Off Course at Leicestershire Cyclocross Round 3 2025

Intense race battles, crashes and a big comeback in Leicestershire Cyclocross Round 3 More Cyclocross Racing https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLfHRkPMFeDYDSrdMDvDDWSPCDezSRAWn

In this video I race Round 3 of the Leicestershire Cyclocross League 2025, starting all the way back on the 7th row in 33rd place. I make a strong start and move up to 18th on the first lap before pushing my speed too far and getting tangled in the course tape. After losing places and fading from taking my gel too late, I fight back mid-race and deliver a strong final lap to finish 18th out of 67 riders.

This video includes close racing battles, real cyclocross race conditions, and a classic grass-field CX course. If you’re into cyclocross racing, gravel racing, UK cycling events, or want to see real race-day strategy, pacing and technique, this video is for you.

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🕓 CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:44 Leicestershire Cyclocross Race Round 3
14:45 Race Review

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[Music] [Applause] 233. I would go Yeah. 2022 something like that. Start with that and go from there. Start with it. Are you going to get a practice lap? Do you know? Yeah. Cuz I’m going out with that 12:00 one. Oh, okay. No race in the Eastern League today. So, traveled up to Leicester this year for a cross and I’ve been joined by half the Eastern League boys. So, yeah, good number up here. Probably about 20 of us traveled up I reckon across the different races courses sort of flat grass course unfortunately in a cow field and it looked like the cows were in here yesterday and there’s cats everywhere man you just got to avoid where you walk absolutely stinks in places. I’m glad I bought a pressure washer to clean the tires off the bike before I put it back in the car. So this is just really a training race. We’ll be all gritted at the back cuz we’re not in this league. But we’ll have a smash out and see how we can do slidy slidy old course. Muddy pickup’s quite bad after just a couple of laps and I’m going to drop the pressures. I’m on 2022 at the moment. I’m going to drop that to 18 and uh 19 which I’m quickly going to go and do now cuz otherwise I got to get gritted. Can you run and go and get the pressure thing please? So, like I said, haven’t raced in the Leicester Shear League before, and therefore my gridding was way down from normal. Not on my usual second row as I’d be in the East, but I was on the seventh row called up 33rd. Now, there are 67 riders in this 50s race, so there’s an awful lot, but 33 of them are in front of me right now, and I need to work hard on this start to get by. Now, this guy calls right, and he makes a path, and I’m like, “Right, I’m at his wheel. He’s getting us through here. And you can see I’m literally trying to follow him through. And I think, right, let’s get round the outside. Yes, I’m offline. It’s more bumpy. You can see me hitting some watts there. 650. And I’m just having to push pretty hard and it’s very, very twisty this section. It’s wide, but there’s a definite line as you can see. And I’m just having to push my way through and work pretty hard. But I did have quite a good start. Now I will let you know I did mess up. I wasn’t quite ready for the start. Didn’t quite have me tires set properly after me practice lap. All of a sudden griding was happening. Quickly adjusted me tires. Whacked me gel in literally on the line. And I usually like to get that in 15 minutes before. So it’s working for the race. So I’ve got not that much energy at the moment. But I can’t worry about that. I’ve got to push hard. You can see me. I’m trying to keep the camera clean for this race because I know the mud’s flying up off riders. I’m trying to clean front and rear cameras for you to give you the best footage possible, but I’m pushing through and I am making up places and I’m actually feeling like, you know what, I’m doing pretty well here. Every opportunity I’m just seizing, accelerating as soon as I can. Here I sit in a bit and I think no, you cannot sit in Simon. You’ve got to keep pushing. I have to make progress. You can see riders are coming the other way. I am still a long way back. And I think right, you’ve just got to keep sending it in on these corners. And yes, there’s not really any room and I am being a little bit pushy here, but no shoulder contact. I was keeping it very clean. And I’m just thinking, look, I’m out of position. I’ve got faster legs than a lot of these. There’s a West Saf rider. Got past him. He’s ridden in the lead before here. So he was gritted further forward and you can see another West Suffuk rider. I’m coming up to just here. I squeeze by this rider, but I just pause. Can’t quite make it through there. But then straight away I’m through. Picking it up again. And I’m like, I’ve just got to keep pushing. But it is quite slippy still on this mud. On the mud, very slippery. So you are much better to be a little bit offline. It was definitely more helpful. 