Cyclocross - Best State/City for Cyclocross Racing ??

What is the state and or city that has the most and best cyclocross racing ? I am in Los Angeles and have been to a few cross races. However, online it looks like every cross race in other cities or states have bigger fields of riders and many more spectators who are crazier.

Portland OR and Seattle bring out lots of racers as does the greater Denver area. Lots of stuff going on in the NE, but I am not too familiar with that area

Although I live in Colorado and race the totally awesome front range and Boulder area, Portland scrapes ahead in my book as it excels in the mud and spectator/crossculture factors.

I gotta say, coming from the west coast, and this being my first year racing cross in new england, that there's pretty much a race every weekend within 2 hours of Boston, quite a few within an hour. Lots of cheering...and then of course New England weather. (Though, this year, it's been pretty much gorgeous on race days.)

Seems to be gaining popularity in NC I've not participated in any events but giving thought to it in 09.

Seems to be gaining popularity in NC I've not participated in any events but giving thought to it in 09.Why not '08? Whatever experience you get racing this season will pay dividends for the next.

AFAIK New England is still the epicenter for North American cross, with the Pacific Northwest closing in.

Portland Oregon. By far.

Though it gets too crowded at times...

SF bay area has LOTS of racing as well.

http://www.chicrosscup.com/

Chicago has to be on the short list for best cities for cross racing. We've got a well-run series with great courses and a long calendar. Each year we get bigger with more riders showing up and more dates added. You can race nearly every weekend.

And if you're a die-hard you can drive up to WI and race there too. You could probably race twice a weekend if you wanted.

Plus, many teams have organized cross practices during the week. Lots of bike shops know about and stock cross gear. The community is large and friendly. You see lots of the same faces at the races and everyone says hello and has fun.

Seems to be gaining popularity in NC I've not participated in any events but giving thought to it in 09.

NC has grown tremendously in the last 5 years. Many of us Hokies go down for the NC races ;) TN as well. The weather is typically mild and dry mostly but that offers it's own set of challenges as well. The NC Winter Cup will be a bit more traditional with lots of mud sometimes and snow and ice is always possible.

What races have you been to. This year the SoCal Cross series has seen huge fields and spectators. Check out the UCI event this weekend it'll be awesome, I'll be suffering.

I would love to get a portland race up near Mt Hood. throw us some snow. We generally ride in the valley, get in the muck and come out 20 lbs heavier with mud...

wisconsin - birthplace of the superfan!

Among larger population centers, Portland is rightfully recognized as a great bike town.

But, population notwithstanding, places to train and race often? Off the top of my head,

Bend, OR
Putney, VT
Durham / Chapel Hill NC

Bike Authority in Broadview Hts, OH hosts a nice series every fall. http://teamlakeeffect.net/default.aspx In case you don't know they're south of Cleveland.

Portland, OR

The Cross Cruade series regularly has 1,000+ riders per meet.

In my races there are usually 120-150 and it's a SINGLE category race.

The Cross Cruade series regularly has 1,000+ riders per meet.

What I don't get is why with that going on the Willamette Valley Cross series got such low turnout. The beginners races for Heiser Farm and Battlecreek drew 10 and 31 riders respectively. I know it doesn't have the tradition, reputation, recognition, etc. of the Cross Crusade, but it is a 'cross race within an hour of Portland....

Because to a lot of people around here, cx begins and ends with the crusade. It's not geography, plenty of people will drive to Rainier or Astoria for crusade races. It's not competition, freestanding races the weekends before and after crusade (Hood River Doublecross, Krugers, whatever that new one in the valley was called) have relatively low turnouts.

Relatively low is still pretty damn good, though, and it's nice to have some events that aren't crusade-level mob scenes.

Relatively low is still pretty damn good, though, and it's nice to have some events that aren't crusade-level mob scenes.

I completely agree. I'm glad to hear the Kruger's Crossing gets a lower turn-out. Thirty riders makes the field plenty crowded for me. I haven't done a race with 100+ riders, and I'm not entirely sure I want to.

It just seems like with that kind of turn out we'd get more races, and maybe for more than seven or eight weeks a year.

What I don't get is why with that going on the Willamette Valley Cross series got such low turnout. The beginners races for Heiser Farm and Battlecreek drew 10 and 31 riders respectively. I know it doesn't have the tradition, reputation, recognition, etc. of the Cross Crusade, but it is a 'cross race within an hour of Portland....

There's only so many races you can do, both physically and financially.

To most cross racers here, Cross Crusade is THE event to take part in.

I expect attendances will get better for the other races when Crusade is over, after this Sunday.

Portland, OR by far. Lot's of racers and wicked courses. Last weekend home of the SSCXWC (Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championship)

http://www.bikevigilantes.blogspot.com/

No one has mentioned the mid Atlantic region yet, but I live in Philadelphia and there are two races a weekend pretty much every weekend within two hours drive. They might be in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or Maryland but they are all pretty close. And we've had maybe 4 or 5 UCI races around here this season. I have not raced in other regions yet, so I don't have a good compairison but there are alot of good races here and the fall weather lasts a little longer here. And lastly there are several cross clinics all though out the region.

Yea, I second the Philly area. It has MAC, PACX, and NJBA series.

I havent raced in other areas, but the PDX scene is pretty prolific. Considering the size of Portland itself the cross scene here is huge. I raced road and track all summer, and when I came to my first crusade event I was floored by how many people there were. The courses have been awesome, and everyone and their dog seems to have a smile (except for jbucky after he snapped his steerer tube in the start chute ;) ).

Oh and bucky I didnt know you guys had a blog, some fun content on there.

+1 for Portland, after last weekend of cross nirvana......
Check it out at pdxcross.com
Plus there is short track in the summer
Kermesses in spring and fall
And it is sunny and warm all year long, well not quite.