Only one crash? 9 out of 10. The approach of making as much time as possible on the straights and hanging on in the technical bits is about how I ride the CX course in the park where I live. My son takes a hardtail MTB and goes flying through the woods, but then I catch him on the grass when it gets to a circuit of three football pitches.
His love for the soil knew no bounds, For in the mud, true freedom he found. No judgment, no cares, just pure bliss, As he danced and twirled in the mud's sweet abyss.
Your story was basically what every roadie feels when they try cross, and you actually had to put it on UA-cam for everyone to see. Great job! It's such a tough hour of activity, if you really want to get crazy, and if your race organizers have things spaced out right, you can get 2-3 races a day! it's basically all of your interval training done in one day, the rest of the week is cake! Great video.
@@gcnI’d leave bottles cages off they can get in the way of a quick shouldering of the bike also if bottle bounces off could cause some else to crash. Seen it happen many times
Last year I started cyclocross in Belgium through Cycling Vlaanderen, and I loved it, not only because of the challenge of the technical courses but also because of the good energy of a specific audience. The Belgians take Cx very seriously, but at the same time there's also a lot of laughter. The spirit is magnificent. I'm actually fitting new tyres and looking at the competition calendar.
@@gcn It would be fantastic you come to Belgium for a weekend one day and enjoy the adventure that is the cx. and of course afterwards some lovely chips and real beers. I will try out this weekend the competition in Herenthou, I have to say im a bit nervous 😅
@@gcnI can only confirm! The atmosphere during a Belgian CX event is nuts! One of the next challenges should be the famous "Kuil" in Zonhoven. It's one of the most difficult obstacles in cycloscross and the feeling you get when you're going downhill there is just indescribable. It should be on anyone's bucket list who is dabbling in some cx.
My first cyclocross race too, thought it was a perfect course to start! Hard hours work out and no where near top ten!! I didn’t fall though, probably not fast enough 😂 but that corner was off camber and tricky to go fast round! Great effort Conor! 10:37 on the Mullet flashing past
You'd think he would learn 👀 Not having water is normal for cross though. The extra space in the frame is needed for carrying and the course is so tight there is little moments to find time to drink.
Congrats Conor! Super inspiring to watch you tackle a challenge like that. Thanks for sharing this with all of us, it can't be easy to take risks like this on camera!
@@gcn Well I did look into it! It seems my area's CX community got hit pretty hard by COVID and is only just coming back. I am however definitely inspired to get the fat bike out in the muddy snowy cold winter and keep turning the pedals despite the conditions. Does that count? 😄
Yooo Conor smashed this one!!!! Making us big boys proud😍 Not to mention trying new discipline so publicly in front of massive audience You sir, are inspiring💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
As someone who ventured into cyclocross racing in my mid forties and has continued racing into my mid fifties I loved this video. Fond memories of that first year came flooding back! The addiction is real!
Used to race CX in the 90's, utterly brutal. I remember one particular race where i was full gas and fully on the red, then you had to dismount and run up some wooden stairs, i remember feeling sick at the top and still habing another 45 mins of racing to go! Lol. Fair plays Connor for getting that done like you did!
Well done on completing your 1st race - cx is really addictive, good luck with your league I would love gcn tech to start a series of videos looking at the nuances of setup for cross
Green is good - well done, Conor! Fun to watch the video of your first cyclocross race! Also reminded me of the feeling of my first race of any kind just 2 months ago. Looking forward to your next cyclocross video.
Loved it! If you keep going definitely try a course with planks and steps 😮. Belgium would be a great experience just for the atmosphere! Well done, Conor!
Good job Conor! I think maybe it's because I ride the absolute worst rocks and roots infested forests around here, but that course looked smooooooooth. And that foret where you train at the beginning looks like a fantasy forest - so much space - love it !
Wow, amazing performance for your first cross race Connor. Just think what your finish position would have been if you had barged your way further to the start line, before the flag dropped. Loved this video.👍
Congrats Conner, welcome to the mixed surfaces riding habit , you'll always try to ride the mixed surface routes every ride now over the straight tarmac road boring. Use to be a roadie only until my first cx course, now it's either gravel or cx riding for me even while doing the work commute route my road only bike just gets used for the mag trainer set up now days.
