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Sep. 22nd, 2009 10:30 amMost of what I learned at the School of Cross thing I did last night, is that my bike is completely unsuitable for cyclocross. The bottom bracket is too low (so it scrapes on stuff when I'm riding), my tires are too slick (although I knew that), friction shifting is useless when trying to ride cross. And, my frame is too heavy. It's the lightest frame I own; other people's bikes were many pounds lighter. I'm already at a disadvantage when it comes to lifting my bike to run over the barriers because of my height (which also makes my arms proportionally shorter), having a heavy bike makes it so much worse.
I did learn a way to dismount the bike while it's still moving. Whee!
Trying to ride the course was an exercise in absolute frustration. My gears kept changing on their own due to being bumped. There was no way for me to get into my tiny front ring fast enough on hills so I had to get off the bike to run it up short hills that other people were riding. There was that whole "being scared of downhills" thing working against me; having slick tires and facing a steep downhill of loose dirt meant I walked down the damn hills too. I didn't finish a whole lap.
The worst of it was knowing that if I had the right kind of bike and wasn't so damn scared, I know I'd be having a ton of fun! When we were just learning how to get off the bike, pick it up, jump barriers, and get back on--all on a grassy area--I had a blast even though I was slow and a bit clumsy. I kept laughing even though I was out of breath and trying it again and again. And out of the people who were there, somewhere between a third and half of them were women, some obviously newcomers as well, which was very encouraging.
*sigh* So, this does mean it's entirely possible that, by next year's cross season, I might have another (another!) bicycle, one actually meant for cyclocross. Surly Cross Checks are a fairly inexpensive option of course, but Soma makes a bike called Double Cross that's a bit cheaper and lighter!
I do want to go to some of the Cross Crusade games this year and ring a cowbell at people and shout until I'm hoarse.
My roommates think my interest in cyclocross is hilarious, as the person who moved out before I moved in started riding cross while she lived there. "Yeah, it's a trend in our housemates," Donna told me, "they start dating great guys and then take up cyclocross."
One last thought: Which bike to ride for the Flaming Lips video tomorrow?! The Miyata is the obvious one, as it's what I've been riding since I got it. But the old Raleigh would be fun, basket and all....hmm....
I did learn a way to dismount the bike while it's still moving. Whee!
Trying to ride the course was an exercise in absolute frustration. My gears kept changing on their own due to being bumped. There was no way for me to get into my tiny front ring fast enough on hills so I had to get off the bike to run it up short hills that other people were riding. There was that whole "being scared of downhills" thing working against me; having slick tires and facing a steep downhill of loose dirt meant I walked down the damn hills too. I didn't finish a whole lap.
The worst of it was knowing that if I had the right kind of bike and wasn't so damn scared, I know I'd be having a ton of fun! When we were just learning how to get off the bike, pick it up, jump barriers, and get back on--all on a grassy area--I had a blast even though I was slow and a bit clumsy. I kept laughing even though I was out of breath and trying it again and again. And out of the people who were there, somewhere between a third and half of them were women, some obviously newcomers as well, which was very encouraging.
*sigh* So, this does mean it's entirely possible that, by next year's cross season, I might have another (another!) bicycle, one actually meant for cyclocross. Surly Cross Checks are a fairly inexpensive option of course, but Soma makes a bike called Double Cross that's a bit cheaper and lighter!
I do want to go to some of the Cross Crusade games this year and ring a cowbell at people and shout until I'm hoarse.
My roommates think my interest in cyclocross is hilarious, as the person who moved out before I moved in started riding cross while she lived there. "Yeah, it's a trend in our housemates," Donna told me, "they start dating great guys and then take up cyclocross."
One last thought: Which bike to ride for the Flaming Lips video tomorrow?! The Miyata is the obvious one, as it's what I've been riding since I got it. But the old Raleigh would be fun, basket and all....hmm....
