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Don’t Be Left Out in the Cold

By Claire Bonin

Excitement has reached the Northwest’s racing scene once more — you can feel it, it’s in the air. Thousands of riders, from the beginners to the top athletes, are watching their calendar in anticipation of what should incontestably be another memorable cyclocross season.

Photo by Joe Sales

On any given day cyclocross attracts more participants than the road, track or mountain bike racing events do. Some take it seriously, others use it for cross-training, but the majority simply do it for the enjoyment it procures.

Oregon boasted new attendance records last year during the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade series, with 1,446 participants itching to get their turn to race around the Alpenrose Dairy course to officially launch the season. The numbers of newcomers were astonishing, as 142 beginner men, and most impressively, 92 beginner women, were at the start, while 126 singlespeeders made an appearance along with the Masters 35+ and 50+ men and women, combining to make a staggering 722 riders total.

The increased popularity of the sport is not limited to Oregon. Around the region participation numbers have increased and organizers have created new series and new events to accommodate the demand.

Cyclocross is fun for both the spectators and the participants. Although some elite athletes are aiming for a spot on their respective national teams to go to the World Championships, for the majority of the riders the short 30- to 60-minute races are just a great way to extend the cycling season and an enjoyable way to train. And what’s more fun — playing in the mud with others or being miserable while riding solo on a long road ride on a rainy day?

The sport is simple. The short circuits vary in length from 2.5km to 3.5km, of which at least 90% must be rideable. The courses run through portions of paved and gravel road, country and forest paths, and meadowland alternating in such a way as to ensure changes of pace while providing recovery sections. Obstacles that may or not require riders to dismount include sets of barriers, run-ups, sand traps and the like. Those obstacles provide excellent spectator viewpoints and with the shorter courses, it is possible to see large portions of the races, making it easy to follow. As the race progresses, within a couple of laps, riders are spread all around so there is never a dull moment.

As a family friendly event, every member can find a category that suits their ability — as long as they can ride a bike — and that includes children of all ages, as friendly kids races are presented at practically every venue.

Photo by Joe Sales

Lots of females race cyclocross, many of whom compete internationally against the world's best. Portland, Oregon's Sue Butler leading the pack.

In order to develop the sport at the grassroots level, the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association is launching the first-ever high school cyclocross race series this year. Consisting of five events, the high school categories will run concurrently with the existing Junior Cyclocross Series (JCS), allowing riders to score points in both competitions. The JCS offers eight races, mostly in the Willamette region, and the riders are split within four age group categories, 10-12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18, while there are two HS class 15-16 and 17-18 for both boys and girls. Races are 30 minutes long. The goal is simple: start putting the structure together for high school competition by getting the parents and kids to implement clubs in their schools and introduce administrators to the sport while allowing kids to compete against each other.

The 2010 calendar provides ample opportunities for everyone to give the sport a try. No matter where you live in the Northwest, there is an event near you. Greater Seattle area riders can alternate between the Seattle Cyclocross series and the MFG series to continuously race from September 12 to November 28, while Whatcom County residents can count on the Cascade Cross series to get their fix. Spokane area riders can cross borders with the Inland Northwest CX series, which features events in Walla Walla, Spokane, Moscow and Coeur d’Alene, and span the months of October and November. Idaho also features the Eagle Island Cross series, the Cube Cyclocross in Rexburg, and the South Idaho series. Although the Cross Crusade is the largest series in Oregon, Klamath Falls, Bend, Eugene, and the Willamette Valley all offer their own. British Columbia is bridging the gap this year with Cycling BC sanctioning six BC Cup events and the Cross on the Rock series on Vancouver Island.

All of these regions also offer a plethora of single day events such as the classic StarCrossed on September 18, and the Rad Racing Gran Prix the following day. The US Gran Prix of Cyclocross will stop in Portland on December 4th and 5th, while Bend, Ore., will once again host the National Championships from December 8 to 12.

Photo courtesy of Amara Boursaw / Wheels in Focus

Be part of the crowd, either on or off the course.

Should you decide to join the fun and give cyclocross a try, as a spectator or a participant, check out our calendar section, all the races are listed there. Go see one, go race one, you’ll get the bug, I guaranty it! If the action doesn’t get you, you can always go for the beer garden or the crêpes or just to see the crazy costumes some of them are wearing. The atmosphere alone will make you smile.