Categories: Breaking The RulesCyclocrossTechnique

Training for ‘Cross

Don't cross-train; train for 'cross.

I recently upgraded my phone, tablet, laptop, and TV to their most modern respective operating systems. These devices are now are so interconnected that they know what I want long before I do. In fact, I might not want it all, but no one can tell because I’m already doing what they told me I want to do. Presumably while driving.

I have become quite adept at texting while riding my bike. My phone buzzes, I reach into my pocket, examine the message, and determine whether I should answer that particular buzz immediately or wait until I’m at a stop or at home. I don’t navigate any kind of logic tree to make this determination; I simply respond to my inner monkey and tap away my inane response. I should not have this skill, texting while riding. By all rights I shouldn’t even have my phone with me. I shouldn’t need to be reachable when I’m on my bike. That’s part of the point of being on my bike.

There is something about being out in the wilderness that flips a primal reset switch in my soul. Mountain biking and backcountry skiing often take us away from phone networks and traffic the way little else can. The problem with mountain biking is a lack of the hypnotic rhythm that riding on the road offers, which is part of the enormous appeal of riding a bicycle; the rhythm of the legs pedalling along has a trance-like quality to it and the spell is broken whenever the bike hits a root or a rock or a rut. This, for me, is the appeal of a good gravel ride or even a good Cyclocross ride: you’re still on a road bike with most of its hypnotic trappings, but you still get to descend into the wilderness and experience the great escape from technology. Along with just enough technical riding to make a tantalizing cocktail of Awesomeness.

Fall is here, which means the road season is all but behind us; ahead of us lie chilly, wet rides in our Flandrian Best. And Cyclocross. I have an extensive background riding rigid mountain bikes in the 90’s, which makes me almost automatically good at Cyclocross. Except Cyclocross also includes running and remounting. My basic trouble with training for ‘Cross is that I never do my drills for things like remounting. My remount looks like a wounded duck trying to ride a pogo stick. I could master it, of that I’m certain, but once I’m riding my bike I find it nearly impossible to climb off just for the privilege of climbing back on.

In the immortal words of @G’rilla: I don’t cross-train. I train for ‘cross.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Greg Titus says:

Sep 21 2016 at 10:22 pm

Ditch the phone. You are a Velominatus, aren't you?
Cary says:

Sep 22 2016 at 1:05 am

althpugh i a resolutely NOT a fan of running in any form, CX does look like fun. there's a swamp cross series here in S Louisiana. i may give it a try one day. plus, an excuse to buy another bike is always a plus.
KogaLover says:

Sep 22 2016 at 1:16 am

Don't yet have a cross bike, but do have a MTB (Koga of course). Am looking for a track bike (Koga Nemo right now), which does not bring me into the wilderness, out of network coverage. Fwiw, network coverage in Switzerland is very good, even in mountains which is great when skiing with the kids and one of them takes the wrong slope.

However, the reason why I carry my phone with me on a ride is to call if needed, not to get called or texted. By the time I stopped, picked the phone out of the pocket, took it out of its plastic bag (against sweat), and hit the answer-button, the call is already gone. Even when off the bike, I am horrible with texting. Wish I still had my Blackberry.
RobSandy says:

Sep 22 2016 at 1:56 am

Na, never take a call or text while riding. I usually only use my phone to send the obligatory "look, I've gone a bit further than planned and I'm going to be late home" text, or for an emergency call "Yeah, I'm only 10km from the chalet but the road is blocked so I've got to go all the way back. Yes, over the Tourmalet again".

And as for Cross, fortunately I don't have any delusions I'd be good at it. I've seen how trashed the cross-specialist from the cross get, and many of them are stronger on the road than I am. The only talent I could bring to Cross is not falling off when by rights I really should. I'll be riding the boards this winter instead.
chris says:

Sep 22 2016 at 2:39 am

@frank

I recently upgraded my phone, tablet, laptop, and TV to their most modern respective operating systems. These devices are now are so interconnected that they know what I want long before I do. In fact, I might not want it all, but no one can tell because I’m already doing what they told me I want to do. Presumably while driving.

I know next to nothing about 'cross other than it takes a lot longer to clean the boy's cross bike after a ride than it does to clean a road bike but having read this on the train this morning, your opening paragraph resonated (connected or spoke to me, in social media speak?).

I know it's wrong but my Garmin tells me when someone is ringing, texting or emailing. I can then choose to ignore it unless it's from home (or work if I'm "working from home"). I'd have to stop and have a look otherwise which is much more likely to break my focus and rhythm than a discrete message on my Garmin.
Randy C says:

Sep 22 2016 at 4:40 am

I'm thinking a good cyclocross ride is different from a good cyclocross race. Kinda reminds me of difference between sailing and racing sail boats. They're two wholly different things.
Teocalli says:

Sep 22 2016 at 5:05 am

@chris

@frank

I recently upgraded my phone, tablet, laptop, and TV to their most modern respective operating systems. These devices are now are so interconnected that they know what I want long before I do. In fact, I might not want it all, but no one can tell because I’m already doing what they told me I want to do. Presumably while driving.

I know next to nothing about ‘cross other than it takes a lot longer to clean the boy’s cross bike after a ride than it does to clean a road bike but having read this on the train this morning, your opening paragraph resonated (connected or spoke to me, in social media speak?).

I know it’s wrong but my Garmin tells me when someone is ringing, texting or emailing. I can then choose to ignore it unless it’s from home (or work if I’m “working from home”). I’d have to stop and have a look otherwise which is much more likely to break my focus and rhythm than a discrete message on my Garmin.

Terry Pratchet had it right.
chris says:

Sep 22 2016 at 5:29 am

@Teocalli

@chris

@frank

I recently upgraded my phone, tablet, laptop, and TV to their most modern respective operating systems. These devices are now are so interconnected that they know what I want long before I do. In fact, I might not want it all, but no one can tell because I’m already doing what they told me I want to do. Presumably while driving.

I know next to nothing about ‘cross other than it takes a lot longer to clean the boy’s cross bike after a ride than it does to clean a road bike but having read this on the train this morning, your opening paragraph resonated (connected or spoke to me, in social media speak?).

I know it’s wrong but my Garmin tells me when someone is ringing, texting or emailing. I can then choose to ignore it unless it’s from home (or work if I’m “working from home”). I’d have to stop and have a look otherwise which is much more likely to break my focus and rhythm than a discrete message on my Garmin.

Terry Pratchet had it right.

I never really got on with Prachett's books*, apart from the Long Earth collaboration**, which almost leaves me feeling like I've missed out on something. I've held that feeling at bay by generalising that Prachett's fans are all bearded obsessives sporting wizard's hats. Harry Harrison and Larry Niven also disappointed.

*I did try read one of his books, possibly the first discworld book, whilst at school. Everyone at school seemed to be into it.

** Two or three of the series then got bored.
RobSandy says:

Sep 22 2016 at 6:12 am

@chris

@Teocalli

Terry Pratchet had it right.

I never really got on with Prachett’s books*, apart from the Long Earth collaboration**, which almost leaves me feeling like I’ve missed out on something. I’ve held that feeling at bay by generalising that Prachett’s fans are all bearded obsessives sporting wizard’s hats. Harry Harrison and Larry Niven also disappointed.

*I did try read one of his books, possibly the first discworld book, whilst at school. Everyone at school seemed to be into it.

** Two or three of the series then got bored.

I'm re-reading a Discworld book right now. It's brilliant.

I can only conclude that there's something wrong with you. Does that help?
Teocalli says:

Sep 22 2016 at 6:23 am

CX is clearly an essential part of a pro-cyclist's development......