Cross is coming! If you’re gearing up for the upcoming season, you know there’s plenty to work on. Cyclocross, the challenging discipline of cycling involving riding, jumping, running, and remounting and dismounting, requires a lot more skill than just fitness—though fitness is crucial (you’ll definitely be hacking up a lung after the race)!
Here are a few things to focus on for your cyclocross season:
1. Remounting
If you’ve watched pro ‘cross races, you’ve seen how seamlessly riders get on and off their bikes. The best riders barely lose speed when dismounting to navigate barriers (unless they’re bunny hopping) or running up.
The key is practice, practice, practice. Incorporate remounting drills into your weekly training, and you’ll see the benefits when racing begins.
Pro Tips: Michael van den Ham explains how to do a cyclocross remount
2. Cornering quickly
Cyclocross courses feature plenty of turns—whether on grass or trail. Learning to navigate these turns as fast as possible is crucial. A slow corner can cost you valuable seconds, while a fast one can gain you time. Push your limits to find out how fast your tires can handle the corners.
Pro Tips: Finding the limits of traction with Michael van den Ham
3. Master tire pressure
Tire pressure plays a crucial role in cyclocross speed and is often debated among riders. With low-volume tires, even a small change in pressure can significantly impact your bike’s grip on the dirt. Balancing tire casing, tread, and other factors with the pressure reading on your pump is essential for optimal performance.
Pro Tips: Finding the limits of traction with Michael van den Ham
4. Learn to love the sand
Some ‘cross courses feature sandy sections. Riding in sand is tough on your legs and can make your bike unpredictable. As demonstrated by Wout van Aert, the key is to let the bike move naturally while using your body to stay upright.
Watch Wout van Aert give an absolute master class in sand riding
5. Get running!
If you’re racing ‘cross in October, you’ll want to incorporate some running into your training. If you don’t run regularly, start gradually and build up as the season approaches.
Rob Holmgren’s tips for running workouts for ‘cross
Bonus: don’t do this
If you’re thinking about bunny hopping barriers, here’s how not to do it.
Here’s Michael Vanthourenhout giving a master class on how not to bunny hop
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