Cyclo-Cross in South Africa

[Troi Sport]

one of my CX bikes

 

Cotic X

built with Ritchey WCS and Schwalbe Marathon Extreme 700x42c tyres

 

I have Schwalbe CX comp and Schwalabe Smart Sam 700x 35c tyres in stock too

The frames are avaialble in Black and Orange

[Troi Sport]

I have a GT CXR too

great fun to ride too

 

I use them for commuting and base training

Hours of tar riding just kills my enthusiasm. It's nice to have the option to take some dirt road, pavement or singletrack during a monotonous training ride

 

[Hawk]

AWESOME!!! I'm moving to Belgium

[Troi Sport]

http://www.cycle-smart.com/coaching/coaches/adam-myerson

 

I follow this guy on Twitter

Crank Brothers Sponsored rider and CX race organiser Adam Myerson

 

kooky fellow too

[Troi Sport]

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316581_2685421140321_1400167499_33083377_144093425_n.jpg

 

looks like a series could be put on at a school or a park quite easily

[gummibear]

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316581_2685421140321_1400167499_33083377_144093425_n.jpg

 

looks like a series could be put on at a school or a park quite easily

 

You can have it anywhere.Just need about 2-3km and lots of stairs and short steep hills.

Settles Park in PE would be ideal for this.

[Grondpad]

To me it seems like there is allot more support for CX in Europe than there ever will be in SA and as we all know that is what drives sponsorships for these types of races. I think CX is great and I will defiantly like to do a race, but unfortunately SA peeps don’t support cycling with the same passion as those in Belgium for instance. Look at the terrible turnout at most Cross Country races (with world champs in SA as the exception) compared to those in Europe.

[javadude]

To make it more accessible you can allow guys with mountain bikes to take part. They did this in the US to help grow the sport.

[gummibear]

I was at the World Champs in St Wendel in Germany and the atmosphere was awesome.There were people from all over the world there to support there riders.

Cyclo cross can take off in SA but just needs a few dedicated guys to start it.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6393666439_46073040e3_b.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6393670087_7003990f20_b.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6393710383_382089fa47_b.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6393713437_747d219d11_b.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6393721487_99c149f106_b.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6393717945_7f68d744fe_b.jpg

[Grondpad]

I have newer seen a CX course, but if it is similar to Cross Country, then it might be a good idea to use Cross Country races as an introduction to CX. You can use part of the cross country courses for a CX race and add that as a race for the event day at cross country races

 

Or maybe CX courses are way different to XC? I don’t know?

[gummibear]

Or maybe CX courses are way different to XC? I don’t know?

 

There are no technical sections like with mtb.It's mostly a smooth surface and there are always steps, hay bails,other obstacles and very short steep hills......and lots of mud.

[Hawk]

Would be awesome to have a couple of winter XC races in Cape Town. We should approach PPA and organise some events.

[Stretched@Birth]

one of my CX bikes

 

Cotic X

built with Ritchey WCS and Schwalbe Marathon Extreme 700x42c tyres

 

I have Schwalbe CX comp and Schwalabe Smart Sam 700x 35c tyres in stock too

The frames are avaialble in Black and Orange

Hi Shamus, I'm looking for some Smart Sam's, you around this week?

[kosmonooit]

There are no technical sections like with mtb.It's mostly a smooth surface and there are always steps, hay bails,other obstacles and very short steep hills......and lots of mud.

 

Sand pits seems to be a regular feature from what I have seen, with beach / building sand.

[Breezer]

I have an old Fuji CX bike. I made it a single speed. I took it for a 180km outing last week. Fun to ride, but the "sinkplaat' killed my forearms!

[Daideron]

I have long been a fan of Cyclo Cross, and at age 64 I have to admit rather sadly it is something I will never be able to start doing! But I have seriously been playing with the idea of starting a series run around a short course that I have surveilled for a while now.

I think given the right marketing, Cyclo Cross could do really well here in SA. The short course races, combined with spectator friendly appeal, how could it not succeed?

Is there any way of being able to count just how many people are keen on doing this as a competitive or fun exercise? Personally my biggest fear is committing some of my scarce funds to an event and absolutely no one attends. This is simply the only thing that has prevented me from doing so thus far.

Having watched the events in the UK, Holland and Belgium, caught up in the excitement and suspense, I think it is such a pity that cycling disciplines like this and track cycling dont have a better support base in SA.