RNRMCA RIDER IN AUSTERE COMPANY AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Royal Marine Shane Lawton recently stepped up to the challenge of the National Cyclo Cross Championships. With several elite riders in the field including Roger Hammond his task was always going to be a tough one. Shane talks exclusively to us giving some of the background of his experience and also explaining the whys and wherefores of Cyclo Cross racing.

Cyclo Cross Facts

Winter Fun: Cyclo-Cross (often abbreviated to 'Cross) is generally an autumn and winter sport. Massed starts make for exciting races, usually no more than an hour in length – and shorter for juniors, women and veterans.  There are usually free-to-enter races for younger riders. Some organisers are now starting to run summer series, which are proving very popular. 

Lapping it Up! Cyclo-Cross races are usually multi lap events, held on short (typically less than a mile and often less than half a mile), grassy courses, generally in public parks or on school playing fields. Less technically demanding than Mountain Biking, Cyclo-Cross often requires riders to dismount to clear artificial obstacles – often wooden boards. The ability to swap smoothly and quickly from riding to running and back to riding in one fluid motion is a key skill for advanced riders.  

Private Battles: The short lap lengths mean that better riders often lap some of the slower competitors, but that’s not the end of the race – you can still submerge yourself in the action, enjoy your own private battles and forget whether you are first or a hundred and first – that’s the beauty of the sport: it’s what you make of it that counts. 

Bike Facts: Cyclo-Cross machines look very similar to road bikes, with dropped handlebars and thin tyres - however the latter have a  knobbled-tread for grip, powerful brakes, low gears and better frame clearances to prevent clogging with mud, all of which adds up to make them easy to handle on the rough. 

Shane's Story

 As in other types of cycle sport the National Championships represents the pinnicle of the season for the nations top riders. Many will work towards the Nationals as their primary race of the season with all other competitions training rides used to perfect both fitness and technique. Enter then our very own cross aficionado Shane Lawton. Shane is mad about all things bike related he sources many of his bikes part by part through e-bay then lovingly builds, strips down then rebuilds his bikes until he is totally satisfied. Targeting the National Championships many months ago and setting ambitious targets Shane's plans were almost scuppered at the first gate when he was deployed abroad for a 6 month tour. However, not to be outdone he secured approval for a stint of R&R which co-incided with the dates of the championships.

Training for the competition was done exclusively on gym based turbo's and treadmills and Shane knew he would be facing a stiff challenge by racing without the benefit of having any league races under his belt. Not to be thwarted he set himself some realistic targets.

1. To finish the race (many riders drop out either through fatigue or for mechanical reasons)

2. Not to be lapped on the first half of the race. (with several elite riders in the field the standards would be very high)

 Returning home just 4 days before the race Shane set about get acclimatised to the British weather by locking himself in the garage where he set about preparing his bikes for the race. Yes that was bikes Cyclo Cross can be so punishing to both bike and rider that top riders often have a spare bike waiting in the pit area to be used in the event of mechanical failure (pity they can't have spare legs!!).

 Once completed Shane relocated his bikes and his good lady wife from his home town to Bradford where he checked in to a nice hotel (guess he had some brownie points to make up with his wife).  Having arrived the day before his race Shane was able to ride some practice laps on the course to gauge the best lines for the course and get a better idea of the task ahead. Then before he knew he was on the start line and doing the business. Here's his version of what happened:-

The day of the race bought with it a bitterly cold day with gale force winds....Great, but luckily no rain! This race had the best field I have ever seen at a cross event, riders like, the former Discovery rider and former team mate of Lance Armstrong, the 8 times Cross champion Rodger Hammond, Liam Killeen the current British MTB champion and Olympic medallist, Oli Beckinsdale, last years MTB champion and Olympic medallist, also Paul Oldham, Jody Crawforth, Ian Field, Ian Bibby, Rob Jebb and Nick Craig to name but a few of this very classy field.
The race started on time and it was a fast and furious sprint to the first turn being led out by Ian Field. I had a surprisingly fast start, over taking a number of the riders. The field was well strung out by the time the race hit the second lap, at this point I was well to the rear, driving on the best I could, fighting on trying to keep my legs turning! At half an hour I was lapped by the lead group of Hammond, Crawforth, Oldham and Beckinsdale....they were motoring!! The top sixteen in the race lapped everybody, some pace! The sprint to the line was won by Jody Crawforth, (who was also the series winner the following week), second was Paul Oldham and third was Rodger Hammond.

 My final place, after people had dropped out was 44th. I was happy to have finished the race and ridden at this level with no training but I was disapointed not to have been race fit and would have loved to have done better. But my aims had been achieved and it was and excellent race on an awesome course. This race has only fuelled the fire, all I want to do is train so I can smash this race in January 2010.....Bring it on!!!!!

So do you fancy riding Cross? It's tough but exciting riding that has to be a great addition to any riders toolbox. Whether you are into riding on-road or off-road the fact is you are out there doing it. So Come on RNRMCA get yourselves out and try Cyclo Cross today.