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Ease Your Way (Back) Into Cyclocross with a Clinic
August 31st, 2008 Filed Under Issue 1, print_archives, training
New to the sport? Raced for a while but your technical skills have hit a plateau? Looking for an edge on those guys or gals who beat you last year? Try attending a ‘cross clinic in your local area. A well-run clinic can help almost any level of racer—you’d be surprised with all the little tips and tidbits you’ll pick up. ‘Cross is fun regardless of how good you are, but with improved skills, you’ll be faster, more efficient, safer, and likely to have a better time. Can’t find one? Check our national calendar first…it’s worth the wait. If nothing is nearby, ask a local club or your local ‘cross expert to host one.
Got skills to share? Consider hosting one yourself. Preseason is not the only time a clinic is useful—later in the season, once newbies are hooked, is a perfect time to help them along that steep learning curve (or run up).
But don’t take it from us. Martin Baker, a coach with the Cross Crusade pre-season clinics, shares his perspective on the benefit of a good cyclocross clinic with us. (This article was originally published in Issue #1)
Alpenrose Cyclocross Clinic Number 2: A Coach’s Perspective
By Martin Baker
Every year in September, various organizers and participants in Portland, Oregon’s Cyclocross Crusade kick off the season with a series of [More…]
Cyclocross Magazine’s Poetry Contest Officially Launched
August 30th, 2008 Filed Under cyclocross news, editorial
Alright, the details are finally here. Our third reader contest has officially started.
Good cyclocross is poetry in motion, and can inspire good poetry as well. It’s time to get out your Robert Frost or Dr. Seuss books out and assemble up your best words and rhymes to impress the illiterate staff of Cyclocross Magazine with your best ‘cross poem.
We’ve got a bunch of great prizes lined up for this contest, with more on their way. Read all about our great prizes, official rules, and the deadline for our cyclocross poetry contest here, and then get started! With just a few dozen creatively chosen and aligned words, you might be sporting new tubulars from Challenge or Vittoria, TRP brakes, Schwalbe clinchers, or Wabi Woolen threads this season.
Chicago’s Deep Dish of Fun: ‘Cross Clinic and Bike Swap
August 29th, 2008 Filed Under press releases, training
Chicago Cyclocross Cup is proud to present the first annual cyclocross clinic on Saturday, September 13 at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). The clinic will be lead by Coach Ben Turner of Cycle-Smart. Ben who will be teaching the techniques and strategies needed for a successful cyclocross season. Ben is the current manager of CLIF BAR Development Cyclo-Cross Team, the top under-25 development cycling program in the country.
The schedule will be as follows: [More…]
New Product Spotlight: Sportique Sports Creams
August 28th, 2008 Filed Under new products
We at Cyclocross Magazine get a few interesting packages at our world headquarters. One that perhaps captured the most curiosity is a box of sports creams from Sportique International for review. With names like “Get Going Cream,” “Hard Day’s Night Foot Cream,” “Road Rash Balm,” “Mother’s Little Helper” and “Century Riding Cream” it’s hard not to be curious as to what’s inside the creatively-named tubes.
Well, after trying some of them over the last few months, we’re ready to say Sportique has got a cyclocrosser’s embrocation and lotion needs fully covered. Have trouble getting out of bed or getting on the bike? Embrocate with some “Get Going Cream.” Need some chamois butter? Try their “Century Riding Cream” and then ride to your race and then enter every category. Feet hurt after running stadiums? Sounds like a “Hard Day’s Night Foot Cream” evening. Take a spill on that dry, loose, late-summer cyclocross practice course? “Road Rash Balm” may help even if it wasn’t really a road that took you down.
Sportique also offers product to keep you ready for the next race, with shaving oils and massage creams and butters. Stuff your bag with these, bring along a masseur, and feel like a pro, even if it’s only skin deep.
In testing, their “Get Going Cream” proved to be [More…]
Jonathan Page’s Planet Bike Cup to feature equal prize money for women and men
August 27th, 2008 Filed Under cyclocross news
Women racers from Juniors up to Elites will be racing for the same prize list as the men at Jonathan Page’s Planet Bike Cup.”Women train as hard, spend as much money traveling to races, and race just as hard as the men,” says Renee Callaway, race director. “There’s no reason why they shouldn’t race for the same prize payout.”
