In this third and final instalment of my interview with Team H&R Block’s Aaron Schooler, I ask him who he thinks has the edge come CX season, the Roadie or the MTB’r. Personally, in general, I have to hand it to the roadies because they show up with such great fitness. At least this is my perception. Take 20 roadies and 20 MTBers at any given Tuesday Night’r and you’ll see a skew toward the roadies in the top end of the field. That said, if take the fastest roadie and fastest MTB’r, and if they are of similar fitness, then I’d say the edge has to go to the MTB’r due to the bike handling skills, and the explosiveness of the MTB riding style. Really, it’s a pretty tough call, though.

View interview parts #1 and #2.

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Following up on the post from last week, here is the second instalment of my interview with Team H&R Block‘s, Aaron Schooler.

In this part of the interview Aaron talks about the shift from roads to cyclocross season, and the changes he makes to his own training.

For more information on Aaron, check out his blog at Schooler’s Cycling Stuff.

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Cyclocross has become by far, my favourite discipline of racing. Fast, furiously difficult and fun as all hell. Earlier in the season, I got to tag along with Rob from Sri Importing and Team H&R Block’s Aaron Schooler on cyclocross training ride. Aaron gave us both some first rate 1 on 2 coaching (including the dismount and re-mount – which I hate to admit it, Aaron, but I’ve still got that extra hope in there…) and he was gracious enough to also do a video interview with me for Bikeridr. In that interview we spanned a surprising amount – too much to cram into one web-post, so I’ll release the interview in stages. This segment #1, on CX race strategy.

For more info on Aaron, check out his blog, Schooler’s Cycling Stuff

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Well kids… There’s only two more to go on our Alberta race calendars and then ‘cross season officially comes to a teary-eyed end. So come one, come all, because there are two great races on to finish off the season!

Devil Take the Hindmost (tech guide)

“The Devil” is definitely a unique format for a cyclocross race, but it promises to be loads of fun, and is also taking $5 from every entry and donating it to Bicycles for Humanity – If pain and suffering wasn’t enough, I’m sure supporting a good cause will tip the scales :-)

Here, the racing will be done heat style on a flat, non-technical oval ~400m in length. The first 8 heats determine the A/B racers, after which a fast pace, no holds barred elimination will ensue where only the fastest riders move into the finals.

To mix things up there will even be $20 primes given on the first lap, the last lap, the winners of each heat and those racers that do less than 5 laps… Pretty good chances to walk away with some cash-o-la!

There’s no pre-registration – Just show up and lay it out there! Race-day registration 10:30 at the Calgary Velodrome (don’t worry, the race isn’t on the velodrome track).

Beans ‘n Barley Halloween Cross (tech guide)

Dress up and throw down!!

Guaranteed to wrap the season on a high note, there will be prizes for best costume, a beer tent, chili station and free coffee & hot chocolate.

Now, if that weren’t enough there’s even a 50/50 draw for an entry to your choice of the Furious3 Moab, Whistler or Fernie! If you followed our coverage of this years inaugural Furious3 in Fernie, you can understand why we’re so excited about this one – Definitely worth a trip to Calgary for you out-of-towners :-)

Be sure to bring friends and family as in addition to the food and drink, there will be a fire pit to ensure you stay warm and both a newbie and a kid’s race.

Related posts:

1. Cyclocross Disc Brakes
2. It’s Cyclocross Season!
3. Disc Brakes in Cyclocross

We all know the UCI approved disc brakes in CX, and most of us have already seen a few racers out with a disc set-sup. What did you think when you first heard disc brakes were allowed, or saw your first disc equipped CX rig? Did you salivate with envy? Scoff with distain? Or, did you shrug with indifference? Personally, I did a little of all three.

Last season, I never did quite get my brakes dialled in. There was a pretty predictable ‘howl’, and amount of chatter in the front end when I hit the binders hard. At the time, I was told by more seasoned racers, this was just the way it was with canti’s – part of the deal/fun. Knowing the couple racers with discs weren’t dealing with any of that made me pretty envious. But, I was also told, again by more seasoned racers, that the disc guys were giving up weight – an unavoidable compromise. Disc set-ups weigh more than canti’s. Add that to the prolific believe held by most of the racers I talked to that canti’s are part of the CX ‘spirit’, part of what makes CX what it is, and I met disc brakes with a similar distain to an audiophile who refuses to give up his vinyl. At the end of the day, I didn’t really care that much. I knew damn well, braking power wasn’t going to be a silver bullet a racer like me needed to crack into the pointy end of the field… I had more immediate shortcomings to address, like fitness.

Thinking about it more this year, however, even though I have my canti’s set up perfectly, (for now), I have found in the last couple races that I’m starting to figure out how to carry more flow though a CX course, and with more flow, comes more speed. Now, to say I have more flow, doesn’t necessarily mean, I’m not blowing lines and corners with every lap, so it’s precisely for this reason I’ve found that I really would enjoy more braking power, and the modulation that comes with discs. They may have saved me a couple times already this season, from bustin’ through the tape – hard to know for sure I suppose… But, I do know from MTB, when I switched to disc, I was instantly ‘willing’ to go faster, because I knew I could stop sooner/better. It was a huge confidence boost. I’d imagine going to discs in CX would offer a similar experience.

