Freezers and the Monster Cross

[KayakCyndi]

I’m keeping a close eye too. A 50 mile mud fest just sounds awful to me. I might be eating my entry fee on this one.

[Sunyata]

It looks like Sunday is going to be a slushy mud fest. Luckily, I signed up for the short race to begin with and was planning on riding my mountain bike anyway (seeing as I do not have a cross bike). Everyone else in my group is looking at changing categories, though. Mountain bikes are probably going to be the best choice for the day.

The beer at the end better be good. 😮

[Raymo853]

@Sunyata 108697 wrote:

It looks like Sunday is going to be a slushy mud fest. Luckily, I signed up for the short race to begin with and was planning on riding my mountain bike anyway (seeing as I do not have a cross bike). Everyone else in my group is looking at changing categories, though. Mountain bikes are probably going to be the best choice for the day.

The beer at the end better be good. 😮

I am worried about this event and my choice of category and bike. And if the beer is friendly or not. I signed up for cyclocross and planned to use my flat bar monster CX bike with 32 nobby tires. Now considering changing to either the single speed CX or MTB categories, but both my single speed mountain bike and single speed cross bike are not fully assembled. I have all the parts for both, they just need a good amount of work. Assembling a bike Fri night for a Sunday race is a recipe for disaster.

I am assuming the event will be postponed. Heard the area got nearly one foot of snow. Between that melting and the forecast, I suspect VA DCR will not allow the event to take place.

[Raymo853]

@Raymo853 108721 wrote:

I am worried about this event and my choice of category and bike. And if the beer is friendly or not. I signed up for cyclocross and planned to use my flat bar monster CX bike with 32 nobby tires. Now considering changing to either the single speed CX or MTB categories, but both my single speed mountain bike and single speed cross bike are not fully assembled. I have all the parts for both, they just need a good amount of work. Assembling a bike Fri night for a Sunday race is a recipe for disaster.

I am assuming the event will be postponed. Heard the area got nearly one foot of snow. Between that melting and the forecast, I suspect VA DCR will not allow the event to take place.

Just read the registration page text. It claims there will be no postponement due to rain, snow or weather. Also, I am not sure I understand if there is a fee to change categories. It just does not clearly state anything on the matter. Switching your registration to another racer does incur a charge of the difference between what you paid and what the fee is now plus an additional surcharge of $15.

Text from the website.

Race is rain, snow or shine! (the high temps the past 3 years have been 53, 52 and 70 degrees)

No refunds, but you can swap your entry with another racers, but must pay any change in current
fee.

During the two weeks prior to the race there will be an additional $15 fee to swap any entries.

I still suspect VA DCR may say no to the event happening.

[Dirt]

I’ll be there for sure. I’m pretty sure that they’ll be okay with switching which class you’re entered in. I’m thinking that I’ll probably bring my mountain bike along in case conditions are a little better for it.

Should be a fun race!

[DaveK]

@Raymo853 108754 wrote:

I still suspect VA DCR may say no to the event happening.

This. As it’s a park I don’t think they’ll be happy with what a few hundred cyclists will do to the trails in the rain and (please not) wintry mix. At a minimum I expect they’ll take out the singletrack portion in the middle of the 50-miler as that’ll get just ruined if the race goes on.

[Sunyata]

@DaveK 108795 wrote:

This. As it’s a park I don’t think they’ll be happy with what a few hundred cyclists will do to the trails in the rain and (please not) wintry mix. At a minimum I expect they’ll take out the singletrack portion in the middle of the 50-miler as that’ll get just ruined if the race goes on.

I doubt it will be cancelled. The first year I raced it was a nasty mudfest and the trails were pretty torn up afterwards. It rained the entire night before the race and for a few hours before, but it had stopped by the time the race started.

But hey, if they have a few inches of snow, maybe it will even out the three inch deep horse divots that were such a pain last year.

[consularrider]

This email from the event organizers:

This is the first of a few race update emails….

Wanted to say thanks to Ground Force IT for supporting this event for the third year!

Thanks to other supporters from Coqui Cyclery and Lee’s Famous Chicken and Michael David Winery as well.

We are working on the course and race day arrangements! Our current plan is to shorten each race to make the finish times about the same as if it were a dry course. More on this as we continue working on the course.

