DCCX race announcement
 

DCCX, the only cyclocross race held in the nation's capital, will be held on October 26 on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in NW Washington DC. Registration is now open on BikeReg.com.
For the second-annual event, race promoters DCMTB/City Bikes are building on last year's exciting, successful race and will offer improvements to an already awesome race experience -- and provide even more extra-curricular fun for racers, kids and spectators. DCCX joined the MABRA cross series this year.

Three ways the fun continues from last year:

1. The race is held on a classic, European-style cyclocross course. It's fast with lots of transitions from grass to pavement to gravel and back. There are some tricky barriers and roots. Amateur archeologists from DCMTB uncovered a stone, Paris-Roubaix-style path before last year's race, and that has become DCCX's signature feature. The layout is great for first time cyclocross racers and a fast, challenging event for veterans.

2. The Armed Forces Retirement Home is the site of four National Historic Landmarks, including the Lincoln Cottage. Lincoln withdrew to the
Soldiers' Home each summer to escape the heat in the White House. It's difficult to get on the grounds the other 364 days of the year; with a registration you can drive right in and check out the grounds, and schedule a tour of the Lincoln Cottage.

3. Beer. Yes, indeed: Racers will once again be able to enjoy a beer after their race courtesy of Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar in Washington, DC.

Three ways the race will be so much better this year:

1. We've upped our payout for elite racers. Whole Foods-P St. has expanded its sponsorship of the event so that the winner of the women's 1/2 race will for the first time get the same payout as the winner of the men's 1/2 race. City Bikes remains as the title sponsor of the men's elite race, with both races paying $700 total, seven deep. Other category winners will get cool loot.

2. Li'l Belgians will be sponsored by the Belgians. This year, as part of the MABRA series, DCCX is adding a race for kids, and we've pulled in as sponsors the Belgian Embassy, which will be offering all participating kids a special (and tasty) prize.

3. Frites! Just adding to the Belgian ambience, we will be serving free -- yes, free -- frites (that's Belgian for French fries) to riders and spectators. Oh, and there will be delicious, vegan cookies from Sticky Fingers bakery and Drink More Water for those opposed to beer and frites.

What you need to do:

1. Register early at BikeReg.com. Last year's race drew 240 participants, including a sold-out 80 for the Cat 4/beginner category. Given the great buzz that followed last year's event, this year's race is likely to be even more popular, and so register now to get into the race of your choice - and get a better call-up. (As of Oct. 2 there were already 51 Cat 4 racers registered. The field is capped at 100.) http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7143

2. Bring an ID on race day. You may be asked to present an ID upon entering the base, please be prepared. Also, there will be day-of registration, but it is guaranteed to be a royal pain in the neck. No money can change hands on the grounds of the Armed Forces base, and so you will need to drive back out to an undisclosed location to make your payment before you race.

3. Remember that Oct. 26 is also the day of the Marine Corps Marathon. There may be traffic issues. I-395 is open to traffic from the south (except the HOV lane). Road closures can be found at:
http://www.marinemarathon.com/Assets...Release+07.pdf

AFRH address is Rock Creek Church Rd, NW & Upshur St, NW, Washington, DC 20011

Course layout can be seen at:
http://tinyurl.com/4r6nve
Use the satellite view. Distance 2 miles. In last year's dry conditions the top B and masters riders did 5 laps in their 45-minute race. The winning elite men averaged seven minutes a lap.

Photos from last year's race are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ou98dtbiggs/DCCX

The write up of last year's race: http://www.dcmtb.com/blog/archives/222

Starting order will be based on the most recent MABRA 2008 CX Series standings, order of registration, and promoter discretion. The most recent MABRA-Cross standings will be used to call up the first 2 rows (16 spots), then racers will line up row by row, as determined by order of registration/bib number.

There are no call-ups for the 9am/Cat 4 Men race. Racers will line up
by row based on order of registration.

DCMTB/DCCX team webpage: http://www.dcmtb.com/blog/dc-cx

better sign up now if you want a better than 6th row starting spot

Belgian Embassy sponsorship was a great idea!

Arrrrright! Signed up 64th for the Cat 4 Men's race. Beer will ease the pain of getting lapped.

signed up 11th in cat 4. sink or swim. (preferably more swimming than sinking)

DCCX cat 4 filling up
 

I just checked and Cat 4 men is already 79 registered.

cat 4s can race 3/4 (open or masters) if that fills- but just a heads up if you want to race the 9am event that you should register soon.

the course is designed for easy passing - so starting in the back shouldn't be a big problem.


-marc

DCCX kids race
 

SpectaSport -- Ken Getchell

BELGIAN EMBASSY SPONSORS U.S. KID’S CROSS

BikeReg.com MABRAcross’ “City Bikes DCCX”


Press Contact Information: BikeReg.com MABRAcross
SpectaSport LLC; K...@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 13, 2008; Conshohocken, PA, USA: The organizers of the October 26 City Bikes DCCX, the only cyclocross race held within the city limits of the U.S. Capital, have announced that their “Lil’ Belgians” Free Kids Race will actually be sponsored by the Belgian Embassy. “Lil’ Belgians” racing, a traditional part of every BikeReg.com MABRAcross event, is a free fun-race for young children that occurs just prior to the Elite races, and it’s not unusual to see Elite and Amateur racers “assisting” their training-wheel -equipped youngsters by pushing them around their own special course.

