Category Archives: cyclocross
NYCROSS.com: Kirkland Cyclocross
The NYCROSS.com Cyclocross Series got underway over the weekend with the Kirkland Cyclocross Race. The race was held at Kirkland Town Park in the village of Clinton, NY. The day started out with the drive to Clinton, via the New York State Thruway. The parts of the Thruway that had been closed due to flooding from Hurricane Irene. The Thruway was open, but you could see along the way the water line showing how high the water had been. Water still receding from field and back yard and construction sites. I can’t imagine what it was like after the storms.
Once I made it to the race, all my cyclocross friends were there, and pulling into the parking area, I could tell that the race was going to be muddy. The ground was just soaked with water that made some sections of the ~2 mile course tough to pedal through…how often is the sand pit easier than an open field. It was a fun course, a challenging course and a sloppy course.
For my first ‘cross race of the season, I think I did pretty good…no crashes, the barriers come naturally now and the run-ups are faster than a walk. Results aren’t really that big of a deal anymore. Of course a descent result is nice, but the race is for the love of cycling. A good result is just a bonus for that day. I did finish 40th overall in the Masters 1/2/3 race. How it’s broken down to age, I don’t know.
Race #2 in the NYCROSS.com Cyclocross Series is on October 2 – CX @ Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY.
Shimano Launches Cyclocross Initiative with Series Sponsorship; New England Sponsorship Creates Nation’s Richest ‘Cross Series
Boston (July 12, 2011) – A pioneer in developing components for cyclocross, Shimano America announced today its sponsorship of the UCI sanctioned New England Professional Cyclocross Series.
“Shimano prides itself on the values of culture and history,” said Penina Bush, senior manager at Shimano America. Having long sponsored the UCI World Cup, the World Championships, and regional series in America, Shimano recognized the heritage of New England cyclocross.
“Shimano places great values on culture and history. We are honored to be aligned with the NEPCX to help strengthen the ’cross scene. New England’s culture, history and passionate followers are something we identify with as a company and as passionate cyclists. We look forward to our involvement for years to come.”
The Shimano New England Pro Cyclocross Series Presented by Verge will include eight races with considerable heritage in a region famous for cyclocross, the steeplechase of competitive cycling. Those venues will include Gloucester, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; Northampton, Mass.; and Warwick, R.I.
“Shimano recognized the power of the New England market in cyclocross,” said Richard Fries, marketing and communications director of the Shimano Series. “We are known for the quality of our riders, our venues, and our market. In looking to launch a cyclocross-specific component group, Shimano selected New England as the ultimate proving ground.”
The eight-race series is one of just three American cyclocross series sanctioned by the UCI. All events have UCI status with two, Gloucester and Providence, featuring Category 1 races. With Shimano’s backing, the series will offer more than $50,000 in prize money, including more than $10,000 for the overall series payout. Shimano has committed to the series for three years.
“We have thousands of ’cross racers within a few hours’ drive of these venues,” said Paul Boudreau, promoter of the series opener in Gloucester, one of the most fabled UCI events in America. “With gasoline around $4 a gallon, we’re happy to offer so many competitors – and spectators – a chance to see world class competition that does not break the bank.”
The Shimano Series sprung from the Verge New England Cyclocross Series, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious series. Verge will remain committed to the series as presenting sponsor.
“This is like watching your baby graduate,” said Michael Magur, president of Verge and long time supporter of cyclocross. “These races, these venues, these promoters are going to take American ’cross to new heights.”
About the Shimano New England Pro Cyclocross Series Presented by Verge:
The 2011 Shimano Series includes eight races in four venues:
- The Great Brewers Gran Prix of Gloucester, Oct. 1 & 2 at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Mass.
- The Providence Cyclocross Festival Presented by Interbike, Oct. 8 & 9 at Roger Williams Park in Providence, R.I.
- The Cycle-Smart International, Nov. 5 & 6 at Look Park in Northampton, Mass.
- The NBX Grand Prix of Cyclocross Dec. 3 & 4 in Goddard Park in Warwick, R.I.
For more information visit www.NEPCX.com.
Make Your Own Barriers
This post is from last year, but I wanted to share it again…How to make your own barriers…and cheap too.
