Newbie's Guide to CX - Best of the CX internet
As comprehensive as we like to be with our advice and recommendations here at CX Down Under, there's a vast internet of CX information out there, and with everyone being encouraged to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no better time to explore the CX internet.
Here are some of our favourites!
SVENNESS/LIKEAVOS
A gem of the early CX internet. The collection of videos titled SVENNESS and LIKEAVOS, made by Bill Schieken of CXHairs, analyse professional European racing to work out why the pros make the decisions they do. Each video is 10-15 minutes long, covering the actions of riders or a single course feature at a particular race - usually a high level race such as a World Cup, Superprestige round, or BPost Bank Trofeé race.
One video might focus on the back-and-forth battle between Sven Nys and rival Niels Albert, while another might look at the different strategies riders use when tackling a sand section or an off-camber descent.
The series was discontinued around 2016 (where you can see the rise of youngsters Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert), but remains a valuable resource for CX knowledge, as well as a great way to get hyped for racing season.
Svenness (men): https://www.cxhairs.com/tag/svenness/
Like a Vos (women): https://www.cxhairs.com/tag/likeavos/
HOW THE RACE WAS WON
Similar to SVENNESS/LIKEAVOS, Cosmo Catalano's 'How The Race Was Won' video series looks at the little things that make the difference in professional racing. Cosmo's (highly recommended) videos are mainly focused on road racing, but a few years back he turned his attention to pro races in North American CX, as part of a feature for a YouTube series called Behind the Barriers TV (which is also worth checking out).
There are fewer gems of CX advice to take into your next race than in SVENNESS or LIKEAVOS and the tone is more overtly comedic, but Cosmo has an incredible knack for noticing the little things you might not otherwise see - like a rider bending down mid-race to pick up a dollar bill. Definitely a worthwhile way to spend a few minutes the next time you're procrastinating on YouTube.
TO BE DETERMINED CC - TYRE GUIDE
Ask 10 different cyclocrossers about their favourite CX tyre treads and you're likely to get 10 different answers - it's one of the things CX nerds love obsessing over!
If you don't know your FMB from your MXP, check out this guide by New York-based team To Be Determined, which breaks it down in a detailed fashion that's still accessible to beginners.
https://www.tobedetermined.cc/journal/the-best-cyclocross-tires
CYCLOCROSS MAGAZINE
An American-based publication, www.cxmagazine.com is the best English-language source of cyclocross news, race reports and photography. Coverage is largely focused on North American and European pro racing, so it's unlikely you'll see photos from your weekend club race, but it's a great way to stay abreast of the latest news in cyclocross during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
They also have occasional articles distributing coaching advice or profiling sweet bikes, which are well worth checking out.
GLOBAL CYCLING NETWORK
The GCN YouTube channel is the biggest source of cycling-related video content out there, and has churned out a number of great videos on CX over the past couple of years.
They now employ former US CX champ Jeremy Powers as one of their presenters, and they've got some great technique videos that explain some of the more specific aspects of CX in a beginner-friendly manner, such as dismounting the bike or running over barriers.
Their sister channel GCN Racing also streams European races such as the Superprestige and EthiasCross series, which is a great way to see coverage of European races with the benefit of English-language commentary.
Cyclocross videos on GCN: https://www.youtube.com/user/globalcyclingnetwork/search?query=cyclocross
2019-20 CX races on GCN Racing: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_IbDU0JIybRWBUFnUPtreux6-XsnIT2d
CYCLOCROSS24
Cyclocross24 is a great resource for those interested in pro cyclocross racing, as it's an extensive record of every placing of races as far back as the first cyclocross world championships in 1950.
Want to know who finished 57th in the Men's Elite World Championship in 2012? Cyclocross24 is the best place to go to find out. (The 57th place finisher was Aussie Lewis Rattray, since you're wondering).
While they do cover all UCI cyclocross races, they ONLY cover UCI cyclocross races, so your club results likely won't be up there, but it's a great resource for those more interested in the pro side of the sport.
CROSSRESULTS
Crossresults is like Cyclocross24 for the people. It's an American-based online recording of race results, which covers both pro and amateur racing. Depending on how much racing you've done, you may have a record on Crossresults without even knowing it!
Not only does Crossresults track your race placing, it allows you to rate the courses you've ridden by their technical difficulty, course conditions, hilliness, and overall stoke levels. It also allows you to see your race nemeses and their records against you - great for building rivalries with that one rider in your grade who you always find yourself battling with. Based on how you place across different race courses, it'll build a profile for you about your comparative strengths and weaknesses - e.g. that you're great in the wet, but not on hilly courses.
One extra feature of Crossresults is its international nature. If you want to race overseas (especially in the US) your Crossresults rating may help you get a better position in the start grid - something that could well prove necessary in North American fields, where races over 100 riders are not uncommon.
Unlike Cyclocross24, having a record on Crossresults is largely dependent on some generous soul (usually a race organiser or random cyclocross angel) uploading the results from your race to have them displayed - so the odds of having a complete record of every race you've ever done uploaded are slim unless you're willing to upload some yourself. However, as a method for stalking your rivals, it's unparalleled.