Eastern Cross League Round 10, Milton Cross, 25 Jan 2026

It's my first time this year venturing into cyclocross, and something I've been wanting to do for a while. I've really enjoyed the few races on my MTB and felt it's improving my skills, so I thought I'd treat myself to a cyclocross bike. I've ridden it just twice after purchasing it the week before the race and decided to race it at Milton Park. In true Sophie style, just ride the bike and enjoy it...

Wow, how wrong I was! I decided to ride it on the hardest course I've ever ridden! I was way out of my depth, so just needed to get round. Everything was alien, from riding a CX bike with narrow bars, skinny tires, and different gears. I now have a new respect for CX riders and how easy they make it look. At the start of the race, I was gridded 3rd/4th row and had a great start; wow, this bike was so responsive compared to the MTB. Got to the first hurdles, and they were awfully placed on a diagonal on a blind bend. It was then the first of several steep hills that were very slippery. It was here the group split, and I gradually lost my placing, finding it really difficult to adapt to my bike on cambers with exposed wet roots and bogs waiting for you at the bottom. I was really struggling not with fitness, but with my skills. I kept plugging away and was really surprised to come 12th out of 17 overall women and 3rd in masters, my age category.

I've got a lot to learn over the summer but loved another form of cycling. I've especially loved meeting up with my team member Julie, who I've loved riding with and watching her progress, and all the other people I've met who give me lots of encouragement. Thank you to them and Tim @catenarycoaching. Looking forward to MTB season!

Sophie Lee