Tuesday October 29, 2013 - Last DITCH Cross of 2013

This was October 22 course. Quite fun actually, fast and more open and we stuck to the North side of the ditch and camel hump near 315.
A small but quality turn out. We got a good 45-50 minutes of "racing" in....
Super thank you to Aidan S. for stepping up to put practice together on Oct 22.


This week -
Tomorrow -
Tuesday October 29th, 2013 will be the last organized practice of 2013.

Special Thank YOU goes out to Noah H for all his effort and time and investment this year in making these practices happen. He's been the staple in making these practices happen and traveling to practices with the flags and barriers nearly every week since August.
Please take a few minutes to thank him tomorrow at practice.


Come out and help set up around 5:00 p.m. so we can get to racing as close to 5:30.

Cincy UCI3 is this weekend.

Also get registered for The Smith Farms - CapCityCross race right now! Team Jeni's!

• Nov 1 – Cincy3 Cyclo-Stampede – (Northern Kentucky) – REGISTER
• Nov 2 – Cincy3 Lionheart International – REGISTER
• Nov 3 – OCXCup – Cincy3 Harbin Park International – REGISTER
• Nov 9 – (non-Ohio, OVCX) – Derby City UCI – Louisville, KY  
• Nov 10 – Cap City Cross #6 @Smith Farms P/B Team Jeni’s

See you tomorrow.

TEWSDay-October 15, 2013 - DitchCross - No Costume Needed

Ditch Cross is happening today.

Here's the dealeo.

They (who are 'they' really?) are working on putting in some sort of power lines in the ground right along the grass 'entrance' from FredTaylor Dr. There is a fence and some power equipment right along the road which will require everyone to either ride down the gravel road and around the lake, or ride in from the North side of the soccer fields.

No biggie, you need the exercise. Ride around.

• Let's try to meet at the Ditch at 5:00 for setup. 
• You stay till the end of practice for clean up.

Daylight is leaving us quickly - it's now dark about 7:00 p.m.
Bring lights for your ride home peoples.

No helmet, no practice. We like your brain.
Newbies and beginners welcome, make yo-self known -> we'll help.
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Good to see many of you at CapCityCross Big Run and Team SixOneFour - Lobdell CX races

Upcoming Cyclocross Races - Green are CBUS / NEOCX (Cleveland)

Oct 20 – OVCX – John Bryan – Biowheels Racing – REGISTER

Oct 26 – OCXCup – NEOCX / Cap City Cross – Paradise Garage & ODU – REGISTER
Oct 27 – NEOCX / Cap City Cross – Paradise Garage & ODU – REGISTER
 
Oct 27 – (non-Ohio, OVCX) – Eva Bandman-Louisville, KY
Nov 1 – Cincy3 Cyclo-Stampede – Darkhorse (Northern Kentucky) – REGISTER
Nov 2 – Cincy3 Lionheart International – Team Hungry!, ZWS, 7 Hills – REGISTER
Nov 3 – OCXCup – Cincy3 Harbin Park International – Biowheels Racing – REGISTER
Nov 9 – (non-Ohio, OVCX) – Derby City UCI – Louisville, KY  
Nov 10 – Cap City Cross #6 @Smith Farms P/B Team Jeni’s

Nov 10 – (non-Ohio, OVCX) – Derby City UCI – Louisville, KY

Nov 16 – Cap City Cross – COMBO Race Team
Nov 23 – OCXCup – Rock & Roll Cross – Ohio CX State Champs – NEOCX
Nov 24 – OCXCup – Rock & Roll Cross – Ohio CX State Champs – NEOCX
 
Nov 24 – (non-Ohio OVCX) – Major Taylor Velodrome – Indianapolis, IN

Nov 30 – PostGiving CX – Darree Fields – Cap City Cycling
 
Dec 1 – (non-Ohio OVCX) – Promotion Cross – Lexington, KY

Dec 7 – Cap City Cross – Paradise Garage
Dec 14 – NEOCX – Velodrome Urban Cross / Season Finale
Dec 15 – Cap City Cross – Backroom Roasters
 
Dec 15 – (non-Ohio, OVCX) – OVCX Finale – Brookside Cross Cup – Indianapolis, IN
Dec 15 – (non-Ohio, Midwest) – Midwest CX Regionals – Chicago, IL

October 1, 2013 - We are Doing this. Show up. Race Your bike

It's on as usual tonight.
Come early to help set up.
about 5:15.

we need to get mock races started at or before 6 p.m. if possible.
Helmet required.
Bring your happy face.
Bring a friend.



This was Tuesday Sept 24th Course.
Long and painful, but fun.

Follow up to Sept 17 and Help needed for Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Tonights course - was long -
We received some good feedback about the layout tonight. Thanks for saying thanks.
Noah - our faithful leader, said we ended up with about 3/4 of a mile and average single-lap time was about 3 minutes or so.
We had about 50 turnout tonight. We kinda need to make sure to start racing at 6 or before soon. Sunset is closing in on us.