100%. So, my aim on the first lap is just right overtake as many people as you can, Simon. Push hard. I know I’ve had a good start because I’m the furthest up of any of the eastern lads and I’m not the quickest one there, that’s for sure. So, I’m thinking, good start, Simon. Just keep pushing. And I come up to this rotor rider here. And this is where the battle begins because man, do we battle. And you can see I’ve got a rider here on the inside as well. He doesn’t want to yield. The rotor rider doesn’t want to yield. They’re both pushing hard. I put in a bit of an extra surge. See if I could get by. And I just get by here, but I’m already blocked by these other riders. I know I can’t get around them. I make it past another rider, but I know the other guys are right behind me. 18th, dude. But you’re not far off that top 10. Keep pushing through. Keep working your way through. Ben giving me some great feedback. I’ve pushed hard, but I’ve pushed a bit too hard now and took myself out in the barrier tape. I’ve had to get off, untwangle my B bike. You can hear a local rider there going, “God, Simon, I’ve lost three places. I’m not best happy.” I’m like, “What was I doing there? This is ridiculous. I shouldn’t be riding like that. I should be able to hold my line by now.” And you can see the rotor riders in front of me again. The other guys get back to them wheels. Ben telling me to get back there. I’ve got all that work I’ve just done. I’ve got to do it again. And I’m thinking, get on with it, Simon. You can see me pushing straight past this rider. And I’m thinking, I’ll have you both down here. But this line that I’m on, I’m off the main line. And it’s proper bumpy. And I’m really having to push the power out way more than I can. And I have to drop in behind the rotor rider. Nice work, dude. Hop on them wheels. Ben, great encouragement. Really appreciate him coming to do some filming for me. There’s Andy past and I think let me get on Andy’s wheel and he can pull me all the way up there. Ben telling me to hold on to Andy. I’m pushing hard. He’s passed the rotor rider. So, he’s done really well. Got by, but I haven’t quite made it. I’ve been shut off by the rotor rider. And this was a battle rival. He did not want to let me buy at all. He was not happy with me overtaken. I’m telling you. Now, I’ve got a theory on this. I’ve tucked by now, made it by, and I’m on Andy’s wheel. But my theory with the rotor rider is literally day before the race, I ripped my rotor crank set and chase hair off my cross bike because I’m fed up with it. It never spins freely. I can’t adjust it fully. And I dropped the chain twice in the previous cross race. So, I was like, I’ve had enough of that. It’s been on there 2 years. Bend it off. Put on a GRX chain set. Lovely job. Spinning really nice. And I think that was the rotor guards putting that rotor rider there to hold Simon’s race up for a bit. Hey, who knows? But I’ve managed to battle by and I have finally shook off the rotor rider and I’m on to Andy’s wheel and I’m thinking right, how long can I hold Andy’s wheel cuz I know he’s got way more power than me. 20th and 21st. But top work. Keep pushing on. Andy is on in. He hasn’t got full muds on. He’s only got in. And he is struggling around the corners. You can see you do. Nice work. Can’t push. He’s got no grip. You can see there. I can take a tighter line. And I think right, I’ll get through on a little push. And he’s like, “No, Simon, what are you doing? Get back behind me where you belong. I’m in front. I’ll set the pace and the power.” And he clears off and leaves me. You can see there’s a gap. He’s up. He’s past another rider. I’m not pushing hard enough. Get going, Simon. I am literally having a little lag at this stage. Now, this is purely because I took my gel on the line. I take it 