Moose Cross Day One

It was a pretty good day for Rexburg cyclists at Moose Cross with big numbers of participants (including first time cross racers Kellen, Dan, Shea, and Jordan). A couple of bad crashes cast a shadow over the day, but for the most part, it was pretty fun and successful. The only real surprise on the course was a sand pit that was put in place after our pre-ride on Thursday.

I think we had ten cyclists from Rexburg participate today, eleven if you count the very talented Jerry Long, a Rexburg native who won the men’s masters race. Thanks to Bob Yeatman for coming over today to support the race and for the work that he, Tom, and Whitney have invested in the Cube (two weeks from today). We managed to get almost everyone together for a picture.  Apologies to Zac Petterson who was being called up for his race start as the picture was being taken. Congratulations to Shea on a second place finish in the women’s cat 4 and to Kelton for 4^th place in the men’s cat 4.

Left to right: Brian, Kelton, Kellen, Jordan, Weston, Shea, Dan, Bob, Dave, Jeff

Cyclocross Is the Most Beautiful Thing in the World

This video was featured today on VeloNews. I am not unbiased, but I think it is beautiful. I will leave it to you to decide if it is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Cyclocross Is The Most Beautiful Thing In The World from ted on Vimeo.

GCN's Bike Culture: Cyclocross

When I talk to the uninitiated about cyclocross, their response is almost invariably a very blank stare. You have probably had the same experience. I remember years ago when Chris Huskinson tried to explain cross to me and Tony for the first time. I probably stared just like everyone else. Maybe this video will help.

This is one of several videos that Lana has added to the video section of her updated Cube web site. http://sarahsis88.wix.com/cube#!

 

Moose Cross

 

Earlier today, Dan, Shea, and I went over to Victor for a little Moose Cross preview. The course is hard packed and very fast. I can’t help but compare this picture at the end of a wet summer and fall with one that I have hanging up at work of the same spot on the course which shows riders passing through choking clouds of dust. Based on the set up that is in place, it looks like the course should be very similar to recent years. Here is the complete schedule for the weekend:

Sat

12:00-12:25 Fun class & Juniors (Male & Female – scored separately) - 25 min.

12:40-1:25 Men’s Masters 40+/50+/60+

1:40-2:25 Women’s 1/2/3, Women’s 4 & single speed

2:40-3:25 Mens 4

3:40-4:40 Mens 1/2/3 & single speed

4:55 U12 (1 lap)

4:56 U6 (small lap)

Sun

10:00- 10:45 Men’s Masters 40+/50+/60+

11:00-11:45 - Women’s 1/2/3, Women’s & and single speed

12:00-12:45 - Men’s 4

1:00-2:00 - Men’s 1/2/3 & single speed

http://www.moosecross.com/race-info/schedule

 

 

Cycling West: 37 Riders Complete Inaugural Montana Hell Ride

 

(Photo copyright Kevin Radley/cyclingwest.com)

The images from the mixed road and gravel event are stunning. The 125 mile route was actually shortened from 145 miles due to a portion of the road being washed out by spring run-off. http://www.cyclingwest.com/montana-hell-ride/

Lana's Cube Website

If you are not excited yet for the Cube, this should do the trick. Lana’s Cube website is live for 2014 as of today. This outstanding website might be the classiest thing about our little race. You will want to watch the excellent GCN videos on cross culture and technique.

http://sarahsis88.wix.com/cube#

UTCX #2 Video

Oliver took some video during the B race at Weber County Fairgrounds this past week.  It's not very exciting, but if you want to see a couple of middle-aged guys hopping on and off their bikes; here you go... please accept my apologies in advance, you won't be able to have your time back having wasted it watching this.

From Dave Bergart: Photos from Sandpoint CrosstoberFest, Lots of Misc Cross News

At dinner in Ogden Friday Night, Stephen and I were a little nostalgic remembering the golden age of amateur mountain bike racing in the nineties and early 2000's. That era is now ten years in the past, but the golden age of cyclocross just may be right now. Thanks to Dave for these pictures. As most of you know, the Sandpoint race is part of the new series partnership with Victor, Sandpoint, and Missoula. In addition to these regional races, we have a total of four additional races scheduled for Idaho Falls, Rexburg (just over 2 weeks until the Cube), and Pocatello as well as races in Bozeman, Boise, Sun Valley, and the excellent UTCX series. I don't know if the Twin Falls series has gotten back on its feet again or not. With all the other races, I have not even had time to check.

