The XC thread

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Mrs mjb Oct 2011 2:57pm, 16 Oct 2011 247 posts	Mrs mjb OI - if ground conditions are harder then longer spikes will have trouble gripping and you will feel as if your toes are slightly up in the air (Like when walking on concrete in spikes). The balls of your feet will also feel bruised. 9mm cope with most terains. 12mm would do for the worst conditions - unfortunately I have not seen 18mm like we used to use 25 years ago in the shops - maybe its a sign of global warming!!!!!!!!!
RichHL Oct 2011 3:45pm, 16 Oct 2011 2,027 posts	RichHL I love my spikes. I feel all affletick in them.
oi you Oct 2011 4:33pm, 16 Oct 2011 31 posts	oi you Affletick, yeah, that's the stuff. Thanks Mrs mjb & SPR - that's what I figured, I just didn't want to find out the hard way. I wore 9mm at the 1st race of the season last week - seemed OK but if we don't have any rain I might try 6mm at the next race later in the month. re the 18mm - I think I saw a rule on max spike length somewhere, but can't find it now.
runningowl Oct 2011 4:40pm, 16 Oct 2011 98 posts	runningowl Oi, 6mm are track spikes really. I wouldnt go less than 9mm myself. SYCAA have the rule that 15mm is the longest allowed in their league so can see other associations doing likewise. I think the 20secs difference in my 1k reps were a slight improvementof grip on the muddy uphills and in fell shoes i had to go onto the heel for grip(which slows you obviously) but could stay on my natural forefoot style in my Spikes.
SPR Oct 2011 4:46pm, 16 Oct 2011 15,404 posts	SPR If it's bone dry 6mm would be fine but I'd only use them if there was a significant pavement/concrete section in the course. Wish all XC courses had zero pavement/concrete. I have 9mm, 12mm and 15mm. I have 6mm for track and some also came with the XC spikes. Wou;d really only expect to have to use 9mm and 12mm though.
oi you Oct 2011 5:13pm, 16 Oct 2011 32 posts	oi you Hmm, the ground is like iron at the mo - we've had no real rain for ages. I did pick up a fair bit of leaf litter in 9s though, so perhaps 6s might have been useless after a while. 9s it is then, 'till winter arrives anyway. Later on it'll be welly boots for Parliament Hill
RichHL Oct 2011 7:46pm, 16 Oct 2011 2,035 posts	RichHL I have 6mm track spikes and 9mm XC spikes. I'm going to get a set of 12mm ones for later in the winter when it gets all claggy. Does anyone have a pair of XC spikes which are waterproof or is that asking for too much? I don't want to race in trail shoes if I can avoid it.
Mrs mjb Oct 2011 7:17pm, 19 Oct 2011 249 posts	Mrs mjb I used 9mm at Luton in the Chiltern league and there was a small section of gravelly path - the ground was fine for 9mms eMJayBee use worn 7mm at luton and he had no problems either, but, then again a lot of people still wore trainiers and racing flats as it was dry and firm underfoot. I just wanted to wear my spikes because as RichHL says they make you feel 'affletick'
oi you Oct 2011 8:53pm, 19 Oct 2011 33 posts	oi you I've never seen a water-proof XC spike advertised - doesn't mean there isn't one of course. Wouldn't it just keep water in just as well, if it came over the ankle cuff? How about water-proof socks? I might even have a look for some myself. It's got to rain properly sooner or later, so it will get muddier & wetter.
SPR Oct 2011 8:59pm, 19 Oct 2011 15,419 posts	SPR Sealskinz do waterproof socks, don't know if they have a running suitable one though. Waterproof spike could get very heavy, light mesh lets the water out.