Cyclocross - A Guide to Offseason Fun
By Coach Ted Ramos
Most Well-Fit athletes have completed or are near competing in their big A race this summer. So now the question comes, “what’s next?”
Without any triathlons to train for motivation to stay in shape is low. Don’t lose the fitness you worked so hard to build up by watching football and drinking beer every weekend this fall. Take your spectacular fitness to a whole new level and try out cyclocross.
Cyclocross is a race that takes place on a short off-road circuit. Any park in the city can be used in a cyclocross race and it incorporates riding on grass, up and down hills, over barriers or fallen trees, through sandy beaches and dirt trails. Cyclocross is best raced with a cyclocross bike but a mountain bike with no bar ends or a hybrid will do just fine to get started in the sport. The first few years that I did cyclocross, I raced on a $200 mountain bike. Therefore you really don’t need anything fancy if you just want to get out there and have fun.
Cyclocross is probably the most athletic of the cycling disciplines because you need to be able to time trial on a bike for anywhere from 30 – 60 minutes while handling your bike in technical turns and occasionally running with your bike over unrideable barriers.
Why would you be interested in cyclocross you may ask?
First of all, it is something completely different from triathlon and totally fun. The local cross series www.chicrosscup.com has a great grass roots type atmosphere where everybody is accepted. Spectators line the course cheering you on and if you goof up a fan may heckle you while handing you a Twinkie, beer or dollar bill.
Second, you will improve your bike handling skills. Whether you ride a mountain bike or cross bike, you will learn how to properly corner in any and every condition. You will become graceful and learn to be at one with your bike as you learn dismounts and remounts.
Third, cyclocross will improve your strength and top end power on the bike. Cyclocross is a short race that takes place over the span of 30-60 minutes, so that means you have to pedal hard during that span. Come summertime, with the strength and power that you developed in cyclocross, you will have an extra gear and be able to out accelerate your riding partners and climb the steepest of hills.
Finally, cyclocross is a sport that is easily accessible to any athlete that lives in the Chicagoland area. Check out the schedule at www.chicrosscup.com for race dates and locations or www.bikereg.com to sign up for a race. There will be at least 15 Chicagoland area races this fall and winter.
On August 28th there will be a cyclocross relay race in Jackson Park on the South Side. If you ride downtown to check out the Chicago Triathlon that day, afterward consider riding South down the Lakefront path to 63rd street to check out the craziness that is called cyclocross. I guarantee you will be hooked and reconsider your plans to become a couch potato this off season.
Coach Ted is both an Elite age group triathlete and cyclocross competitor. He is teaching a cyclocross class at Well-Fit this fall. He can be reached at ted@wellfitinc.com.