What is Cyclocross?
According the Gloucester Cross site, Cyclocross is :
The most spectator-friendly form of bicycle racing, regardless of whether you've seen a bicycle race or not, cyclocross can be enjoyed by everyone.
Cyclocross (or just 'cross to the throngs that race week in and week out) is a relatively new discipline of cycling in the US. Though it's been around since the early 1900's in Europe, it wasn't until the 1970's that cyclocross races started sprouting up in the US.
Often called the "steeplechase of bicycle racing" cyclocross races are fast-paced and are dramatic for spectators. Riders compete on a twisting course comprised of grass, asphalt and dirt. At several parts of the course, riders are forced to dismount their bikes and run up steep terrain or jump over obstacles.
According the Gloucester Cross site, Cyclocross is :
The most spectator-friendly form of bicycle racing, regardless of whether you've seen a bicycle race or not, cyclocross can be enjoyed by everyone.
Cyclocross (or just 'cross to the throngs that race week in and week out) is a relatively new discipline of cycling in the US. Though it's been around since the early 1900's in Europe, it wasn't until the 1970's that cyclocross races started sprouting up in the US.
Often called the "steeplechase of bicycle racing" cyclocross races are fast-paced and are dramatic for spectators. Riders compete on a twisting course comprised of grass, asphalt and dirt. At several parts of the course, riders are forced to dismount their bikes and run up steep terrain or jump over obstacles.
I've written about a bunch of 'cross http://ehrlinger.homelinux.net/phpMyAdmin-2.6.4-pl3/races I've done, and it's definitely the high point of my season. Check out my index for my experiences.
Cyclocross races start with the sprint. Traverse all types of terrain, from roads to grassy fields, to double to single track. The race usually strings out after the first lap. The suggestion is to break the race into thirds. A fast start where you setup your position, a slower middle third where you try to recover... so that you can use the last third to make up as many positions as possible. I only remember having to sprint for a position in one of the 20 or so cross races I've done.
You race at max sustainable heart rate for the entire race, similar to a time trial. The efforts vary drastically though as the course terrain changes... what fun to hurt yourself this way! What a challenge!
Chagrin River Cyclocross!
Chagrin River CX Flyer
Pretty exciting... a new cyclocross venue on the east side of Cleveland. Brett Davis has convinced his family to let a bunch of crazy cyclists run a race over their land. It looks like we'll be running some practices there on Thursdays before the race, to help groom the course. We'll be trying to run from about 5:30 to 7:30.
Three of us were out on the 22nd for some testing runs, here's what we've got going.
Course Description
This course would not pass UCI muster, as it has no pavement sections. Here is a link to CyclocrossWorld.com UCI course layout outline. The course is mostly flat with some very interesting features.
The start is under the trees leading around the main field. We'll do about 100 meters before jumping into the course. Around the field along the woods, the course crosses a ridable drainage ditch... will it be wet in October? It was dry on this night. After the ditch, we loop around a quick switchback, and head back through the ditch and through the first set of barriers. The course will then zig-zag across the flat grass field for four loops.
On leaving the field, we head to the stand of pines. A wide double track winding through the trees. Out of the pines, we cross the gravel road and hit an appreciable off camber section running along Bainbridge road. We cut back into the property, for the gravel road section.
After a few hundred meters of gravel road, we head into the woods on the back. This path is about 2 meters wide. There is a short muddy section and some nice rollers... not hills, but flat, short cyclocross type rollers. You don't really pedal over these things, but use your arms to pump the bike through the section. Very fun stuff.
The rollers lead to the creek crossing. You can coast the downhill before the dismount. This is a narrow, jumpable mud creek, it was just mud when we were there. A barrier set on the short uphill side forces the dismount before the section, and a short carry up the hill. On the other side, the course winds through some more woods before returning to the start area.
We measured the course at .88 miles long. We'll add at least one more set of barriers, for three dismounts. We're looking at adding a new section with a sandpit. Instead of doing the tight turn after the first field crossing, we'll cut into the woods, and down to the river. Then run the sand, and head back up to the course. We'll see how that goes this week.
Laps should be fast, with almost no downhill recovery sections. It looks like we'll be working the whole race to keep moving, so your fitness will be tested.
Cyclocross races start with the sprint. Traverse all types of terrain, from roads to grassy fields, to double to single track. The race usually strings out after the first lap. The suggestion is to break the race into thirds. A fast start where you setup your position, a slower middle third where you try to recover... so that you can use the last third to make up as many positions as possible. I only remember having to sprint for a position in one of the 20 or so cross races I've done.
You race at max sustainable heart rate for the entire race, similar to a time trial. The efforts vary drastically though as the course terrain changes... what fun to hurt yourself this way! What a challenge!
Chagrin River Cyclocross!
Chagrin River CX Flyer
Pretty exciting... a new cyclocross venue on the east side of Cleveland. Brett Davis has convinced his family to let a bunch of crazy cyclists run a race over their land. It looks like we'll be running some practices there on Thursdays before the race, to help groom the course. We'll be trying to run from about 5:30 to 7:30.
Three of us were out on the 22nd for some testing runs, here's what we've got going.
Course Description
This course would not pass UCI muster, as it has no pavement sections. Here is a link to CyclocrossWorld.com UCI course layout outline. The course is mostly flat with some very interesting features.
The start is under the trees leading around the main field. We'll do about 100 meters before jumping into the course. Around the field along the woods, the course crosses a ridable drainage ditch... will it be wet in October? It was dry on this night. After the ditch, we loop around a quick switchback, and head back through the ditch and through the first set of barriers. The course will then zig-zag across the flat grass field for four loops.
On leaving the field, we head to the stand of pines. A wide double track winding through the trees. Out of the pines, we cross the gravel road and hit an appreciable off camber section running along Bainbridge road. We cut back into the property, for the gravel road section.
After a few hundred meters of gravel road, we head into the woods on the back. This path is about 2 meters wide. There is a short muddy section and some nice rollers... not hills, but flat, short cyclocross type rollers. You don't really pedal over these things, but use your arms to pump the bike through the section. Very fun stuff.
The rollers lead to the creek crossing. You can coast the downhill before the dismount. This is a narrow, jumpable mud creek, it was just mud when we were there. A barrier set on the short uphill side forces the dismount before the section, and a short carry up the hill. On the other side, the course winds through some more woods before returning to the start area.
We measured the course at .88 miles long. We'll add at least one more set of barriers, for three dismounts. We're looking at adding a new section with a sandpit. Instead of doing the tight turn after the first field crossing, we'll cut into the woods, and down to the river. Then run the sand, and head back up to the course. We'll see how that goes this week.
Laps should be fast, with almost no downhill recovery sections. It looks like we'll be working the whole race to keep moving, so your fitness will be tested.
No comments:
Post a Comment