Freezers and the Monster Cross

[Raymo853]

@KayakCyndi 108861 wrote:

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?

I am using my old (first year) El Mar Ti with all disposal parts and a rigid front fork. (I call that my monster CX bike)

If I had a CX bike that was carbon or with new components I could not afford to replace, I would not ride it. All the grit and dirt I expect will cause loads of wear. I would really worry about a fork, I’ve seen nearly new Fox forks ruined by muddy gritty races.

[vvill]

Last time I went for a ride that was going to be ~4 hrs and it rained hard, I turned around after 15 mins because my legs were so cold, although the rest of me was mostly fine (it actually shows up as #5 on rainiest rides on freezingsaddles.com). Also, my poor bike handling/cornering limits my off-road riding more than plain road rides so I probably won’t be as warm since I probably won’t be working my body as hard. If it were dry maybe I’d be warmer but I’m sure I’ll be more conservative in the mud. My feet/hands get cold easily so I will definitely pack an extra set of socks + gloves, and either leave them in a waterproof bag at the start point, or just pack them in my rear pockets in a ziplock – I’d rather not have to stop for too long at any point in the event.

Agree with wool – I’ve already planned out wool layers with a standard jersey and then very a basic rain layer up top (this one http://www.voler.com/browse/product/li/1010B60 cheap, can open it up fully at the front, and basic mesh venting), but i just have no idea about what to do with the legs. Maybe 40F will feel a lot warmer than I remembered after this vortex.

As for bike, I am going with my CX bike with a similar front downtube fender as Raymo mentioned to avoid feet getting super wet. I don’t want to haul the new MTB unless it’s really snowy and I’m used to riding the CX in bad conditions whereas I haven’t done long rides on the MTB yet so I’m not sure of fit/saddle comfort or even say, how to remove the front wheel! (I’m sure it’s easy but yeah I just haven’t had time with the bike yet and actually come to think of it I don’t even own a spare 29er tube).

A few other minor reasons too (don’t want to bother with changing categories; lighter/easier to portage; Moose Mitts option for the CX bike in wet weather; more tire choices; cheaper+older parts on CX bike). I’m probably going with 33m Clement PDX up front and a knobby 30mm Schwalbe CX rear (if I had a wider knobby rear tread I would use it, but I don’t).

[dasgeh]

We bought sealskinz gloves on sale recently (like these but orange). If anyone wants to try a pair out and review them in the muck, you’re welcome to borrow. They are size small, and you’d have to pick up in Cherrydale. PM me

[consularrider]

Some of the forecasts have the rain stopping around the time the ride is supposed to start. Now, will the road conditions allow us to get to and into the park that morning?

[Dirt]

Race has been postponed to March 8.

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Moster Cross 2015 update: Monster Cross moving to March 8th
It is with great turmoil, consideration and consultation that we have made this decision.

There are many reasons for this decision… most are obvious if you live anywhere on the east coast.

1. Currently the course is 100% not ride-able. We really thought we were going to be able to make the course ride-able, but with temps in the single digits all week (and most of us snowed in) we’ve had no luck.
2. Today high temps of 19 prevents any further trail prep.
3. More snow/ice expected to fall in Virginia tomorrow which potentially will make it more difficult for many of the racers to make it to town.

I understand that some of you will not like this news, but we worked out all possibilities and this really is the best/only decision that can be made.

The event has been moved to March 8, 2015.

We hope many of you are grateful for this news.

Regards and hope to see may of you in two weeks.

[consularrider]

Yea?

[glennpstevens]

@Dirt 109007 wrote:

Race has been postponed to March 8.

---

Moster Cross 2015 update: Monster Cross moving to March 8th
It is with great turmoil, consideration and consultation that we have made this decision.

Hopefully they’ll keep registration open for the next couple of weeks so we can continue to work on talking our BAFS2015 team mates into doing the race.

[Raymo853]

The postponement causes me anguish as it now the same weekend as the Stokesville Stade that I already signed up for. The Stade is a gravel grinder with 33 or 66 mile options run by Chris Scott’s organization. I suggest BAFSers look to do that as well. 66 miles Saturday near H-Burg and then 50 miles near Richmond.

https://www.bikereg.com/stokesville-strade

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6771390

[DaveK]

Sounds like a great weekend!

[consularrider]

@Raymo853 109014 wrote:

The postponement causes me anguish as it now the same weekend as the Stokesville Stade that I already signed up for. The Stade is a gravel grinder with 33 or 66 mile options run by Chris Scott’s organization. I suggest BAFSers look to do that as well. 66 miles Saturday near H-Burg and then 50 miles near Richmond.

https://www.bikereg.com/stokesville-strade

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6771390

Only those of us who are totally nuts!

[KayakCyndi]

Don’t look now but Richmond is forecast to get somewhere between 2-5 inches of snow tonight and then rain Monday through Thursday. Looks like the mudfest may be unavoidable.

[consularrider]

Capital Weather Gang has Richmond for as much as 10 inches of snow! Yikes. Add next weeks rain to the mix (and near 60°F on Wednesday with the rain?) and we should have some good mud for Monster Cross. I’ll need different tires for the Rove.

[ctankcycles]

@consularrider 109438 wrote:

Capital Weather Gang has Richmond for as much as 10 inches of snow! Yikes. Add next weeks rain to the mix (and near 60°F on Wednesday with the rain?) and we should have some good mud for Monster Cross. I’ll need different tires for the Rove.

Good thing forecasts change! Right now they’re calling for sunny skies with highs in the low 50s. Thoughts on tire selection anyone?

[vvill]

I’m just running mud/knobby CX tires. If it’s a complete fail I will just have to bail on finishing the race, but I’m hoping organizers will be able to hedge their bets on course design vs whatever the weather ends up bringing.

[Raymo853]

@ctankcycles 109887 wrote:

Good thing forecasts change! Right now they’re calling for sunny skies with highs in the low 50s. Thoughts on tire selection anyone?

Regardless of the conditions the day of, I suspect mud will still be a problem. Those soils are well drained, but cold temps and frozen soils really retard drainage.

I am feeling wimpy and may just do the Stokesville Strade Saturday and have my Monster registration refunded or transferred to 2016.

[Author]

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