Tuesday - Sept 17th Course map

Tuesday - Sept 24th - 
we go for a world record longest course ever at Tuesday night practices.

We need your help to make it happen.
AT least four-groups of a few people with some red and yellow flags in hand to hit each 'corner' of the ditch. Noah - will try to arrive at 5:15 with the bag of goodies, unless someone can volunteer to get the stuff from him and arrive at 5:00 to get a head start.

We might have to ride around the soccer fields as long as it won't interrupt anything over there. We'll use more of the other camel hump and add in some long sweeping turns in the flat part of the ditch add in more sweeping circle-ish turns. It should help add in distance and time.

We're also running low on red and yellow flags if anyone would like to donate some to our cause? Would also still be cool if someone would build some wooden barriers? Anyone have a video camera who can come out and shoot some video? for our little blog here?

Newbie's and beginners - make yourself known if you need help with skills and drills. We love to teach - if you love to learn. 

Please publicly Thank Noah for bringing the bag of stuff every week - and setting up the course and what not - you know - he's not getting paid. 

Last >>>>  - please if you aren't there to set up the course, at least take the initiative to help tear down.  We do have an electric cattle prod.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - Ditch Cross goes long

Tonight we go long.

Laps should be about 8 to 10 minutes.

We'll be riding across some bridges and using parts of the Ditch you haven't seen before.

We'll need some help to get this accomplished quickly tonight.
Show up at 5:15 p.m. if you can to assist putting flags in the ground and assembling barriers.

Racing starts at 6:00 p.m.

Here is some fuzzy GPS tracks from last week.

Beginners welcome - Make yourselves known. We can help get you started.

Homework

• Bring a friend, bring someone new to DitchCross!

1. Make sure they bring a bike and a helmet.
2. No helmet - NO practice 
3. Bring your smiles, great attitudes and willingness to learn.

•  Watch Video - great on the bike camera - example of a regional cross race. 

Coaching Stuff -

• Video; Study how and where people are using their brakes (when they shouldn't be), watch the sand pit section (see how many struggle and go so slow?), watch the sections in the video where the riders are going down slightly - see how many are NOT pedaling and are not passing? You go downhill, you pedal, you go around a tree, you pedal if you can. You have an opportunity to pass, go and pass ---- never settle for sitting on a wheel --- Race your crossbike. You ride around a sweeping turn, find a way to pedal. Pedal in, pedal out. Shift before the turn, plan before any hills to shift before the bottom(to avoid shifting under heavy load), brake and adjust your speed before the turn. How about those turns in the video? Are the riders taking the BEST line and fastest line through each turn (or are they mindlessly following wheels?). How would you have ridding sections different if you were wearing that camera? Are people looking around the turns with their head and eyes as they approach each turn?

• Never ever stop pedaling your crossbike.
• Never stop thinking, improving while you are racing.

See you at DITCH Cross -

Tuesday Sept 10, 2013 - DitchCross - Africa Hot in September

Big turn out of over 50 last week.
Course got longer and wider.

Tonight - Same place, same grass, more Heat.

1. skills n' drills for a short time. 
2. Mock racing. (Lots of it)
3. Longer course
4. No jerks
5. You knock over the PVC barriers- you shall stop and put them back up. 

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Coach Tip - Check your chain Length. If your chain is bouncing around at practice, or bouncing off, it might need some links removed. DitchCross grass is quite smooth, which may not be the case for other race courses you will see. 

The tighter your chain is, or more tension there is from your rear derail, the less likely you will bounce your chain off your front rings. There are also front chain ring guides or front chain ring guards you can purchase. Or new rear derailleur options with a 'clutch' or 'ratchet' system to eliminate derailleur bounce and chain slap without sacrificing shifting precision. If you shorten your chain, make sure it works with all the cassettes you will be utilizing for the entire season.
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If you are NEW or a Beginner please let someone know....we can help with some focused skill training/coaching.
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 Daylight is getting shorter - Sunset is about 7:50 PM. 
Bring front and rear lights for your ride home.
>>>>>  It's going to be Africa hot tonight - bring lots to drink.
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Show up about 5:15 or so - to help set up flags for the course. Stick around to tear down flags and help put things away.

: A few Pics from Tuesday September 3 Practice :

Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - Skills n' Drillz - Longer Course

::  Cbus Cyclocross Peoples ::

First - thank you everyone for your attention and listening skills and interactivity last week. It was quite impressive and exciting. More of the same tonight please and thank you. These are community practices it takes more than one to make them great.


The rain moved away, I think we will escape it tonight.
It appears we need more than 30 minutes to set up the practice area.

If you can show up ready to put some flags in the ground around 5:15 and assist, we can try to be ready by 6 to start skills.

Beginners, we welcome you and your bike. Make yourself known - we can help.

Tonight -

• Bumping Drills
• Figure 8 of Death
• Carrying your bike
• Barrier break down practice
• Race Starts
• Discuss - tire pressure, gearing, shifting, picking lines.

