Ice Race!

OK, I am a Cross Newbie (recent recruit from the MTB scene looking for something to do in the off season n and now getting more into it). I can't find any Cyclo Cross team/training details for my locale. I live in the Burlington/Hamilton area. I know I am missing something. Can anyone point me in th right direction?

Thanks

Juliette

Hi Juliette,
You're in the right place, but the racing season is pretty much finished in Ontario. I'm sure there'll still be some rides happening when it's a bit warmer. There is our club - I think we will be having some rides out of Oakville/Burlington area as well as Toronto once I'm back in town - then there are a few other clubs around. Cross officially picks up again in September and there should be a weekly ride out in Hamilton, as well as the Midweek club's weekly ride at Centennial park in Toronto. Otherwise, Paris-Ancaster is almost considered a 'cross race.

Cheers...rod

Anyone have any tricks they can share for ice tires? Slick + Screws fit in 'cross frame? Fixie?

I guess it depends on your own frame clearances. Fixies seem to be pretty popular in past years, but that's probably just based on the messenger contingent. I think I'm going to use my cx bike instead of my fixie (commuter).

There is some info on ice racing tires at the Coup de Glaces website.. here and here.

hey,

im new to cyclocross. The sport looks alot of fun from what ive seen in the videos. What are the rules and the basics of the races? and also whats going on with this ice race? i wanna race but dont know what the tracks like or if i really need studded tires? also what about category? i race senior elite downhill but am real new to this sport.

Cross racing is pretty straightforward - most races are 40 to 60 min, depending on your category, and in the Southern Ontario series, you can use any cross or mountain bike (you can also use a road bike, but your chances for success are probably really diminished). I can't think of any specific rules that would be really different from other types of racing, except for the lack of feed zones and assistance.

As for the ice race, it's a really informal thing organized by the Bike Joint, a bike shop downtown. It's not a cross race, but I thought some cyclists here might be interested to check it out. Most of the racers are couriers, and it's a race on an outdoor ice rink. Studded tires are key; it's pretty slick. If you don't have any, the rubber tire race at the end is fun. Or if you don't have any, try to sucker someone into making a set for you!

General structure for the evening is: initial heats take place, riders that do well advance to the next round. For those who don't qualify, there's a repechage round to give people another chance to move forward. Numbers of laps/riders per heat/heats/rounds all tend to be flexible, depending on the number of riders. There are only two categories: men and women. The finals are often around two rinks (the other heats are around just one), and is followed by the rubber tire race. Racing was about $10 last year, rubber tire race is free. Helmets mandatory. I think that's about it... dress warm whether you are planning to race or watch - it's a long time to be standing around outside if you're in for the full event! Also: food and hot drinks are available inside the rink house.

cool sounds like fun!

yeah i think im gonna make it out for this ice race..... so u mentioned it was pretty leanient with the bike your riding on? i read that the max handlebar width is 50mm? will i still be allowed to race if i just bring a regular road cruising bike thats set up almost like a cross country bike? if so then i'll be there for sure... too bad its only on the flat ice... i was looking forward to some tech up/downhills haha

Correction to my previous post

Paragraph 2, line 5: Please change try to sucker someone into making a set for you to read try to beg someone who is really nice into making a set with you. Consider bribes of beer and baked goods.

Thank you!

TommyT: there aren't any restrictions whatsoever for the ice race. Use whatever bars/bike/etc you want. Though if you want to be competitive you'll need some really heavily studded tires. Most of the top folks make their own, but there are other options like those made by Nokian.

The all-important details!

Date: Saturday, February 16, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9/9:30pm (*note earlier end time)
Location: Dufferin Grove Outdoor Ice Rinks
Dufferin & Bloor, SE corner
Toronto, ON

Studded racing and the always hilarious rubber match. For more information call 416-532-6392.

Edited to add: I have recently been informed that racing will probably wrap up closer to 9 or 9.30 (not 11.30, as previously posted). As always, racers need to be there from 6, in order to race the qualifying heats!

Further edits, to avoid double posting. To continue discussion and answer Rod's question about fixie v freewheel... I think Wes has it right - a lot of it has to do with the large messenger contingent at the event. Other than the practical reasons for using a fixie (ie. it's what a lot of the racers ride daily) - I think they're also better on the ice because you can control your speed without touching the brakes. Of course, you're balancing that advantage against smaller frame clearances, which will affect what you can fit for studs....

Congratulations to Briana for winning the womens event. A huge shout out to her also for designing the stud pattern on my tires that took me to a 2nd place finish. All told 700 screws per tire seems to be the magic number. A shout out also to Logan for being the youngest rider and the awesome work he did to stud his own tires. That was a very fun event, thanks Derrick

All in, an excellent night of racing. The showdown for the main event was between 16 men and 4 women, with everyone giving it their all through a series of elimination heats. Great to see a strong turnout of a lot of familiar 'crossers, both on the ice and in the stands.

Results (unofficial)

Men's race

1. Jim "Ice Bear" Kuz
2. Dave Dermont
3. Brooks Rapley/The Ice Stud
4. Sean Thompson

Women's race

1. Briana Illingworth
2. Prisca Natterer
3. Reba Plummer

Rubber Tire - Men's

1. Ted Ingram
2. Dave Dermont
3. The Ice Emperor, Albert De Ciccio

Rubber Tire - Women's

1. Vanessa

Young Rider

Logan Earhart

Star Volunteer

Linda Tomas

(Personal thanks to Dave for being the labour behind my winning tire design.)

My Ice Race photo gallery: http://flickr.com/photos/shapelike/sets/72157603929754794/

I posted some pictures passed along from Ted in the CXO Gallery

Good pix thanks for sharing!

Gee, Mike, I'm so glad someone got a shot of me after I hit the deck getting ready to warm up!

Two videos from the rubber tire race are here, posted February 17. In the second one (shot by Wendy Lucas), check out Dave D go down around the 12 second mark, on his way to the start.

That was a ton of fun. I'm still amazed at how much grip my tires had. I didn't want to get off the ice!

Whatabout streakers? No naked, hairy butts riding a celabratory lap, uh?

Ol Fart says: Whatabout streakers?

rod says: Where were you?

.... not that I want to see you streak! ....