Cyclocross 101: class 9, the start

We've discussed the start a little before, but this session is dedicated the start. It’s been noted that the start of a ‘cross race may actually account for as much as 20% of the factors leading to finishing position. Yes, the start is rather critical in determining how one will place at the end of the race. Let’s take a close look at why this is so.

The start is a mass start, meaning racers are gathered at the line and as soon as the starting signal is given, the race is on. At smaller races, starting position is first come first serve on the line; at larger races it may be determined by registration order. The larger races may have as many as 100 or more competitors. The starting line-up usually has between 6 and 8 racers per row and as many rows as needed. After all racers are lined up, an official will give various instructions concerning the race. After these instructions are given, the racers will be given a warning about the approximate time until the start, as many as 2 minutes, but rarely much more than that. Countdown updates are given, the last being around 15, 20 or 30 seconds until the start. At some races the start signal is given right on time, at others once the final countdown warning is given the signal to start may be given at any time up until that time runs out, for a little more randomness.

From previous classes we’ve seen how the group can get bunched together, especially in the first hard corners and obstacles. It is rather difficult to pass in this situation since there is little room to move until later when the field spreads out. If there is an accident, there can be major traffic jams, just the way an accident on a busy highway backs up the highway. This may be a bit obvious, but those closer to the back of the field when there is an accident are going to get slowed down quite a bit, while those up front pull away at full speed. Therefore, starting well and getting position near the front drastically reduces the chances of being involved in an accident or being held up by one.

Even if there is no accident, by nature, it is slower going in a large group on a tight course. Those in the very front can break down into a single file line and take the fastest lines through the corners; however those in the middle of the group will be forced to take nonstandard, slower lines.

So a race is stuck in the pack, he’s faster; he’ll catch up once everyone thins out, right? Maybe, this depends on how much faster he is. Depending on how the start went down, a racer may have lost a large amount of time on the leaders right off the start. Now that racer must work much harder to catch up, spending precious energy. Since cyclocross is such an intense effort, pushing one’s self too hard too early may leave one with little energy to maintain speed at the end of the race. Let’s say our race managed to make up the time lost, they’ve spent a lot of energy doing so. The leaders who have managed their effort may now pour on the pressure and increase the effort output, which may leave our racer behind since is too spent to hold the faster pace any longer. Had he been up front with the leaders he may have held the same pace as the leaders, conserving energy, and made an attack near the end of the race to take the win.

So that's it, start wherever for a good race, start up front and take the whole shot for a great race.

Watch below to see the start of the Cat 4 men at the recent Beer Cross race in Dayville, CT.

Beer Cross 1 Cat 4 start from Scott Frison on Vimeo.



Class 1, The Overview
Class 2, The Competition
Class 3, The Race Format
Class 4, The Barriers
Class 5, More On Barriers
Class 6, An in Depth Look at Barriers
Class 7, An in Depth Look at Run Ups
Class 8, An in Depth Look at Sand Pits
Class 9, The Start
Class 10, Review and Wrap Up

Just a little tid bit

I don't know that I ever mentioned how the finish actually went down on day 1 of Gloucester in my original recap. Well, I could feel something going on that was kind of strange coming from my crank in the last lap. With a quarter mile to go I realized the left crank arm was coming loose, meanwhile I had to fend off one guy surging towards while doing my best with a seated sprint. I didn't dare stand for fear that the extra torque would pop the crank off right when I had my weight on it sending me to the tramac in an unforgiving way.

The crank popped off while cooling down in the parking lot.

I have problems with cranks at that race. Last year I realized it was loose just minutes before the start, with just enough time to get it fixed. Later in that race I was battling a guy on the last lap whose left crank arm came off mid lap.

On to another tidbit. One of the heads of state over at crossresults.com slapped a little camera under his seat and took some video of what was going on behind him. He has 4 videos, each of a separate lap, 1 through 4. By the way, this was taken during the same race I competed in though I never see myself in here, probably because he has a far better starting position and rides the whole race faster than me.


Gloucester Cyclocross Seat Cam from colin reuter on Vimeo.

See the other laps.
Lap 2
Lap 3
Lap 4

Quick Update

The latest batch of videos is up and ready for your viewing pleasure, just click here.

We've got just a little bit left to cover in Cyclocross 101, the next class will be coming along soon, don't fret.