One practical side of CX is the training. For a time crunched cyclist’s point of view, it’s a lot more accessible to train for a 1 hr (or 45 min for lower cats) cx race, than a 50 mile road race. If you are strategic you can have fun on a few hours a week training.
The key for the mud is tires and tire pressure. When it’s dialed in it’s super fun to ride through the slippery mud when everyone else is sliding around
I too ran out of *ahem* luck on a slippy corner in my race today and hit my shoulder hard. Its pretty sore but I can still lift my recovery beer so it's not too serious.
My very first event of any kind (only a month after even getting a bike) was a cyclocross portion of a massive multidisciplinary relay race. Definitely lucky it wasn’t more muddy and also shocked that I didn’t fall around a pretty hairy down section
Looks like a nice course for beginners. . Should of ridden Ashton Court in the 70s . proper old school. Yep the course changes as the race progresses. You could deff tackle that one on a road bike with re adjusted position and wider tyres.
Come to Torbay we have a @swcx On 4th of November and then race our NT round on the 11th and 12th of November if your interested let me know as I am the organisers. Great ride we were there and watched you
I did my first cyclocross race last year (actually that was my first ever official bike race) and it was so much fun.... But holy crap is it intense. It was a small race.. probably 30 riders. 45 min target time. Can't remember where I finished, and it doesn't matter.. I know I did the same number of laps as the leaders. but at least I know I left it all on the course because I completely emptied my stomach upon crossing the finish line.
The next challenge surely has to be Conor taking on a BMX race. Put that new found bike handling (over)confidence to the test. Plus… Conor on a BMX? Come on!!
Even when you know it's coming, watching that serving of the Double Nut Crunch at 1:00 is cringe worthy. Having said that, it was a great first effort! And as others have noted, it takes guts to go outside of your comfort zone AND post it for all to see. Well done! In response to your question about what to do next, would you consider a cross race with barriers or a run-up section?
Great try Connor keep trying wanta see more . Wanta see you place top ten next time Connor . There's no reason why you can't just gota want it more than anyone else. Practice Practice Practice Keepemcoming mate.
Apart from the too fast start, you did well. With a slower start, you would have easily finished 17th. You obviously enjoyed it and that's all that counts.
Great race. Great fun. If I see it right, you are riding the canyon endurace and not their cyclo cross bike. Any thoughts on that? And just curious, are you a former Irish (?) national champion (in cyclo cross)?
How do you think Conor did in his first CX race?
Only one crash? 9 out of 10. The approach of making as much time as possible on the straights and hanging on in the technical bits is about how I ride the CX course in the park where I live. My son takes a hardtail MTB and goes flying through the woods, but then I catch him on the grass when it gets to a circuit of three football pitches.
👍.. Daddy! Go! Go! Go!.. was the best 😁
What is 6 in 8 ft or whatever…?
Go Metric! 😂
Congrats Conor! When's the next race??
Thanks for inspiring us mere mortals by going out on a limb to try new things and overcoming challenges to reach new levels of possibilities.
It takes bravery to try a new discipline and even more to do it publicly on UA-cam, massive kudos Connor and a great result!
As Si would say, "True dat."
Conor smashed it! Would you like to see him racing more cross? We think he's got some skills to grow 👀
His love for the soil knew no bounds,
For in the mud, true freedom he found.
No judgment, no cares, just pure bliss,
As he danced and twirled in the mud's sweet abyss.
That is a beautiful poem!😍
Your story was basically what every roadie feels when they try cross, and you actually had to put it on UA-cam for everyone to see. Great job! It's such a tough hour of activity, if you really want to get crazy, and if your race organizers have things spaced out right, you can get 2-3 races a day! it's basically all of your interval training done in one day, the rest of the week is cake! Great video.
Wow that sounds like a lot of effort in one day🤯
@@gcnthat down hill curve is called a Off Camber 😁 they are fun 🤩
@@gcnI’d leave bottles cages off they can get in the way of a quick shouldering of the bike also if bottle bounces off could cause some else to crash. Seen it happen many times
Last year I started cyclocross in Belgium through Cycling Vlaanderen, and I loved it, not only because of the challenge of the technical courses but also because of the good energy of a specific audience. The Belgians take Cx very seriously, but at the same time there's also a lot of laughter. The spirit is magnificent. I'm actually fitting new tyres and looking at the competition calendar.
