Cyclocross

The antics of cross racing, eager to crowd please. Who wears white sox with plaid?

Over on the St. Louis biking Dawt Cowm a reader posted a comment about the cyclocross season that is soon to be upon us. Dr. Mark, a veteran and baddass of the local cross scene apparently busted his collarbone and now can only think of next season that which will become available to him upon recovery. Sorry Mark, to hear about the clav. It will heal and you will be bunny jumping the friggin barriers in no time. Those that "get" cross can't wait until the crisp air is ready for Sunday rides with Bubba.

Yes, it is August and the smell of Autumn lung will soon be in the air. The smell of lung you gaff? Because lung is what you'll smell when doing the multiple laps in a cyclocross race. It is your own lung that you smell, because you have coughed it up on to your shirt, while participating in the race. Fun stuff when all said and done. Like cowbell? Likely the place for you.

I think this years cross season will be a good one. I know I look forward to inviting the newbies out for a whirl, see the looks on their faces while skipping over the barriers on lap 10. So an overview is in order...

What is Cyclocross?

Winter Fun: Cyclo-Cross (often abbreviated to 'Cross) is generally an autumn and winter sport. Massed starts make for exciting races, usually no more than an hour in length – and shorter for juniors, women and veterans. Some organisers are now starting to run summer series, which are proving very popular.
Lapping it up! - Cyclo-Cross races are usually multi lap events, held on short (typically less than a mile and often less than half a mile), grassy courses, generally in public parks or on school playing fields. Less technically demanding than Mountain Biking, Cyclo-Cross often requires riders to dismount to clear artificial obstacles – often wooden boards. The ability to swap smoothly and quickly from riding to running and back to riding in one fluid motion is a key skill for advanced riders.
Private Battles: The short lap lengths mean that better riders often lap some of the slower competitors, but that’s not the end of the race – you can still submerge yourself in the action, enjoy your own private battles and forget whether you are first or a hundred and first – that’s the beauty of the sport: it’s what you make of it that counts.
Bike Facts: Cyclo-Cross machines look very similar to road bikes, with dropped handlebars and thin tyres - however the latter have a knobbled-tread for grip, powerful brakes, low gears and better frame clearances to prevent clogging with mud, all of which adds up to make them easy to handle on the rough.