15 minutes before always before my races so it kicks in for the race and that’s when I perform the best. That’s how I find my best performance having that nutrition ready to go in the race. So now I’m waiting for the gel to kick in and I’m moaning as a power course and it is but I’m moaning that’s a power course cuz my legs are at the moment and I’ve run out of bit of energy. So, I’m just hoping keep pushing. Hopefully, it’ll kick in at a bit. Now, this dude comes by me, Gary. He’s uh I don’t know if he’s a local rider or not. I don’t think so cuz he must have been gr well back, but he’s actually wearing trainers and he’s on flat pedals and he’s just cruised past Simon like I’m standing still along with this other rider and I’m thinking, “Come on, Simon. Don’t let these two drop you. Get on them.” Now, this guy, poor chap, he bins her right in front of me. fate of the camera. I think whenever I have the camera on, someone’s been in it in front of me. Always makes good for the video, but he was fine. Check with him. He’s all good. And Gary’s got away a little bit cuz I have been held up a bit there. But I’m chasing back onto Gary and I think come on, get this sorted, Simon. You can’t have a dude in flat pedals getting by. This rider I’m having a right battle with. Can’t see his numbers. I can’t give you his name. But we were having a little overtake now and then as you’ll see. And that was the good thing with this race all the way round. I was racing constantly constantly racing and I was really really enjoying it. It’s so nice to be able to keep racing all the time. Some races I’ve been on my own, but now I seem to be being a bit more competitive and I’ve just seem to become good. I am in the heat of the race. I’m not getting detached. There’s plenty of people to race it up against. And I’ve literally got the carrot here of Gary in front of me. I don’t know what I’m doing there. Right old wobble. Poor line. I’m going to put that down to just not having the correct grip. That’s what I’m putting that down to. But definitely horrendous. That was no good at all. I can’t be doing that sort of thing. I’d got past Gary. He’s having none of it. He’s like, “Wait, you move over, Stowboy. I’m coming back. bike and you can literally see he is giving it everything. Really, really good rider and he’s taking he’s going offline. You can see there for the grip. So, he knows where to get the grip, but the course is now drying out and the mat’s actually becoming quite tacky and there’s actually a good bit of grip on the line now. And I’ve noticed this and I’m like, I can actually pick up and take a tighter line. And I’m like, he’s quite wide here. let me launch it, which I do. And he’s like, “Oh, good overtake.” And I did give him enough room. So, he was happy with that. But I was like, “Right, I’m past. Keep chasing and I need to push on.” So, Ben’s telling me I’m 23rd. I think he was a little bit out on his counting here because I have overtake that many working together. You two are chasing back, but it’s difficult to tell with the vet 60s racing as well in our race and we’re lapping people and people are coming through. So, it does all get a bit of a jumble. Gary’s back past me again. We are working well together because we’re racing each other quite hard. We are actually pushing on and we’re getting by people. Gary’s leg out there just to stabilize himself. But I’m able to keep going and I’m still right on his wheel and he’s gone a little bit wide there. But we come on to the main for the bell. One lap, Ben Shelton, and there’s one to go. And I’m not letting Gary get away from me. Rider in front. Give him a shout. Let him know I’m coming on the right. He moves over, makes a little bit of room for him, which is good of him. I’m offline, but I know I can get pushing. Work my technicals. Ben giving me encouragement. And I was thinking, ah, can I keep going? But actually, he’s giving me a big push there. And look, I’m right on Gary. He runs a little bit wide. Didn’t quite seem to have the grip. Maybe he was on in, I don’t know. But I definitely had good grip, good pressures. I’ve dropped him a little bit before the race as you saw. I’ve done a tight turn here to lap this rider. And I’m straight on the back of this other rider and closing up. And now we’re fighting for another position. And I’m like, we’re in traffic. We’re overtaken people. I’m usually quite good at that. I am prepared to put my bike into places where it