No matter how you got there, the final two weeks before cyclocross nationals is a unique period. With the continued growth and momentum of 'cross, a couple thousand of us will be finishing their seasons with an event that for some of is the most important race of the year. For others it's just a chance to compete on the same course as the United States' best 'crossers before they shut things down. Whatever your level and goals, it's time to fine tune and make sure you're peaking for the event.The first thing to recognize is that what you've got for fitness right now is pretty much what you've got; there's not enough time in the final two weeks to raise your fitness level through the ...
Running for Cyclocross
Like barriers or mud, running is one of the core qualities of cyclocross that isn't the most important aspect or even mandatory, but crucial to prepare for. 'Cross is still mostly about who can pedal and drive their bike the fastest, and while a race might be lost on the run, they're only occasionally won there. Some of us may have a little more natural talent for it or even a running or triathlon background, but running when you've spent a season racing road or mountain bikes just plain hurts. As you prepare for the 'cross season, it's important to first be able to incorporate adaptive running into your training, and then be able to do some structured work to improve your running ...
Where It All Starts: Dialing In Your 'Cross Start Technique and Training
Cyclocross is unique from most other cycling disciplines in that the field sprint comes at the start of the race rather than at the finish; you get your desert before dinner, as it were. Where you're staged on the line, the time it takes you to get into the pedals, the gear you choose, and in what position you make it to the first corner, transition, or obstacle can impact your entire race. You may find yourself in the lead group with no extra effort, or you may spend the day stuck behind traffic or crashes, battling to get up to the group you belong based on fitness. A good start can also backfire and put you with riders you're not strong enough to stay with, causing you to over race, ...
Preparing for the Cyclocross Season
I know it's the middle of summer, and many of you might be struggling just to get through the rest of your road or mountain bike season. The thought of starting another season and racing through the fall and winter might be more than you can bear right now. But for many others, cyclocross has become the focus of their racing, or at least as important as the racing they do the rest of the year. Since July tends to be the time that many riders are feeling run down and over trained, as we've discussed in other articles, it's a good time for a break and a restart. For 'cross-specific riders, this is the time to plan and periodize your 'cross season.First, of course, you have to identify ...
Intervals for Cyclocross
Cyclocross is hard, plain and simple. There are very few sports that require the same level of intensity from start to finish over the course of an hour as a cyclocross event, where you're trying to perfom at maximum output for the entire duration, combined with technique that requries a high level of skill and responding to unpredictiable scenarios, while still also thinking critically and making tactical decisions, too.Some might argue that like cyclocross, a 40K time trial also lasts about an hour, and requires the maximum effort possible over that time. This is true, in terms of generally defining the effort as "as hard as you can go for an hour." What's different about cyclocross, ...