In a odd position this year and need some guidance. Base is fine...perhaps too much as I "ended" the year with top 12-hour MTB finish last month. Definately have slacked off the intervals as I needed the rest from the long season.

Here's my CX results to date (A): 8th, 2nd, 4th, DNF.

Yep..a DNF.

Same story each race - 3-4 guys go NUTS at the start and I don't even try to chase as I simply do not have the top end. For the next 3-4 laps, I pull the group (otherwise we would not catch them...bunch of slackers here) and catch them. 3 out of the 4 drop to the back (1 of the guys is a complete stud and ends up winning) Then, it's a new race. It's happend every race.....

Just wasn't feeling the love (or the will to win) last week and called it quits after pulling the group back as I wasn't in the position to win a sprint finish. My other results came from simply grinding it out on my own......i.e - solo.

I guess I'm good at riding my pace and not so hot at pack-CX riding. On technical course, I can usually ride solo. On open courses, I'm screwed.

Any tips to either contain these 10 minute wonders and dictate the pace to my strengths or shall I just inject some extra blood and call it a season as I'm not in "CX shape".

thanks

have fun and play some tactics. take advantage of the areas you can put pressure on the roadies and attack or up the pace and ride them off your wheel. if you're leading them around the course, ease off in the parts that aren't technical and let someone else dictate the pace then move to the front when you can lay down the hammer. chances are this cat and mouse won't go on all race and something will break free allowing you to race at your own pace.

but from your results you have more exp. then I do...

do you have any teamates? If so find someone to help you out. One attacks and force other riders to respond or allow gaps. Then the other do it.
Otherwise you just need to focus on your starts. When you train warm up and simulate the race start. One leg clipped in and do an LT interval for 2-5 min. It seams no matter who is off the front be it 3 guys you are tending to place the same area. Let someone else pull them back. No one else is doing it because its a card game and you're showing yours first. They know it. Be prepared to allow a few races to dissapear before you.

do you have any teamates?
Unfortunatley, none that race CX

Otherwise you just need to focus on your starts.
Would this help mid-season or is it just a mind game? I'm not kidding when I say I don't have a lot of headroom.

Let someone else pull them back
Tried that during the 8th place race and didn't work out so hot as I got caught in the slop at the finish.

Be prepared to allow a few races to dissapear before you.
Noble advice. I should pick my battles. It's just hard to sit out a few races and/or take the win or break at all costs. Perhaps a mental issue with me as I'd rather collect a few points rather than risk a blow-up (minus my DNF, of course).

Danke.

sand, without knowing your category or location, ill say this (and this is open to all)
if you race cross cat 4, or are in mens C, and will be at chainbiter or northhampton this coming weekend, iim the only one from my team, and ill work as a teammate with anyone.

Be prepared to allow a few races to dissapear before you.
Noble advice. I should pick my battles. It's just hard to sit out a few races and/or take the win or break at all costs. Perhaps a mental issue with me as I'd rather collect a few points rather than risk a blow-up (minus my DNF, of course).

Danke.

I can't seam to follow my own advice here either... I'll drag around 2-3 racers most the race... But I figgure there isn't much drafting help they are getting anyway...
On the mental side... I've punched my own ticket many times when others refuse to chase.

Bitte!

have fun and play some tactics.

Yeah, I have to say I agree with a lot that Andy says. At this point in your season, starts and intervals aren't going to get it done. You are going to have to play strategy.

Mix it up.

Pacing at the front or the chase is a delicate thing. You need to keep the pace high enough not to let others get a rest but not so high that you don't have anything left for the bell.

Something you might try doing is really screwing with your pace if you're pulling a pack. On parts of the course you are fast, do a little jump and make them work back to you. Then back off and move over. If they pile up on you, fine. Look for another place to jump. Work them back and forth for a bit. That might soften them up a little of cause someone to step up and drive rather than be subject to the herk-a-jerk.

Dunno how big your fields are but those placings aren't bad. Another thing ... the way you learn how to race is to race. Cross racing ain't like mtb or road -- its got its own strategies and nuances. The way to learn how to use what you've got is to race more and try different things.

