Cyclocross

Article by: © Michael J. Rosen 2012

"Mud. Bikes. Tears. Pain. Cyclocross: An Hour in Hell."

- anonymous cyclocross competitor

Remember that first time you got up on your two-wheeler, your new red Huffy four-speed, when Dad, scooting along to help you gain momentum, finally thrust you forward, letting you ride with your own balance, wind rushing past your face, butterflies fluttering in your belly...

And remember how quickly you lost control, swerving into the neighbor's stupid bed of petunias and marigolds with that big fancy rock in the center that's still streaked red where your fender grazed it as your tire popped? Remember how the neighbor shouted from the front door that she had already phoned the police as you walked your bike back to Dad crying, "Why did you shove me so hard?"

Remember?

As if riding through a suburban obstacle course weren't tough enough, one sport takes bikes to terrains so treacherous that sometimes competitors can't even navigate the course while riding. Cyclocross, invented in the early 1900s when European road racers took off-road shortcuts through farmers' fields or over fences getting to the next town, is an "off-track" bike race, where riders try to maintain some kind of speed across pavement, wooded trails, sandpits, plank barriers, and other obstacles. When the cycling's impossible, or when running with a bike slung over your shoulder would be faster, cyclists quickly dismount and become runners for up to 10% of the course, which is normally between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 miles.

This is a sport with international appeal: France held its first Cyclocross National Championship in 1902; 73 years later, so did the U.S. The World Championship, held since 1950, brought 50,000 competitors to Treviso, Italy for the 2008 Union Cycliste International Cyclo-Cross Championship. Due to the hazardous conditions, expert riders compete with modified bikes, a pit crew with extra equipment, and a spare bike-an understudy bike, as it were, that sits in the wings waiting for a big break. With all that grassy terrain, graveled stretches, and steep hills, it's tough to figure why competitors don't consider bringing a backup Jeep.

Love running? Love biking? (Not so crazy about swimming?) See if cyclocross is your kind of triathlon at www.cxtreviso2008.com.

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