Starting out in CX

Posted November 13th, 2009 by markg
Hi - I've been doing triathlons for a few years now and I'm now looking to try someting different. What's the best way to try CX? Is there a 'begginers' race in Ontario? Is there a race series in Ontario the way Triathlon has the Subaru and HSBC series? Thanks, Mark
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Mark, I was in your

On November 14th, 2009 bigmikemandel says:
Mark, I was in your situation a few years ago and I have to warn you CX is addictive. It is also a great way for you to maintain off season fitness and improve bike handling. There is a series in Southern Ontario with a few races left. Provincials are this weekend in Ottawa and there is an Eastern series based there. You can get more info at http://www.ontariocycling.org/index.php. The 10:00am race has a beginner category for which you can get a 1-day permit just to give it a try. You can use a mountain bike for this category just take any bar ends off for the race. There next race in Toronto is the CSAJ race at Riverdale park. Come out an try it you will be gald you did. Mike

Thanks for the info. I'm

On November 14th, 2009 markg says:
Thanks for the info. I'm very tempted to give it a try. I've some more newbie questions: Can I just show up at 9:30 with $30 and register on site? How does the race work? How many laps / distance? Is it mass start or staggered? Do you use timing chips? Will I look like a dork if I ride my old steel mountain bike? Thanks Mark

some answers to your

On November 15th, 2009 korina says:

some answers to your questions...

Good time to show up is 9am or a bit earlier to give yourself time to also pre-ride the course a few times, warm up properly and get your bib numbers pinned on. Most races (including the next two in Toronto) have on-site registration. You'll also need to purchase a one-day permit unless you have a citizen's permit or racing licence already.

At 10am, I believe there are three waves (Beginner Men, Master 3 men & under19 males/under15 females) separated by about 30-60 seconds.

Race courses are generally 2.5 to 3.5k long. The 10am race is 40 minutes + and they'll tell you how many laps you're doing partway through once they know how fast the leaders are going. If you get lapped by the leader, you are not pulled or disqualified - you just are marked as being a lap (or 2) down.

A few of the race organizers will have timing chips but most don't. We rely on commissaires to keep track of us all going by on every lap. Sometimes there will be lap times recorded and sometimes there won't.

Don't worry about looking like a dork on your mountain bike. The mountain bikers get extra cheers.