Mansfield Hollow 'Cross Race

One of the best races of the season, that's what I call Mansfield Hollow. The course is a great course, one needs to be good at all facets of 'cross to excel here. It's truly a fun course to ride. Unfortunately, restraining my left quad earlier in the week, then riding single speed in the woods another day left me with little spark on the day. Usually I can accelerate well out of the barriers or runs ups or steep banks, but I had no such accelerations. I was even struggling to get the bike up some banks that shouldn't have given me too much trouble.

I could tell off the start that there was little available for any bursts so I decided to find my pace immediately and hold it. After pulling an initial lead on Jake he slowly worked his way up to me. Finally he passed and opened a lead. With two laps to go I almost lost another position but fought back and continued my surge to nearly catch back onto Jake. But the effort cost me and while he was going at it a little easier for a little bit, he had a better kick for the final lap. I had however dropped the other guy that had passed me briefly. I finished 1 spot behind Jake, Taylor came in a few spots later.

After our finish, we headed for some free hot cider and other goodies. We also took the chance to heckle some other the other races taking place.

Photos from the day, click here.

Videos to come soon.

Cyclocross 101: class 8, an in depth look at sand pits

In this session we will review the sandpit. In this case there are a few corners in the sandpit. Many, including myself, were able to ride through it. For me, it was a little faster, only because I could accelerate faster out of the pit and avoid the heart rate spike associated with running at a full sprint, thus there is no needed recovery period. For the elite men’s race, with their speed and fitness it was faster to run. The risk of a slow, drifting ride, and possible forced dismount was not worth the attempt to ride. In this video we watch the leaders of the elite men’s race run through the sand on day 1 of the Gran Prix of Gloucester, 2008.

GP of Gloucester Day 1, Elite/Pro Men through the Sand Pit from Scott Frison on Vimeo.



Class 1, The Overview
Class 2, The Competition
Class 3, The Race Format
Class 4, The Barriers
Class 5, More On Barriers
Class 6, An in Depth Look at Barriers
Class 7, An in Depth Look at Run Ups
Class 8, An in Depth Look at Sand Pits
Class 9, The Start
Class 10, Review and Wrap Up

Cyclocross 101: class 7, an in depth look at run ups

In this session of special material we will look at the run up. The videos in this session are from the 2nd day at the Gran Prix of Gloucester, 2008. This run up is a prime example of the said obstacle. First we will see the Cat 4 men hit the run up on the first lap of their race.


GP of Gloucester Day 2 Run Up, Cat 4 Men from Scott Frison on Vimeo.

In this next video we will watch the Elite women attack the same run up on the first lap of their race.



GP of Gloucester 2008, Day 2, Elite Women on the Run Up from Scott Frison on Vimeo.



Class 1, The Overview
Class 2, The Competition
Class 3, The Race Format
Class 4, The Barriers
Class 5, More On Barriers
Class 6, An in Depth Look at Barriers
Class 7, An in Depth Look at Run Ups
Class 8, An in Depth Look at Sand Pits
Class 9, The Start
Class 10, Review and Wrap Up

Cyclocross 101: class 6, an in depth look at barriers

In the next few sessions of Cyclocross 101 we will enjoy some special material concerning various aspects of the race. In this first portion of bonus material we will look at the subject of recent discussion, the barriers.

In the first video we see the Cat 4 men approaching the barriers on lap 1 of their race at the first day of the Gran Prix of Gloucester, 2008. The barriers will be visible about halfway through the video. However, since it is the first lap you will notice how bunched together the racers are. These barriers are 40cm tall and are placed on an incline providing some difficult hurdling.


GP of Gloucester Day 1 Barriers Run Up, Cat 4 Men from Scott Frison on Vimeo.

In this next video we see more barrier action. The uphill incline and general fatigue causes Jake to nearly trip on the second barrier.



GP of Gloucester Day 1, Jake hits the barriers from Scott Frison on Vimeo.

Finally, we see Taylor finishing the barriers and returning to the bike to accelerate away.


GP of Gloucester Day 1, Taylor through the barriers from Scott Frison on Vimeo.



Class 1, The Overview
Class 2, The Competition
Class 3, The Race Format
Class 4, The Barriers
Class 5, More On Barriers
Class 6, An in Depth Look at Barriers
Class 7, An in Depth Look at Run Ups
Class 8, An in Depth Look at Sand Pits
Class 9, The Start
Class 10, Review and Wrap Up