In cyclocross, there are two ways to get faster. You can go the physical route, building strength and speed with hours of in-the-red intervals, but you can also shave time by honing your technical skills. These tips will help you gain places in a race with less work—and ultimately, that's the smartest racing strategy.
A Fast Start
The start is the most important part of a cyclocross race. The eight-man-wide starting lane narrows to two or three riders abreast as the herd charges the course. The lane changes size quickly, so early positioning is crucial: If you get stuck behind a crash in the first 100 meters, the odds of you contacting the main group during the next 40 minutes are slim.
Peter Glassford, a Canadian bike skills coach specializing in mountain bike and cyclocross skills, suggests: “Practice like it is a race every time you start a ride... Get clipped in fast, and notice what helps you.” That way, you’re prepared for race day. And before your race, he recommends that you practice a few starts from the line so you can choose and remember the gear you want.
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The Dismount
There are several ways to dismount from your bike, but all are simply versions of one basic movement. While still rolling, move your right hand down to the top tube. At the same time, swing your right leg out behind you and around the rear wheel. When it comes down next to your left leg, simply twist and unclip your left foot, step off the bike, lift, and start heading over whatever obstacle is in your path. If you’re nervous about falling over because your left foot is still clipped in, consider unclipping on both sides as your first step. Some racers swear by the “step through” method where the right leg comes between the left leg and the bike for a more natural “running start” upon dismounting, but unless you’ve practiced that move plenty of times on your own, don’t do it during a race.
To make your dismount easier, Glassford pushes the idea of holding the top tube before the dismount. “Practice grabbing your top tube before you step off the pedals. It is worth it!”
Conquer Barriers
That top tube grab has two benefits: It helps you stay stable, and it ensures that you’re perfectly set up to smoothly “suitcase” your bike over the barriers. Essentially, you’re just picking up the bike by the top tube with your right hand in the same way that you would a briefcase, while using your left hand to hold the front end of the bike steady, typically by gripping the left shifter. This can be tougher for shorter riders, and you’ll have to lift a bit higher, but you’ll quickly get the hang of knowing exactly how high you have to lift. Practice barriers at home to get geared up for racing by making a set out of cardboard or PVC piping; that way, if you hit the barrier with your foot or bike, you won’t get hurt and you’ll still be prepared for the real thing.
And if you’re small, don’t panic. “Small athletes can still do this very well, don't over-think it,” Glassford cautions. “Practice slower and add speed as you get it.”
Get Back in the Saddle
The remount is the trickiest thing to master for most new riders. Really, it’s simply stepping onto your bike—just at higher speeds than normal. As you’re walking/running with your bike after going over an obstacle or running up a hill, you’re simply stepping your right leg around the rear wheel and landing your right thigh on the saddle as you contact the pedal with your right foot, then sliding the rest of the way onto the saddle and pedaling away. Don’t panic if it takes a while to learn—the motion can be tricky at first!
“Don't land on your crotch, set your thigh on the seat,” Glassford cautions. “Add speed and jumping later. Practice this every time you get on any of your bikes, no matter which bike you’re riding.”
Hop Like a Bunny
Not interested in dismounting for an obstacle? Bunnyhopping—or J-hopping—means lifting the front wheel over an obstacle first, followed by the rear wheel. It’s a skill that takes a lot of practice, especially without the benefit of the suspension that mountain bikers enjoy. If you’re going to attempt it, do it at practice first, and be careful with your chainrings!
Rail the Corners
Cyclocross is less about the obstacles than it is about being able to hit corners at high speeds. While tire pressure and choice plays a part in how easy or difficult a corner can be, a bigger part is your ability to lean into corners and look around them, sighting the spot in which you want to be. Take the apex of the turn, going from outside to inside to outside for the smoothest line, and keep the foot inside of the turn up so you don’t smack a pedal on the ground.
“Learn to dissociate your body from your bike in a grassy field,” says Glassford. “Outside foot down and swing your hips over that outside pedal while you corner.”
Shoulder the Load
As opposed to suitcasing, in shouldering the bike, you grab the down tube and slide the bike onto your shoulder. Wrap your arm through and try to grab the handlebars as well, to keep the bike steady. Use the other hand for momentum, balance, and occasionally to grab onto things on particularly steep climbs. (This move will likely hurt for beginners, so expect a bruise to form there after a few races, especially if you have a heavier bike. You’ll get used to it!)
Hate the downtube grab? “Some athletes prefer to grab the down tube while others prefer to grab the top tube—usually smaller or less-strong athletes,” Glassford says. “Try both, practice both, and then decide.”
Dirt Don’t Hurt
Riding in sand and mud can be the most fun, unique part of cyclocross, but it can also be the trickiest. Head into whatever sandpit or mud trap is in front of you with enough momentum that you won’t get stuck immediately, and try to keep your speed high. Let the bike go where it wants to go, rather than trying to keep your line perfectly straight, and keep your weight back on the seat. Pedal, pedal, pedal!
“I find that keeping the head up and focusing on end of pit usually helps,” adds Glassford. “Not over-thinking little turns or bumps or ruts, and staying on the gas, gets me through most pits—they’re like a steep uphill in some ways.”
Get in the Pack
Many US courses are referred to as ‘grass crits,’ and for good reason: Because cyclocross is a participant-based sport in the States, it’s important that promoters try to keep the courses safe for everyone. Because of this, often, you may find yourself riding in a big group, and you can treat it almost like a road race. Find someone just a bit faster than you and take advantage of his draft (or find someone who can corner fast and follow her lines!). The more you practice this, the better: If all of your cyclocross practice is solo, you may panic the next time someone bumps elbows with you in a race—so find a few buddies and practice pack tactics.
The Pits
Unlike crits, where you get a free lap, a trip to the pit in cyclocross doesn’t afford you any luxuries. Every second counts when you have a mechanical and need a bike fix or bike change. Practice handoffs, if you’re lucky enough to have a second bike. This means having your pit person hold your bike lightly as you roll into the pit, dismount, grab your new bike, remount, and roll out of the pit as fast as you entered. Often you won’t be so lucky and you’ll be running to the pit, but it doesn’t hurt to practice!
