It was a postcard perfect September day with bright skies and warm air, the kind of day that might inspire you to cruise your bicycle along the waterfront or nap in the park.
Or, if you were one of the more than 400 people who headed to Big Finn Hill Park last Sunday, it was the kind of day to race your bike at top speed through singletrack trails, over obstacles and around off-camber hairpin turns.
The arrival of fall may mean changing leaves and apple cider for many of us, but for a particular breed of athlete, fall means cyclocross.
Cyclocross is a sport that requires the stamina of road racing and the technical finesse of mountain biking combined together for a 45-60 minute race. Traditional course elements include pavement, grass, dirt trails, mud pits, obstacles and hills so unwieldy that riders are forced to dismount and carry their bikes as they run to the top. There are also the fans on the sidelines wildly ringing cowbells and cheering as riders pass by again and again looping through the course.
It’s one of those sports you have to see to understand. When I asked dozens of participants to describe cyclocross in one sentence, most just laughed. Those who did answer my question spoke almost entirely of two themes: pain and fun.
“Cyclocross is the most fun you will ever have on a bike, and it’s the most pain you will ever experience in a short amount of time,” said Kirkland resident Nick Barile who races with local shop team, uBRDO Team Project. “Once you suffer through your first race, you become addicted.”
Judging by the growing popularity of cyclocross in the Puget Sound area, the sport’s addictive nature is real, and this year, addicts will have even more opportunity to get their fix. Race promoters Zac Daab and Terry Buchanan have created a new series of races under the name MFG Cyclocross, which stands for Mud, Fame and Glory.
When Scott Richardson, Kirkland resident and owner of uBRDO, a bike shop located next to the famous cow and coyote statue in downtown Kirkland, heard about this new series, he was quick to jump on board with support. The new series hopes to take cyclocross racing to new venues and create a more welcoming race environment for veterans and newcomers alike. uBRDO sponsored the first race by recruiting volunteers, donating prizes, organizing a post-race party and offering general race-day support.
Sponsoring a cyclocross race is no easy endeavor, and Richardson was up before dawn and running nonstop long into the night. When I asked him if all the work was worth it, he responded without pause, “Absolutely! The day was awesome. I want everybody to have a good time.”
It seems that when it comes to cyclocross, fun and good times trump pain and hard work. As Nick Barile told me before starting his race, “The cyclocross scene is spirited and jovial. People are out to have fun.”
Even as the weather shifts from lovely September sun to frigid November rain, the fun will continue. “Cross racers seem to love the mud,” race organizer Terry Buchanan told me via email. When the weather gets bad, “tire pressure goes down and passion goes up.”
Curious to know more about cyclocross? Stop by uBRDO in person at 122 Central Way or visit the shop online www.ubrdo.com. For more information on the MFG race series, check out www.mfgcyclocross.com.
Amanda Ford is a freelance writer and bicycle lover who has lived in Kirkland for nearly 30 years. Contact her through her Web site, www.oholive.com.
