Cyclocross: pure winter idiot-grin fun, even for the rider who
came 84th  Racing a road bike with nobbly tyres through mud and
ice isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it inspires passion among
fans Cyclocross bike blog Peter Walker tries a cyclocross race
at Herne Hill Velodrome in London. Photograph: London Cycle
Sport  The temperature is hovering fractionally below zero, the
iron-hard grass is topped with frozen snow, and I'm about to go
cycling. But what really worries me isn't the conditions, it's
the bike.  Rather than tackling a treacherous off-road course
with the familiar aids of thick tyres, front suspension and
powerful disc brakes, I'm sitting atop a skittish road frame
with drop bars. The tyres might be knobbly but they still look
alarmingly skinny to me. "This is the first time you've tried
cyclocross, in these conditions?" the man next to me in the mass
start asks, looking genuinely concerned. "Good luck. You'll need
it."  Cyclocross is one of those niche sports which inspires
undying passion among