Cyclocross - Fans of Cyclocross Racing

This past winter I was watching the Super Bowl with some friends and there was only two things on my mind:

1. The intense upperbody pain that comes after spending the gratifiying earlier part of the day ice climbing in the Catskills.

2. How could I concentrate on the Super Bowl when I was more concerned with what was going on at the latest stop of the Super Pernod Prestige Cyclocross series over in Belgium?

Call me a sports fan nerd, but I've been a fan of world cyclocross racing since back in the late 80's. I was following the antics of guys like Tomas Frishneckt and Paul Curly as much as I was guys like Greg Lemond and Sean Kelly. Even today I'm a bigger fan of 'crossers like Sven Nys and Bart Wellens than Lance Armstrong or Jan Ullrich. I like to think of it as every race being as epic as Paris-Roubaix even if it's on some farmland in the back country of Belgium.

By virtue of my ownership of a cyclocross bike here in NYC and the fact that I don't race it, I admit to being a true cyclocross poser. But I do love the spectacle of the sport, the beauty of the machines, and the antics of the riders. The Super Bowl fans can keep thier big foam cheesehead hats and knockwurst, I'm all about gin and trombones.

So, anybody else here a cyclocross racing fan?

I've been working over in Belgium for a few months so I've caught on a bit. For my Belgian souvenir I bought a Merckx Alu Cross which has been great. Unfortunately I'll be heading back to the US right when the season picks up. I plan on heading to the US Nationals in Providence in December to watch the races, looking forward to that.

Never really seen a race, but from what it sounds like, I'm pretty impressed and interested. I'm hoping to catch it on TV or in-person sometime.

But, I gotta admit, the Superbowl over the last couple of years has been fun to watch, especially rooting for the underdog.

I've been racing cross for the past 3 years so I am a big fan of racing cross. I really do love to watch it too. It's a great spectator sport as well indeed. I just wish there were more of it on TV.

huge cx racing fan here. love those cowbells! its great fun to watch but even more fun to do! have you ever done a race? if not, you should get out there in the mud and then you will *really* be hooked.

I plan on making my first attempt @ CX racing this fall. Anyone know where in the Boston area I can get in some amateur races?

huge cx racing fan here. love those cowbells! its great fun to watch but even more fun to do! have you ever done a race? if not, you should get out there in the mud and then you will *really* be hooked.

I haven't tried a 'cross race yet. Back in high school when I raced road and MTB, I used to beat up clunker bikes in the off-season doing psuedo-cross. I'd like to go see a 'cross race first, and even try one to get the full experience, and even to see if I get into it.

So what is CX racing like in Iceland?

I haven't tried a 'cross race yet. Back in high school when I raced road and MTB, I used to beat up clunker bikes in the off-season doing psuedo-cross. I'd like to go see a 'cross race first, and even try one to get the full experience, and even to see if I get hooked (Sven Nys, watch out. I'm coming!!!).
Cross nationals are going to held in Rhode Island, probably not a long drive from NYC. Check on the USA Cycling site for more details.
I've done Nat's one time when it was held at the Presidio in SF...nothing like hearing those cowbells in your ears while you're dying on a runup! Probably the last time, too, where I used V-brakes on a cross bike since I ended up swapping on ends on a descent, due to mud buildup on the rims!

I haven't tried a 'cross race yet. Back in high school when I raced road and MTB, I used to beat up clunker bikes in the off-season doing psuedo-cross. I'd like to go see a 'cross race first, and even try one to get the full experience, and even to see if I get into it.

So what is CX racing like in Iceland?

well, cx does not exist in iceland. but (luckily) i'm not icelandic, and i'm coming home (back to the states) just in time for cx season. i have been living/working here for about a year, but now my time is up and i am craving fall in the northeast! however, i have been racing mtb and road here, and it is..."interesting" to say the least. the mtb courses are really quite bad, especially considering the vast expanses of land here. on the bright side, its a decent place to train for cross because of the incessant rain, wind, and generally nasty weather. i am working in collaboration with a cycling club here to introduce cx to the racing scene. we are going to try and put some races together...it would be a first for iceland! i'm fairly certain that i am the only person in this country with a cx bike.

anyway, back to the northeast. here's a link to the verge series:

http://www.necyclocross.com/races/index.html

and there are generally tons of local races all thru the northeast, especially in MA. a great race is the gloucester grand prix which is actually 2 days right b4 halloween. www.gloucestercross.com. all races have B and C classes so as an amateur you can go to even the big races and just jump in the fire. in fact, if you want to get into racing cross, thats just what i recommend...racing is the best way to learn, and its a ton of fun.

Hehe, I'm helping run Cross Nats this year, plus I've got a small piece in Gloucester since the club I ride for puts it on, if you've got any questions about racing in NE feel free to PM me, I gots da hookups ;)

Hehe, I'm helping run Cross Nats this year, plus I've got a small piece in Gloucester since the club I ride for puts it on, if you've got any questions about racing in NE feel free to PM me, I gots da hookups ;)


do you ride for ECV?

we all want the hookups!...let us have it!