The Hunt Cycling is a full service bike-shop, independent journal and collective consisting of three cycling enthusiasts based in Halle Saale. We try to explore, document and share our experiences in the field of cycling and beyond. Besides drinking shandy, lots of riding and intellectual discusses about bike parts and stuff, we enjoy riding with friends and running our showroom and bike-shop located in the center of Halle.
The Hunt Cycling is an independent journal and collective consisting of three nature grounded cycling enthusiasts. We are hunters. We try to explore, document and share our experiences in the field of cycling and beyond. Besides drinking beer, lots of rides through central Germany and intellectual discusses about bike nerd stuff, we’re riding with friends and running our showroom located in the center of Halle. As if that wasn’t enough we’re trying to create and manufacture a handful of beautiful and sustainable products in very small quantities. We are literally interested in being outdoors, riding bikes and thinking about new projects. And yes – we’re a full service bike shop. Don’t hesitate to visit us locally or virtually. Everybody is welcome.
Last year I discovered a new interest for cyclocross racing, unfortunately a little too late, as autumn had already arrived. The temperatures were still mild enough and perfect for training on the streets. After a few first attempts I had smelled blood and as the year had been quite successful so far, I was eager to take part in another official race. On November 17th, 2013 the time had finally come. Beforehand I invited some friends to join and took a little technical training as I didn’t want to make a fool of myself with all the obstacles in the race. As we arrived in Dornburg around noon, the atmosphere was breathtaking. It was a foggy day, the temperature lay around 5°C and a light drizzly rain had soaked the 2,5km long race track over night. Perfect for cyclocross! First rushes of excitement came over me, as we arrived at the actual racing area full of other racers, who were already warming up on the streets. From that moment I just wanted to get on my bike and start to race – just register and go! Unfortunately there was not enough time for a close inspection of the track, so I decided to check on my material instead, which turned out to be a big mistake in the end. At 02:15 pm me and 23 other racers of the hobby class were about to start.
As I was one of the new racers I had to start from one of the lower places. Shortly after the start I could make up some places, which had a detrimental effect on my endurance, because right after the start followed a 500m long straight, going uphill and full of ditches and other chicanes. As a result I had to let racer after racer drive by during the following rounds, while I was trying to figure out what went wrong. My lung was burning, my thighs turned numb and the bit of saliva left in my mouth tasted like blood – a taste I didn’t have had the rest of the year. But why happened that now? At this point I want to remind you to always check out the track before a race. In my last technical training the day before, I had caught a flat tyre after I had hit a stem on the track. There was not enough air in my tire. I wanted to avoid that at the race so I raised the pressure from 0,5 to 2,7 bar. Unfortunately there was not even one root on the track during the actual race. Another reason was the wrong material. My Continental CycloX-King tyres are not made for such a muddy track. I slipped away constantly and would not even dare to drive through bends quickly or try efficient accelerations after the ditches.
In the end I had to be pleased with the 15th place, a position in the lower middle field. You can think about that whatever you want. I had always been in one of the top ranks at the brevets. I had won a track cycling event in Leipzig and now I had not even made it under the top ten. But in the end it takes more than just being in a good shape. You have to have a good technique, be ready for any change in rhythm and most importantly the material has to be precisely and perfectly coordinated. There is not one minute to catch your breath – it is 30 minutes full speed! The Bioracer Cross Challenge was definitely not my last cyclocross race, for now I know what I can do better next time.
Marcus Schönefeld
The Alfred-Rosch-Kampfbahn in Leipzig is not only a velodrome with a colorful history. It is also the only cycling track close to the city of Halle Saale periodically occupied by ambitious hobby cyclists. With a width of 7 meters, a banking of 38°, a total length of 400 meters and the partly roofed construction its the longest cycling track of its kind in Germany. Since 1949 the velodrome not only was the scene of most cycling events in the GDR, objective of the international “Course de la Paix” from 1989, 29 GDR-Championships and the Cycling World Championships from 1960. The velodrome also served as a venue for the motor-paced race championships from 2009 and 2011. Over the past years several small races took place supported and organized by local clubs. The last race in 2013 took place October 13.th named „Nickx Besonderes“. Obvisously a reference to „The Cannibal“. Compared with other races its more of a small and straightforward event. However, there are a lot of cyclists to compete against each other in track sprints and eliminations races. One more reason to capture this event on camera.