https://ethic.smugmug.com/EPTC-Pyscho-Cross-/Pyscho-Cross-2024

I don’t enjoy racing gravel as much as I thought I would so I’m selling my gravel bike. I’ve enjoyed cross a lot more and most of my time off road was during cross races. I was always hesitant getting the Swiss cross because it’s tire clearance limits at 40c but now that I mostly want to focus on cross it’s the logical choice for me. 40c is also plenty enough tire for most of the small amounts of gravel riding I want to do.

I’m wondering if anyone has this bike and how it rides? What can I expect it to ride like coming from a slacker gravel bike? Is the steel fairly heavy? What kind of riding other than CX do you do on it?

Was also curious on when they release new colors. They only have it in white and sold out in basically every size.

Hey friends,

I miraculously found and bought a new All City Big Block from my LBS that was hiding in the back.

It's my first season racing cross, about 4 races so far, but I want to take a crack at SS with my new bike.

I was wondering if anyone has raced their Big Block, and what tires they've used? I was thinking of running a size 32c gravel or all road tire. Specifically one of the Gravel Kings, or the Pathfinder Pro.

Any recommendations or experiences you would like to share would be greatly appreciated! :)

Original Dutch Wielerflits article and translation (DeepL with some tweaks):

A bizarre story is coming out from the world of cyclocross. Mae Cabaca, a Dutch junior talent, and Deschacht-Hens-FSP are parting ways. Cabaca still had a contract until 2025 with the Belgian team, but she and her entourage decided to leave the team. A heated row ensued, after which legal action was even taken. The 17-year-old Cabaca has now officially left the team, but that is not the end of the story.

Cabaca is known as one of the great talents of Dutch cycling. The very young rider collected several national titles in the youth categories, both in cross and on mountain bike. Last Cyclo-cross World Championships, Cabaca finished seventh. A strong performance, especially considering she was the youngest rider in the top eight. This year, Cabaca is therefore one of the big names among the junior women. This Sunday, she is already the main favourite for the European junior title.

In early 2023, Cabaca made the switch to Deschacht-Hens-FSP, the team of Toon Aerts. She signed for three seasons. The collaboration between Cabaca and the Belgian team ran smoothly, until early September. Then Cabaca sent a message to Bart Verschueren, the team's team manager. That message stated that Cabaca wants to leave the team because she no longer feels at home in the squad. This came as a complete surprise to Verschueren, who then immediately requested they sit down and talk about it.

Cabaca in black
That conversation came, as did Cabaca's father, who is also her coach and helper. In that conversation, father and daughter Cabaca said that they wanted to leave the team for various reasons. According to the team, those reasons were anything but valid, after which they did not agree to the contract termination. Cabaca therefore had to start the season in the Deschacht-Hens-FSP jersey 'as usual', but she did not. She started in Kleeberg completely in black and on a different bike. The helmet she wore was one from her team, though.

Verschueren saw that, of course, and was seething. He officially held Cabaca and her father in contempt. A while later, the bomb completely burst. Cabaca continued to race in a black jersey and with a different bike, but still wearing the team's helmet. She even became Dutch mountain bike champion, but not in her team's jersey. This came as a huge blow to Verschueren and co, who then decided to stop working with Cabaca. The team manager considered it no longer possible to work with Cabaca and her entourage.

Verschueren: ‘It's completely out of control’
WielerFlits spoke at length with both Verschueren and Cabaca's father, Claudio Cabaca. Both men have a different opinion on the story and contradict each other several times. For Verschueren, the incident made an impression, especially as he did not see it coming at all. ‘We never picked up a signal that the cooperation was not going smoothly. We were very happy to have Mae in our squad, she is a real talent. So we invested heavily in her, we saw a bright future together. For this to end like this is a huge shame.’

‘We especially regret that we have not been given a well-founded reason for the departure. In talking to Mae and her father, we did not hear any clear reason. Then it is logical that we did not just agree that she was going to leave the team. But the situation dragged on and a lot of things were said that were really not pretty. It got out of hand and we could no longer work together.’

Reply from Cabaca: ‘Mae got the team’s leftovers‘
From Claudio Cabaca we hear a clear story. ‘Look, it's simple. We just wanted to leave. I had that idea for six months, but I waited until the summer. They did some things to us and I can't deal with that. In the end, we decided to leave and they can't deal with that. They are offended. That's their problem, we just didn't want to race for the team anymore.’

