A friend and I were just out doing some cross practice at lunch. One of the things we did was a start drill. We're both getting ready for Crank Bros #1 this Saturday and the start at the venue is a long and very flat sweeping right hand turn. Our drill was that we started in our favorite gear from a standstill and I let him count us down. Our start chute was a paved MUT like path in a park. The first time I was able to jump off and get a gap. The second and third times I was able to jump off but he drafted me and hung. The fourth (and last) time, I let him get the jump and I drafted. That last time, my HR peak was about 8 bpm less than any of the other runs.

So now I have a new strategy for Saturday. Stage near kajukembo and draft him into the first hard left. :D

A friend and I were just out doing some cross practice at lunch. One of the things we did was a start drill. We're both getting ready for Crank Bros #1 this Saturday and the start at the venue is a long and very flat sweeping right hand turn. Our drill was that we started in our favorite gear from a standstill and I let him count us down. Our start chute was a paved MUT like path in a park. The first time I was able to jump off and get a gap. The second and third times I was able to jump off but he drafted me and hung. The fourth (and last) time, I let him get the jump and I drafted. That last time, my HR peak was about 8 bpm less than any of the other runs.

So now I have a new strategy for Saturday. Stage near kajukembo and draft him into the first hard left. :D


thats cool you can practice with someone. i did starts by myself yesterday (i dont have any friends) and it went well. it was nice to figure out what my "start gear" is. In prior races i kinda just rolled up to the line in the gear i was already in. Hopefully it'll help in this weekend's races.

jeremy

After some disappointing results on this past Sunday's first race, including getting beat by newcomers, I've been inspired to add some lunch rides. I've been spending time pushing thru washboards, shale, heavy gravel, wet/soft grass, just to get some strength and resistance training. Today I had to pull out my SS CX cause my wife wanted to use my geared on the trainer today while by boy napped. Hopefully, running the 42:16 all the way thru the ride will help.

Good luck to you guys this weekend, no race until 10/16 for me.

my starts are pretty bad... BUT I have been practicing as welll and I have improved. Anyone use any techniques that help in getting a good jump? Pedal placement? etc... I have been starting seated in the drops... I also read this article that helped me out a bunch.

http://cycle-smart.com/Articles/find.php?search=45

A couple things that seemed to help me was getting clipped, THEN standing, I was trying to clip in out of the saddle and it was only fast when itr worked, which was not enough. Also, I spend so much time learning not to look at my pedals, I forget that sometimes it's faster to just look at the damn thing, clip in, then get going out of the saddle.

A friend and I were just out doing some cross practice at lunch. One of the things we did was a start drill. We're both getting ready for Crank Bros #1 this Saturday and the start at the venue is a long and very flat sweeping right hand turn. Our drill was that we started in our favorite gear from a standstill and I let him count us down. Our start chute was a paved MUT like path in a park. The first time I was able to jump off and get a gap. The second and third times I was able to jump off but he drafted me and hung. The fourth (and last) time, I let him get the jump and I drafted. That last time, my HR peak was about 8 bpm less than any of the other runs.

So now I have a new strategy for Saturday. Stage near kajukembo and draft him into the first hard left. :D

that's a bad idea, I have a tendency to go down on hard lefts in the gravel and taking out everyone behind me.

getting serious here. if there was a cross sub event that consisted of drag racing to the first corner, I'd do well. as far as this weekend's race goes, getting a free draft and entering the course fith wheel or so, would probably be optimum. good idea. however, it's going to be so wide and so fast, let's hope it's strung out going into the off camber and gravel corner you speak of.

besides getting better at clicking in, i don't think there's much that can be done now to improve ones starts. the best way to do that is to race as many criteriums as possible in August. keep in mind, I semi suck at cyclocross, but i plan on getting better

that's a bad idea, I have a tendency to go down on hard lefts in the gravel and taking out everyone behind me.

getting serious here. if there was a cross sub event that consisted of drag racing to the first corner, I'd do well. as far as this weekend's race goes, getting a free draft and entering the course fith wheel or so, would probably be optimum. good idea. however, it's going to be so wide and so fast, let's hope it's strung out going into the off camber and gravel corner you speak of.

besides getting better at clicking in, i don't think there's much that can be done now to improve ones starts. the best way to do that is to race as many criteriums as possible in August. keep in mind, I semi suck at cyclocross, but i plan on getting better

Have you seen the new course map? It very different from the original course:
http://www.crosscrusade.com/images/maps/2005/alpenrose.jpg

Two 90 degree high-speed rights on pavement, then a 90 degree left onto grass/muck/quicksand/whatever. It's going to be a wild start!

Have you seen the new course map? It very different from the original course:
http://www.crosscrusade.com/images/maps/2005/alpenrose.jpg

Two 90 degree high-speed rights on pavement, then a 90 degree left onto grass/muck/quicksand/whatever. It's going to be a wild start!

Holy moly!

The transition to dirt/gravel on the high side of the velodrome should become interesting as the day wears on. I hope everyone has their DH mojo working for the descent on the east side of the velodrome. Anyone not running tubies should be careful of pich flats when crossing the infield practice loop. That concrete comes up pretty high from ground level.

I was on the fence as to whether to get there early (before 9:00 am and the first start) to pre-ride. Now I think its mandatory.

Holy moly!

The transition to dirt/gravel on the high side of the velodrome should become interesting as the day wears on. I hope everyone has their DH mojo working for the descent on the east side of the velodrome. Anyone not running tubies should be careful of pich flats when crossing the infield practice loop. That concrete comes up pretty high from ground level.

I was on the fence as to whether to get there early (before 9:00 am and the first start) to pre-ride. Now I think its mandatory.

That's a good idea but I don't feel like arriving 5+ hours early!!!

That's a good idea but I don't feel like arriving 5+ hours early!!!

Looks like there might be a pre-ride opportunity before the 11:30 race. My race (Masters B) goes off at 10:30 and is scheduled for 45 minutes. You should be able to hop on after the tail end of the field goes through the start area.