Cyclocross
October 5th, 2007 |I think it’s great that cyclocross has really taken off in the USA over the past few years. It’s brought more riders into the sport, it’s prompted development in the industry and it’s added excitement to all levels of cycling But what was it that really set the sport off? Did the participant level reach a critical mass that caused an explosion in the awareness of this aspect of cycling? Was it something the industry did? (from my perspective it seems like the industry was late getting on the bandwagon) Was it the internet that raised the awareness of the popularity of the sport in Europe in the American market? Is there one single thing that brought cross to the mainstream of cycling or was there a convergence of small things that did it?
(sent via mobile)
12 Responses to “Cyclocross”
Here’s your answer, better than I could say it myself.
You’ll especially appreciate the quote about it being a family event, accessible to kids and women as well, not just elite men.
Before all the serious idjits get in here I want say I’m doing it so I have something to blog about. Sorry about all the comments these days.
i think the industry was a little late to the game which is good. a few seasons past before you saw everyone offering a CX specific bike. all points noted from above posts + i think the timing of the season lends itself to the fun. less sun, more intensity… more fun, less obsessive road craziness. timing and sub-er culture. it wonderful stuff.
I think it was that t.v. show, Lost, which I guess is based on Eric DeVlaeminck’s life. I haven’t seen it but it sounds intense. Growing up in a trailer. Having to give up gymnastics due to injury. Finding cyclocross. The death of his best in a bike race. The death of his son in a cyclocross race. The time in the mental institute. His brother, who I guess was a good bike racer too, making a deal with the Belgian cycling federation to win the worlds if his brother can get released. I wish my tv picked up that channel. It sounds like a great show.
okay, just kidding on the tv show, but I always thought the story would make a great movie. When I was a kid the DeVlaemincks were my biggest heroes. Me and my pal Bobby used to meet up everyday after school and ride our bikes down the gravel bike paths playing Paris-Roubaix. Built a cross course around my neighborhood which prompted a friend’s dad to start promoting a cyclocross series.
That was more than twenty years ago. It may have helped keep cross going on, but it’s probably not connected to the current fad.
I can’t tell you why cross is popular. Probably since Lance did it. I just hope they don’t give it a ghey name like ‘fixie’. It makes me feel like such an angry old bastard when I hear some twit say that.
But then I remind myself that most people probably thought I was an idiot riding around on a track bike when I was a kid so what the heck. It’s good to see so many people on bikes no matter what they call it or why they do it.
Cyclocross really boomed after I started doing it.
1) global warming.. nasty cross weather is few and far between these days… if we really had “true” cross weather every weekend, then the yahoos would go back home.
2) a great percentage of racers these days make cross their “real” season. Everything else is prep.
3) cross is the easiest season to train for. You only have to be fit for 30-60mins. I only train about 8hrs a week during cross
4) Tree-farm and Page
I think it’s the costumes.
I guarantee that cross started here with GeneO, Dave Pike, Ken Ring, Bob Boyd and The Brazilian Nightmare.
er, actually this one specifically:
http://www.bobkestrut.com/2007/03/11/matt-kelly-lo w-budget-superstar/
Piker and the Brazilan Nightmare, a.k.a. “Gorgeous George” - wow, its been a long time.
Good times…