‘So what exactly did they do to us? It all started when Mae wanted to train a little less. People forget that they are children, sometimes they just don't want more. Besides, we also felt the material we were given was not good enough. That was just really bad material. Mae got the leftovers. At the cyclocross World Cup, for example, she had to cycle on tyres that were three years old. That's not acceptable.’

‘The final straw came when she was not allowed to go on the team training camp this summer. Everyone on the team was allowed to go except Mae. I just can't stand it. We want nothing more to do with them,’ said father Cabaca. Verschueren denies what Cabaca says. He thinks it is important to stress that no rider in the team is pushed into training. Verschueren says Cabaca has always been given time to combine her career with her studies.

Cabaca, according to him, has otherwise always received good material. He has also never heard any other rider complain about this. As for the training camp, Verschueren says that not much later Cabaca would go on a training camp with the KNWU. According to the team management, this could not be combined with their own camp. Father Cabaca, in turn, disagrees, saying that the two things have nothing to do with each other.

Uncertain future
That is not the end of the matter. Verschueren is currently still reviewing with his legal counsel whether legal action is still possible. ‘I really find this extremely unfortunate. We are decent and good people. We are not looking for an argument, that is the last thing I want. But what has happened is really unacceptable. We are suffering damage as a team in this story. So we are looking at whether there is anything more we can do. But I don't want to spend any more hours of energy on it either.’

The entourage around Cabaca is already looking to the future. Father Claudio talks about what they are planning now. ‘Mae will continue to race in black in the coming weeks and months. We have already had several offers - for example from Alpecin - but we have not accepted them. Maybe I will set up my own team with my own company. In any case, I don't want to be exploited by other people anymore. There are a lot of bad people in the cycling world. I don't like that.’

‘I want to emphasise myself that we did not just leave Deschacht-Hens-FCP. Nor did we leave the team because we have already signed a contract with another team. We left the team because it just wasn't working anymore. The collaboration wasn't working. If it would have all worked out perfectly, we would have stayed. It didn't and that's why we left.’

Anyone in this sub based in Ireland? I’m over for work and going to hit a couple of races but trying to sort out the right tires for Cork and Ulster (Baby Limus or Chicane). I also have a Grifo option but they are 38c, and I think the local rule even for masters is 33c max.

Cross-posted from r/cycling. Thought I would share some thoughts on my first-ever CX race. I did one entry for novice and one for SS. I did both on my SS MTB running 32x18 gearing and 2.35" tires. I wanted to bike to the race as a warmup and my gravelbike has gears on it, so SS MTB it was for both races.

The SS race was first. I had known I was in trouble for this race when the call-up sheet went out and had CAT1 and semi-pro riders on it. The SS wave was combined with a couple of masters categories and was about a 30-man start. The race started on flat grass into a gentle hill, and I spun out almost instantly. Once we got over the hill, the corners started and I got stuck behind traffic backing up and people crashing. It was carnage! Pretty sure I saw one guy's bike or wheel get run over after he crashed lol. Once some gaps opened up, I passed some masters riders in the corners but most of the SS guys were long gone. There was one other SS rider I kept playing leapfrog with. I would pass him on the outside, get passed on a flat where I spun out, and then pass him on the inside. Was really glad to have someone to race or this one would have been a solo TT. He pulled away in the last lap and I finished 8th of 9. I pulled into the pit, noted in my oxygen-deprived state that my Garmin said "Recovery: 74 hours" and stumbled over to staging where the novice race was lining up.

The novice race was a little smaller than the previous wave, with about 20 riders total. Same deal as before: I spun out on the hole-shot and got stuck behind crashes and traffic in the corners. I passed some riders in the corners but quickly lost track of what position I had. This field really spread out and once I passed some people in the first lap, I saw almost no-one else except for lapping some of the novice women's field that had started a minute later. For being a novice field, I was shocked at how fit these riders were and I could tell from the cornering speeds vs. the straight-ahead speeds that many were very fit roadies who were also pretty new to CX. I saw nobody else around when I finished and thought I may have been DFL, but ended up in 7th place, which I was OK with.

Things that went well...having learned the hard way in MTB races about going out too fast and blowing up, I kept lap times consistent but also left nothing in the tank, which I was really happy with. I was also happy with cornering and lost very little speed to corners or the one sandpit.

