BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
For those of you that frequent this section, a very self-indulgent post for me. Sorry!
My son (miniBrumJim) has been racing cyclo-cross for many a year now, but this year we have moved up to the big time. U14 means that he races the full adult course, including the option of using the pits and bike changes. And he has had a good season, so has been keen to race as much as possible.
The season started on 8th September, and he did his potentially last race last Saturday (18th January). Hoping he will do one more, but largely depends if I can persuade a long-standing friend to take over pit duties as it will involve us both in the same race.
8th September was his first U14 boys race, an age category known as the "Race for Puberty". The youngest are still small and cute, the oldest, tall and gangly, accompanied by parents swearing blind that they put on an inch overnight. This can make it a bit of a problem, as it is the biggest that win rather than the best, and can be disheartening to be handicapped by nature rather than ability. Also it gets increasingly more expensive and school work and other distractions start getting in the way.
But miniBrumJim has had a good road season, is looking forward to racing on a proper course, and knows what he is up against. The course is one that suits him. It is on a slope and benefits the lighter riders, particularly at the start of the season before the thick mud, and he finishes 7th, 2nd fastest of the first year U14s. He is shattered and barely able to get off his bike at the finish, but all laps are within 2 seconds of each other, showing remarkable consistency, even at the end when he is emptying the tank.
Me? I have now changed role from Dad and supporter, to pit crew. For the first few races I am hanging around the pits just in case, having dragged all the kit including 50+ litres of water across a field. But a bike change isn't needed.
5th October arrives, and the first National Trophy series race. This takes competitors from around the UK, and the course has more features and challenges. The first race is in Derby, and there is another thread on the result of this, so won't duplicate the details (26th!).
Now it is January. He has done 25 races, covering four separate local leagues (advantages in living in the middle of the country), and the National Trophy Series as well as the National Championships, which was won (U14 open category) by a boy who races in the same league, and we chat to him and his Dad at most races. After the first few weeks, pit duties are now much more onerous, as I hurriedly try to clean his bike before he comes round again. We've had some mishaps (like the back wheel coming off in the pit lane, forgetting kit such as the hose for the jet wash, not having the spare bike on a muddy day), and one failure when the mud just clung to the frame, trapped the wheels and made it impossible to ride, push or carry (too heavy). But it has been great, I have seen more parts of the country in 5 months than most Dads, and my son has enjoyed it.
So tips?
1. At U14 level and for some of the later races, you really can't compete sensibly without two bikes, jet wash and lots of water.
2. Pits: I have used up more than 1 battery and almost 50 litres of water at some events. I can get covered in mud, don't get to see him race other than past the pits. But pits are a very friendly and helpful area. People will lend you kit if yours goes wrong, spare water is offered to anyone needing it at the end of the race, and people will help out catching bikes when your racer comes in for a change without being asked, if possible (i.e. near the end of a race). On a bad day you will finish shattered, acheing, and with mud splattered on you and all your kit. You might look like you have the pox as you end up speckled with mud from bike cleaning. There are better ways of doing it, but the focus is on quick. On a very bad day you might need a change of clothes. You need a trolley for carrying everything, and suggest chosing one with the widest wheels you can find. Generally can be bought quite cheaply at the end of the summer festival season, as that is a bigger market than cyclo-cross.
3. I have a rucksack. It always has 2 water bottles in it (one hydration fluid, one plain water) and now has everything he has worn for practice but taken off before the race, i.e. jacket, coat, zip-up trousers, buff. I meet him at the finish, and whatever he needs is in the rucksack, as on cold days it isn't long before he needs a coat on again. It is now always on my back so nothing ever gets forgotten. Hasn't always been the case this season.
4. The emotional fall-out of a bad race doesn't get any better. There are times that you have to stand back and wait, as you can't offer the right words or encouragement. Accept that they have to find the way out themselves, or hopefully another parent can help.
5. National Trophy and National Champs are great. Well worth the extra travel and cost.
6. He won some hard cash for finishing 6th in his league. That was unexpected.
7. I can no longer wander around the course and take photos. Races seem much shorter even though they are longer, but you have work to do. Enlist friends or other parents to take photos.
8. Your washing machine will start to work hard for a living. Almost as bad as when it was processing nappies. If you went for disposables, it won't know what has hit it.
9. If you are working alone, get fit. It can be a long sprint from the start to the pits, and from the pits to the finish. Also the pits may be uphill across grass and mud from where your car is parked. And water is heavy.
10. Bask in the glory that adults are happy that your kid is not stuck in front of a computer screen. I say this as my son has come home from school, played a computer game or two, done his maths homework on a computer and is now looking at a screen again as he does his Zwift ride. But he has stamina and strength that most kids don't. He won his year's school cross country race despite not doing any running at all.
