Entry is open for the Cannock Chase Retro XC Race - 23 February 2025

[Retrorockit]

Tubeless conversions? Rene Herse Ultralight tires? Ceramic bearings? Carbon steerer tubes? Hollow pin chains?

 

[hoojammyflip]

Less work to just enter with the Elites and ride around with the Retro guys who start 1 minute later.

 

[nobblybits]

Why not 2 categories?

I guess because there was only a handfull of people who entered with retro bikes in previous years so not much demand for 2 categories idk

in that 4th photo, the guy is riding with a 1998 M739 chainset, so they can't be that hot on the homologation

I'm sure I saw something from last year's where it said you need a bike up to 1998, and this year it's seemingly been changed to "pre-1997". I can't find where I read that though so you're just going to have to take my word for it.

I was hoping my 2002(ish) Specialized Hardrock would be ok because that seems pretty vintage to me.

 

[hoojammyflip]

OK, I got a response back, and they sound pretty laid back about the definition:

Hi James, the bike sounds suitably "Retro" to me. As long as the main frame is circa pre 98 then we're happy. We understand that tyre, grips and the like will fail so you have to update.

Thanks Matt

 

[Retrorockit]

.But if you had a class for 1998-2004 bikes may there would be more participants

 

[Russell]

If there was a class from 1850-2025, there would be even more participants.

Jeez, it’s a fun thing, just stick to the organisers loose rules and you know… have fun?

 

[Retrorockit]

I've seen this reverse elitism destroy amateur sports car racing in the US. But it was mostly with obsolescent UK Sports Cars. So it must be in the blood over there. 40 years ago we used to buy "English Racers" here. Now nobody even thinks of UK for bicycles, much less Ebikes.
But we're not immmune to it. Hotrods were once defined as 1957>. The magnificent Muscle Cars were all excluded. Fun for the few I guess.

 

[Russell]

Reverse elitism?

 

[madjh]

There are more of this stuff round Europe, the European Sea Otter Clasic in september 2025 https://www.seaottereurope.com/es/ will be near my work destination (250km far away) and probably it will be my first time in one of this events. They supose to be fun, so rules yes but not for pro.

I will ride or the 93 Pro racing or the 96 Team Issue, it is in the limit. They consider classic 96 or older. The Marin Team Issue is near stock, but the pro racing not. It has modern cable cap ends and chain, and casette and tires and inner tubes and cable housing ... You know ... near stock.

 

[GavinD89]

OK, I got a response back, and they sound pretty laid back about the definition:

Hi James, the bike sounds suitably "Retro" to me. As long as the main frame is circa pre 98 then we're happy. We understand that tyre, grips and the like will fail so you have to update.

Thanks Matt

It's always a fun event and pretty relaxed... Personally, I'd rather see old bikes being ridden than worrying too much about specific parts not being quite the correct era.

The bikes I've raced at Cannock have been approximately period correct builds except for perishable parts like tyres, grips, tubes etc... but I still have my first mtb that I got as a teenager in 1990 which has some late 90's wheels and shifters that I've replaced over the years which I would happily race as it is.

It's looking like a great race with a decent amount of entries already!