Unknown Road

So fresh off a good kick-off of the Victorian Cyclocross season last Friday in Beechworth and with the onset of regular rain and cold weather it's definitely starting to feel like 'cross race time!

Although numbers were low compared to the mayhem that is a normal DDCX race there were a lot of smiling faces after the race, as entrants were treated/subjected to two races each in the afternoon. The chance to race through the centre of town on closed roads with proper race barriers is a big step. For many it was also a chance to be reminded of the heart-racing and chest burning experience that is cross racing. The highlights were the 'A-corn-er', the 'stairway to heaven' and the 'hay bale hurdle'. For some the proximity to the beer tent meant easy access to 'liquid refreshments' which I'm sure added to their race highlights! DDCx would again like to thank anyone that took a chance and came out for the race. The support of racers does mean that other races are likely to occur, in new areas.

We will post photos as they emerge, especially ones of the excellent mid-pack finish line salutes that occurred.

But we would also like to remind everyone of the upcoming women's skills clinics starting this weekend. There has been a lot of interest in CX from new and existing road or MTB racers and these sessions are a great chance to learn tricks and tips for riding 'cross in a friendly and fun environment.

Bring whatever bike you have (seriously) and a positive attitude and we will help with the rest. We can't guarantee podiums but there's a money-back guarantee that Blakey will make an amusing pun at some point.

DDCX Women's Cyclocross Development 2013

2012 was a big year for women's cyclocross in Australia. The first National Series saw an elite women's field race in Melbourne, Adelaide and finally Sydney with some stand out talent in Lisa Jacobs and Mel Ansett dominating the races. 

Here at Dirty Deeds we held a successful women's skill session with many participants going on to race in our local series. 

This year we want to keep the momentum going so we are holding three pre-season events to help get newbies into the game and to allow the rest to brush up on some skills. These sessions will be run by the Dirty Deeds crew with support from Cycling Victoria. Hopefully we can tempt some of the stars of the 2012 season to come down to show off their skills as well. 

The focus of these sessions will be to give women the confidence and skills to go into the 2013 cyclocross season and provide a setting to develop and practice. We focus on bike handling, barrier jumping, as well as some other tricks to make your cx experience less daunting.  

The first session will be a COME AND TRY event designed for those who want to see if cyclocross is for them. This will be held on Saturday 27 April from 10am - 12pm at Darebin Parklands. Those who have raced cyclocross before are also welcome to attend and depending on numbers, we can arrange for different ability groups to separate and work at different levels. 

The second session is a MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL event to be held on, well, Mother's Day, Sunday 12 May from 11am-1pm. This event is a chance for bike riding mum's with young kids to get out and try something new or to dust off the cyclocross bike from last year. Kids are welcome and can bring their own bikes also. EDIT - this session will be held at the Harrison Street Velodrome, Brunswick. 

The third session will be a SKILL DEVELOPMENT event designed to practice new skills and work on technique. To be held on Saturday 18 May from 10am - 12pm, this is one week out from the DDCX Prologue which is a great introduction to racing cyclocross. Keep following this blog for all the details.

If you have or can borrow a cyclocross bike, great. Otherwise bring along any bike you have lying around. You will not need a licence to attend these skills sessions. You will be required to have a licence or to purchase a season pass to enter any DDCX events, including the Prologue. 

The meeting place for sessions 1 and 3 will be at the rangers shed at Darebin Parklands. See map. 

View Dirty Deeds Women's Development Sessions in a larger map

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at katelansell at gmail dot com

Hope to see you there!

Prime Mover

It's all starting to happen in here... the rain has finally fallen, and the dust storms out on the trails and parks are now less of a hazard when following friends. Riders are now appearing with actual mud on their bikes and bodies. Embro (albeit light) is even a consideration on some early mornings.

With all of this comes the pre-season jitters and equipment perusing... and where better place to test that gear then in the number of pre-DDCX season events happening.

The previous post mentioned the Beechworth Gran Fondo, but just a week before the prologue is the Dirty Gran Fondo.

There are a number of DDCX stalwarts who I know are attending, but if you haven't already entered there's an update from the organisers:

It should be bigger than last year – we’ve got a naming sponsor on board (Geigerrig – pressurized hydration systems) who will be at the event showing off their products and giving out prizes. We’re also looking to have a bit more activity at one of the feed zones – rumours for now, another announcement coming in the next few weeks.

