Cross Season is upon us!!

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

Did someone say cross season??!!??!!?!?!

:c lap:

I wanna play!

Andy, if you're going to practice with this group, I hope you'll be sandbagging (actually carrying sand bags). We (I, really), need all the help I can get.

[J_Sims]

Mike,
If is Kona you are looking at for the CX thing, Check out the Jake the Snake

[Pain Freak]

The 2008 is supposed to be revamped. I didn't know about discs not being allowed. The Bianchi Volpe is so cheap I could buy that easily and then do some upgrades. I'll see if I can find some reviews on it. That is about the worse color I've ever seen a bike painted though.

[J_Sims]

This sounds like a lot of fun!!!!!!!!

[Pilas]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Neil,

I'm very interested in this. When and where and what do we need to wear/bring? I'm buying my touring bike in November, and I was hoping I could use it for both. It's a Kona Sutra. What do you think?

Mike,
last year I bought a Specialized Tri Cross. It comes nicely equipped (except the wheels), and pretty inexpensive. I also use for comutting and ocasionally for training on the road. I think it would make a great touring bike.

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

I can't make it this weekend.

For tires, I have the Specialized Houffalize tires (32 mm). Are those OK? I haven't seen any mention of those on any CX forums.

Those are the ones I use. I raced on them last season and they worked fine. Then again, I haven't use any other tires, so I can't compare.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Pilas

Mike,
last year I bought a Specialized Tri Cross. It comes nicely equipped (except the wheels), and pretty inexpensive. I also use for comutting and ocasionally for training on the road. I think it would make a great touring bike.

It'll work for ultralight touring/credit card touring, but if you're doing a self supported ride with panniers loaded up you'll want something made completely out of steel. Anything else and it'll get the wobbles at high speed and probably break off the eyelet braze ons. The one exception to that rule is the Cannondale T800 or T2000.

It also needs longer chainstays so your heels won't strike the panniers.

[andy aka rut]

Thanks Lee-
Not sure how I became the "big gun" with you all. Have you seen Pilas ride???! Holy cow, that man can FLY!!! I'll be riding the cxss anyway, so you won't have to worry about me being in your catagory.
This will be fun.

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Andy, if you're going to practice with this group, I hope you'll be sandbagging (actually carrying sand bags). We (I, really), need all the help I can get.

[genusmtbkr5]

I'm interested too, just need to change the tires back. Here's my ride.

[1x1clyde]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

Did someone say cross season??!!??!!?!?!

:c lap:
I wanna play!

Good timing Andy, I was just going to call you!

Looks like we have got some peeps interested....what works best?
Sunday am is good for me or Wednesday late afternoons..literally all we need is a park, some dirt and a little hill to run up over and over and over again.....there is a perfect park right by my casa I use but Yorba Linda Regional Park would be just fine and we could always hit Chino Hills after for a little CX assault or roll the bike path towards PCH and hit the dirt trails along the side of it.

Mike, if you are considering Bianchi look at the Axis also, pretty nice toy for the $ otherwise Redline offers the best bang for the buck but I don't think they have the braze-ons for racks.

Essentially all we will do is alot of the techniques at walking speed, practice, then set up a very short mock course and try to put it all together!
Like I said earlier, I am no pro, pack fodder in the B's just trying to hang on!, but I love cross and love to share the knowledge.
Hopefully we can get together and do a few practices and then get a group together and hit the Cross Clinic on the 16th, maybe hit the race at Fully? Wear a little STR on the course? hhhmmmm???

Lets get this rolling, no pun intended, so give me some days/times that work!

[2wheel_lee]

Neil, will you also teach us proper the carrying technique (bikes, not sidearms) as well as attire?

(I ripped these from another forum.)

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Neil, will you also teach us proper the carrying technic (bikes, not sidearms) as well as attire?

(I ripped these from another forum.)

That looks like the guy on the Beeks ride...

[Pilas]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

Thanks Lee-
Not sure how I became the "big gun" with you all. Have you seen Pilas ride???! Holy cow, that man can FLY!!! I'll be riding the cxss anyway, so you won't have to worry about me being in your catagory.
This will be fun.

OK, Andy, let's not exagerate here. I wish the flying thing was true. The only reason why I was faster than you at Downieville is because I had gears!
I actually have been off the bike for most of August, so I need to get my butt back in shape. I think the Cross thing could be a good motivation to get training again.
If you guys set something up, let me know. I'm good for Wed., Fridays, or weekends.

[andy aka rut]

Since my cop car accident several months ago, I have only ridden my road bikes a total of 4 times. Three of them have been cruiser rides. Tonight was my first "hammer" ride. Ouch!! A few friends (who have been riding road) took me out to do the Santiago Loop. I definately need to start riding on the road more. I hate the feeling of getting beat by someone that should not be beating you. Mentally it is disheartening physically it is just painful. Anyway with all this talk about cross riding, I really need to start road riding again!

[26'er Zen Master]

Neil I am intrested let me know when...I will bring turtles.