This season, I can’t say I’ve seen too many racers using disc. I feel like I saw more last year, than I have this year, which really surprises me because I figured they’d be catching on quickly. That said, I don’t believe anyone is making production CX bikes with discs yet. You can upgrade a bike easily enough with a new fork, but really that’s it, for now. Next year, however, I know Specialized should have its Crux model out, with discs. I’d imagine other manufacturers will follow in short order and then we’ll see an influx.

So, with that in mind, are you holding out for the forthcoming CX disc models, or do you think canti’s are still where it’s at?

Related posts:

1. Cyclocross Disc Brakes
2. Alberta Cyclocross Wrap Up

Now into it’s second season, Behind the Barriers is a behind the scenes look at Jeremy Powers and his adventures in the US cyclocross scene.

I vaguely remember watching one episode last year, but never really got into things. Now that it’s cross season again and I’m following things a little more closely I gave it another go, and I’m glad I did :-)

Although ‘jPow’ is currently riding for Rapha/Focus, I decided to start with Season 1 (2010) when he was racing for Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com. They’re only three episodes into season 2, but I have to say so far I found season 1 a little more entertaining… Mainly because of the hilarious relationship between Powers and Tim Johnson. It was a lot of fun watching them duke it out both on and off the course.

I have high hopes that season 2 is just getting warmed up, but it’s a fun way to stay up on the season, get a sense for what a lot of these guys are like and to get a glimpse into cyclocross at an elite North American level. It’s also fun to see the friendly rivalries between competitors like Ryan Trebon and Geoff Kabush :-)

For a cycling nerd like me there were some pretty hilariously entertaining moments in the series… Mainly because I can see the same sort of conversations and shenanigans happening with my buddies.

Powers is a pretty entertaining guy and the videos are pretty well done, So if you like cross – Give ‘er a look. The episodes aren’t too long (usually ~15-20min) and can be a nice way to start your day ;-)

Enjoy it all on Vimeo here: http://vimeo.com/behindthebarriers

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Coming off a full season of mtb racing, my first cyclocross race ever was a Tuesday Nighter put on by Cory from United Cycle. It was really cold. There was some snow already, and it was getting dark fast as I rounded the corner to cross the finish line… I was in last place, and felt crushed both physically, as I’d pushed myself to exhaustion, and emotionally, disappointed in my finish. But, that didn’t really matter, because as I found out, no one cared about where they finished in these races. It was all about just getting on the bike. I didn’t quite get that then, but I managed to keep coming back for more, each time, feeling just as welcome and part of the group as anyone there… It was a nice laid back scene then. Now 2 years later, keeping the same vibe, it’s clear I’m not the only one who likes these kind of ‘low-key’ races, with more than 100 of us showing up to one of them this season. Good job, Cory! Can’t wait for next season already. CX is where it’s at!

Here is a great article from the Shaughn Butts from the Edmonton Journal that came out just yesterday. Nice to see CX getting some mainstream media.

Also some really cool video courtesy Pedalheadful, from last night’s race (final Tuesday Nighter race of the season). Clearly shot on a nice camera :-)

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Twas a brisk Saturday eve in October whence the Dark Knight came again.

What began with an ominous combination of dense clouds, cutting rain and stiff winds mellowed as the day progressed – and though the temperature never seemed to rise, it ended up being a beautiful night for a race.

The Dark Knight is quickly becoming an institution on Albertan’s cyclocross calendars and it’s easy to see why. The only race of it’s kind in these parts, the Dark Knight is a killer cyclocross race that kicks off at twilight and winds itself well into the darkness. Though warm clothing is recommended, the weather is generally kind. Combined with the hot drinks and food, you’re in for a great night.

I had arrived on scene early to sign in and get a feel for the course. After pre-riding the two things became immediately apparent:

1. This course was solidly technical and fun – It had just about everything… Banked corners, off-camber grassy sections, a backside pump track, punishing climbs, sand, the pre-requisite in-field logs, but most importantly it had flow. Once your heart rate dropped out of the red, the course was really, really enjoyable and the laps just seemed to stream together.
2. It had been a long time since I had raced my bicycle.

After crashing twice, overcoming a jammed chain, choosing some horrendous lines, cutting a girl off (sorry!), attempting to battle back (twice) and watching the sun set in the C group, I settled in for the real show… And the B and A groups did not disappoint. Between the costumes throughout both groups, the sheer horsepower in the legs of the A-group and the hilarious crowd heckling, it was a stellar way to spend a Saturday night.