Team CyclocrossRacing.com p/b Blue Competition Cycles
Team Cyclocrossracing.com P/B Blue Competition cycles is looking for racers!
That’s right, CyclocrossRacing.com, Blue Competition Cycles, Rolf Prima Wheels and Hincapie are looking for enthusiastic riders to join our National Grass Roots Racing Team! We’re looking for riders of all levels and abilities to represent our brands for the upcoming Cyclocross Racing season across the US and Canada.
What do you get?
- Great deals on Blue Competition Cross Bikes and Frames
- Great deals on race wheels from Rolf Prima Wheels
- Great deals on other great gear, parts and accessories from CyclocrossRacing.com
- Be part of a great group of people, share stories, race results and even beer at races and on our CyclocrossRacing.com forum.
What do you have to do?
- Buy an awesome Cyclocrossracing.com kit made by Hincapie Sports
- Race at least 3 CX Races during the upcoming season registered as a member of Cyclocrossracing.com/PB Blue
- Have fun, enjoy yourself, encourage others to do the sport and meet other teammates and racers.
NOTE: You don’t have to buy a bike or wheels but wow… we know you’d love them and you can only get these deals on the team.
Interested?
Send us a note at team@cyclocrossracing.com and let us know why you think you would be a good fit.
2011 NYCROSS.com Cyclocross Series Announced
NYcross.com Series promoters are proud to announce the 2011 NYcross.com Cyclocross Race Series schedule for 2011-2012 season:
- Sunday, 9/11, Kirkland Cyclocross, Kirkland, NY
- Sunday, 10/2, CX at Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
- Saturday, 10/15, Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
- Sunday, 10/16, Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
- Sunday, 10/23, Saratoga Spa Cyclocross, Saratoga, NY
- Sunday, 10/30, Wicked Creepy, Bennington, VT
- Sunday, 11/13, Bethlehem Cup, Bethlehem, NY
An early season Cyclocross clinic is also being planned and more details will follow.
End Of The Season – Hudson Valley Cyclocross
My 2010 bicycle racing season wrapped up today for me with day 1 of the two day Hudson Valley Cyclocross. I had planned to race both days, but the weather forcast for Sunday does not look favorable for a two hour drive to Wappingers Falls, NY.
The race was held at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls. The course was shorter than most, only one mile per lap. It was also dry and a pretty fast course. It consisted of some trail in the woods, fast sections in the fields, fast barriers and a pretty good forced run-up that had a single barrier at the base of the hill. I liked the course. Being a short course, I did see most of the other riders more than I would have liked (I finished -2 laps). But, I could ride the whole course, had no crashes and considering that I have been mostly off the bike since the West Point race, I think I did pretty good. The end result was a 9th place finishing -2 laps.
So, my second season of cyclocross is under my belt. I up-graded to Cat 3. I race the full season in the Masters category (Cat 1/2/3). And even had some results/races that I feel pretty good about.
I want to thank my ‘cross team, CyclocrossRacing.com, for putting together a great team program. I also want to thank the rest of my sponsors for keeping me going all year long…Motor Tabs, Fluid Recovery Drink, Rudy Project, Evomo Apparel, Tri-Flow Lubricants, Vetta Cycle Computers and Brave Soldier.
Stay tune for 2011 teams and sponsors…
2011-2012 Verge NECCS Schedule Announced!
Cyclingdirt.org, December 3, 2010 – A message from Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series President, Adam Myerson:
Following a meeting of all the New England UCI race organizers last evening, I’m proud to announce the 2011-12 Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series schedule.
