Tandem cyclocrossers now have their own class in NYC. by Steve Ransom
Just like non-round chainrings and colored anodized components, tandem cyclocross surfaces once every 15 years or so. The craziness of a two-person mount and dismount were on display in six inches of snow at the 1995 Nats in Leicester, Mass. , and will be back again in New York City. Weld your bikes together and make the trip, because it might be a long wait until your next chance. Press release below.
NEW YORK, NY September 2009 – Cyclocross and tandems? Is that a good idea? The promoters of StatenCX, New York City’s premier cyclocross race, think so. On Sunday, November 29, come out and race at Wolfs Pond Park, located in the Tottenville section of Staten Island. Mixed with standard USA Cycling categorized events, the Tandem Open hopes to bring an extra dose of excitement to the second-year event, with mixed tandem teams battling it out on the 2km course for prizes provided by Tandems East (Pittsgrove, NJ) and other sponsors. If you think tandem racing on the velodrome is hair-raising, wait until the teams of two have to dismount in perfect unison to clear sets of 40cm barriers, trudge across a 100m beach run, and dodge around a fast course of grass and hard-packed mud.
Race organizers Christophe Jammet, Jed Kornbluh, and John Cutler hatched this plan while talking with StatenCX 2008 sponsor Mel Kornbluh, of Tandems East, during the early planning stages of this year’s event. Kornbluh, a long-time tandem industry veteran, suggested the event as a way to introduce his fellow tandem enthusiasts to a sport with similar cult status. “If they use the same course as last year, it will be grueling and very challenging, but serious fun,” said Mel Kornbluh. The course winds through the beach-front park and has a variety of terrain including standard 40cm barriers, a beach run, stairs, off-camber descents, grass, mud, and pavement. Regarding the park, Jed Kornbluh stated: “We’re really quite lucky to have this gem of a park within the boundaries of NYC and hope riders will return to the venue this year for another great event.”
The 2008 event was the first cyclocross race in NYC in nearly a decade and featured free Belgian waffles, courtesy of Wafels & Dinges and VisitFlanders.us, celebrity chef Matt Sigel of Hell’s Kitchen manning the BBQ, and plenty of food and drink from Wellshire Farms, Schaller & Weber, and Honest Tea Beverages.
The day’s events begin at 8AM with novice races and will run with events each hour until the end of the Elite Race, which starts at 2PM. The Tandem Open will run concurrently with the Singlespeed Open, with riders starting at 11AM and racing for 45 minutes. Registration for the Tandem Open event is $50 per team and prizes will be awarded to the first three teams to cross the finish line.
Registration available only at Bikereg.com: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=8782
For additional information, contact: [email protected]
Horse costume and horse urine are optional. by Masae Otsuka
