Cyclocross Racing - What do you like the most about racing CX?

Somebody asked me this yesterday and I was a bit flummoxed for a good answer. I'm not sure there's one single thing that I like the most, but these are the main things that make it enjoyable for me:

1) Constant focus required...mentally engaging...far from boring

2) Laid-back and supportive, yet still competitive atmosphere...it's not road racing

2.5) Heckling other riders (teammates & friends) and making them laugh at serious points in a race...then getting heckled in return when I am on the course

3) It's an unusual activity to most non-cyclists (even many cyclists), which makes for good bragging with family & friends who haven't the slightest idea nor care of how bad I am at it

4) All things Belgian, particularly the beer :beer:


How about you?

riding the course

#1 - lots of races close to home
# 2 -no teams required
# 3 - intense
# 4 - feels like a road race, mt race and running race all in one
# 5 - girls. lots of hot model girl groupies who show up just to snag a cyclist. its like being a fox in a chicken coup

riding the course

Oh. Good one.

Cyclocross is a sufferfest.

I guess that makes me a masochist?

Courses with variety. Crits are never that technical. I enjoy the challenge of riding a cross course without having the nagging fear of imminent doom that I get riding a mountain bike.

The groupies

Cyclocross is the ultimate test of overall bike-itude. With the possible exception of the spring classics.

The races are only 1-hour. Unlike during road racing season, you can do your race and then go about your business the rest of the day.

1. Racing every weekend.
2. Without it I would be on the trainer.
3. Events are extremely close.
4. Fields are deep, but much softer than road racing in the lower ranks.
5. Crit like for the first few corners, then the suffering of a TT.
6. Only 1/2 hour (4b's)
7. Dudes dress in drag while racing. Makes me want to beat them (on the course.....I'm not a hater).
8. Occasional beer garden
9. Training rides (hello! when else can you spend 2 hrs on a bike averaging 12.5mph and know you got a workout!)
10. Chicks. There are simply more chicks participating in and hanging around cross races.
11. Atmosphere not unlike a preppy drug party...everyone acts like they're doing something they're really not supposed to be doing and claims they can quit at any time.
12. Does cross make my but look big? - Never gotten the kind of lower abs, back and butt workout I do with cross racing.
13. the bikes....come on man...I'm a roadie, but the bikes are sexy. Kind of like a gorgeous, and refined lady who leans over and says she likes to go greek.
14. The stories.

Cyclocross is the most painful fun you can have on a bike. And if your attention span is not known to be the longest, then CX is perfect; riding conditions and demands are constantly changing. Plus, CX bikes are sick, dirt is fun, and unlike the symphonic ballet that is road racing, CX is pure trench warfare punk rock.

I know that there are probably serious answers, like the fact that CX racing is perfect for guys like me who have limited time in the weekly schedule for training, or that my all around bike handling skills benefit greatly, but honestly, CX is just so much kick-ass fun that you can't help but to plainly enjoy it.

CX is just so much kick-ass fun that you can't help but to plainly enjoy it.

That sums it up quite nicely :)

It's hard. I had no idea how much suffering there'd be riding over a flat grass field.

People crash but no one seems to get hurt or break a bike.

It's intense but the folks are laid back.

Hardly any yelling. Except for fun.

It reminds me of mountain bike racing in the late 80's. It's all about fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! It also hurts like hell, and I like that.

It makes me feel Bad Ass (TM).

What ever that weird blood taste is.


Cowbells


Oh, and my post race Orval...