Lessons learned...I was way under-geared for the course. Spinning out on the hole-shot and the flat sections was not a good idea and my goal for the next race is to set my gravelbike up SS and find a gear where I can dig in on the hole-shot and make the top 3-5 riders out of the gate without blowing myself up. Relative to the race turnout, I think I had very good handling skills but not very competitive fitness, which is a combo that my bike really worked against. Much of the course was flat grassy straightaways and I would run file-tread tires next time because next to the rest of the field, I do not have any watts to waste on tires. Really loved racing SS despite getting my ass kicked in the SS category and can't wait to do some SS CX again.

I'm halfway through my first season on a MTB, getting tired of passing people on turns and anything technical only to get passed on uphills and straights. Ive decided I want to buy an older bike, solid aluminum frame that I like and upgrade the components as needed and funds allow.

In MTB- a straight steering tube, quick release, etc are obsolete and really hard to upgrade around. What are comparable issues to avoid with CX bikes?

Hi fellow CXers, I need a tire for my canti brake CX machine, that will see: 80% asphalt (50/50 good/some cracks) 15% light hardpacked gravel 5% hardpack + shallow show on mountain passes. So, obviously, file thread + some knobbies on the side are needed. My clincher rims are 14mm id so I am limited to 32-33mm tires, thus CX will fit perfectly. I already did my research, and for my use case there are not a lot of tire models, and each has its disadvantages:

1. Vittoria Terreno Dry 31mm - ok for this conditions but just won't last with this % on pavement.
2. Challange Dune 33mm - reliability issues, thread ungluing from carcass
3. Continental Speed King CX Racesport 32mm - seems ok, but discontinued? Couldn't find on sale at large retailers
4. Donnelly LAS - perfect, but sold out almost everywhere, hard to get your hands on those.
5. Vittoria A. Dugast Pipisquallo - perfect, but how is puncture protection and longivity of those?

Maybe there are something else that I didn't cover in my research? Please suggest and share your experience.

P.S.: currently, I ride Panaracer CGCX 32mm clinchers, and while they are ok puncture and longevity-wise, rolling resistance on asphalt is huge, plus cracks appearing after only 2 months or less than 1k miles of use doesn't inspire any confidence in them for long touring/brevets.

I'm looking at used bikes and have before me the choice of a 2019 Super Jake and a 2021 Canyon Inflite. I've test ridden and like them both, and both are spec'd with SRAM Force 11sp with hydro disc brakes.

The Canyon comes with ICAN carbon wheels and a bottom bracket power meter. It is a bit lighter than the Kona, probably mainly due to the wheels. Drivetrain is 46t x 11-42, so a versatile setup and also comes with a 42t. The cockpit is the single piece stem/bar set up. Very snappy and responsive, took a very steep climb like a champ.

The Kona comes with decent aluminum DT Swiss hoops - can't recall the exact model for rim and hubs, but call them mid-level. It also comes with a left-side power meter, but he said it wasn't working last he tested it but was told it just needed recalibration. So that's a bit of an unknown. Drivetrain is 42t x 11-36, I believe. Got to test ride this on an actual CX course and it was quite a treat. Very fast acceleration and excellent mobility.

I think in the end I'd be happy with the ride and quality of either bike and while the Kona is asking a bit more than than the Canyon, I could probably negotiate either to about the same price. With either bike, I will eventually get tubulars for racing, so the difference in wheel spec isn't a huge factor, but I do like the carbon option on the Canyon.

My concern with the Canyon is the proprietary features, including the cockpit. Both bikes are slight stretch on the reach for me. For the Kona, this is an easy fix - raise the stem one spacer and get a slightly shorter stem. I'm not so sure the Canyon will be so simple. Just chatting with others I've heard mention they can be a bit of a pain with other proprietary features, but I'm not sure what those would be. I like to do my own wrench work, so don't want anything "too" weird I suppose.

Any thoughts or insights are appreciated. Thanks!

*Edit: Grammar

I’ve been running Pathfinder Pros at cyclocross practice all fall and haven’t had good grip. It’s been dry and dusty for the most part with no mud.

My buddy picked up a set of Terreno Drys from the resupply bin at REI for me, which have some bigger corner knobs so I thought I’d give them a try. Turns out he got me the non-TR version and that’s why they won’t seat. I can’t return them because they are final sale.

My only choice is to sell them to some poor sucker who still runs tubes, or use tubes myself. I’d rather not buy new tires right now so I’m leaning tubes. How low can I run (155lb rider on a steel frame, 35mm tires) on butyl? TPU or latex? This is my first season so I’m not worried a ton about rolling resistance. Will I have a bad time?

