Cyclocross British Style

With some good fitness coming off the USA cyclocross season, Deb and I decided to knock out 2 birds with one trip by (1)Visiting Deb's Family and (2)Soaking up some British Cyclocross. Like every other country this side of the pond, the UK national championships are in January, which makes the holidays prime cross season. On any given day between X-mas and New Years, Brits can choose from 3-5 cross races per day! No one has to drive more than an hour to find their region's closest race. Entry fees: 8pounds

Check out the BCF (USA Cycling equivalent):

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bchome/home.asp

We arrived on x-mas morning and have gotten in a couple rides here in Derbyshire (the Peak District) around Deb's mum's house. The landscape around here is pretty typical British countryside. Rolling hills and farms, small villages, etc. With cross bikes we have been able to sample a variety of riding here. There are lots of these single lane farm roads here. They are nice to ride on with very little traffic, although tend to be quite steep.

We've also found several rails-to-trails paths to ride on. The one below (the High Peaks Trail) is one of the nations oldest rail lines, built before there were even steam locomotives. The cars were pulled along by cables driven by stationary steam plants.

Even on the big roads, people seem courteous in passing and don't seem to fuss about waiting for a bicycle. I'm still getting used to the markings on the road, signs, and riding on the left. All a bit strange but fun to learn something different. It's intersections that give me the most trouble, hard to disregard your instincts about where to go.

We also found some paths along the canals here. The canals were once the best way to transport goods around England. They floated things in barges that were pulled with ropes by horses. The paths along the side of the canals where the horses once walked are now public footpaths. The canals go through tunnels and over viaducts. Here I am on a viaduct (a water bridge) where the canal goes over a river below.

The weather so far is typical of the UK in winter. Highs in the mid 40's and a light drizzle most of the time. Its light out at 9am and dark again at 4:15. Never really bright sunshine, it's always a bit grey. The roads never seem to dry off, so every ride is a bit wet with road spray. Still a 3 hour ride today didn't seem too bad today even with a stiff wind. The variety of surfaces were a nice break.

More later...