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Cyclocross season is fast approaching and it’s time to start the countdown to preparing for the upcoming season. The old saying goes  “For every hour spent in organizing, an hour is earned” is very true when it comes to preparing for a hectic race schedule, and that is before fitting in your everyday work or school routine and deadlines or holidays.  There are three key things that you can do to prepare now that will make life easier and more enjoyable during the cyclocross season.

Prepare Your Bike

The first is to prepare your bike and equipment in the off-season. It’s easy to drive off and forget necessary equipment, upgrades, or tools, if you try to keep track of them all in your head.  Cyclocross season will go smoother, if you create a checklist of possible events coming up and the type of bikes, equipment, or upgrades you need to get done now. Off-season is also a great time to do routine maintenance or get modifications done.  If you are new to cyclocross you can sometimes get away with using a mountain bike for low level events until you decide to buy a cyclo-cross bike. Make sure to talk with someone holding the event or your local club about what the rules are and how to modify a mountain bike to fit with regulations. Once you have your bike, helmet, and equipment up, create a dedicated place to keep everything so that you know where it all is located. This careful attention will increase the longevity and safety of the biggest investments you will make in cyclocross.

Prepare Your Schedule

Cyclocross is a competitive sport which requires many hands to be successful. One of the seemingly mundane but highly important tasks to prepare for cyclocross season is to mark your calendar with all upcoming events so that you can register and prepare for races.  If you are going to be volunteering for your local club or helping out at national events, make sure to contact them early on for your volunteer tasks or schedule. If you are going to be traveling for events, make sure it fits in with your work or school schedule, and if possible allow extra time after events to recover. Cyclocross season differs state by state, so check with your local state club or organization to find out the upcoming event schedule.

Prepare Yourself

Cyclocross is a physically demanding sport and it is important to prepare yourself for the upcoming season. The off-season is the time to develop the fundamental skills that every racer, from beginner to advanced, needs to know such as how to quickly dismount and remount your bike. Building up or maintaining your skills in the off season can make a world of difference this year and in years to come. If this is your first time participating in cyclocross, the off-season is a good time to find a training or practice course, get involved with your local club, or practice on your own.

Prepare to get Dirty

It wasn’t on the official list, but one of the pleasures of cyclocross is that you are out in the weather, all types of it. So be prepared to get dirty and enjoy yourself.

Want to experience Cyclocross check this video out

How to Choose the Right Bicycle Lights

For most riders, bicycle lights are one of the most important features on a bike after the wheels and the brake. The right way to choose the right bicycle light is to think about how you use your bike and where you ride. You can choose front and rear safety lights which make you more visible to those around you or a high beam headlight which helps you see where you are going and avoid obstacles in the road or trail. Many bikers, especially those who commute by bike, like to use all three in order to increase their own safety. Even if you know where you intend to place your lights, though, the decision isn’t quite made yet. You also have to think about the type of lighting you want to employ on your bike. This quick guide can help.

Types of Lighting

Halogen: When most people think of bicycle lights, they picture the old fashioned halogen lights that are still one of the bicycle light workhorses today. These are bulb lights like a standard flashlight might use that are inexpensive, can handle bumps and falls, and offer a lot of illumination. Like most standard lights, they can get hot to the touch and eat up battery life. Despite the drawbacks, though, halogen lights remain the most popular bike light on the market.

LED: A light that more people are beginning to picture when they think of bicycle lights and other evening pastimes like running and dog walking is the LED style lamp. LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, are cool to the touch, inexpensive, put out lots of light, and last a long time. Most newly manufactured bicycle lights today use LED based technology. One of the main benefits of LED bicycle lights is that they can increase visibility by blinking or emitting different color lights.

HID: Unless you are an experienced nighttime biker, you probably haven’t heard of HID lights, or High Intensity Discharge lights, which are used in many new car headlights. HID lights produce more light than either Halogen or LED lights, but they are more expensive and less resilient.

Reflective Coating: Although not technically a type of lighting, reflective coating increases rider visibility using the light sources around a biker. Many bikers and runners choose to wear reflective vests or clothing at night or use reflective attachments on their bike. When used together with bicycle lights, it increases your visibility and safety. It is particularly good for visibility if you fall off your bike.

Detachable Lighting: If you plan leave your bike parked out of your sight for any length of time, you might consider a detachable bicycle light or headlamp that you can put in a small case and carry with you. This prevents theft and also the chances that someone near the bike will accidently smash a headlight.

As you begin to look at the right lighting for your bike, you may have one more choice to make – whether to choose rechargeable batteries. While some people prefer rechargeable batteries because they save money and are more environmentally friendly, some lights such as many rear lights don’t use rechargeable batteries, so this is one aspect you’ll want to consider before you make your purchase.

Choosing the right bicycle light is a lifestyle choice because you need to find a light or combination of lights that fits the situation that you bike in or your activities. If you are unsure about your options, talk with someone at a local bike club or bicycle store or read online reviews to help you make your decision.