I’ve been riding cyclocross on my old Spec Diverge. It’s an aluminum frame road/gravel (before 40mm+ tires became cool). It does pretty well despite being a bit heavy. I’m seeing a lot of different bikes on the course. Many of these are carbon and appear to be road bikes. Now, my carbon road bikes are fairly tough. But, would you think a carbon road frame would handle seasons of cyclocross? I have an older endurance geometry frame I could convert…

Holy s**t, didn’t know, what I was missing out on Special thanks to u/Healthy-Gazelle847 for your great help getting everything right!

###Course
Time for the 'moeder aller crossen' (mother of all cross races) which last season moved to the early season. The Druivencross has seen some epic battles in the vettige modder before, but even with some rain earlier in the week, the weekend has been quite sunny and dry so most of the mud will have dried up again. But lots of up and down all over the climber's course will still make it hard race.

Weather: kort-kort weer: dry, sunny and 16C/60F

###Women's race
The women's race has had 10 different winners over the last 10 editions, with previous winners Van Empel (2023), Alvarado (2021), Worst (2019) Brand (2018) and Cant (2014) all lining up today.

Worst is making her season debut, after taking a bit of post-road season rest and was a solid choice for the top 5 in any race last season. Cant debuted yesterday, just outside the top 10, but coming back from illness for her last ever cross season.

Casasola, Van der Heijden and Verdonschot will be banking on their early season form to keep that chain of new winners each race going, with Casasola probably in with the strongest chance given how well she's done on climbing courses previously.

###Men's race
No such variation in the men's race as Van der Poel won here 4 times. But Iserbyt also managed to win twice but might be a bit tired from yesterday's racing, and Vanthourenthout and Aerts can pride themselves with a win on this course's palmares too.

It's been a real mix up with different riders at the front so far this season, and a very strong line-up today. Van der Haar, Sweeck and Wyseure all managed to win already, and Vandeputte, Kuypers and Adams got really in the TV races. Plus there's the riders who's struggled with illness and mechanicals who are due some luck like Orts, Nys and Mason who might suddenly be up at the front again.

After having previously been riding on a bike that was too big, finally this one feels really good. It has recently been serviced and is ready for my first real cross season in eastern Netherlands. Now I need to pick up my cross training and let’s rock’n roll!

###Course
A new cross on the calendar! Last year, the sandy cross in Heerde made it's international debut, and this year it will make it's TV debut as the only Dutch race in the Exact cross series.
It's a very flat course, with some sandy sections. But a fast course overall, so expect the race to play out a bit like Essen last week with groups of riders sticking together and dropping riders by attrition.
Flemish word of the day, it is still cross of course even if we're on the other side of the border today: kort-kort. Or short - short. While we're well into October, the weather is looking fantastic so lots of riders will be showing up in short sleeves and bibshorts.

Forecast: 18C/64F, sunny and dry

###Women's race
No Van Empel today, but Alvarado is here and loves a little beach holiday so she is probably the favourite today. Verdonschot, Flemish queen of the sand, will also want to show off her skills. She's been close to sticking to the front till the very end of the races so far, perhaps today's course will give her the edge?

Inge van der Heijden and Manon Bakker (who won here last year) will also be fighting for a podium spot, but will have to deal with junior Mae Cabaca who's done brilliantly the last few races. And Cant will be making her delayed season debut after missing last week with illness.

###Men's race
Sweeck got the taste of winning last week, and it's a sandy cross so expect him up there again. Iserbyt is starting too - like Dutch women, he's got some issues with counting and his 1 week suspension ends a day earlier than he initially announced. He'll be keen to wipe that 0 wins off of this season's results list.

Vandeputte will also be keen - a podium place in each of his races in Flanders this year, but he's only managed to win abroad in France so far, so perhaps some more foreign soil today will help. Orts has also been looking strong and is aiming to peak next weekend for his home Euros in Pontevedra.

Hello,

Just a psa that preregistration for the Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross closes at 11:59pm EST tonight.

You should come. It’ll be fun.

We’ve been building the venue out all week long. The course opens for preride at 1pm Friday.

It’s after dark cx season and i want to know if racing with a head light is poor form? Is this accepted as i blind all the other racers and fly by on my way to kom on course or do yall not like all the Ls you been taking

Lars van der Haar