I've already posted this in the cyclocross forum, but I figured all of you might get a kick out of seeing this.
Special thanks to Bilenky Cycle Works for putting together the first junkyard urban cyclocross race (ever?). This was some of the most fun I've had all year. The event featured 50 minutes of a run-up through a gutted R/V, rolling through puddles of anti-freeze/gasoline/oil/water/?, and a ramp up and over the bed of a full-sized pick-up.

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more photos

Throwin' down with the SS Crosscheck

Ok, this is ****ing amazing. Best. Idea. Ever.

awesome. freaking awesome.

OH man!
Thats so gross, yet so awesome.
Did the fixie rider gap that pickup truck bed?

i had to leave shortly after the race since i was coated in a wet toxic sludge (my pants started to smoke when i was trying to warm up/dry off next to a barrel fire) and i had to be at work in a half hour. my understanding is that the run-up r/v was demolished some time after the race was over. how punk is that?

That **** looks like fun!

the fixie rider ran the pick up truck obstacle instead of riding it. the only rider to gap it was on that singlespeed mtb. i think he wasn't even racing, just riding as much of the course as possible.

this is beyond awesome. thanks for sharing

haha thats way nice3r than the junkyard near me. You could get like 10 feet before you had 10 flats, and if you fell you'd probably die from all the toxic sharp crud on the ground.

Still looks like fun!

Tetanus shots at the afterparty! Looks like a blast. I think some low-key CX events everywhere would definitely attract more folks.

most cx is pretty low key. This looks like a ****load of fun.

Freaking great idea!

Up here it's a lot of lycra and a lot of team logos. Or perhaps we have different ideas of "low-key".

yeah probably.

what yard was that at stet? im guessing it was in the auto-parts mall section near 61st and passyunk but it looks like theres way too much room...
-pete

I think it is the Manayunk/Roxborough section judging by the train tracks in the backround. I used to live there and had really crappy cars so I was in the yards many times. That's my guess.

wow those are awesome pics, looks like it was a lot of fun.

in alabama alot of the resturants pitted cx teams against each other i thought that was kinda cool

thats what I thought at first...

the junkyard in question is the one next door to bilenky's shop. 5300 block of north 2nd. st.

I just finished my first season of cross racing (another singlespeed surly). I have been kicking around the idea of doing a fixed gear cross race with a bunch of friends. maybe on some local mtb trails or maybe in patterson park in b-more (It's where they held nationals 5 years ago and it's very close to where I live).

well if anyone is up for some informal 'cross antics there will be an event this saturday morning at the belmont park in philly. there will probably be a large contingency of lycra wearing folks, but they're still good people. during the spring, summer, and early fall there's an informal mountain bike thing that happens at the park every week. this saturday's thing will be alot like that. do a couple laps and hang out. if anyone is interested in more details let me know.

the junkyard is nowhere near roxborough/manyunk, i'm from there but the junkyard is way out the northeast by the nabisco factory

same here. I guess it's a boston/providence thing

I thought of this.