Here is the big news:  Moose Cross is only five days away. It is the premier cyclocross event in Southeastern Idaho with categories for all participants from kids and beginners to experts. Please support this event if you can. www.moosecross.com

On Wednesday evening beginning at 5 p.m., Brian will be hosting another cross night at this home. There is no better way to get ready for Moose Cross and the Cube. Contact me if you need more information.

Yesterday, Dawn and I were at the Nature Park, and I was happy to see that quite a few people have been doing some reconnaissance of the Cube. Here is the thing I am not happy about: there are bicycle tracks well onto the golf course right up to the edge of green. Here is the deal we have with the city. They will let us ride along the edge of the golf course, but they will not tolerate bikes farther out on the grass and one set of tire tracks across a golf green would shut down the Cube. When you come onto the golf course at the northwest corner, please make a hard left and ride along the edge of the grass. You can help by communicating that message especially to students who are unfamiliar with the city's policy for the golf course.

Register for The Cube

Just a quick reminder to register here for the Cube sooner rather than later.  This will help us in ordering shirts for the event and getting them printed up.

UTCX #2 Weber Fairgrounds Report

Cyclocross is a special kind of fun for me in which training is a blast and the actual race itself usually stinks.  UTCX#2 at the Weber County Fairgrounds could be easily summarized as follows: 

• Great Venue and Organization
• Great Course (see the map)
• Great Weather (not typical for CX)
• REALLY fast field

Dave and I did our best to keep up with the Masters 35+ B Field.  We actually started a minute behind the B entrants and 2 minutes behind the 45+ entrants.  According to Dave, as opposed to previous years when the horse track was a major part of the course itself, this year most of the action was on the rolling grass in and around the track.  Generally it felt fast, and during the cool down one of our fellow racers commented that this didn't provide many chances for rest during the race.

My biggest bobble of the day was not getting off the bike quick enough on a big hop up a couple of railroad ties and so I ended up hitting it at speed with my front tire. This ultimately ended up flatting the tubular (though I was able to ride it out), but the more immediate trouble was that it also knocked my chain off. 

Fortunately, Tim had forewarned us that a couple of the 45+ guys would lap us, and that they certainly did do.  Otherwise I felt like Dave and I had a pretty good day in a very strong field where it's no shame to count up to our names from the bottom of the finisher list rather than from the top.

A special thanks to my son Oliver for providing the pictures.

The Sticks and Stones Kits are Here

The kit looks great. If you pre-ordered, stop in to the shop and pick yours up. If you did not pre-order, but want a kit now, talk to Joe.

 

 

GCN: Top Ten Things Not to Wear While Cycling.

This is even a little sillier than the top ten things not to eat.

 

New Danny Macaskill: The Ridge

 

An Analog Age Souvenir of the Ogden Race

 

Stephen went with us to the Weber County Fairgrounds race today and took a few photographs with his Polaroid Camera. Our older readers will remember Polaroid Cameras with self developing images as one of the technological marvels of their childhood. Our younger readers have likely never seen one. I had a few little bobbles out on the course today, but only one big one. I tried to pedal into a fairly sharp uphill turn and dug the left pedal pretty hard. Stephen captured that instant in the second photo. If you look closely, you can see that my bike is sideways.

Kickoff Report/Moose Cross/Spooky Cross Night Race

Image courtesy Victor Velo

Dave Bergart has posted a report of the Cross Kickoff on the Victor Velo site.

http://victorvelo.blogspot.com/

Numbers for the Kickoff were not huge, but regardless the Victor races are second to none. Here are some very important dates to mark on your calendar:

Moose Cross Saturday October 11th and Sunday October 12th and

Spooky Cross Thursday Evening October 30th

As far as I am aware, this is the first evening race ever in Victor. I am very excited to give it a try.