Like spring break in Cancun, the crowd just got more and more into the racing as the night went on. There may have even been appearances by the spandex clad Niklaus Group panda and a crazy cowbell-toting Schriner monkey…

As always the Dark Knight is a night to remember and you could tell that a lot of fun was had by racers and spectators alike. Kudos to Bow Cycle and Cyclemeisters for another bang up job – and as always a huge shout out to all the volunteers that helped make this happen :-)

If you were to schedule only one race on your cyclocross calendar, this should be it.

There were a lot of spectators and photogs out there shooting, I’ve pulled together some of the shots I’ve found. Thanks to Tara Walmsley and Skot Dub for the photos in the post.

You may, or may not be able to see these since some are on Facebook

Masa Higuchi
Andrew Barron
Skot Dub
Tara Warmsley

And as usual, Bill Quinney managed to get a good shot of just about everybody out there:
http://billsphotos.zoomphoto.ca/eventgallery/15605/1/

Related posts:

1. 2011 KECC Video

As those who followed our race coverage from this summers Furious 3 know – It wasn’t exactly a textbook race for me… But a taco’d wheel and a brief jaunt off-course aren’t enough to deter me from wholeheartedly recommending that you add the Furious 3 to your race schedule next year.

All the things that drew me into the race the first time are still what make this race fantastic – things like:

• The clover leaf formation that allows for one ‘main’ base-camp (family friendly)
• Easy access to Fernie and everything it offers (whether you’re enjoying downtown, or going for a hike)
• The slightly shorter days that allow you to use your afternoons to relax and/or recover

For 2012, there’s even more to look forward too – Next years course promises to be even better – Which, combined with additional tweaks like later start times, a new timing system and even evening movies at the Fernie Arts Station should ensure that 2012 is not only going to be a better race, but do an even better job at incorporating and supporting the Fernie community.

The main struggle for me is going to be deciding whether I’m going to be rocking the single track in Fernie, Whistler, or Moab :-)

Registration sold out in 3 weeks last year, so if you want in for 2012, you better act quickly! Registration opens Thursday!

For those anxious for Whistler and Moab – You’ll have to wait a little longer, registration for those races doesn’t open until October 15th and November 15th respectively.

Related posts:

1. Furious 3: Bikeridr On the Scene
2. Furious Volunteers Needed!
3. Furious 3 – Stage One

Yes, that’s right, I’m declaring cyclocross season officially open! Okay, maybe it’s not quite cyclocross season yet, (we still have some great mtb and road racing ahead of us) but I’ve already been out for two CX rides, and seen a lot Facebook chatter about racers getting their new whips built up, tuned up and ready to go. It’s been odd this year: I feel like the weather has played a large role in the early ‘cx itch’. A late start to the race season back in the spring, followed by seemingly endless bouts of serious rain wreaking havoc all across the province, has kept me, and I think a lot of other people ‘off their game’ this year.

I don’t ever recall riding my mtb bike on so many paved trails, dodging sections of bog, as I have this year – it’s been sad, really. In fact, my time on the singletrack this summer so far has been so abysmal, I barely know how to ride anymore – what flow I once had, is gone. Case in point, being up in Canmore for Nationals (just to watch, not to race) I went for an early morning lap of the course, and I was all over the place, taking bad lines, timid on downhills, and just pretty much riding like a idiot. I even crashed on a simple little downhill switchback – injuring my heel somehow… That was a couple weeks ago, and it’s still not 100% – weak sauce, I tell ya.

So, in the wake of a what’s been a truly lack-luster mtb season, and in the face of what could be more miserable weather, I say screw it! Break out the cross bikes! After all, bad weather and cross go hand-in-hand, like peanut butter and jelly, rum and coke, ginger beef and All-Dressed Ruffles potato chips, or Ken Hurd and Adult Contemporary satellite radio… It’s a match made in heaven, so let’s embrace it.

On that note, I’m especially excited about this season because I’ve got a new CX ride, thanks to Sri Importing. A 2011 carbon VINER Perfecta! Not only is it a sincerely beautiful example of Italian design and styling, making it extremely easy on the eyes, I can tell immediately that it’s super light, stiff, responsive and fast! It’s also full Campagnolo, which is going to take some getting used to. I’ll have a full review of the bike later on this season. If you don’t want to wait for my review, you can always checkout Bike Radar’s review here.

So, now that I’ve declared cross season open, let’s get our ever illusive canti-brakes dialled in, and dig out our cowbells. I can’t wait put some serious miles in over the coming months, come rain, come shine, snow or whatever, because hey, that’s cross!

And just in case you need a little more convincing, thinking, ‘Hey, it’s still summer, dude… It’s way to early to break out my cross bike!’, here’s a vid I came across to amp you up and get you in a CX frame of mind. Just a note, you need to stick with this one a bit.  I’d have edited it alot tighter, but there are some gem moments if you watch all 3 mins. It’s worth it.

Portland is a Cyclocross town from Mason Marsh on Vimeo.

Related posts:

1. Cross season is too short
2. Cyclocross Disc Brakes
3. Alberta Cyclocross Wrap Up