Here's your Cyclocross count down...
If you haven't started already....
In the next 2 weeks, many of us will be starting cross specific training... possibly jumping on our cross bikes for the first time since LAST SEASON....
In 4 short weeks, many of us will be attending some version of a Cross Clinic... brushing up on rusty cross skills
As a cheap and shameless plug... Blue Steel Cyclery will be putting on a Cyclocross clinic on Sept 1st, but act fast because space is limited and we're closing it out at 64 attendees. Check it out on bike reg.
And... then!!!! In 6 weeks... Ohhhhhh, NOOOOOO! The actual racing season starts!
You guessed it! We'll be coughing up a lung in our first Cross Race out in VT.... or some other place in New England.
Racing up the side of some mountain, wondering what the hell we were thinking, when we signed up for the damned race on bike reg!!
So... don't add insult to injury, by jumping straight into the fires of hell, on a bike that you've ignored since last winter.
Hey Dude! It's hot in here!
Come on... if you are anything like me... after your last Cross race, which for me was LAST January, the last thing you wanted to do was bike maintenance... so, I did what any responsible individual would do.
I tossed my cross bikes in the basement and ignored them.... until.... ummmmm.... HOLY CRAP!!!! I ONLY HAVE 6 WEEKS BEFORE MY FIRST RACE!!!!
And here they come! Rounding the first bend...
So.... now what?????
Well... before you jump on your bike cold turkey and start blasting over the barriers
Oops!! That's gonna leave a mark
Through the woods
Part of the Chain Gang!
and all over creation
Now... doesn't this look life fun!!!
... here's a few things you might want to check out first...
* Pump up the tires... and make sure you don't have a slow leak
* If you have tubulars... make sure the glue is still good. If you see an edge of the tire peeling away from the rim... NOT GOOD... Time to re-glue!!!
* Check your tires for wear... if you want to get a little more wear out of your clinchers... you can always rotate the front to the rear...but only if they are clinchers... I wouldn't recommend rotating tubulars. If a tubular is worn, replace that bad boy !!!
Because we are hard on our equipment in Cross... it will wear out faster... sooooo
* Check the chain for wear... and, since it's been sitting, be sure to add chain lube
* Check brake pads for wear... if pads or at 1/2 life... go ahead and replace
* Check chain rings & cassette for wear... those wear on fast in Cross particularly the chain rings
* Check bolts on chain rings to ensure they are tight...
* Check seat collar bolt... that has a tendency to snap due to mounts and dismounts!
* Check your handle bars to make sure they are tight and make sure your headset is tight
* Make sure your wheels are secure in the frame and tighten down the skewers
If you find anything outside of the above acts or looks weird on your bike... bring it to a bike shop and let one of the pros figure out what's going on with it... save yourself the frustration, hand gestures, and the excessive swearing...
Doing this to my bike after I attempt to repair it, always makes me feel better.
Plus, I've found from personal experience that the maintenance cost goes up after I try to fix something first...
It's cheaper if I go directly to the bike shop vs. trying to fix it and then go to the shop.
Since we're closing in on Cross Season... I'm be posting blogs every 2 weeks.
Have fun out there
Ride Safe!!
Talk with you soon
The Peanut Gallery
