A dance in the dirt
Labor day is just around the corner. Summer is almost in the rear view mirror. Cyclocross season is here! I love cyclocross, I really do. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, let me explain. Cyclocross is done on what looks like a road bike, but there are sections of grass and dirt trails. There are steep sections that you sometimes have to run up while pushing, or carrying your bike. There are obstacles that require you to dismount, run over said obstacle, and then remount. What's not to love about that? It takes finesse, bike handling and a tremendous amount of fitness to do all of that well.
Cycling elders tell us that in the "old days" European pros would modify an old road bike to accept wider, somewhat knobbier tires so they could continue to train in the winter. Those were hard men.
Cyclocross is small. It's growing here in the US, but it's still small. People do this because they like it. There are no glossy magazines about Cyclocross (that I know of). There is no internet forum about Cyclocross. Ok I'm probably wrong about that. Right now there are probably two guys arguing (anonymously of course) about the proper way to do a run up, and the correct metallurgical properties of a cowbell.
When you pitch up at a event it doesn't matter what you're wearing. It doesn't matter what kind of bike you're riding. There will be some slick new carbon stuff, but no one is going to look down on you if you show up on a mountain bike (just remember to remove those bar ends please). Everyone is going to suffer equally. There is a purity in that.
I've done one Cyclocross race. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever done. It was also one of the most enjoyable. There has been a small series of races here in Indy for as long as I can remember. The sport seems to be growing, and that's a good thing. You can check out the Indiana Cyclocross facebook page here. Go check out a practice session, or a race. Don't forget to take your cowbell.
Ride on!
Chris
Cycling elders tell us that in the "old days" European pros would modify an old road bike to accept wider, somewhat knobbier tires so they could continue to train in the winter. Those were hard men.
Cyclocross is small. It's growing here in the US, but it's still small. People do this because they like it. There are no glossy magazines about Cyclocross (that I know of). There is no internet forum about Cyclocross. Ok I'm probably wrong about that. Right now there are probably two guys arguing (anonymously of course) about the proper way to do a run up, and the correct metallurgical properties of a cowbell.
When you pitch up at a event it doesn't matter what you're wearing. It doesn't matter what kind of bike you're riding. There will be some slick new carbon stuff, but no one is going to look down on you if you show up on a mountain bike (just remember to remove those bar ends please). Everyone is going to suffer equally. There is a purity in that.
I've done one Cyclocross race. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever done. It was also one of the most enjoyable. There has been a small series of races here in Indy for as long as I can remember. The sport seems to be growing, and that's a good thing. You can check out the Indiana Cyclocross facebook page here. Go check out a practice session, or a race. Don't forget to take your cowbell.
Ride on!
Chris
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