Jamie Newall's Scott Cross

By Jamie Newall

October 20, 2009

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Jamie Newall (VC Muedon) is one of the south of England's very top cyclo cross riders and is a past South East Champion. After a blistering win at round 5 of the Mosquito London/SE Cyclo Cross League, we talked to him about his riding and his new Scott carbon cross bikes.

Where does your cycling story begin?

Running from Lessons
I played all sports at school – football, rugby, athletics, cross country and basketball – basically anything to get out of lessons and play sport. Football was one of my first loves but I soon realised that although I was running for the whole game, the skill level was a little lacking.

Then the late 80s came and the Mountain Bike boom appeared on my doorstep. I grew up on the North Downs just outside Guildford, and guys riding MTBs looked like an awesome way of spending a day. I loved cross county running and now the opportunity to ride for hours on trails that we had previously only ran was too good an opportunity to pass.

I was reading MTB mags and finding about racing and riding all over the UK and it was filling my time. My paper round became bigger and bigger as I was saving hard for my first real MTB. A Marin Bear Valley oh, I wish I still had it – no I don’t MTBing, has moved on so much!!

I was roping my Dad to take me to the Essex winter series and the original Mountain Bike Series around the UK. I have made some fantastic mates most of which either still race or ride- cycling is so social.

I rode at a level winning the local chippers and getting top places in the 7up series (old National Points MTB Series) – to some bloke called Beckinsale. In 92 I won the my one and only National title the under 16 hill climb Nationals, it’s now scrapped. Shame as Tim Gould – one of my heroes was world Champ in 1990.

MTB Junior Worlds
In 1994 I was lucky enough to go to the MTB Junior Worlds in Vail.

6 weeks of altitude training – meant that me and the junior boys raced all over Colorado before the main race. We had a blast – the race was over 2hour 30 mins for a junior race was quite a long way. That year Mini Mig (Martinez) won and some bloke called Cadel was 2nd. Those guys may have beaten me but they could not out-drink us in the Vail Discos – Aussie's and Brit's drinking even at 18, no contest Cadel!!

Then it was the senior leap and the strange Transition from winning Junior to making the numbers in Elite. There was no Espoir those days. I was racing Road/Cross/MTB and getting my head kicked in every week. I tried, but the gap between Junior and the likes of Barry Clarke (a legend at that time) was so tough. I wished I stuck at it, but the lure of traveling and working became my downfall. I worked for an Airline met my beautiful wife and I jacked in the cycling.

Back on the bike
When man boobs started to appear I knew it was time to call time and get back on the bike.

I came back to Expert Level with Evans Cycles and my buddy Dave Froy, and I was back racing and winning again. I followed that successful Year into Elite where at most I was top 10 Nationally, and where I was pretty happy. I even raced a few World Cups with Jody Crawforth and Steve Farmer on the team.

Racing with the likes of Frischy (Thomas Frischne) MMand the whole World Cup Euro circuit was fun, but I was only ever going to make up numbers.

We rode everything even one year racing Fort Bill on Saturday then screaming down the M1 to race Brentwood Crit the next day.

Racing and riding was great with Justin Hoy, Sam Gardner and of course 'Golden Balls' (Crawforth) It was him that certainly passed on his love of the Cross. Now I am absolutely besotted with it. I love racing Cross in the rain/sun/freezing cold – whatever.

The last couple of years with two young boys filling a great deal of my time Cycle Cross and local Crits seem to be my preferred choice.

Training for shorter races is much easier than grinding out miles. Every time I get on my bike I ride like “I stole it” or it’s a nice recovery ride, I am lucky as I live near a great bunch of guys from my Road Club VC Meudon , so we race and train in the Surrey Lanes or on the MOD land near Camberley – great Mtbing /Cross training.

What are your aims for the 2009/10 season?

This year I hope to win some of the local races in Cross and would love a top 10 in the National Champs at Sutton Park – my kind of course.

My South East Title went last year to Darren – I do want it back – so look out, that Race is my Worlds!

What do you look for in a cross bike?

I have spanked a fortune on my bikes and I know its all about the bike – training its “overrated”.

In terms of Techno geeking I am pretty much a meat and Veg guy – if it works for Sven/Niels/Bart – it works for me. I have never had Carbon Cross bikes so getting two was very special this year. The frames are amazingly light.

Mud Clearance is essential especially when it gets a little damp under foot. Low head stacks are good too as I am not that tall and I do like to kiss that front wheel. Last year I had bikes with Bottle mounts – not essential in racing but pretty handy when re selling on.

I don’t get super attached to bikes as I have had loads. I work in the bike trade so bikes are my passion, show me a 1980s whatever and I am awaiting the next trick.

I always race and train on my cross bikes in the winter – you gotta clean them. If you look after them they look after you. Race for an hour clean your bikes for two! The only difference I use on the road is keeping those Dugasts for racing and not for training.

Are you techno fan, always tinkering etc.?

In terms of tinkering I try and do all my own bits and pieces but my local bike shop always gets me out of trouble. Cycle Kingdom in Fleet the mechanic Jon is a wiz, and always ready to help out.

I always travel to races with far too much stuff. Spare wheels – muds/drys/ etc It can take over 1 hour to unpack the van afterwards.

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Spec
- Frame: Scott Addict 54cm Carbon (not the integrated seat post model)
- Fork: Ritchey Logic Carbon
- Bars: Easton EC90 SLX3 44cm – wide as I don’t let people past easily
- Stem: Easton EA90 120MM 0 deg
- Saddle: Fizik Gobi Kium Limited edition made for me in Tarty colours
- Seatpin: Easton EA70 – ally just in case cut down as I am not a featherweight
- Brakes: TRP with Swisstop Green pads – awesome stopping power
- Wheels: Easton EA70X Tubular various light and strong
- Tubulars: Dugast Rhino or Typhon – depending on the weather expensive but so so worth it. I have handfuls for 2011 maturing in the garage these ones this year are two years old already- so supple and fast.
- Gears: 10 speed 12-27 cassettes Shimano as I have a few and they work with Sram!
- Shifters: Sram Force Carbon I have made the leap I was getting confused at first but now its so slick.
- Rear Mech: Sram Rival in black seems all you need
- Front Mech: Sram Red Braze on – I like to keep in the big ring as if you are in the small one it may be faster to run
- Crankset: Sram Force Carbon 39/46 172.5 in sexy white and black its gotta look fast.
- Chains: 10 speed Wipperman chains – super super strong with a connex link so that you can take off and clean
- Bar Tape: Fizik Dual tape Black and Red – it goes well and is super padded for those rutted courses.

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