For 2011-12, the Verge Series will not include Elite or U23 Men and Women, but will continue for all the current USAC categories:
Cat 3 Men
Cat 3/4 Women
Masters 35+ (1-3)
Masters 45+
Masters 55+
Juniors 15-18
Juniors 10-14
Further, the Verge Series will aim to strengthen itself as a union of organizers committed to each other’s success, and will include all 15 events in New England that also host categories for UCI elite men and women:
Sat 09/17/2011 Green Mountain Cyclocross Weekend 1 Williston, VT
Sun 09/18/2011 Green Mountain Cyclocross Weekend 2 Williston, VT
Sat 09/24/2011 The Nor’easter CX @ Loon Mountain Lincoln, NH
Sat 10/01/2011 Grand Prix of Gloucester 1 Gloucester, MA
Sun 10/02/2011 Grand Prix of Gloucester 2 Gloucester, MA
Sat 10/08/2011 Providence Festival of Cyclocross 1 Providence, RI
Sun 10/09/2011 Providence Festival of Cyclocross 2 Providence, RI
Sat 10/22/2011 Downeast Cyclocross 1 New Gloucester, ME
Sun 10/23/2011 Downeast Cyclocross 2 New Gloucester, ME
Sat 11/05/2011 Cycle-Smart International 1 Northampton, MA
Sun 11/06/2011 Cycle-Smart International 2 Northampton, MA
Sat 11/26/2011 Bay State Cyclocross 1 Sterling, MA
Sun 11/27/2011 Bay State Cyclocross 2 Sterling, MA
Sat 12/03/2011 NBX Grand Prix of Cyclocross 1 Warwick, RI
Sun 12/04/2011 NBX Grand Prix of Cyclocross 2 Warwick, RI
A new, 8-race, UCI-sanctioned, New England Professional Cyclo-Cross Series consisting of some of these events has been presented to the UCI. If approved, more information on that series will be provided at a later date.
9 Reasons Why You Should Try Cyclocross | Active.com
The sport of cyclocross, also known as ‘cross, cyclo-x and CX, is a sport that is a combination of criterium-style bike racing and steeplechase-style running.
It is usually a multi-lap format race lasting 30 to 60 minutes, which includes obstacles where riders must dismount and carry their bicycles uphill, over or under barriers and through mud bogs. Adoring fans are happiest when riders attempt to ride through the mud rather than dismounting…Read more here…
Army Turkey Cyclocross at West Point
The Army Turkey Cyclocross race was held on the grounds of West Point and was promoted by West Point Cycling. Off the main campus, the race was held at Camp Buckner. Even though we were not on the main campus, it was still pretty cool being at West Point. I’ve been there a few times before, but not for a lot of years.
The masters race was a small field of 9 or 10 riders, most most were familiar faces from other races. Although the race race was at 9:00 am and I had a 2 hour 20 minute drive to West Point, I felt pretty good. Race time temperature was in the neighborhood of 35 degrees. I actually like riding and racing in temperatures in the mid 30′s to mid 40′s.
We had a fairly flat and fast course with a lot of tight, 180 degree turns and a sandy beach run. Other than the beach and the barriers, the course was 100% ridable. Although I finished -1 lap, I was able to complete 6 laps in the 45 minute race for 6th place Masters 45+ and 7th place overall Masters.
Bethlehem Cup – NYCROSS.com Finale
Sunday, November 14 was the Bethlehem Cup, the series finale for the NYCROSS.com Cyclocross Series. Held at Elm Avenue Town Park, the Bethlehem Cup was a fairly challenging race course; a water soaked, slick and muddy course.
A fast start on the pavement brought into a spongy, wet, grassy field that had a series of tight switchback turns to the barriers. Once you were over the barriers you entered a short trail with a log crossing and a steep downhill that saw a pretty bad crash immediately on the first lap. I was behind the crash and was able to use caution on the downhill and avoid the riders that were down. Some more gravel trail and more water logged field and we were at the first run-up. A steep muddy run-up with a mud hole as you approach the run. The only thing to do is to throw bike onto your shoulder and work your way up. At the top there was flat gravel trail that eventually went back down on loose stone covered trail. More spongy grass and the next run-up. This time it was a grassy hill with three man-made steps. At the top of the hill the course wound through the park and back to the start/finish.
I was able to complete 5 laps in the 45 minute race. I did finish -1 lap, but some of the guys that lapped me were just crazy fast. A few riders passed me on the second lap and a couple more on the last lap. I ended up with a 10th place finish.
This was my first year racing Masters Cat 1/2/3. Cat 1/2/3 means racing against some elite level riders…Cat 1/2 road and Pro/Cat 1 mountain bike. As a Cat 2 mountain biker, Cat 1/2/3 CX certainly is a challenge for me. I still have three of four ‘cross races left for this season, but I’m already looking forward to the 2011 edition of the NYCROSS.com Cyclocross Series.
