CCH - Cross Crazy Hackney - a round up of the cross season so far.

You don't have to be crazy to race cross - but it helps ...

 Nearly advent and the cyclocross season has passed its half way mark and we've not blogged on it at all this year - so this is a way of making amends. CCH riders from all categories have been battling it out in the Eastern and London Cyclocross Leagues, mainly the Eastern.

... You do have to do a lot of running ...

 If you don't quite know what this entails here's a quick guide to cross racing CCH style -
You need a bike - you won't always be on it - or even able to stay on it -  a cross bike or an mtb will do - weight can be a factor if you have to carry it for a lap or so.
Mass start - up to 80 riders all start at once - with faster riders gridded at the front depending on previous results - and good looks sometimes.
Charge! Once the commissaire says go - you go - and don't stop until the chequered flag. Sounds easy eh? Well when you get to the first corner or obstacle the course usually narrows to the width of two or three bikes so that start is vital if you don't want to hang around in a bottleneck.

... Occasionally you can ride your bike....

 The course - this can vary but can involve some if not all of the following surfaces - grass, mud, tarmac, sand, short grass, long grass, slippy mud, sticky mud, deep sand, broken tarmac, gravel, tree roots, leaves, nettles, acorns, rabbit holes, water, ice, snow.

.. just not on that smooth bit of tarmac though...

 The course can be flat, hilly, some very steep short hills, bumpy, lumpy and generally torture. You will have to race from anything between 15 minutes for Youth C and under to an hour for seniors and with laps averaging around 8 minutes you get to revisit the scene of your latest crash many times in a race.

.. it's not cross dressing - it's Cross...

Kit - of course you'll be wearing CCH kit but you may need to add extras such as gloves, scarves and tights - see above. If it all sounds pretty easy and a laugh - you'd be right - it is easy to get involved and catch the cross bug - ask this season's newcomers - Mike Mooney, Dave Carr, Tom Lloyd, Molly Gregory and Judith Phillips, - and we do have a great laugh doing it. However it is racing and we want to do our best for Hackney.

.... concentration is vital if...

 Currently CCH are sitting in 9th position in the Eastern league out of 27 teams competing. The following riders are all giving it their best effort - Molly Gregory - best result so far 2nd under 8 girl currently 4th in league; Stanley Boyd - best result 2nd U10 boy - currently 3rd; Harry Gregory - best 10th U12 boys -  currently 16th: Molly Lloyd best 3rd U14 girl - currently 6th; Louis Byrne - best 33rd U14 boys - currently 24th; Artie O'Regan - best 30th U14 - currently -22nd; Frank Ramsay - best 21st U14 - currently 20th: Logan de Monchaux-Irons - best 6th U14 boy - currently 11th; Frank Moore - best 2nd U14 - currently 2nd; Ned O'Regan - best 4th U16 - currently - 7th; Mike Mooney best 40th E vet currently 57th: Gary Boyd - best 61st vet 45-9 currently 65th; Neil Irons best 25th vet 45-9 currently 44th;  Dave Carr - best 24th vet 50 - currently - 57th; Harry Moore best 26th vet 50 - currently - 21st.

... you want to be star of the season - so far...

So thats what we've been up to - if you want to join us we train on Hackney Downs Tuesday nights - 6pm at the club till 7.30. Coming up we will be running a series of Go-Ride cross races for all those youth riders who have never given it a go yet - these are planned for the 22nd of December, 8th and 22nd of February. These will be on Saturday mornings instead of youth training. Medals and prizes await those who want to test themselves against the mud. Details to follow.