I think this year has been the most fun yet, and the bigger and rowdier the crowds, the closer, IMHO, we get to true cross mojo. Whatever the opposite of suck is, 2009 has done it.

The atmosphere reminds of what I imagine kermesses are like in Belgium. Kermesse, after all, is the Dutch word for "festival." ("Carnival," if you will.) And as I understand kermesse spectating, it's not much about the racing either. It's about stepping out of the tavern every 15 minutes to hoot and holler at a mass of cyclists flying by, then returning inside to your beer and sausage.

When I see videos of cross in Europe, I don't much in the way of golf clap. I see a bunch of people -- men, women and children -- getting their beer on and screaming their lungs out.

I raced Saturday in Wisconsin and although I loved the course, I have to say I was somewhat disappointed in the "vibe" (John's brilliant photo above notwithstanding). Hardly any heckling. No bacon hand-ups. No music other than a guy walking around with a boom box. And only one 4's race. Cross appears much healthier down here, and I posit we do the "vibe" much better.

But that's the great thing about cross. There's room for everyone. The guys who come to race and perform can coexist with the guys who are only doing it for fun, all without getting in one another's way for the most part. That's a big difference from the road.