Belgium and cross is a match made in heaven! Great to hear that you are enjoying the racing 🙌 When's the next race?
@@gcn It would be fantastic you come to Belgium for a weekend one day and enjoy the adventure that is the cx. and of course afterwards some lovely chips and real beers. I will try out this weekend the competition in Herenthou, I have to say im a bit nervous 😅
@@gcnI can only confirm! The atmosphere during a Belgian CX event is nuts! One of the next challenges should be the famous "Kuil" in Zonhoven. It's one of the most difficult obstacles in cycloscross and the feeling you get when you're going downhill there is just indescribable. It should be on anyone's bucket list who is dabbling in some cx.
5:37 Did he say his sprints are "CRAP?" He dashed through 5 bike lengths in just a few seconds! Connor's a BEAST!
A humble beast at that 👀
I did see he also went on the wrong side of the start tape
Connor is a natural! Not at cyclo-cross obviously, but the lad is a natural. 😉 Great video and well done to the tall fella on him first cross race. 👍
Double-Decker cornering Connor did very well. Need a follow-up with him and Amy.
Connor is awesome!!! Kudos to the GCN team. This is an awesome video. Beautifully shot and edited.
He's pretty great isn't he! Would you liek to see more racing from Conor? 🏁
@@gcn Yes please!!!
My first cyclocross race too, thought it was a perfect course to start! Hard hours work out and no where near top ten!! I didn’t fall though, probably not fast enough 😂 but that corner was off camber and tricky to go fast round! Great effort Conor! 10:37 on the Mullet flashing past
Well done on your first cross race!🙌 Will you be doing more?
Well done Champion!!!! I've noted that lack of water seems to be a theme in Giant Leprechaun racing.....
You'd think he would learn 👀 Not having water is normal for cross though. The extra space in the frame is needed for carrying and the course is so tight there is little moments to find time to drink.
18th is really good mate. My usual goal is not to come last^^ (tough enough sometimes)
Congrats Conor! Super inspiring to watch you tackle a challenge like that. Thanks for sharing this with all of us, it can't be easy to take risks like this on camera!
He did great! Feel inspired to give CX a go?
@@gcn Well I did look into it! It seems my area's CX community got hit pretty hard by COVID and is only just coming back. I am however definitely inspired to get the fat bike out in the muddy snowy cold winter and keep turning the pedals despite the conditions. Does that count? 😄
18th is a great result for your first cyclocross race, well done!
Yooo Conor smashed this one!!!! Making us big boys proud😍
Not to mention trying new discipline so publicly in front of massive audience
You sir, are inspiring💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
He's always down for a challenge 🙌 What's next? More cross or something new?
I always enjoy anything that Conor presents on GCN! Great finish to boot.
As someone who ventured into cyclocross racing in my mid forties and has continued racing into my mid fifties I loved this video. Fond memories of that first year came flooding back! The addiction is real!
Congrats to Conor! and also big applause for the editing: super close to the fun!
Used to race CX in the 90's, utterly brutal. I remember one particular race where i was full gas and fully on the red, then you had to dismount and run up some wooden stairs, i remember feeling sick at the top and still habing another 45 mins of racing to go! Lol. Fair plays Connor for getting that done like you did!
Hahaha yep CX is brutal, would you do it again?
@@gcn I probably would to be fair!
Well Done Conner!!! Love how your kids were cheering you on!
Cross is a family affair 🙌 Get the kids in the junior races and yourself in the later racing... Sounds like a good day out to us 👀
Well done on completing your 1st race - cx is really addictive, good luck with your league
I would love gcn tech to start a series of videos looking at the nuances of setup for cross
Huzaar! Well done Conner. We love your enthusiasm. Go for it!
Great video! Also wanted to say I'm loving the music selection for these cycolcross videos. It gets me super hyped!
Green is good - well done, Conor! Fun to watch the video of your first cyclocross race! Also reminded me of the feeling of my first race of any kind just 2 months ago. Looking forward to your next cyclocross video.