Until now, the Lil’ Belgians moniker had been just a cute tribute to the homeland of cyclocross. But at the City Bikes DCCX, Belgium will be involved in an official capacity as the Belgian Embassy will be offering all participating kids a special (and tasty) prize. The kids won’t be the only ones getting a tasty Belgian prize, however, because the City Bikes DCCX organizers will keep the Belgian ambience rolling by serving free Frites to riders and spectators alike.

For more information, see BikeReg.com http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7143

Update- DCCX Cat 4 filled
 

The Dutch refuse to be out-done by the Belgians, and the DC Dutch Club will be on hand to cook up free "poffertjes"! (Dollar size pancakes served with butter and powdered sugar). :)


Update: the 9am Cat 4 race is filled.

Please note that Cat 4 racers can still register/race in 3/4 35+ or open 3/4

This is going to be so awesome. My three housemates are coming out to watch/cheer/join the festivities.

That looks like a fun event.

so stoked.

DCCX Food Update

Forget racing, the food at DCCX is shaping up to be the highlight of the day. We’ve already induced mountain bike legend Scott Scudamore to man the frites tent and Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar to donate beer.

Now there is this: the DC Dutch Club has agreed to show up and make “poffertjes“! (Dollar size pancakes served with butter and powdered sugar.)

Granville Moore’s, Washington, D.C.’s best Belgian restaurant, has agreed to donate a horseradish sauce for the frites and Karen LoParco, a referee and former chef, has jumped in and will offer her own special, homemade andalouse sauce, too.

Frites, poffertjes, beer, Stickey Fingers baked goods and Drink More Water. Yum.

Food will be available starting about 11:30-12

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7143

Updated Race info on the team website: www.DCMTB.com http://www.dcmtb.com/blog/dc-cx

The course is in great shape, very similar to last years, but with (we think) an improved layout and a couple of interesting features.

The grass areas are a bit bumpy and there are a few roots out there. So tire pressure choice should balance those features with the need for speed on the gravel road section

watch out for a banana suit and corpse paint in the c4 race.

Double up at DCCX!

Registered racers who want to also race the Open Men's 1/2/3 can do so for an extra $15 ($10 off the normal fee and no $5 day-of surcharge. (Primarily this makes sense for Elite Masters or very fast 3/4 racers)

3 options:

1. Pre-register (saving time on race day, and get a better starting spot) by emailing mattydonahue at hotmail dot com and pay when you pick up your packet on site.

2. Register on race day and pay on-site.

3. Race packet pick-up and registration available on Sat, Oct. 25, from 6 – 9 PM at Looking Glass Lounge, 3634 Georgia Ave, NW, Washington, DC,

The purse for the Elite Men and Women 1/2/3 is $700/7 deep

Bikereg.com primes for the first person to complete 1.25 laps.

Elite Men and Women - $75
Elite Masters - $50

3/4 Women - Chocolates courtesy Embassy of Belgium

Other category primes- swag from Bikereg.com, CX magazine, etc.

Boxes of Belgian Chocolates also awarded to:

1- The racer in the best costume (judged by DCMTB's own Gwadzilla, who will immortalize you on his blog- http://www.gwadzilla.blogspot.com/ )

2- First racer of the day spotted riding the uphill barriers

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7143

chocolates for best costume...
 

Boxes of Belgian Chocolates also awarded to:

1- The racer in the best costume (judged by DCMTB's own Gwadzilla, who will immortalize you on his blog- http://www.gwadzilla.blogspot.com/ )

2- First racer of the day spotted riding the uphill barriers


maybe other prizes for costumes too... TBD :)

riding as in actually clearing and staying up or riding as in attempting to ride?

I'd say no dabs or falling- and doen during a race!

basically ride up the hill on your bike

did you race last year? it will be the same setup there- I have no idea if anyone tried to ride it last year

Man, if its that same sweep around the tree and up the hill into the barriers set up, I would imagine it would be very hard to ride.

Does this have to happen in a race, or can you do it in warm ups and have it count?

yes, the same

well, hard , sure- isn't that the point?

I amended to say: in a race!

yeah i rode last year, and that's well beyond my skills. hope to see it though!

Marc Gwadz is an evil evil man...

Looks like I know where I'm camping out.

i'll put my triple on my bike and do it

DCCX course all set!
 

I won't try but I figure someone can do it! we'll see

course is looking really good

updated layout:

http://www.mapmyride.com/edit_route?r=498411390054

use satellite view

S= start
end= finish
P = pit

with the rain all day today, this is seeming even harder.

DEFINITELY camping on that corner.

Man, it rain cats and dogs today, and just about every other animal that rain can be compared to. I spent all day by the window with a maniacal grin on my face that simply says "mud...".