My son (miniBrumJim) has been racing cyclo-cross for many a year now, but this year we have moved up to the big time. U14 means that he races the full adult course, including the option of using the pits and bike changes. And he has had a good season, so has been keen to race as much as possible.
The season started on 8th September, and he did his potentially last race last Saturday (18th January). Hoping he will do one more, but largely depends if I can persuade a long-standing friend to take over pit duties as it will involve us both in the same race.
8th September was his first U14 boys race, an age category known as the "Race for Puberty". The youngest are still small and cute, the oldest, tall and gangly, accompanied by parents swearing blind that they put on an inch overnight. This can make it a bit of a problem, as it is the biggest that win rather than the best, and can be disheartening to be handicapped by nature rather than ability. Also it gets increasingly more expensive and school work and other distractions start getting in the way.
But miniBrumJim has had a good road season, is looking forward to racing on a proper course, and knows what he is up against. The course is one that suits him. It is on a slope and benefits the lighter riders, particularly at the start of the season before the thick mud, and he finishes 7th, 2nd fastest of the first year U14s. He is shattered and barely able to get off his bike at the finish, but all laps are within 2 seconds of each other, showing remarkable consistency, even at the end when he is emptying the tank.
Me? I have now changed role from Dad and supporter, to pit crew. For the first few races I am hanging around the pits just in case, having dragged all the kit including 50+ litres of water across a field. But a bike change isn't needed.
5th October arrives, and the first National Trophy series race. This takes competitors from around the UK, and the course has more features and challenges. The first race is in Derby, and there is another thread on the result of this, so won't duplicate the details (26th!).
Now it is January. He has done 25 races, covering four separate local leagues (advantages in living in the middle of the country), and the National Trophy Series as well as the National Championships, which was won (U14 open category) by a boy who races in the same league, and we chat to him and his Dad at most races. After the first few weeks, pit duties are now much more onerous, as I hurriedly try to clean his bike before he comes round again. We've had some mishaps (like the back wheel coming off in the pit lane, forgetting kit such as the hose for the jet wash, not having the spare bike on a muddy day), and one failure when the mud just clung to the frame, trapped the wheels and made it impossible to ride, push or carry (too heavy). But it has been great, I have seen more parts of the country in 5 months than most Dads, and my son has enjoyed it.
So tips?
1. At U14 level and for some of the later races, you really can't compete sensibly without two bikes, jet wash and lots of water.
2. Pits: I have used up more than 1 battery and almost 50 litres of water at some events. I can get covered in mud, don't get to see him race other than past the pits. But pits are a very friendly and helpful area. People will lend you kit if yours goes wrong, spare water is offered to anyone needing it at the end of the race, and people will help out catching bikes when your racer comes in for a change without being asked, if possible (i.e. near the end of a race). On a bad day you will finish shattered, acheing, and with mud splattered on you and all your kit. You might look like you have the pox as you end up speckled with mud from bike cleaning. There are better ways of doing it, but the focus is on quick. On a very bad day you might need a change of clothes. You need a trolley for carrying everything, and suggest chosing one with the widest wheels you can find. Generally can be bought quite cheaply at the end of the summer festival season, as that is a bigger market than cyclo-cross.
3. I have a rucksack. It always has 2 water bottles in it (one hydration fluid, one plain water) and now has everything he has worn for practice but taken off before the race, i.e. jacket, coat, zip-up trousers, buff. I meet him at the finish, and whatever he needs is in the rucksack, as on cold days it isn't long before he needs a coat on again. It is now always on my back so nothing ever gets forgotten. Hasn't always been the case this season.
4. The emotional fall-out of a bad race doesn't get any better. There are times that you have to stand back and wait, as you can't offer the right words or encouragement. Accept that they have to find the way out themselves, or hopefully another parent can help.
5. National Trophy and National Champs are great. Well worth the extra travel and cost.
6. He won some hard cash for finishing 6th in his league. That was unexpected.
7. I can no longer wander around the course and take photos. Races seem much shorter even though they are longer, but you have work to do. Enlist friends or other parents to take photos.
8. Your washing machine will start to work hard for a living. Almost as bad as when it was processing nappies. If you went for disposables, it won't know what has hit it.
9. If you are working alone, get fit. It can be a long sprint from the start to the pits, and from the pits to the finish. Also the pits may be uphill across grass and mud from where your car is parked. And water is heavy.
10. Bask in the glory that adults are happy that your kid is not stuck in front of a computer screen. I say this as my son has come home from school, played a computer game or two, done his maths homework on a computer and is now looking at a screen again as he does his Zwift ride. But he has stamina and strength that most kids don't. He won his year's school cross country race despite not doing any running at all.
