My team was discussing the pros and cons of riding on the trainer all winter. For triathletes, we figured that for intensity and intervals the trainer is fine, but does anyone actually ride for 3 hours on the trainer? Does anyone ride cyclocross?
Mounting and dismounting is something that many triathletes need help with. Anyone watching a race can attest to that. Our guess is that 80-90% of age groupers come running to the mount line with their cycling shoes on. Then they awkwardly try to clip in and get going.
If you haven’t tried a cyclcocross bike, now is the time to get on one.
Here is our blog post:http://checkmatetriteam.com/blog/2009/12/cross-training-with-cross-riding
yes
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I use one with regular pedals and cages to commute back and forth to work. Does that count?
Cross bike with 28 slicks and fenders for the dry days. Toss on the knobbies for when the snow hits. Can ride all winter. My commute 3x/week is 35 miles each way, so a pretty good time to get in “free” training.
As soon as I can start riding again (end of Feb) I will definately be riding the cross bike. I run fenders to keep the slush from getting me too bad. It is a great way to get a great spinning workout going. I leave it in the little ring till I get a few hundred miles in. It is a nice change of pace form the indoor trainer.
Does the pope wear a funny hat?
So is anyone entering races or just commuting? Anyone race cyclocross notice how much easier it is to transition during tris?
trying my first CX race on sunday - just found out this morning there’s one very close to home, put on by one of the LBSs! bought hubby a CX bike less than a month ago, and he sweetly told me i can use it for cross racing if i want to (it fits me pretty well) - i think i’ll leave his platform pedals on for my first whack at it, and i’d better get out and ride it a bit this week. have only taken a spin around the parking lot on it the day we picked it up, and have yet to shift it except while tuning the derailleurs for him!
cheers!
-mistress k
So is anyone entering races or just commuting? Anyone race cyclocross notice how much easier it is to transition during tris?
There have been many different threads about racing ccx, with photos included.
clm
Cross bike with fenders makes a great winter bike. Just be careful for icy spots while out riding when the temp is below 32.
Yep. Fenders and studded Nokian Hakkapeliitaa bike tires for the icy spots. I’ve ridden all the way down to -12C.
Does a pig shit downhill?
OK, I don’t actually know if it does, but that’s the way my grandfather used to answer questions where the obvious answer was yes. Cyclocross is fun as hell. {{{Do it}}}
So is anyone entering races or just commuting? Anyone race cyclocross notice how much easier it is to transition during tris?
You can almost always tell someone who races cross when you watch them “mount” any bike and how they clip in. Much like with swimming, learning this early makes for better habits later. My 11 yr. old who has raced cross for 2 seasons now (about 19 races) can hop on and clip in without looking faster than most all triathletes I know 
Thankfully, it is a much easier skill than it appears to the uninitiated.
My cross bike looks too clean and pretty on its hook, and it’s from San Francisco, so it only plays cyclocross in nice warm sunny dry Fall. Screw this “cold and wet” nonsense. (Plus, have you been outside?!!?!?!?!? I’m riding the trainer until I get to tropical climes.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvuGAXDjgIk
yeah I guess you could say we ride in the winter.
I have raced cross for twenty years, probably 200+ races by now. I just started racing tri’s this year as something different, very fun. Similar vibe, just much more disposable income in tri. Top 10 Reasons for triathletes to race cross.
- Learn how to properly get on and off a bike
- Learn how to turn. 24 psi on tubies is super sweet. you hook up everywhere
- Learn how to accelerate, with about 20 turns/lap and 6-8 laps you get it the picture
- It is damn fun and only lasts 40-60 minutes
- If you do a full season Sept-Dec you can race 20x for about the same price as one 70.3 race
- Embrocation baby
- You can start a forum to argue tire pressure after your first race
- You can still use your carbon tubies in cross
- Draft legal, just like 70.3 races
- A great excuse to get another bike, or three as in my case