Saturday packet pickup will be held a Coqui Cyclery located at 3416 Semmes Ave, Richmond, VA 23225 from 10-5pm. Please take advantage of this on Saturday if your local or in town during these times.

I will send out a more detailed email on Friday on course conditions (prior to most of your desired travel dates).

I will probably not be able to respond to emails to me until after you have received the update on Friday as I will be at the venue most of the week.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday.
Thanks for being part of Monster Cross 2015!

For those in town Saturday evening, check out this fundraising event for RVA MORE, the local trail building volunteer group! It’s being held at Hardywood Park Brewery! https://www.bikereg.com/trailicious3″

[vvill]

So what is everyone planning on wearing for this? It looks like snow/wintry chances have gone down but it’ll still be wet/muddy.

I have the option of bib shorts + legwarmers, or fleece-lined bib tights but with temps 35-45F, soaking wet rain is not going to feel nice with a roughly 4hr ride time. Wondering if I should get some rain pants to go over my legs. (I’m planning to go with a rain jacket for sure, and probably plastic bags under shoecovers for feet.)

[Tim Kelley]

You’ll likely go past the start/finish line more than once so you might have some options to readjust if needs be.

[Raymo853]

@Tim Kelley 108852 wrote:

You’ll likely go past the start/finish line more than once so you might have some options to readjust if needs be.

Thinking this will be a 4 hour ride, making the plan for clothing is tough. Based on the forecast at this moment, my plan is:
Bike: Geared (1 by 10) monster cross with 32c tires and flat bars. Front SKS X-Board fender (helps a lot)
Shoes: Shimano Winter (MW81?) that are not super warm. Will add chemical heat packs at start if it is below freezing
Head: One open top head covering, no neck covering, clear glasses
Gloves: My light but waterproof Pearl Izumi. (I have warm hands, can ride without gloves at 32)
Socks: Wool mid weight ones that do not change much in “warmness” if wet or dry.
shorts/jersey: My summer weight club’s kit.
tights: Not super warm but ok water resistant ones
jacket: This is though, I do not have a good one for near freezing and potentially raining. May do warm layer under jersey, super warm arm-warmers, my red waterproof vest over my warm but not water nor wind resistant jersey/jacket with the arms cut off at the elbow. I can handle wet upper and lower arms with no issues.

I bet I will pull off the vest and arm warmers on the second lap if it is not raining while wishing I could swap the tights for knickers. Will not consider doing the latter as it would take too long and expose my derriere.

I think I’ll carry an extra pair of gloves. If they get super muddy & wet from a fall I’ll want new ones midway.

[DaveK]

I don’t know the answer as to what I’ll wear but it won’t be any kind of rain shell or similar. In a 3-4 hour race you’re going to just be cooking inside anything that isn’t breathable. If I had one I’d wear a Castelli Gabba for this race. The best advice is to wear a wool layer next to your skin so you’re able to stay warm even once it soaks through, then layer on top of that as needed.

[Tim Kelley]

Just ride harder if you get cold?

[KayakCyndi]

@vvill 108850 wrote:

So what is everyone planning on wearing for this? It looks like snow/wintry chances have gone down but it’ll still be wet/muddy.

I have the option of bib shorts + legwarmers, or fleece-lined bib tights but with temps 35-45F, soaking wet rain is not going to feel nice with a roughly 4hr ride time. Wondering if I should get some rain pants to go over my legs. (I’m planning to go with a rain jacket for sure, and probably plastic bags under shoecovers for feet.)

Last night I started to assemble my clothing options. And by assemble I mean put everything I own in a large pile in the middle of the floor! So this is a very timely post and good food for thought.

That said, my bigger dilemma is which bike to ride — Viaje with 40s or just go get the new El Mar Ti good and dirty. Anyone have thoughts?

[Raymo853]

@DaveK 108858 wrote:

I don’t know the answer as to what I’ll wear but it won’t be any kind of rain shell or similar. In a 3-4 hour race you’re going to just be cooking inside anything that isn’t breathable. If I had one I’d wear a Castelli Gabba for this race. The best advice is to wear a wool layer next to your skin so you’re able to stay warm even once it soaks through, then layer on top of that as needed.

I have tried many wool bottoms and tops and hated each and every one. I find them so uncomfortable I cannot keep them on long enough to every really explore the benefits of these items. To me, wool only belongs in socks.

[Author]

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