doesn’t belong and just squeeze through. I do make good progress as you saw at the start. I’m not afraid to get stuck in, but I do always keep it fair. As you see, I didn’t just launch it in there. I’ve paused a little bit, let that rider get round, and then I can get straight through. And I’m right on this guy’s wheel. And as we come around here, he’s got held up a bit behind this bat marker. And I think, right, here’s my chance. I’ll launch up the inside of both of them, which I do. I take full advantage. He’s little bit held up there. Gary’s definitely held up. And I can sense that behind. And I think I’ve bought myself a little bit of breathing space hopefully. I used this other bat marker cuz I knew he was going to hold him up through this next twisty section. And I’m thinking I’ve bought myself a little bit of space here. I’ve got a bit of breathing room. I’ve only got to go down this off-road section, loop round, and then I’m back on the finishing straight. And I can see mate Andy just ahead. You can hear someone shouting for him. I can hear that. I’ve given him a shout to say go on Andy. And we are literally motoring here and getting to the end. I can see Andy further ahead. I’ve got to get past this bat marker. I know I’m not going to get Andy, but I just want to be as close to him as I can at the end. And I don’t want to get caught by from behind on the line. So, I am pushing it still. Coming right up until I’m sure I’m safe. I’m literally pedaling. And you can see I’ve got a bit of a gap on the couple of riders behind me. The guy directly behind, he’s a bat marker. Cross the line behind him. Well done, mate. I’m happy for my last show. I didn’t do that. I just had to rely on you. You remember coming on the concrete, skidding as you’re turning, right? Yeah, I saw you do it. Oh, man. I was all right. Yeah, I didn’t put the power. I got on. Yeah. Straightened up. Put the power down. Yeah, that’s what I done after the time I slipped. Race done. And I enjoyed that. If you did too, hit that like button, hit that subscribe, hit the notification bell. You know what to do. It’s free. doesn’t cost you a penny and it does help the channel out. Appreciate it if you could. But yeah, good course, very twisty, probably a traditional crosscourse. There was quite a bit of uphill. It was quite tiring at times and I’m at the end of a hard train and block um coming into rest week, but I’m quite happy with that. I didn’t get the gel intake right. I took it right at the start. Suddenly it was ready time to grid. I hadn’t took a gel. So I did have a little lag. I had quite a good start and did push through quite well. had a little twangle with the tape as you saw which pushed me down. Lost Fred spaces there but never mind. And then I did sort of sag a bit 10 minutes in to 20 minutes in and then midway through I picked up again and felt good. I think the gel had kicked in. I definitely felt better. It was time to go again. Not sure about the horse poo on the course. I did have to give the bike a very good wash off and the course was quite slippery. Few people came off. Paul Roger, he had a little slide out, little twangle with the bars there, but um he’s all right. He was able to get to the pits. Few people struggling with tires. It was slippy. I was on full limes. I didn’t find it too bad and I was able to ride the course quite well. Towards the end, I was riding with a guy and as you’ll see, he was in flats and he was proper strong. I did get him at the end. Proper strong. Kudos, dude. You did really well. Not sure where I finished. Probably like low 20s, I think. But I’ll put the results up here when they’re up. But yeah, enjoyed that, Lester Lee. Thank you very much, guys. I’ll probably come back in January cuz I think there’s another race Corby when we don’t have one on in the east cuz we’ve only got one in January at Milton. But you know anyway hopefully I’m doing well rest week now then a bit of a taper going into regionals which is in two weeks time but this week I got ruler live coming up. I will have already posted the videos of that before I post this one. So you’ve probably seen them already. Hope you enjoyed those. If you did if you haven’t seen them check them out if you did. Make sure you give those a like for us. share them out. That all helps the channel. And I’ll uh see you in a couple of weeks for the next uh race video. I’ll try and put something else up in between. I’m sure there’s plenty more to come.