They are trying to get riders registered early for this one, First Release entry (cheaper rate) ends next week  (Monday) 31st March, so if you are thinking about it, get cracking to take advantage of the cheaper entry.

On the DDCX front we are hoping to announce our sponsors in the coming week so stay tuned for that!

We might even have some details about some upcoming skills sessions too... 

It Ain't Hard To Tell

Big News!

We have a flyer...

Click to download your own copy

Also this year's National Cyclocross Series (NCXS) has been announced... (We are still waiting for acknowledgement on the CyclingAustralia page.)

But with for the 'big show' and local races now announced you had best get some training in, and what better way then with a road trip up to Beechworth for a weekend of racing and riding?

DDCX has been asked to 'curate' the Cyclocross race at the inaugural Beechworth Gran Fondo and we will be up there that weekend helping you get a start on this year's racing calendar.

Chief CX Nerd Nik and CrossBoss Jeremy have worked with the organisers to put together a very unique course that takes advantage of the road closures they will have in place for the main event the next day as well as the Beer Garden (that will likely be a source of much racer 'encouragement'). This might be the first cross course in Australia to feature a barn as well.

Yes it's a not urban Melbourne, but we know we have fans outside of the city, and for the rest... we know many of you are frowning at flight costs to other states for NCXS so this is an even cheaper adventure. Word is that the Fondo courses for the Saturday are quite amazing too.

Red Letter Day

Here is what many of you have been emailing and asking us about, the dates for DDCX 2013!

Prologue: Friday 24/5  - Harrison St Velodrome

Round 1: Sunday 7/7  - Harrison St Velodrome

Round 2: Sunday 11/8 - Darebin Parklands

We have a few changes and updates in store for all the racers so start cleaning those cassettes and dialling those brakes in so you are ready for all the muddy chaos and fun you have come to expect from the Dirty Deeds Race Organising Crew

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A Wishful Puppeteer!

Photo courtesy of #SVENNESS/VanDerHoleshot inventor CXHairs.com

Oh wow... it's been a while!

Don't think the crazy crew behind DDCX have been napping though. We've been distracted by various elements of the following:

• Altitude training
• Hill climb races
• Building beardo-esque bike trailers for lugging bikes to races
• New kittens
• Dance moves to youtube videos
• Shimergo
• mini-vees
• B Grade criterium domination
• Writing books about other sports
• Beard farming
• Learning not to crash MTBs (usually at max heart rate)
• Comparing the various iced coffees on offer in Melbourne cafes

Outside of this busy off-season schedule some of us found time to spend a reasonably unhealthy amount of time staring at mud-covered racers accompanied by a soundtrack of excited flemish/dutch commentators (ai ai ai!)

Photo courtesy of #SVENNESS/VanDerHoleshot inventor CXHairs.com

It was a great season for watching cross and there have been some amazing races, culminating in what was an excellent World Championships. There's lot of footage out there between youtube and the various sporza recaps, get on it if you haven't been keeping up.

A personal highlight - Vos looking like it was her first world championship. Photo courtesy CTips.

We have also been holed up in our secret DDCX treehouse planning this year's series. Dates are slowly tacking up like a good CX course and those should be publicised shortly (along with this year's National CX Series dates I believe!)

What we can tell you is that there will be a prologue and two races, and that one of the courses is brand new for this year.

While you wait for this, start planning for what is a great tune-up for the season both in terms of fitness and equipment. This year's instalment of the 'Dirty Gran Fondo' on Sunday 19th May out at Wandong. 3 lengths so you can choose to ease in or go big.

Various DDCX organisers will be out there racing/riding so don't be afraid to say Hi! (or Bye! in the case of CrossBoss Jeremy)

Police And Thieves

Well that was a fun afternoon.

You know the drill, we clean stuff up and write up results / race reports, you send us links to videos and photos.

Go.

Pic: Baudman

Some Albums:
Brian Mangano's FULL ALBUM 

Brian Mangano's Preview album

Nath Larkin

Baudman 

Jo Upton

Cazbar

Marissa Farrell

Grace Dredge 

Video!

 

Ramp airtime

 Relay Transitions

A Grade Handicap Rider POV