I will be racing first cross race on sunday on my single speed bike, and I was wondering which race I should enter. Am I wrong to think that the SS race will likely be a higher level of competition?
in case anyone is familiar, I'll be racing in the Georgia Cross Series.
in case anyone is familiar, I'll be racing in the Georgia Cross Series.
10-08-12, 09:41 PM
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Around here the single speed race runs the entire spectrum, from guys who can (and often do on the same day) win the elite race to guys at who finish in the bottom half of the Master C race. But on average, those guys are pretty fast. You'll definitely have a better chance of being competitive in the Cat 4 race. If you want to be sure, you could always do both.
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10-08-12, 09:54 PM
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Around here the single speed race runs the entire spectrum, from guys who can (and often do on the same day) win the elite race to guys at who finish in the bottom half of the Master C race. But on average, those guys are pretty fast. You'll definitely have a better chance of being competitive in the Cat 4 race. If you want to be sure, you could always do both.
nice! that's what I was hoping to hear
still playing around with the idea of doing both. may just get my feet wet this time
10-09-12, 12:17 AM
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If there's only a single SS race, I think that will be the tougher race. Here in NorCal, they've added SS B's, because some of those guys on SS are just monsters.
10-09-12, 12:07 PM
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Being your first race it probably doesn't matter *that* much. SS is much harder in my area for the reasons mentioned above.
The most important factors to consider are the length of the race, the time of day, and the weather conditions.
Around here the Cat 4 race is shorter and much earlier than the SS race. So, not only do you do fewer laps but the course is generally in better condition than in the afternoon for the SS race start. If the weather is bad the difference can be huge.
The most important factors to consider are the length of the race, the time of day, and the weather conditions.
Around here the Cat 4 race is shorter and much earlier than the SS race. So, not only do you do fewer laps but the course is generally in better condition than in the afternoon for the SS race start. If the weather is bad the difference can be huge.
10-12-12, 09:55 AM
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Do both. I like being able to race masters and cat 1/2. It makes for a full day of cyclocross rather than just showing up for one race.
10-14-12, 04:40 PM
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ended up doing both! what a blast!
did pretty well in both. 10/44 in cat 4 and 9/20+? in ss Im curious now about how I would do on a geared bike with cross tires or in the ss race on fresh legs lol
fwiw to future readers, if I had to chose just one race I would choose the cat 4 race. more people more fun
did pretty well in both. 10/44 in cat 4 and 9/20+? in ss Im curious now about how I would do on a geared bike with cross tires or in the ss race on fresh legs lol
fwiw to future readers, if I had to chose just one race I would choose the cat 4 race. more people more fun
10-15-12, 01:07 PM
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ended up doing both! what a blast!
did pretty well in both. 10/44 in cat 4 and 9/20+? in ss Im curious now about how I would do on a geared bike with cross tires or in the ss race on fresh legs lol
fwiw to future readers, if I had to chose just one race I would choose the cat 4 race. more people more fun
did pretty well in both. 10/44 in cat 4 and 9/20+? in ss Im curious now about how I would do on a geared bike with cross tires or in the ss race on fresh legs lol
fwiw to future readers, if I had to chose just one race I would choose the cat 4 race. more people more fun
I do races in one series in ss and the other series in Cat 4 (35+) on a geared bike. The toughness of the ss race has been good for me in preparing for Cat 4.
I still don't feel like I have the fitness and recovery ability to double up yet, but I may attempt it once at the end of the season.
10-15-12, 04:56 PM
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Nice work.
I do races in one series in ss and the other series in Cat 4 (35+) on a geared bike. The toughness of the ss race has been good for me in preparing for Cat 4.
I still don't feel like I have the fitness and recovery ability to double up yet, but I may attempt it once at the end of the season.
I do races in one series in ss and the other series in Cat 4 (35+) on a geared bike. The toughness of the ss race has been good for me in preparing for Cat 4.
I still don't feel like I have the fitness and recovery ability to double up yet, but I may attempt it once at the end of the season.
I had never tried it or even considered it before in other forms of racing but a few of my friends from the velodrome that also race cx convinced me to do it. It was tough but over half of the ss field was in the same boat from racing earlier during the day. Needless to say I went home and slept for 13 hours straight. haha give it a shot!
10-15-12, 05:34 PM
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Great job!
I finished in the top 10 in my first race ever, but there were only 10 of us.
Starting out 10 of 44 you ought to win one soon.
I finished in the top 10 in my first race ever, but there were only 10 of us.
Starting out 10 of 44 you ought to win one soon.
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10-15-12, 05:46 PM
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I think I'm going to try doubling up at the season ender for one of our local series. Would like to do well-ish in the Cat 4 35+ race in the morning, but ss would be strictly for fun.
10-17-12, 03:00 PM
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ended up doing both! what a blast!
did pretty well in both. 10/44 in cat 4 and 9/20+? in ss Im curious now about how I would do on a geared bike with cross tires or in the ss race on fresh legs lol
fwiw to future readers, if I had to chose just one race I would choose the cat 4 race. more people more fun
did pretty well in both. 10/44 in cat 4 and 9/20+? in ss Im curious now about how I would do on a geared bike with cross tires or in the ss race on fresh legs lol
fwiw to future readers, if I had to chose just one race I would choose the cat 4 race. more people more fun
10-17-12, 04:02 PM
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I tried a back to back on Sunday. C35+ at 9am and SS B's at 10am. Did pretty well in the first race (11th), but pulled myself with 2 laps to go in the second race. I've done back to back crits many times -- if you have some experience and familiarity with the course and the riders, you can usually sit on and recover pretty well. But CX is a whole 'nother ball of wax.
10-17-12, 08:47 PM
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26x2.0 forte pisgah
legal for local race series. would like to pick up a set of these badboys next paycheck
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwalbe-CX-...item53edb0e27f
legal for local race series. would like to pick up a set of these badboys next paycheck
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwalbe-CX-...item53edb0e27f
10-17-12, 08:50 PM
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I tried a back to back on Sunday. C35+ at 9am and SS B's at 10am. Did pretty well in the first race (11th), but pulled myself with 2 laps to go in the second race. I've done back to back crits many times -- if you have some experience and familiarity with the course and the riders, you can usually sit on and recover pretty well. But CX is a whole 'nother ball of wax.
less strategy and more effort than other types of racing i've done
reminds me of running cross country
Last edited by theblackbullet; 10-17-12 at 10:50 PM.
10-18-12, 06:20 AM
#16
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
26x2.0 forte pisgah
legal for local race series. would like to pick up a set of these badboys next paycheck
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwalbe-CX-...item53edb0e27f
legal for local race series. would like to pick up a set of these badboys next paycheck
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwalbe-CX-...item53edb0e27f
Those tires at least have some knobs. But I cross specific tire will do you better. If you really get into cyclocross on down the road think about getting tubulars, then you will see a real difference.
10-18-12, 10:49 AM
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26x2.0 forte pisgah
legal for local race series. would like to pick up a set of these badboys next paycheck
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwalbe-CX-...item53edb0e27f
legal for local race series. would like to pick up a set of these badboys next paycheck
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwalbe-CX-...item53edb0e27f
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