Skills, Drills & Bellyaches: A Cyclocross Primer

Written by Bill Schieken and Dan Tille, "Skills, Drills and Bellyaches: A Cyclocross Primer" contains detailed descriptions of the fundamentals of cyclocross as demonstrated by U.S. Cyclocross Champion Jeremy Powers. Photographed by Bruce Buckley, the full-color images highlighted in this book show each skill in an easy-to-follow format, providing new and experienced 'crossers a valuable resource for learning the sport. "'Skills Drills and Bellyaches' is an incredible addition to the cyclocross community," Powers says. "The contents of this book are going to help you improve your cyclocross riding without doing any intervals, without any long rides, and without any rigorous training plans." Powers added that learning the concepts and techniques explained in the book "will be one of many steps in a long journey to becoming a cyclo-boss!" If you have been racing 'cross for several seasons, you may ask yourself why you need a book teaching the fundamental skills of the sport. Schieken and Tille look at it like this: Every time you dismount from your bike you are either gaining or losing time on your competition. For instance, if you are a habitual stutter-stepper on remounts, this can cost you around one second each time you get back on your bike. If you are on a course that requires three remounts per lap and you do six laps in your race, that's 18 seconds wasted. Let's say you have similar issues on the dismount. Same math, 18 seconds lost. You are now 36 seconds behind a competitor who is equally fit, but gets on and off the bike more proficiently. Even if you have years of 'cross racing under your bibshorts, you can always make improvements to your game. What is discussed in this new book helps show you the way. For more info go to www.cyclocrossbook.com