Cyclocross, the Bike Race Season Never Ends

This article was originally published in the Friday September 3rd 2010 edition of the Lake Tahoe paper, the Sierra Sun.

Summer is winding down into fall in Tahoe with frost covered mornings, early sunsets and a reduced time to ride. The 2010 road bike and mountain bike race season is also closing its doors for the year. Many racers and riders hang up their helmets in September, relax, indulge themselves and watch their bellies grow as their legs shrink. For some, this transition period into winter is an important act of recovery from a long summer of cycling. But for those who may have gotten a late start to their season or racers with a competitive fire that cant be doused, the end of summer bike riding is an unhappy time.

If you find yourself lamenting the cold weather and lack of serious bike riding, I have a solution to your problem, Cyclocross. Cyclo-what? Say it slowly, Sahy-kloh-kraws. Its an off-road style of bike racing, a mix of riding on pavement, dirt, grass, sand and mud combined with some running, obstacle hurdling and bike shouldering. The courses are usually short, no more than a mile or two and are run for multiple laps for up to an hour. Its designed to be a fast, hard event that can performed in any type of weather, including snow. Cyclocross events are usually ridden on mutated road bikes with knobby tires and cantilever type brakes, however specialized equipment is not needed to be competitive. Many Cyclocross racers simply use a mountain bike.

Does the experience of an hour of bike racing, suffering and possible puking whilst leaping over obstacles into ankle deep mud sound appealing? If so, I have more good news. Thanks to the Reno Wheelmen Bike Club, all of this fun can be experienced locally.

2010 Sagebrush Cyclocross Schedule

September 25th at Squaw Valley Resort
October 9th at Kirkwood Resort
October 23rd at Clayton Middle School in Reno
October 30th at Indian Hills Community College in Carson City
November 20th at Clayton Middle School in Reno (District Championships)
December 11th at Bartley Ranch Park in Reno

If you are nervous about racing, or have been scared away from other competitive bike events in the past, give Cyclocross a chance. The atmosphere and attitude surrounding a Cyclocross race is unlike anything else in bike race culture. Its generally understood that racing in nasty conditions on the precipice of winter is a little ridiculous; hence not too many riders take it seriously. Its not uncommon to see your fellow racers in full Halloween costumes zooming around the course receiving alcoholic beverage handouts. So grab your bike, bring a smile, get ready to race and come participate in the craziness of Cyclocross this fall.