Awesome to hear you've started racing 🙌 What sort of racing are you doing?
Wow that was enjoyable, great production value and inspiring 👍🏻
I could smell that mud, funny how you never forget it. Brilliant video by the way.
Thanks! CX definitely leaves an impact for life!🙌
Great effort. Connor's ex Pro Tour power will really count when it the courses get heavy later in the season.
5:15 big ups to that guy in front of Conor that brought rim brakes to the race
Great video Conner!!! I love your optimism and determination…….
Keep up the great work mate👍
Conor is a very humble guy.
Loved it! If you keep going definitely try a course with planks and steps 😮. Belgium would be a great experience just for the atmosphere! Well done, Conor!
Shall we send him over to belgium? He might never come back 😬
Good job Conor!
I think maybe it's because I ride the absolute worst rocks and roots infested forests around here, but that course looked smooooooooth.
And that foret where you train at the beginning looks like a fantasy forest - so much space - love it !
It's not the most technical course in the world but a great course to cut your teeth on, we would love to send Conor around a Techy muddy course 😈
Well done! Looking forward to the next ’cross rip!
Wow, amazing performance for your first cross race Connor. Just think what your finish position would have been if you had barged your way further to the start line, before the flag dropped. Loved this video.👍
Conor isn't the barging type 😂 The gentle giant is all skills based!
Cross Is Boss 😎
Well done Conor excellent video and top effort!
Great challenge, I've just started my first ever cross season, I'd like to see Connor take on a more technical course with off camber, barriers, etc
Welcome to Cyclocross! Good luck this season!🙌
Congrats Conner, welcome to the mixed surfaces riding habit , you'll always try to ride the mixed surface routes every ride now over the straight tarmac road boring. Use to be a roadie only until my first cx course, now it's either gravel or cx riding for me even while doing the work commute route my road only bike just gets used for the mag trainer set up now days.
It's a slippery slope (literally) - Conor is cross convert though for sure 🙌
One practical side of CX is the training. For a time crunched cyclist’s point of view, it’s a lot more accessible to train for a 1 hr (or 45 min for lower cats) cx race, than a 50 mile road race. If you are strategic you can have fun on a few hours a week training.
Way to go Connor congrats on finishing your first cyclocross race.
Good go at it,Conor. Hope to see you try another race again!
Keep up the great workk!!!
Great video Conor.Congrats on you doing the race,and,getting 18th isnt bad for your first attempt at a Cyclocross race.👍
18th is pretty good going 🙌 With this new found skill we'll think up some more evil ideas 👀
This was my favorite thing Conner’s done ✅ ❤🎉
I would have laughed had Conor been instantly DQd for the course deviation at 5:39!
18th!! Huge props Conor! Your OG goal was ambitious, yes... but I honestly thought you'd place much lower than that- mad respect!
Do a race in Belgium! Love this series.
How do you think Conor would do in Belgium?
Hey Big Conns. 18th in your 1st CX race, with an off too, I think is great. Well done buddy. Top 10 next time, my money is on ya! 🤜🤛
Cant not like Conner... Such a legend!
Congrats Mate! Awesome ride! 😎👍💯 On to the next race!
The key for the mud is tires and tire pressure. When it’s dialed in it’s super fun to ride through the slippery mud when everyone else is sliding around
Nice one👍 Come and do the Boxing Day ‘cross at Kenilworth this year!
Well done Conor. I love all cycling but cyclocross is my favourite.
That looked like a hoot. Well done, Conor 👍
3:33 aaaaah the dissing biceps
Top 20, nicely done sir
Great Conor! Well done!
Now that he's done CX, time to swap the letters around and try some XC
I too ran out of *ahem* luck on a slippy corner in my race today and hit my shoulder hard. Its pretty sore but I can still lift my recovery beer so it's not too serious.
Great video, really enjoyed, what would be a great to see, is Conners story in CX, not just a one off
Nice job Conner! /cheer
Congratultions Conor! This is better than seeing you using your bike as a walker! Yeah hope to see more of this for your next challenge a podium💥👍✌️
Should that be the challenge? Can we get Conor on the podium 🥇
@@gcn Conor still has it from last to 18th!!! MENTAL💥💯👍
Try using Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires with studs in the center for the ultimate grip on grass and mud.
