Challenge Tires London and South East CX League - Round 02

Crawley Wheelers welcome you once again to Pippingford Park for round 2 of the Challenge Tires London and South East Cyclo-Cross Season 2023/4.

Last year the event generated a lot of positive feedback, so we’re delighted to be back again with a similar course. There’s some tough stuff and some fun stuff - we hope in equal measure - a mixture of surfaces and terrain, and some technical and power sections.

Riders start on the hard packed dirt track and head straight and level for about 200m before a shallow right turn up the grassy field. There’s a chicane to break up the climb before a right turn takes you along the top of the field and then right again back down the hill to the bottom section of trees on the treeline. After a few twists you’ll head back up the hill, via a few more trees to take your mind off the climb, and then head back along the top of the field and then left down the hill towards the first wooded section. This is where things get interesting! The open woods section has plenty of technical twists and turns through the trees, a short power climb to really get those legs pumping, you’ll head past a wood yard and then out onto the gravel track at the bottom. The transition from grass to gravel could be challenging. We’ve removed the bottom field from the course this season so we can have more up top where the fans are. So, you’ll head straight back up the dirt path towards the pits. There’s a detour into the woods and back before the final section up to the pit area itself. Once past the pits you’re onto the fastest section of the course, a winding descent through some trees and onto the fast downhill gravel track. There’s a run off onto the grass at the bottom so you can safely scrub off some speed before a left turn takes you into the technical wooded section. It’s dark, narrow, bumpy and scary in there, with a series of tight twists and turns through the trees. Then you hit the ramp! A super steep kicker of a hill which will fire you back out onto the track. We’ve made it wider than last year to give you more line choices. Once out you turn right and head up the dirt/gravel track to the top section where the baying fans await! They’ll be hoping you master or fall foul of the legendary Crawley Wheelers hurdles. You pass these and do a loop down onto an off camber bank, then hit a short sharp super steep bank before heading back through the finish line to do it all again or take glory!

After the race hang about for a chat and some refreshments either from the Crawley Wheelers canteen or the magnificent Sussex Coffee Trucks wagon - the best coffee in the business! If you’re good enough, or lucky enough to win something then make sure you head to the podium when the time’s right. Race winners will receive a new Crawley Wheelers cuddly lion and they and other placings will receive prizes from nutrition specialists Styrkr.