CYCLO CROSS
Cyclo-cross is the original off road cycling discipline. Affectionately known as Cross, it was developed midway through the last century from a fun winter training past time for road riders. It is now an international sport with dedicated Cross specialists.
Lincolnshire cycling clubs promote an excellent cyclo - cross league. You can find a race every Sunday from early September until mid January. Event details can be found on the British Cycling web site.
Cyclo-Cross is accessible and easy to enter - you just turn up, pay and ride for all except a handful of major events. Under 12's (Free) race for 15 mins, Youths (£5.00) race for 30 mins, seniors and vet (£10.00) race 50 mins.
You are allowed to enter Lincs Cyclo-Cross events on your mountain bike, but they are not ideal. Most courses are designed for lightweight specialised cyclo-cross bikes.
Cross races take place in a variety of venues, ranging from town parks and local woods. They often contain a variety of surfaces such as grass, mud, sand, snow, tarmac, and sometimes patches of ice. Races are timed on the leading rider and finish once the leading rider has crossed the line. This means that lapped riders will finish within a similar time to the leader and just complete fewer laps.
Spalding CC offers cyclo cross coaching as part of the bi-weekly go-ride coaching activities at the Castle Sports Field. Each year we hold a Go-ride cyclo cross league for under 16's. The races take place after the Saturday coaching.
National Cyclo Cross 2008
Key Skills Used during Cyclo-Cross
Mounting on the move
Dismounting on the move
Picking up the bike while running
Descending
Climbing
Bike changes
Sprinting
Riding of cambers
www.spaldingcc.co.uk