It sounds like you've got the engine, you just need to learn how to use it cleverly.

sand, without knowing your category or location, ill say this (and this is open to all)
if you race cross cat 4, or are in mens C, and will be at chainbiter or northhampton this coming weekend, iim the only one from my team, and ill work as a teammate with anyone.

Road and CX CAT 3 (could move up road, but don't want to jump for the team) in the midwest. B race. Lots of slackers.

The accordian effect might work. I can't go much faster, but I can certainly ride longer. Hell, a 3 hour CX race suits me perfectly! Problem is with my lack of top end, there isn't much difference b/w my aerobic and anaerobic pace and risk screwing myself.

Then again..who the hell cares. It's CX. I'll be the wildly coyote next week and see what happens.

For the life of me, I can't see how those guys power off the front like that. My heart would blow up as I need more warm-up.

Going from 145-170 isn't that big of deal and feels fine. But, when I go from 58 to 145, I feel like I'm going to die.....and lose my breath in the process.

Road and CX CAT 3 (could move up road, but don't want to jump for the team) in the midwest. B race. Lots of slackers.

The accordian effect might work. I can't go much faster, but I can certainly ride longer. Hell, a 3 hour CX race suits me perfectly! Problem is with my lack of top end, there isn't much difference b/w my aerobic and anaerobic pace and risk screwing myself.

Then again..who the hell cares. It's CX. I'll be the wildly coyote next week and see what happens.

For the life of me, I can't see how those guys power off the front like that. My heart would blow up as I need more warm-up.

Going from 145-170 isn't that big of deal and feels fine. But, when I go from 58 to 145, I feel like I'm going to die.....and lose my breath in the process.
You've sorta answered yer own question... Ride for an hour before the race and see how you feel at the start. I know when I'm in that stage of my racing/training I don't get warmed up before the 45min mark.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

M

In a odd position this year and need some guidance. Base is fine...perhaps too much as I "ended" the year with top 12-hour MTB finish last month. Definately have slacked off the intervals as I needed the rest from the long season.

Here's my CX results to date (A): 8th, 2nd, 4th, DNF.

Yep..a DNF.

Same story each race - 3-4 guys go NUTS at the start and I don't even try to chase as I simply do not have the top end. For the next 3-4 laps, I pull the group (otherwise we would not catch them...bunch of slackers here) and catch them. 3 out of the 4 drop to the back (1 of the guys is a complete stud and ends up winning) Then, it's a new race. It's happend every race.....

Just wasn't feeling the love (or the will to win) last week and called it quits after pulling the group back as I wasn't in the position to win a sprint finish. My other results came from simply grinding it out on my own......i.e - solo.

I guess I'm good at riding my pace and not so hot at pack-CX riding. On technical course, I can usually ride solo. On open courses, I'm screwed.

Any tips to either contain these 10 minute wonders and dictate the pace to my strengths or shall I just inject some extra blood and call it a season as I'm not in "CX shape".

thanks
I just go almost all out from the begining with a insufficiant warm up and then once I am warmed up -after the initial shock,1-1and ahalf laps, I feel a little better and keep up the pace, then try to speed up even more in the last lap or 2. The trick is getting the heart rate from neutral, 60or so bpm, to the sweet cross spot, 168-185 or so bpm, think v-teck or power band, and keeping it pegged for most of the 45-50minutes. Disclaimer, using my methods might induce muscle cramps-slight loss or change of vision-funny spots towards the end of the race, and reduced co-ordination-possibly at the wrong time-but it could also increase your placings-results. I also race a fixed cross check so my advice might need to be taken with a grain or so of salt.

Sounds like you have good fitness, but lack either the top end or the tactical know how to execute an attack on the group to get a gap. From your description, you should be able to ride up to the break solo, you just need to break the elastic so you are not towing others. Hence:

- use your MTB bike handling skills to get a gap in a technical section, or

- go from the rear of the group, attacks from the front are seldom effective unless a slow rider is right behind you to gum up the works, or

- use lapped riders at choke points to create a gap, or

- attack repeatedly until the others get sick of the tempo changes

if riders are on your wheel after an attack, just sit up and go to the back and attack again, bang, bang, bang

The, do some road racing next year to get used to this type of riding. Good luck!