It’s almost Autumn. Hard to believe when the temperature in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, yesterday was in the mid-90s. Our first ’cross race, the target of all my work this past summer, is in less than three weeks. As soon as I got back from Nationals I began thinking about, planning for, and training towards this season. How many times in my life am I going to have the chance to even consider going to Masters Worlds? With their presence in the US for the next two years, it actually is a reality for me. All of the goals I’ve set, every mile on the mountain bike this summer, each circuit on the ’cross course; they’re now money in the bank. This week I’ll finalize my racing schedule for the season and then, with Louisville firmly planted in my mind, I’ll start racing. One more endurance race over Labor Day weekend, and then, cyclocross. Scraped shins, mud of all varieties, ruts, sand, max heart rate, blood, sweat and drool. What could be more fun?

The first race in Washington state is always one to attend, especially when it’s on Labor day weekend. Top riders, old friends, and a whole slew of cheers or jeers were happily reunited. Presented by Team Double check, the Labor Day cyclocross race was a success in drawing in riders from all over including Nick Weighall and David Richter. Raleigh’s new addition, Jenni Gaertner of Raleigh USA even came out to throw down with an impressive win since her contract at Raleighs Midsummers Race. Located at a new venue, “The Pit” (Lloyd Enterprises Retail Yard) in Milton, Washington. this gravel pit was converted into an abusive cross course that tested the skills and hydration of many.

San Francisco, California – The race that is bringing cyclocross to Stafford Lake Park in Novato, California for the first time is opening registration today, Friday September 9th, at 6 P.M. Registration will be open for all classes from C’s (beginner) to Elite (Pro).

Colorado Springs, Colorado — The United States will once again host more top-level cyclocross races than any other nation in the world with 49 events slated for the 2011-12 United States International Cyclocross Calendar (USICX). The USICX, a new domestic cyclocross calendar comprised of top quality, UCI-inscripted events, begins this Saturday, Sept. 10 with the Nittany Lion Cross in Brenigsville, Pa.

With Gabby Day stateside for the start of her normally European-based season, it seemed like a perfect chance to get an up-close and personal look at her new Raleigh RXC Pro Carbon bikes with Ritchey and SRAM Red componentry. Since we’re the same size, it’s been a huge temptation for me, seeing the new carbon Raleigh frames with their stealth matte black appeal. Day is stylish on her own, and the new bikes perfectly compliment to her new team, The Chainstay and RENNER Clothing Team. Day is racing on the East Coast for the next month, from Baltimore to Vermont, and spent some time this week talking with me about her race plans, thoughts on the US, and thoughts on being a woman in racing.

The Euro’s are coming, the Euro’s are coming. Have we really made that much of an impact or is this just a fluke as everyone is thinking about the 2013 World Champs in Louisville? It is officially here though folks, ’cross season’s big kick-off tomorrow. So with that being said, where are the pros going this weekend and what are they up to if not racing? Jeremy Powers, Adam Myerson, Tom Van Den Bosche, Ian Field, Bryan Fawley, Luke and Jesse Keough, Justin Lindine and Weston Schempf are all lining up for the men at the 6th Annual Nittany Cross. And for the women we have Helen Wyman, Rebecca Wellons, Laura Van Gilder, Vicki Thomas and Gabby Day. Tim Johnson is out training with ’cross buddy and fellow New Englander Jesse Anthony; will we see Jesse hit the dirt much this year? Zdenek Stybar gets serious about ’cross, at least on Twitter. Ryan Trebon starts the competition early at the GP Molly Cameron. Telenet-Fidea looks towards the future with Bart Wellens and an all-new women’s team with Nikki Harris, Sophie de Boer, Nicole de Bie and Pavla Havlikova.

“When I was young I use to race cyclocross. I would like to do it again for fun, as the strength you can get from it would be great training.”

The challenging weather of fall can only mean that the excitement of cyclocross will once again dominate cycling’s headlines. SRAM’s domestic cyclocross roster features the nation’s top teams and individuals including Jeremy Powers, reigning USGP Series Champion, and Todd Wells, reigning US National Cyclocross Champion. SRAM has also added the horsepower of the two-time US champ, Ryan Trebon.

Indianapolis, Indiana — Cyclocross is brutal, on both riders and their equipment. The constant obstacles, flying mounts down muddy hills and mad cluster of frantic competitors are just the beginning. The abuse put on equipment is intense, and dependable gear is key. Zipp has a strong commitment to developing strong, reliable cyclocross gear, and supporting the athletes that ride it.

Kick-start your cyclocross season with this breathtaking race near the top of Bald Peak. This course is a great way to improve your cycling skills, …

Portland, OR — Katheryn Curi Mattis has announced she’ll be dusting off her cleats for the women’s cyclocross race at CrossVegas on September 14th. Curi Mattis is a perennial threat in any contest she enters, but she will certainly have her work cut out for her — CrossVegas attracts some of the best cyclocross racers in the world and has become a regular highlight of the bicycle industry’s annual trade show.

The Euro Invasion has hit the East Coast, and UK-based cyclocrosser Gabby Day has been staying with me in the days leading up to Nittany. This 26-year-old racer has never been to the US, and while maybe the Philadelphia airport wasn’t the best introduction to the country, I’ve been trying to show her some of the nicer parts. Granted, it’s been raining every day, which is going to mean a very muddy start to her US cyclocross season, but she’s taking in stride. With her first US race only a few days away, I wanted to ask her a few questions about her first impressions of the US and how it feels being a woman in the sport.

Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers: teammates no more. Watch these two champions clash for the first time at Cross Vegas wearing opposing colors. Before they meet on the field, they will do battle at the Interbike/PDW Circulus for an exhibition race and press conference.

Clear blue sunny skies set the stage for what was to be the warmest and dustiest Langley Cyclocross Classic on record. Just over 100 participants took to the farm fields and forests of Aldor Acres for this early season ‘kick in the pants’ ’cross race. The course featured a long flat gravel section, barriers, a long run-up with a knee high log at the base of it (which only the top few were able to ride it), a single track descending section followed by some twisty turns through the trees in almost sand-like ground.

Two years ago, I started bike commuting to Arizone State University (six miles each way) after not having ridden in a decade. I decided to get a versatile cyclocross bike. It could be easily converted between a road, touring, commuter and light duty mountain bike. While cyclocross is one of the fastest growing sports in America, ’cross bikes are still fairly rare. I starting racing in a local race series with about 50 other people, got hooked and was interested in getting a faster race bike. About 10-50 bikes are listed on the Phoneix Craigslist every day, but a ’cross bike only appears every week or two, and it was never the right size or what I was looking for. So, I started upgrading and customizing my bike over two years, while putting about 5000 miles on it.
Then it got stolen, a comedy of errors ensued, and all was amazingly resolved in less than 24 hours.

I have two of the greatest sponsors in the world. Not only are they both 100% invested in my racing and incredibly enthusiastic about it, they provide services like keeping my bikes in great working condition, making sure that I’m eating enough and if I ask nicely, even doing my laundry.

Lancaster, Massachusetts – The Minuteman Road Club is pleased to announce the opening of registration for The Midnight Ride of Cyclocross (MRCX), which will take …

We have 7 races on Vancouver Island this year, from Victoria to Cumberland, Nanaimo to Port Alberni. Of those seven races, six are series races and one is the “Island Championships” (see information below). Of the six races in the series we will score a max of five events throwing out your worst series score if you do all six events. The last race of the series will be the series championships in Victoria and will be double points as it has been in the past.

The Zanconato Single-Speed Cyclocross Trophy Series: A six race single-speed cyclocross series and a chance to win a custom Zank frame and fork!

The Zanconato Single-Speed Cyclocross Series is a series of made up of six of the coolest grassroots races in New England Cyclocross with a dedicated single-speed category. Men and women will be scored separately but race at the same time.

The season starts in less than a week — is your bike ready? Mechanical Mondays writer and mechanic Jeremy Chinn walks us through improving the shifting on one specific bike, but you can also look at his advice in a much broader spectrum of bike maintenance, upkeep and constant improvement.

There were two more bikes of note, and Ken Bloomer sent us some specs and photos of even more bikes to lust after. The first is the Firefly Ti Cross with an Enve tapered fork. It features Campa Record 11, Chris King R45 Campa hubs with Enve 45 rims and a custom internal cable routing carbon stem. It’s total weight? A mere 6.5 kg.

In a shocking turn of events, 2010 series champion Lewis Rattray has had the 2011 Dirty Deeds Urban Cyclocross series wrestled from his hands, being defeated in the third and final race by Red Shift Racing’s Andrew Blair.

Las Vegas — Faster shifting means faster racing, and at CrossVegas, it’s measured in fast laps. Fast is encouraged! . . . that’s why WickWerks is sponsoring the”WickWerks Wicked Fast Lap Award” at CrossVegas. In each category the rider who completes the fastest lap will receive a cash prize — $100 for blazing a Wicked Fast Lap.

Here at Eurobike, among the fancy carbon mountain bikes, quirky commuter rigs, sexy road bikes, latest cycling fashions and the most diverse group of bike-nerds in the world, is the newest collection of cyclocross rigs and components. Just about every bicycle manufacturer, large an small, has some sort of cyclocross offering here at the 2011 Eurobike bicycle trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

In less than two weeks, I’ll be traveling to the first cross race of the season. Like you, I’ve been preparing for these races all year, training hard, eating and drinking right (most of the time … )

I have extensive experience with racing in the US and Europe; I know the differences and successes between the two, which will contribute to how we approach the growth and management of the sport. I’ve been involved in teaching clinics, coaching cyclocross specific athletes and encouraging others to try the sport and help it grow. I know the technical ins and outs of cyclocross and feel I would be a good candidate for the committee.

This week: cheap eats. When reading up for this article, I came across two schools of thought: those who ride to eat and those who eat to ride. I can’t pretend to be too partisan, I have sympathy for both camps.

Colorado Springs, Colorado – USA Cycling’s new rankings system is now available for all current licensees via their My USA Cycling Account. The revamped system will not only provide increasingly accurate rankings, but also the ability to compare and contrast results and rankings with fellow riders across disciplines, age and ability categories.

A simple stroll through the Eurobike trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany is impossible. It’s the largest bicycle trade show in the world, and such a distinction means it’s a sensory overload of all things bicycle. Two-wheeled (and three- and four- and one-wheeled) eye candy of all shapes, sizes colors and versions assault the visitor’s senses on several levels.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a new altitude simulator called the CVAC Pod, may boost athletic performance. The pod works by suctioning out air from the pod to simulate being at a high altitude…