Lenny, Alek and Rob's cyclo crossbromance

lennymc

also in.

comete

In for the B, hope to finish stronger than last time!

RobFowl

lennymc wrote: »

also in.

Missing this one as doing NIRE sportif so will have to wait before whipping your drawda ass.......

lukegjpotter

I'm in, 39 left in B. Hoping for a top 75.
Although I'll probably be a bit chubby from a week in Poland.

Enduro

IN (thanks for the heads up)

lennymc

RobFowl wrote: »

Missing this one as doing NIRE sportif so will have to wait before whipping your drawda ass.......

We both know that is not going to happen....

RobFowl

lennymc wrote: »

We both know that is not going to happen....

You know its coming :cool:

Ryath

In a moment of madness I've taken the last B spot!

Hopefully I won't be last only back cycling a few weeks

Will be riding my hardtail Mtb though I'm might try and get the missus to use her BTW on a cross bike so I can um borrow it probably won't be till new year though. Would many be on mountain bikes? Guess I better start practising my mounts and dismounts.

easygoing39

There will be a few on MTB in the B race.Not too big a disadvantage really.

DirkVoodoo

Argh! Missed the B, checked over weekend and then forgot to sign-up yesterday.

If anyone can't make the race can they PM me and I'll buy their entry off them. Thanks!

Alek

Had a close side-hug with a back of a reversing van this morning: torn saddle, bent hanger and less importantly - stiff & sore right braking finger.

Not being able to brake can only make me faster, innit?

Tenzor07

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Argh! Missed the B, checked over weekend and then forgot to sign-up yesterday.

Too bad, now to the A race with ya!

DirkVoodoo

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Too bad, now to the A race with ya!

That's exactly what I did! As my friend just said "You won't be at the pointy end in either" and just need the practice to get stronger, so why not??

Bring on the lap of suffering!

Gerry

Decided to fire the entry in last night. Good to see some more folks entering the B on MTB - I'll be back on the carbon hardtail, hoping to yet again finish above last place.

Tenzor07

Alek wrote: »

Not being able to brake can only make me faster, innit?

You use the brakes in a CX race?

Alek

Only to stop after the last lap.

The tax man

Alek wrote: »

Only to stop and tie my laces.

FYP!!:D

RobFowl

Serious post here but seeing as how both Belfast and fixx races sold out the B race rapidly isn't it time to stop MTB entries ?
There is a full MTB season already without limited cross places being taken...

nak

RobFowl wrote: »

Serious post here but seeing as how both Belfast and fixx races sold out the B race rapidly isn't it time to stop MTB entries ?
There is a full MTB season already without limited cross places being taken...

I agree, especially when there are only 4 races in the Fixx series. Different for kids and women being able to race on MTBs, if it brings them into the sport then I don't have an issue with it especially if we end up with separate women's races.

The Phoenix guys decided to replace the men's MTB race with a women's race at lady Dixon. Know some people gave out about it, but there was a MTB race already this year on that course as part of the XC league, so I don't see what the issue was. The MTB support races also mean that people racing CX dont get to pre-ride the course unless they turn out several hours before their race. That does only apply to Ulster races.

Hate to say it, but even as a beginner mountain biker, I wouldn't want to do a CX race on my MTB. The hills are a lot more fun for that kind of bike.

lennymc

i've always been of the opinion that mtbs should not be allowed, even more so now that races are filling up so fast and people are missing out.

Peterx

The barrier to entry that is the price of a CX bike is significant and starting on an MTB is the way most Irish people will begin.

The growing pains of CX may require more of us to put on more races in novel locations - banning beginners on MTBs should not be the solution to me missing a race entry on my CX bike.

If it's good enough for beginner women and beginner children to use an MTB it is also good enough for beginner men. It's not a sinking ship..

The common key word here is beginner.

lennymc

just curious - of the current racers, how many started on an MTB and moved on to a CX bike? I know of at least one, and conversely, I know I bought a CX bike specifically to start CX racing.

easygoing39

I'm sure a lot of the lads who are members of MTB clubs (EPIC,MAD,WORC,IMBRC etc) started racing CX on their mtb bikes before buying a CX bike.

RobFowl

lennymc wrote: »

just curious - of the current racers, how many started on an MTB and moved on to a CX bike? I know of at least one, and conversely, I know I bought a CX bike specifically to start CX racing.

nak

Peterx wrote: »

The barrier to entry that is the price of a CX bike is significant and starting on an MTB is the way most Irish people will begin.

The growing pains of CX may require more of us to put on more races in novel locations - banning beginners on MTBs should not be the solution to me missing a race entry on my CX bike.

If it's good enough for beginner women and beginner children to use an MTB it is also good enough for beginner men. It's not a sinking ship..

The common key word here is beginner.

It is a cyclocross race though, not a MTB race. The difference with women and kids is that those areas need development. There is no shortage of men racing, but 2 years ago we had maybe 3 women on the start line for most races. The fields for women and kids are not oversubscribed.

I bought a CX bike to try it out and have only just gotten a MTB.

Gerry

I'd have thought the whole reason to allow MTB's was to remove a barrier to entry / increase numbers. I'd agree that the mens numbers don't need any help at this stage, but was that the whole reason?
Surely its still a cyclocross race, even if I turn up on my road bike with slick tyres?
I had the option of buying a CX bike instead of a road bike, but since I'll use the bike far more on the road, decided to go for a road bike. How many people have a CX bike and no road bike?

Lusk_Doyle

Gerry wrote: »

I'd have thought the whole reason to allow MTB's was to remove a barrier to entry / increase numbers. I'd agree that the mens numbers don't need any help at this stage, but was that the whole reason?
Surely its still a cyclocross race, even if I turn up on my road bike with slick tyres?
I had the option of buying a CX bike instead of a road bike, but since I'll use the bike far more on the road, decided to go for a road bike. How many people have a CX bike and no road bike?

Come back when you have the appropriate number of bikes Gerry!

Alek

How many people have a CX bike and no road bike?

At least 1, including myself :P

DirkVoodoo

Gerry wrote: »

I'd have thought the whole reason to allow MTB's was to remove a barrier to entry / increase numbers. I'd agree that the mens numbers don't need any help at this stage, but was that the whole reason?
Surely its still a cyclocross race, even if I turn up on my road bike with slick tyres?
I had the option of buying a CX bike instead of a road bike, but since I'll use the bike far more on the road, decided to go for a road bike. How many people have a CX bike and no road bike?

You could argue that due to the recent surge in popularity of the sport, there are an abundance of bike that can either be borrowed to try it out or bought reasonably cheaply second hand.

I went for the former. I borrowed a friend's bike and went out for a bit of a roll around on the grass. Decided I didn't like it. Then last year, bought the bike, did a race and thought it was great fun.

I'd say if people have mountain bikes then there are a few likely scenarios:
1) They have already done a bit of mountain biking and so should be familiar enough with how different and technical the cyclocross courses should be compared to the road. Do they need to "try it out" on their mountain bikes to verify this? Doubtful.

2) They are simply looking for some extra competitive events on their mountain bike and have no intention of buying a cyclocross bike.

I can't really see a good reason for allowing them. Viewing a race is enough of a reason to get most people into it. I may be wrong but I believe that the barrier to entry in earlier years was there was no "B" category and so it was perceived as a very elite and specialist sport. Who wants to spend over a grand to know you are going to get your ass handed to you by Robin Seymour every month? I really don't think that a MTB lowers the barrier to entry, and cyclocross isn't as niche as it used to be so as mentioned, numbers aren't a problem now.

Tenzor07

Looks good!