Jonathan Page’s Planet Bike Cup is part of the Wisconsin Cycling Association (WCA) cyclocross series. The WCA series also offers equal prize payouts for male and female racers. This has helped develop a strong contingent of female racers including Team Planet Bike’s National Champions Diane Ostenso (50-54) and Anna Young (17-18).
Jonathan Page’s Planet Bike Cup will be held September 27 and 28 in Sun Prairie, WI just outside Madison. More information is available online at www.madcross.org and registration is currently open on BikeReg.com.
Jonathan Page’s Planet Bike Cup is hosted by the Capitol Velo Club, a women’s road cycling club based in Madison, WI. Sponsors for the race weekend include Planet Bike, Williamson Bicycle & Fitness, Sheila Moon, Twin Six, Harlot Wear, Cyclocross Magazine, Becker Law Office, and Lawton & Cates, SC.
Time for ‘Cross Dress Shopping?
August 26th, 2008 Filed Under cyclocross news
With September fast approaching, training races are popping up everywhere. In the Bay Area, training often involves a little twist if you know where to go. No training series near by? Consider starting your own. (This article originally appeared in Issue 1 of our print magazine.)
When September rolls in, just like in many other parts of the world, cyclocross racers in Northern California become giddy with excitement. They tune-up their bikes, re-glue their tubulars, and bust out their running shoes and cold weather gear, readying for “the season.” But in this part of the country, many racers add one additional task to their season preparations: dress shopping.
September 5 2007, 5:50 p.m., at an urban park in San Francisco. Cyclists on ‘cross bikes start appearing from all directions. In what seems like a poorly coordinated flash mob, they gather, chatter, and many of the men start slipping into skirts and dresses, sometimes helping each other with dress straps, clasps, and buttons. The men admire each other’s attire; the ones with spaghetti straps and sequins attract the most attention. Women are seen putting on pants, button down shirts, and even fake mustaches. [More…]
Cyclocross Magazine’s Events Calendar Nears 600 Events
August 25th, 2008 Filed Under cyclocross news, racing
Since launching our comprehensive ‘cross calendar last week, we’ve been adding more events as they come in, and in less than a week the calendar has nearly doubled in size, with approximately 600 races, clinics, and training events listed for the U.S. alone. Sort, filter, search as you wish, and plan the perfect race season here: http://cxmagazine.com/calendar
(With so many races, it can be slow to load on slower machines. It’s worth the wait, and we’re working on speeding it up as you read this.)
With 600 events, it’s clear that cyclocross in North America is now playing a major role in the sport’s international growth.
Readers Want More Barriers, Tell Us Why CX Rules
August 24th, 2008 Filed Under polls
Our last poll was decisive - the vast majority of you don’t think the UCI and USA Cycling rules are for the better of the sport, and over half of you would first reject the limitations on the # of barriers that are allowed on a course. Power to the promoters, and ultimately, the racer to decide what makes a good course and is most fun?
We’ve got a new poll up and it’s a simple one. Tell us what you like best about ‘cross. Go to it - express your opinion and vote in the upper right of our site.
Rad Racing Northwest presents the 2008 Rad Racing GP Cyclocross Race
August 23rd, 2008 Filed Under cyclocross news, press releases
Seattle is promising a world-class weekend of UCI ‘cross racing to open up the season. Following Seattle’s Star Crossed race, racers will move to the next day to contest the Rad Racing GP in Lakewood, WA on September 21. The race boasts top national and international riders, an intimidating course, and great prizes for all categories.
Olympia, Wash. - Rad Racing NW is proud to host the Rad Racing GP of Cyclocross Presented By Kona and Full Speed Ahead on September 21st at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Wash. This world-class cyclocross event will feature top riders from around the country in what has become one of the great races to open the U.S. cyclocross season each year. [More…]
Interbike OutDoor Expo Adds Cyclocross Course
August 23rd, 2008 Filed Under Industry, press releases
Cyclocross has now been fully embraced by Interbike, with a new, dedicated cyclocross course added to the Bootleg Canyon OutDoor Demo site. (But Cyclocross Magazine wants to know if there will there be cowbells, a full pit and a beer tent. Because if we’re really going to test ‘cross bikes in the most non-cross weather in the hot, dry desert, hopefully the other aspects of the course will be as realistic as possible.) See full press release below.
Interbike OutDoor Demo Looking Strong for September 2008
Bicycle retailers and media can demo a broad range of products at Bootleg Canyon demo site, including cyclocross bikes on a cyclocross-specific course. [More…]