What wasn’t discussed is the Wednesday Evening World Cycling Championships, which also will take place on the ASU campus during October.
It’s not really a world championship event, but it may well be the “World Championships of Family Cycling Fun” in San Angelo.
The event I’m referring to is the prestigious Wednesday evening cyclocross series organized by the university’s ASUFit program.
ASU students, employees and cyclists from the regional community will go head to head, competing for bragging rights in the Men’s and Women’s A, B and C (expert, intermediate and beginner) categories.
The little kids will get downright serious as they battle for top Kid’s Kross honors in the ages 6-and-under and 7-10 races.
Friends, parents and family members will be watching all of the action from the comfort of their folding chairs as racers complete laps on the off-road course that loops around the ASU softball field next to Johnson Street.
They’ll be shouting words of encouragement, ringing cowbells (a cyclocross tradition) and heckling the racers (another important cyclocross tradition).
The format for cyclocross is multiple laps around a comparatively short course, so the cyclists will be completing each 1-mile lap in five to seven minutes during each of the seven to eight lap races. This makes for great spectating if you’re not racing.
The event kicks off Oct. 2 with races every Wednesday evening through Oct. 30. Registration will be from 5:15-6:15 p.m. at the race location. Kid’s races start at 6:15 p.m., and the adult race will roll off at 6:30 p.m.
So, exactly what is cyclocross, and how does it differ from normal mountain biking or road cycling?
A typical CX course consists of a serpentine 1- to 2-mile route through grass, dirt, deep sand and mud if it rains. At one or more locations during each lap, there usually will be a barrier or unrideable section that forces riders to dismount, pick up their bikes, carry them over the obstacle and then remount and pedal on.
Races are based either on time (example: 40 minutes) or on a set number of laps. In a typical race, cyclists will complete a lap every five to seven minutes, with faster riders lapping slower racers. It’s all fun, and there will always be someone who’s going at about your pace.
The experienced riders will make the barrier sections look easy with fast, smooth dismounts, graceful leaps over the barriers and rapid remounts.
Beginners will struggle a bit more to get on and off their bikes (but still have fun) as they “soldier on” while battling other riders, the course and maxed-out heart rates.
So what equipment and skills do you need to give cyclocross a try during this year’s CX series?
You’ll obviously need a bike. Although top-level cyclocross racers use a bike specifically designed for CX racing, normal mountain or hybrid bikes are the weapons of choice for most local racers.
Mountain bike clip-in pedals or flat pedals work best. You need off-road tires, and you’ll want to make sure that the bike’s tires have sealant tubes installed (flats are not fun).
If your bike has a big, roomy seat bag, light, or other accessories installed, you can remove those items for cyclocross races to make your bike a little lighter.
Bulky hydration packs or big water bottles aren’t needed — the races are only 30-60 minutes in length, so a small water bottle or none at all will work fine.
The basic skills needed at the entry level are fairly simple — you should be comfortable riding on grass, smooth dirt, a little mud (if we get lucky), negotiating sharp turns and climbing or descending short up/down sections.
Unlike mountain biking, cyclocross courses usually are fairly smooth, so the focus is on going fast rather than bouncing through big “rock gardens.”
Dismounts and remounts at barriers will be something that you need to practice — watch this YouTube video to see a short “how to” tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTTOBnu7w-k.
Cyclocross is a niche sport within a niche sport, but it’s also the fastest growing discipline within competitive cycling. However, it’s more than just a form of racing — it also personifies a unique “be a kid and go play on the bike” mindset and attitude related to cycling as a recreational sport.
Imagine that you’re a cyclist who, like many, rides either on the road or possibly on mountain bike trails. You probably stay home and watch videos on the days when it’s cold, windy, or muddy, and you try to avoid all situations where you might get off the bike and lift it over an obstacle.
You’re missing half the fun.
Cyclocross started out as an informal way for European road racers to keep up their offseason workouts when the weather turned cold and the days got shorter. The early cyclocross bikes were “Frankenbike” concoctions cobbled together from old bike frames and used parts.
Fast forward to now, and cyclocross has become its own sport, completely different from the traditional road racing or mountain biking.
Here in Texas, like other states, there’s a dedicated season of cyclocross racing that runs from October through January. This year’s Texas Cup cyclocross series includes 22 races that all lead up to the State Cyclocross championships in January 2014.
There are similar CX events taking place throughout the nation, ranging from small local events to large international races such as the United States Grand Prix series events that attract riders from around the world.
Don’t miss out on being part of the fun. Visit www.angelo.edu/content/files/17287-cyclocross-series, print out an event flyer and plan on racing the October events.
Ride On, San Angelo, and remember — Wednesday evenings in October are “cyclocross nights” on the ASU campus.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 21: ASU Family Day 5K, angelo.edu/asufit
Oct. 2: ASUFit cyclocross series, angelo.edu/asufit
Oct. 9: ASUFit cyclocross series, angelo.edu/asufit
Oct. 12: ASU Homecoming Ram Run, angelo.edu/asufit
Oct. 16: ASUFit cyclocross series, angelo.edu/asufit
Oct. 23: ASUFit cyclocross series, angelo.edu/asufit
Oct. 26: Heart Walk, http://heartwalk.kintera.org
Oct. 30: ASUFit cyclocross series, angelo.edu/asufit
Nov. 23: Turkey Trot 5K, angelo.edu/asufit