My very first event of any kind (only a month after even getting a bike) was a cyclocross portion of a massive multidisciplinary relay race. Definitely lucky it wasn’t more muddy and also shocked that I didn’t fall around a pretty hairy down section
Well done on your first event! How have you done since?🙌
Well done mate!
Conor now spend the winter training with Miss Amy ….. I thought you did BRILLIANTLY!!
Great effort Conor.
Looks like a nice course for beginners. . Should of ridden Ashton Court in the 70s . proper old school. Yep the course changes as the race progresses. You could deff tackle that one on a road bike with re adjusted position and wider tyres.
top20 is brilliant result in the first race! top15 are all the same guys who are peaking for the season!!!
Conor is my HERO ❤️💪🏼
Come to Torbay we have a @swcx On 4th of November and then race our NT round on the 11th and 12th of November if your interested let me know as I am the organisers. Great ride we were there and watched you
Brilliant effort
It's been only a year, but I am on the 3rd platform watching cyclocross races live. It's such a shame...
Great video, maybe they do cyclo-cross in Thailand, I sure hope so.
Congrats Conor. 18th is amazing
Just did my first cx race. My goal: don't get lapped.
Nailed it.
Great ride! The World Tour watts are still there. What about doing the next one in Belgium with all the crazy atmosphere?
Watts are definitely still there! How do you think he would get on in Belgium?🇧🇪
Well done Connor you did well
Awesome race, that looked like fun! 🙂
Connor, good form. What experience from your road racing days did you apply to the gravel race if any? Look forward to your next adventure.
Well done, Conor!
when is your next race? Can't wait to see.
I did my first cyclocross race last year (actually that was my first ever official bike race) and it was so much fun.... But holy crap is it intense. It was a small race.. probably 30 riders. 45 min target time.
Can't remember where I finished, and it doesn't matter.. I know I did the same number of laps as the leaders. but at least I know I left it all on the course because I completely emptied my stomach upon crossing the finish line.
Of course, the big question is how a 6ft 7in Ex-Pro would do.
Kudos Conor!
Awesome sauce Conor!
The next challenge surely has to be Conor taking on a BMX race. Put that new found bike handling (over)confidence to the test. Plus… Conor on a BMX? Come on!!
Amy did say Conor needed to learn how to crash. I guess he didn’t realise when he should learn that skill
Looks a fun course, not too technical!
Good Job Conor!
Great effort. Can we have a video when you get real mud and have to get off and run. You'll fly with those giraffe legs.
Even when you know it's coming, watching that serving of the Double Nut Crunch at 1:00 is cringe worthy.
Having said that, it was a great first effort! And as others have noted, it takes guts to go outside of your comfort zone AND post it for all to see. Well done!
In response to your question about what to do next, would you consider a cross race with barriers or a run-up section?
nice to see I made an appearance at 10min 34s
Thanks Conor and crew...good on ya ! SAND , bud ...it will change your life . Killer ..
Great try Connor keep trying wanta see more . Wanta see you place top ten next time Connor . There's no reason why you can't just gota want it more than anyone else. Practice Practice Practice Keepemcoming mate.
Apart from the too fast start, you did well. With a slower start, you would have easily finished 17th. You obviously enjoyed it and that's all that counts.
You did great Conor 😊😊 well done how many were in the race ? Pete
Great race. Great fun. If I see it right, you are riding the canyon endurace and not their cyclo cross bike. Any thoughts on that? And just curious, are you a former Irish (?) national champion (in cyclo cross)?
Conor is a former Irish road race champion 🙂
Who makes those black and blue pants Connor is wearing at the end?
Love CX, so accessible as a form of bike racing.
Patagonia maybe ?
@@laviniag8269 could be thanks, they have ones like that. I didn’t find the blue but they have that style.
No hiding in cross. That's what makes it great.
Fair play.
But organisers, a cross course should at least have a couple of barriers!
To answer Conors question what next, another CX race.
He's certainly enjoying it! Where do you think he should race next?