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Cycle U's Cyclocross Boot Camp

By Darren Dencklau

Craig Undem has been a professional cycling coach since 1996 and has been competing since the ‘80s, equating to a lot of experience. Kristi Berg is an accomplished road, mountain bike, BMX, and cyclocross racer, and a nationally certified personal trainer and Level 2 cycling coach.

Last year, the folks from Seattle’s Cycle University produced an instructional video titled Cyclocross Boot Camp. It contains two DVDs that run about 90 minutes total. In the videos the narrators, Undem and Berg, cover various topics to help current or aspiring cyclocross racers perform at their highest level and to “help you rock your ‘cross” season.

Disc one is a 10-section fundamental skills video that includes topics such as the step through dismount, cowboy dismount, remount, carrying the bike, starts, sand/mud, short steep climbs, off camber’s, cornering, mountain bike variations, and pre-race routines.

It begins with how to glide (riding to one side of the bike, the non-chainring side, of course), and quickly goes into the outline mentioned. Both narrators explain each step in detail and the video goes through both real time and slow motion for each exercise to give viewers a better idea of how to master each tactic. In addition, it provides helpful hints like being in the proper gear while starting and stopping (a lot of commuters could take heed to this advice too) and how to adjust speed when approaching corners and obstacles — all relevant information.

Berg does a good job of explaining the disadvantages of using a mountain bike while also encouraging people to try the sport if that’s all they own. She also explains the importance of pre-riding the course to become familiar with the obstacles and layout flow.

Disc two covers the topics of training, nutrition, rest and recovery and core strength. It consists of more information, i.e. dialogue, than it does actual demonstrations, so don’t expect as much action as disc one. Part two focuses more on often-neglected training topics such as mental preparation and includes tips on focusing energy into the goals one wants to achieve. It’s motivational and can definitely help up and coming racers attain the results they desire. Undem suggests writing thoughts down on paper — something I, and many others, can use in everyday life — to aid in accomplishing goals both big and small.

Berg then goes through nutrition and rest/recovery and offers great tips on pre- and post-race rituals. The core strengthening section, using demonstrations performed at the gym, is informative and very descriptive. It’s obvious she knows what she’s talking about, and explains each exercise and how best to perform them without putting unnecessary strain on the body.

The soundtrack could be improved upon, as the military drumbeat on disc one gets old quickly. It would have been nice if the video included a more upbeat soundtrack, perhaps using either some rock or ambient music to make it more interesting — but that’s the audiophile in me speaking; and who doesn’t use music as part of their training regimen? Overall, Cycle U’s Cyclocross Boot Camp is an informative and solid effort that can be used time and again to help kickstart the ‘cross season.

MSRP is $39. Visit www.cycleu.com to learn more and order a copy for yourself.