Fall Cyclocross Program
Michigan Junior Cycling is excited to help introduce cyclocross to more juniors and hopefully build more cyclocross racers! I will start by answering a few questions...
What is Cyclocross?
What do I need to race cyclocross?
Where are these races?
Why cyclocross?
What is Cyclocross... From USA Cycling WHAT IS CYCLOCROSS?By: Angelina Palermo June 01, 2023With so many cycling disciplines and so many more forms of racing in each discipline, things can get a bit confusing. Learn more about how each type of racing works and watch our athletes compete on the biggest stage!
Cyclocross is a unique, non-Olympic discipline of cycling that can be best described as a cross between road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase. Watching cyclists dismount their bikes to run up stairs and steep embankments often arouses questions about the origin of the sport. Although it is difficult to find the exact reason, many legends have it that cyclists would race from town to town off road to bring a new element to road racing. These off road adventures could have often required dismounting to hop fences and impossible terrain.
While many people refer to type of bike used for cyclocross as a “cx bike”, “cross bike”, or “cyclocross bike”, most competitors actually use modified road bikes. These road bikes are then equipped with skinny, knobby tires, disc brakes and slightly different geometry which allows for better clearance when passing over various obstacles.
Cyclocross races generally take place on a closed circuit in a park or other open land with competitors racing multiple laps. Since the cyclo-cross season generally takes place from September to February, races are often times plagued with adverse weather conditions such as snow, rain, wind and mud – all of which add to the sport’s allure.
Riders begin in mass-start fashion and must navigate through both paved and off-road terrain, often times dismounting their bikes to hurdle barriers, climb steep hills or stairs, or traverse other obstacles.
Weather conditions aside, cyclocross racing is a very spectator-friendly discipline of competitive cycling given the short, closed course, the fast pace, the unique equipment and the interesting obstacles the competitors are faced with. Also, with relatively few cyclo-cross specialists in the world, the discipline lends itself to road and mountain bike athletes alike as riders from both major disciplines compete on the ‘cross circuit each year. Throughout the fall and winter, cyclo-cross racing provides specialists in other disciplines with a competitive outlet during the off-season.
Some of the most prestigious cyclo-cross events in the world include the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships as well as the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships and UCI World Cup events.
What do I need to race cyclocross?..
Any knobby tired bike will work, MTB, gravel, Cross bike, road bike with aggressive tires. You don't need a specific bike to try it out. A MTB will do just fine for most juniors. A helmet and a good attitude!
Where are these races?
We have races all over Michigan. there is a CX series as well as Krisscross near Grand Rapids. AAVC has a Pre Cross series and Michigan Junior Cycling is putting on a weeknight series in Waterford as well.
Why cyclocross?
Cyclocross is a fun way to keep some form and work skills. It is also a low barrier to entry discipline that is fun for juniors and is more like mountain bike racing than road racing. The courses are short so you can see your kids a lot and cheer more. Cyclocross is also super laid back and sometimes quite silly. It is bar far my favorite way to race bikes. It can be super hard too.
What is Cyclocross?
What do I need to race cyclocross?
Where are these races?
Why cyclocross?
What is Cyclocross... From USA Cycling WHAT IS CYCLOCROSS?By: Angelina Palermo June 01, 2023With so many cycling disciplines and so many more forms of racing in each discipline, things can get a bit confusing. Learn more about how each type of racing works and watch our athletes compete on the biggest stage!
Cyclocross is a unique, non-Olympic discipline of cycling that can be best described as a cross between road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase. Watching cyclists dismount their bikes to run up stairs and steep embankments often arouses questions about the origin of the sport. Although it is difficult to find the exact reason, many legends have it that cyclists would race from town to town off road to bring a new element to road racing. These off road adventures could have often required dismounting to hop fences and impossible terrain.
While many people refer to type of bike used for cyclocross as a “cx bike”, “cross bike”, or “cyclocross bike”, most competitors actually use modified road bikes. These road bikes are then equipped with skinny, knobby tires, disc brakes and slightly different geometry which allows for better clearance when passing over various obstacles.
Cyclocross races generally take place on a closed circuit in a park or other open land with competitors racing multiple laps. Since the cyclo-cross season generally takes place from September to February, races are often times plagued with adverse weather conditions such as snow, rain, wind and mud – all of which add to the sport’s allure.
Riders begin in mass-start fashion and must navigate through both paved and off-road terrain, often times dismounting their bikes to hurdle barriers, climb steep hills or stairs, or traverse other obstacles.
Weather conditions aside, cyclocross racing is a very spectator-friendly discipline of competitive cycling given the short, closed course, the fast pace, the unique equipment and the interesting obstacles the competitors are faced with. Also, with relatively few cyclo-cross specialists in the world, the discipline lends itself to road and mountain bike athletes alike as riders from both major disciplines compete on the ‘cross circuit each year. Throughout the fall and winter, cyclo-cross racing provides specialists in other disciplines with a competitive outlet during the off-season.
Some of the most prestigious cyclo-cross events in the world include the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships as well as the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships and UCI World Cup events.
What do I need to race cyclocross?..
Any knobby tired bike will work, MTB, gravel, Cross bike, road bike with aggressive tires. You don't need a specific bike to try it out. A MTB will do just fine for most juniors. A helmet and a good attitude!
Where are these races?
We have races all over Michigan. there is a CX series as well as Krisscross near Grand Rapids. AAVC has a Pre Cross series and Michigan Junior Cycling is putting on a weeknight series in Waterford as well.
Why cyclocross?
Cyclocross is a fun way to keep some form and work skills. It is also a low barrier to entry discipline that is fun for juniors and is more like mountain bike racing than road racing. The courses are short so you can see your kids a lot and cheer more. Cyclocross is also super laid back and sometimes quite silly. It is bar far my favorite way to race bikes. It can be super hard too.