 >>>   Mock racing <<<

• Beginners, Intermediate and Experts

Just a reminder, the courses are going to get longer each week. Bring plenty of water or drink to hydrate yourself, it's going to be hot and humid tonight. Bring food to eat and a pump or some way to put air in your tires. Don't forget lights for your ride home.

Request #1 - we need some real wooden barriers for practice. If anyone is interested in building some, we can find a place to store them nearby. They can be from 12" to 16" - more of the 12" might be better for practices. They need to be portable, light in weight, not dangerous and have the ability to be pushed into the ground. Paint and decoration optional.

Request #2 - Several of us, started a 'bridge' over the creek near the rear of the property. We need some help finishing this and making it as safe as possible and ridable. We will use this to gain access to a huge camel-hump hill and more grass.  Chicken wire? more wood? smooth transition on and off both sides, both ways. Please and thank you.

Inspiration

Tuesday August 20, 2013 - Cross Practice - Let's do this

Girls and Boys of all ages.
The time is here again to bust out your cross bike or mountain bike and learn the art of CX.
We'll be at the ditch tonight setting up around 5:30 PM. Come help if you wish.

Skills and Drills start at 6:00 PM

Bring a smile, listening skills and interest in learning.

Racing season is just around the corner. Are you ready? Are your skills? 

- Cross is Boss -

Better
Life
Through
Ditch
Cross.


Bring a friend.

Week 1-2013 - Ditch Cross - Photos

 Photos from Week 1 of Ditch Cross.
Total in attendance  40-50
We can do better than that.
Thank you Kim for the photos.
Looking forward to more people out this coming
Tuesday - Aug 20 >>>  6pm till 8 or so

1. Skills N' Drills 
1. Use these practices to break down the skills. Learn each part of the process, create good habits, learn to drive your bike properly.  
2. Mock Racin'
1. It's not about going super fast quite yet everyone. Work on the skills you are learning, fine tune them, plenty of time to go fast this cross season.

2013 Ditch Cross

Yes,
it's happening again.

BLTDC - Better Life Through Ditch Cross

Start Date: Tuesday August 13, 2013.

Start Times:  6:00 PM

Location: The Ditch (center of photo below)

Tuesday Nights for as long as we have enough daylight or the weather holds out into late October.

If you wish to volunteer to help set-up flags and barriers, show up at the Ditch around 5:30 or so.

We will always appreciate help placing flags in the ground and picking up flags, putting barriers away and cleaning up at the end of each practice.
It would be cool if anyone had time to make a safe ridable bridge over the creek in the back (near 315), it would open up another hill and more grass.

Practice Requirements for 2013:

• Cyclocross bike (or mountain bike)
• Helmet (no helmet = NO practice)
• PMA - Positive Mental Attitude
• Willingness to listen, learn and have an open mind.

Weather
Weather will always be a factor. We will try to update this blog in case weather is looking ugly.  Practice will be canceled in the event of heavy rain to preserve the integrity of the Ditch. Always come back to this blog if you are wondering.

Is your cyclocross bike ready yet?

Pretty much every bicycle shop in town should be able to get you what you need and get you ready for cross practices. Don't wait to order or buy parts or bikes, do it Now. Parts and bikes go fast and they are selling earlier and earlier. Again, hit up the local bikeshops and start buying now.

Outline for Ditch Cross Practices
Beginners are welcome - please make yourself known if you are a beginner and need some additional assistance throughout the season and at any of the practices.

Weeks 1 & 2 - Skills - we'll break down some of the parts of cross with some repeat skills & drills.
Including:

• Bumping drills
• Race Starts
• Cornering
• Dismounting
• Portaging/Shouldering
• Remounting
• Run-Ups
• Off-Camber Riding
• Barriers

Weeks 3 & 4 - Skills & Drills fine tuning. Short courses.
Weeks 5 & 6 - Skills & Drills as needed.
                        Adding Mid-length & longer length Courses

Each week, will consist of a warmup with some skills work and then a series of mock mini-races. All abilities (or no ability!) are encouraged to attend. Even if you can’t attend the we’ll help where we can to get you up to speed. All riding stays in the ditch, so there’s no worry about getting lost or left out on the road! Grass is way softer than pavement. In years past we’ve had all levels from new juniors to elites - from 15 to 75 people show up. 

Practice Races
After some skills n' drills - we'll start adding some courses in (Red flags on right, Yellow on left) so everyone can start putting their skills n' drills to use.
We'll line up at a start-line in groups, related to skill level for X number of laps.
As the season progresses, the courses will become more difficult and longer.

What Other Stuff Should I Bring to Practices?

• Frame Pump or C02 Air
• Spare Tube / tire levers / multi-tool
• Lights for your ride home (as darkness approaches earlier and earlier)
• Water Bottles or whatever you like to drink (Johan not present for hand-ups)
• Food for you to eat to make you go faster
• Working Bicycle - (fix it before you come to practice please)

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See you on the 13th!!