Cyclocross schedule

[stoneage]

For anyone who is interested or wants to try this sport, here is the schedule for this season.

CLINICS
Sun, Sep 10 Hollywood Cycles CX Clinic (???), Richfield, MN

Wed, Sep 13-Oct 18 "Under-the-Lights" Training Series, Boom Island, Minneapolis, MN

CRY SERIES
Sat, Sep 23 Red River Challenge CX, MB Johnson Park, Moorhead, MN
Sun, Sep 24 Pork Chop Challenge CX, Riverside Park, St Cloud, MN

Sat, Sep 30 Hudson Riverfront CX, Riverfront Park, Hudson, WI
Sun, Oct 01 MCT/Tonka Bike & Ski CX, Orono High School, Orono, MN

Sat, Oct 07 Rum River CX, Rec. Park, Milaca, MN
Sun, Oct 08 St Paul Bicycle Racing Club, Lake Rebecca Pk, Rockford, MN

Sat, Oct 14 Spirit Mountain CX, Spirit Mountain, Duluth, MN
Sun, Oct 15 Alan Factory Cup CX, Boom Island Park, Minnepolis, MN

Sat, Oct 21 Ham Lake CX, Ham Lake Bible Camp, Ham Lake, MN
Sun, Oct 22 The Hub CX, Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, MN

Sat, Oct 28 Red Barn Classic CX, Erickson Tree Farm, Taylors Falls. MN
Sun, Oct 29 Nature Valley CX, Hidden Valley Park, Savage, MN

Sat, Nov 04 Anoka CX, TBD
Sun, Nov 05 Northfield CX, TBD, Northfiled, MN

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sat, 11-Nov-06 Minnesota State CX Championships, Bassett Creek Park, Crystal, MN

Sun, 19-Nov-06 Wisconsin State CX Championships, Sun Prairie, WI

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Fri, 08-Dec-06 National CX Championships, Provdence, RI

[seejames]

I am really interested in doing cyclecross, but I was wondering what type of "rules" there were regarding bike equipment, gear, etc. That I might need to be aware of. I know, for example, what a "cyclecross" bike looks like, but if I slightly modified my 29'er singlespeed, would that be "legal" for a cyclecross race?

Thanks for the help!

[stoneage]

Cross is actually a 'road' discipline. A vast majority of riders have a dedicated cross bike these days. You can ride almost anything you want, but there can't be any bar ends protruding forward, or you can spin your bars around if you want to ride a MTB. The courses lend themselves to a narrow tire. You will be at a huge disadvantage riding a wider 29'r or MTB tire. It is a great experience, and everyone should try a some races to see if they want to get into the scene. The races themselves are VERY hard, fairly short (1/2, 3/4 and 1 hour) in length, but you are basically anaerobic the entire time. I call them 1 hour train wrecks. Give it a try.

[ebrandel]

Cyclocross: Equipment (http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=1144)

[transplant]

What are the times? Are they all day affairs?

[seejames]

I am going to give it a try. I think that I will wait to purchase a dedicated bike until I have tasted a few events. I just wanted to make sure that I knew what rules, if any, regarding equipment so I could make the appropriate changes.

[stoneage]

What are the times? Are they all day affairs?
Traditionally, they are late morning, early afternoon.

[transplant]

Thank yew! I'd like to observe one of these "train wrecks".

[bike>>rider]

Are disc brakes permitted for racing cross in this series? It seems to me that I read somewhere that many cross series forbid them.

[stoneage]

Are disc brakes permitted for racing cross in this series? It seems to me that I read somewhere that many cross series forbid them.
That is a UCI rule that isn't being enforced at this level. They had some forks snap off in Europe, but the real reason is; the UCI didn't think of it first and wanted to control the equipment standard. :confused: :crazy:

[Konaboy]

Thank yew! I'd like to observe one of these "train wrecks".

It's quite the sight to see. Definitely worth watching at least once.

[martini]

I am going to give it a try. I think that I will wait to purchase a dedicated bike until I have tasted a few events. I just wanted to make sure that I knew what rules, if any, regarding equipment so I could make the appropriate changes.

I'd change up your gearing to something more speed freindly and less trail freindly. Somthing on the order of 40-16. You're gonna want to go fast, and the hills are mostly run-ups. defintely get narrower tires. 35 to 40c's should do it. Bill's right. The fatties will slow you down a ton.

Looks like the only MN race I may be able to attend is the Northfeild one. Bummer. I like racin' wit you guys.