Riding the Wiggle CX Century
Riding the Wiggle CX Century
Paul Horta-Hopkins
So, is a ‘cross bike suitable for a 100 mile off-road ride?
After months of training and hours pouring over kit choice, the big day had finally arrived. 150 riders lined up at the start of the first Wiggle CX Century, the majority on ‘proper’ ‘cyclo-cross bikes.
Organisers The Cycle Event Organisation have been running their brand of ‘cross sportives since 2011 and the Wiggle CX Century is the longest of the five event series. The idea was for riders to tackle the 100 mile long South Downs Way – a route that is on the ‘must ride’ list for mountain bikers – on ‘cross bikes. Although long and hilly the SDW doesn’t present too much in the way of a technical challenge and modern Mtbs are so good, that some of the challenge was diminished. So the idea for the CX Century was born. Bringing the SDW back as a proper challenge, rider against the trail, rather than rider and technology against the trail!
After thoroughly enjoying riding some of the CX Sportive series this year and having ridden the SDW seven times on a Mtb, the chance to do something different on my ‘cross bike was too good to miss, so how did it go…Read More
6 Responses
[…] lot of my summer riding has been on-road, the Lake’s did get a hard workout preparing for the CX Century […]
[…] and when I do I will gladly take the Rogue with me, it should be perfect for something like the CX Century that I rode last year. Once I’ve given it a good try out I’ll let you know how I got […]
[…] their CX Century – I rode this event and it was one of my highlights of 2015, you can read it here – including the promise of new events to be added later in the year. ‘Cross sportives […]
[…] the South Downs Way, Winchester to Eastbourne non-stop. I rode this last year (read all about it here) and rate it as a proper challenge, something to brag about around the cafe table. It’s a […]
[…] and lanes, I’ll let you know how they performed, hopefully they will see me through the CX Century, with some feeling still in my hands. Have a look at my preview video below to get a closer look at […]
[…] Looking around the car park I spotted the usual mix of cyclo-cross and mtb’s, but what always surprises me are the tourers! Most of the events I have ridden always have a few tucked away. Most have wider clearances and cantilever brakes, but there’s are always the odd one with side pull brakes and a set of mudgaurds. One day I’ll have to follow them around and see how they do… Read More […]