Cyclocross. The crack of cycling??

I was recently trying to convince a customer of Joyride Bikes to come out and give cyclocross a try. He replied that he had heard 'cross was the 'crack of cycling'. By that he meant extremely addictive. Well, he is probably right.

The history and rise in popularity of cyclocross can be found with our friend google or with Simon Burney's excellent book: Cyclocross, Third Edition. I've been fascinated for years. I've mountain biked. I'm a competent bike handler in sloppy conditions. I've road biked. Cross blends the elements of road strategy, bike handling, equipment selection, and dumb luck into a race format that is distilled and condensed into 45 minutes of hedonistic fun.

It's great for those with short attention spans. It's great for those lacking in fitness (it's only 45 minutes). It takes the crucial strategy of a road race and eliminates the unnecessary miles between the key events. It's great for obsessive-compulsives because equipment selection is vital: what tires? what pressure? what gearing? It allows innovation in thinking whereas most road-race bikes fit nicely into molds of what works and what doesn't. It's great for tacticians because there is usually a right place that can make or break a race. One mistake can take you out of the running. It's great as a social venue because we're not road snobs. It almost feels like mountain bike racing did 15+ years ago.

Cross is easy to get into. That old hardtail that sits in the garage? Some minor work and it's an ideal entry-level 'cross steed. The hybrid you thought you'd commute on? Just about perfect. I've even seen people cross racing on regular road bikes. Run what you brung. Also, if you need another excuse: 'cross bikes are the perfect, versatile do-most-everything bike you can have in your stable. Keep the carbon fiber wonder bike inside when't it's rotten. Ride the 'cross! Need a commuter? Ride the 'cross! Want to connect roads via dirt roads? Ride the 'cross! Want to improve your technical abilities on a mtn. bike? Ride the 'cross! Want to try a crit where you're 99% sure some category 5 guy wants to take you out? Ride the 'cross!

Opportunities to ride cross are abounding. Excuses are few. There's your invitation. Come out and cross with us this fall and find out what the addiction is about - at least most of what you'll see at a cyclocross race is legal.