Thank you to everyone who came out to our anniversary event.
We are now aiming for even greater growth as we head toward our 9th and 10th anniversaries.
It has been a string of events, but we were able to enjoy the Nobeyama CX tour with everyone as well.
This time, we launched a service called the "Rear Derailleur Emergency Squad." On the first day, I made the huge mistake of being the first one to snap my derailleur (the first time in my racing life! Though thanks to the help of everyone in the pits, I was able to finish the race, even if I was cut off). On the second day, I really wanted to make up for it and finished in 44th place (55%). It’s rare to have the chance to ride with the support of so many people cheering for you, so it was a lot of fun even though the race was tough.
With Nobeyama over, things have settled down a bit, but the CX racing season is in full swing across the country, and the All-Japan Championships are coming up this weekend.
No matter how much you prepare before the season starts, once things get moving, mechanical troubles and urgent needs inevitably arise. Today, I’d like to reintroduce some items that are often quite necessary for cyclocross riders.
First up, a must-see for tubular tire users: CX TAPE.
CX TAPE 2 Tire Roll: 1,000 JPY (excl. tax) 10 Tire Roll: 2,800 JPY (excl. tax)
Developed by Portland CX racer Molly Cameron, CX TAPE is a tape specifically for CX that melts when used in conjunction with rim cement to provide powerful adhesion. Please refer to our previously posted entry for installation instructions. It is available in a 2 Tire Roll for two tires and a 10 Tire Roll for ten.
Aquasure 28g: 1,200 JPY (excl. tax)
Once your tires are perfectly mounted, be sure to protect them with Aquasure. This is an essential item, especially for Dugast users.
And here is something that comes in handy on race day.
Panaracer Dual Head Digital Gauge: 3,248 JPY (excl. tax)
Everyone, do you make sure to do a proper pre-ride on race day? You need to consider the sections you’re good at, the ones you struggle with, and what lines you should choose anticipating every situation during the race. On top of that, checking your tire pressure is extremely important. This tool is convenient for adjusting your air pressure after every lap of your pre-ride to find the optimal pressure for yourself. Please give it a try. The best air pressure will ultimately change completely depending on the course and the rider, but keeping it as data will be useful for various situations in future races.