best cross scene in the US?

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danimal

i know variations on this thread show up in most every forum on here every couple weeks, but the search function isn't helping much and i'm trying to figure out where i'd like to move to this summer/fall.

so any thoughts on the best cross scene in the US? (also, where the winter doesn't last forever: sorry to all you from the northeast, but i can't stand snow)

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isotopesope

if you hate snow and love 'cross, you might consider portland, or.

danimal

that's kinda what i was thinking? that or somewhere in CA, although neither place is especially affordable

Dabbo

Just 2 words: Cross Crusade

danimal

Just 2 words: Cross Crusade

so i've seen the vids....it's really all it's cracked up to be? (it certainly looks like it kicks the NM cross scenes *****)

also, how's portland the rest of the year? do you know anything about the road scene there or should i post another thread on roadcycling?

Skuda25

What is your catagory? I do not want to get into a battle over which scene is better and snow and cold is definatley an issue in the Northeast. But that is only one part of a Cross Scene. Based on pure number of racers per event. The competition in the Northeast will be hard to beat based on number of races and number of competitors per race. Look and the results on BikeReg. By the way, in my opinion Cold and Snow are part of Cross.

i_r_beej

Oh good grief-- the Cross Crusade has got it all over the rest of the US. And not just in terms of participation numbers, either. We have marching bands come out to our Cross Crusade races! Chris King himself flipped pancakes for everybody at the 06 Halloween race.

The Halloween race is a perfect example of just how cool the series is.

http://www.crosscrusade.com

Dan Kaufman, a local videographer (and cool bikey guy) shot some awesome video of the races: http://www.pdxk.com/crankmychain/labels/Cyclocross.html

And as for the rest of the year? Check out http://www.obra.org and look at the schedule-- there's something going on EVERY DAY from late spring through early fall.

danimal

sorry for previous post, i didn't want to start a pissing contest with this thread, just wanted to get an idea of how things are where you live? (the NM scene is actually a blast, a small blast compared to the rest of the US, but a blast nonetheless)

sure cold and snow are a part of cross, i just don't want to move somewhere that's snowed-in december through march. btw, i'm no all-star, just a B-racer who's out there to have some fun

Dabbo

Ciao Danimal, this was my first year racing and doing cross, I really enjoyed it. I have no experience whatsoever on the others series but here the courses are fun and the crowd really open to all sort of people, road too, you can race hills, flat, race car course, crits, track etc.
There are plenty of roads and bike paths to train on and the weather is generally pretty good.
No snow but some rain. It never gets too cold.
As far as moving the real estate is still very high and not slowing down. Renting is actually pretty affordable. For jobs check craigslist to see what is up your ally.
Look at the NW section of the forums for more info.
Ciao
Paolo

Skuda25

danimal

thanks, Paolo!

-now all i've got to do is convince my girlfriend that it's not rainy and cloudy all year in portland

danimal

^.......uh, it's not, right?

endform

Good Grief - All due respect dude that series is every 2 weeks. In the Northeast, there is 2 or 3 races every week within a 4 hour travel range every weekend for mid September to Week before Nats. Your series may be better, the courses may be better and as you say you may have good photographers. Your national elite riders may be better. I just do not think you have more competition. NE has more races and more people at the races. Look at participation in the Nationals in New England versus Oregon.

That's just one series, and those travel distances are maybe 30 minutes on average, they are all really close to the city. If you're counting 4 hours of travel, we can just include just about all of the Seattle area races too for what counts as our competition.

Dabbo

I would suggest moving in early summer and not fall or the first winter might be your, or your girlfriend, last. I like the rain but I also snowboard so rain means snow in the mountains, usually....
Spring and summer are very sunny, but coming from NM it is going to be a change.
My Sister in Law moved from Silver City.....

Skuda you are right, the cross season is kinda short, I agree. Plenty of road and track races and you have to consider the population around here is not as dense as the East. I know a few people that have been going down to Eugene to race Saturday and back on Sunday for the Portland race, it is only 2 hours away. We also have a good mid week short track series that is a good warm up for the cross season.
Ciao
Paolo

alreadyblue

You should consider Boulder, CO. It has a good cross scene, and a great road scene. Not to mention it's a great place to live. The winters are really mild. It snows, then it melts. Great skiing, and great camping, hiking, kayaking, mountain climbing, etc.

Oh, yeah and I guess they do some mountain biking there?

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