the course is in great shape, and will have a very similar, but improved layout this year

https://tinyurl.com/yk28frv

if you loved the long flat out-on-the-road /back-on-the-grass section, you'll be happy to know it's still there. if you hated it, you'll be glad to know it's a big shorter. the downed tree log hop was removed, so that's no longer there. we added a few extra twists and turns.

the course should be fast, slightly shorter laps, (1.75 mi vs 2 mi. in previous years). better flow in a couple sections. a couple extra small hills. a little more time in the woods instead of a boring grass section.

the spectator hub will be similar, but with better crowd access. once again we'll have free frites, free beer for racers, dutch pancakes, and free bananas and some other goodies from Whole Foods.

it's shaping up for a real fun race.

still space in all categories, though cat 4 is over 100...

https://www.bikereg.com/events/Register.asp?EventID=9416

marc

someone asked about travel issues due to the marine corps marathon...

the marathon has zero impact on the immediate area- and we have our own parking on campus.

if you are coming from northern va and you would normally come across one of the bridges into DC, then you'll have to pick a route that isn't blocked. but generally it won't affect travel.

we've had our race on the marine corps marathon day the last 2 years and i haven't heard of a lot of trouble.

closed streets: https://marinemarathon.com//Assets/Street+Closings.pdf
MCM route: https://map.mapnetwork.com/event/dc/marinecorpsmarathon/

our venue is far removed from the marathon, and you wouldn't even know it was going on unless you went down near the river.

So, from NoVA, it looks like I would cross the American Legion (495) and head around to Georgia Ave? Or does anybody have a better suggestion?

Could go 495 to River, to Western, to Military (thru Rock Creek Park), to Georgia.

Not sure if that is any faster though.

Hey, I've got friends coming to watch the racing, do they just need picture ID to get through the gate?

Love that this race is like blocks from my house.

yes- that will be fine

I was kinda looking for to the tree. Not going over it personally, but watching others.

yeah- the grounds-crew removed it sometime in the last year- it wasn't something we decided. I thought it was fun as an oddball feature.

btw, cat 4 is at 110 now- it really isn't full yet (despite what bikereg says at the moment!)

The Belgians Are Back for DCCX!

Belgium has ale, frites, waffles, the European Union and -- as every cyclist knows -- cyclocross. In a historic arrangement again this year, the Belgian Embassy will be a sponsor of the “Lil’ Belgians” kids race at the October 25 DCCX cyclocross race. The kids, age three to nine, will take spins around the short track next to the DCCX course at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Every participant is a winner, earning some chocolates for themselves.

Just as it was last year, the kids race is being organized again this year by Joel Gwadz, author of a famous bike blog Gwadzilla, father of two boys and a man not afraid to race in a cheerleader's outfit. Unlike last year, the Belgian truffles and Cote d’ Or chocolates, which are donated by the embassy, will be shared with a few lucky winners of the men's and women's races that day. Other swag for winners includes beer from Blue Ridge Restaurant on Wisconsin Ave, bike gear from Family Bike Shop in Crofton, Maryland and gift certificates for Stickey Fingers bakery in Mt. Pleasant. Elite men and women winners earn cash.

------

DCCX - Presented by Family Bike Shop - is Washington, DC's only cyclocross race. The third-annual event will be held on October 25th on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. The historic venue near Georgia Ave. in northwest Washington is transformed for the race into a festival celebrating biking and the sport's northern European roots.

The race, organized by the DCMTB team, is part of the nine-part series of the Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association. DCCX registration opened last month and there are already 334 pre-registered racers.

Proceeds from the race are donated to help veterans living at the facility, which is off-limits to the general public the rest of the year.

how many forums do you post this on other than rbr?

not hating. just wondering what sites im missing out on

I post to this one and rbr. and a women's forum on cx (estrogen or something)

plus the 2 local listserves: the mabra google group, and the yahoo mac bs group.

i sometimes go to the CX mag forum, but i find it awkward to use

the 2 forums that come up on top when i google "cyclocross forum" are the ones I normally read! and mostly where I post updates.

some other stuff gets posted by the MABRA PR guy- to velo news, cycling news, CX mag, whatever

marc

This will be my first cyclocross race and I'm really looking forward to it. Being in DC only makes it better- very excited.

it sucks how awkward the cx magazine forums are to use.

just a heads up that there are only a few cat 4 spots left.

after that cat 4s can register for the 3/4 or 3/4 masters categories

We encourage all racers to pre-reg- it's easier on our volunteers, guarantees you a starting spot, and saves you $10!

Anybody know if there is a helmet cam out there of the course?

no, there isn't. but that would be very cool.

access is somewhat limited to the facility, but if someone with a helmet cam wanted to ride it with one of us, maybe that could be worked out.

DCCX course work today went really well. the course is looking sharp!

Amazingly, despite all the recent rain, the course has barely any mud. I did several laps and my bike is basically clean- drainage there is very good.

-marc
dcmtb.com

is there a reason this race is always the seem weekend as the marathon?

originally in 2007, we had a mid september date, but it was the same day as an established road race, and MABRA asked us to move it.

then, we chose a date that didn't conflict with other local races- MABRA, MAC, state championships, the USGP in NJ, Gloucester GP, etc.

We ended up with a date that is concurrent with the MC marathon and the USGP in KY- but we still felt like it was a good date for our race. We were aware of the marathon (ad it made it tricky to locate an EMT the first year), but it didn't seem to be a problem except for a person or 2 who might want to do both. the calender is really packed, and our main concern is coordinating with other regional cx races.

I guess it may be somewhat coincidental that we end up the same as the marathon- we don't have something written in stone that we are always the weekend after Columbus day or whatever, or last full weekend in October (though maybe that's how it ends up)- we just have to fit it in with the mid-atlantic cx calender, and we like being in late October.

i figured it was just a coincidence. i think its a good date. i just wasnt sure if there was something else behind it.

are you guys all set for volunteers?

thanks for asking.

I think we are doing ok, but there are always jobs that can use extra hands (course marshall, parking, cooking frites! etc or course setup on saturday)

anyone who wants to pitch in can email Matt mattydonahue@hotmail.com
or just ask a DCMTB member if you can pitch in on race day- I think we will have volunteer t-shirts this yaer, or we'll be in our white-with-red stripe kits.

thanks! the generosity of the CX community really impresses me.

i live pretty close to the venue so i could be available for pre and post race stuff. ill give matt and email.

very excited. this will be my third race

There's a bunch of us in the Cat 4 - although I think Bitterken has abandoned us for a tonier group.