Should I Enter Scotland's biggest ever CX race?

Should I, could I, enter Round 2 of the National Trophy at Irvine Beach Park on the 27 - 28th October?

Words: Scott Kerr
Photo: Paul Chappels

The answer, of course, is YES.

Online entry is the same as every other round of the SCX series - if you have not been gathering BC points for cyclocross (and that, lets face it, covers most of us) then your entry will show up as Reserve or Pending. You do need to have a current BC Silver/Race license but you can upgrade that easily on the BC website with the cost reduced to half price since it will only run through until the end of this season. Some progressive clubs like Walkers Cycling and Ayr Burners have committed to help fund any riders who go ahead with this just to remove that barrier, I'm sure there are a few more out there who could follow suit.

Then there is the question of am I good enough... again the answer is YES. As anyone who has ever raced cross knows, you very quickly find your pace and then go ahead and race the others around you. If and when the faster riders do catch and lap you then we all know how we should behave - it’s no different at National Trophy level. In the Senior Male and Female and Junior races the Commissaire Teams may ask you to clear the course as the leaders come to lap you, but this is done with discretion and realistically there is no shame in getting lapped by the best riders in the country.

So, with the excuses removed the real question is... Do I want to ride the biggest, best cyclocross course that has ever been built in Scotland alongside the best riders in the country and one or two of your mates from the SCX races or not?

We have already established that the answer should always be YES... You’d better hurry though, as entry closes soon

(Oh, and while I'm banging on, if you can please email info@irvinecx.co.uk to promise your support as a volunteer on whatever day you are not racing.)