While Rochester's U.S. UCI-opening weekend was an epic dust bowl, racers in much of the country could face muddy races at any moment, while the rest of us in areas like California anxiously await for the rainy season to arrive in a few months. JBV Coaching's Chris Mayhew helps you be prepared for muddy races, whenever they arrive, in this week’s Training Tuesday piece.
Mud. It's what we all think of when we think cyclocross. If you're really a ’crosser it's likely the thing you look forward to as the season goes on. But it also requires the most work on your part before, during and after a race. It's hard on equipment. It's hard to get out of clothing. It's hard to know how to dress for it.
You don't have to go to Europe to experience epic mud, but planning for it is key. photo: Elle Anderson on her way to a strong sixth place finish at the Superprestige Spa-Francorchamps. © Bart Hazen
You'll have to deal with all those things on race day and afterwards at a place that may not be your home. As I've stressed many times in these articles, cyclocross is about executing a checklist. If you can get a good list and tick off those boxes, you're doing the best you can. So let's cover mud.
Managing the Mud During the Race
How to manage mud during the race? This is where two bikes come in real handy. Find a teammate to pit for you. I always pay my pit crew $20. If you don’t have an extra bike that’s fine. Maybe you have a mountain bike that you could ride for half a lap while someone cleans your main bike. Maybe you still have you first ’cross bike and that can serve the same purpose. Are there any sections you can run instead of ride that will keep your bike cleaner? Keeping some mud off the bike every lap adds up over 30-60 minutes.
If you don’t have a dedicated pit crew and several spare bikes like Stephen Hyde, running might keep your bike cleaner. photo: Stephen Hyde, focused on the task at hand. 2016 World Cup Hoogerheide. © Bart Hazen
The same applies to sand pits. Little things you can do to keep the bike rolling will add up. Mud races are often just about finishing and making constant forward progress, regardless of how fast that is.
A small tip: have a plan for your glasses. They are great to start with but will quickly get dirty and become a hindrance. Find a friend you can throw them to if your helmet won’t securely hold them.
Shades are often expensive. Have a plan if you need to throw them. photo: Gage Hecht’s future is bright, but he doesn’t need muddy shades. © Mike Albright / Cyclocross Magazine
Keep reading for tips on the post-race clean-up.
