Is Cyclocross a Snow Sport?
I'm starting to think the USAC thinks so.
Anyhow, I've been looking for an excuse to go to Bend, Oregon, and the 2009/2010 Cyclocross Nationals just might be my chance. Granted, I was hoping to go in the Summer - but maybe I can bring my snowboard along...
I am wondering when the USAC will wise up to the fact that the historically-absent regions of the Southeast US and Southern California seem to be putting on some damn fine races AND their weather is a bit more temperate in December. Or are they hoping for another Kansas City 2000/2007 or Providence 2005?
Heck, why don't they just host them at Squaw Valley?
I'm sorry, but racing in frigid snowy conditions is not epic - it's a crapshoot for competitors, and sometimes it's just plain miserable...
One more thing...by the end of 2010, Oregon will have hosted 4 of the last 8 Nationals, and I'm sorry but that also sounds a bit wrong to me.
Anyhow, I've been looking for an excuse to go to Bend, Oregon, and the 2009/2010 Cyclocross Nationals just might be my chance. Granted, I was hoping to go in the Summer - but maybe I can bring my snowboard along...
I am wondering when the USAC will wise up to the fact that the historically-absent regions of the Southeast US and Southern California seem to be putting on some damn fine races AND their weather is a bit more temperate in December. Or are they hoping for another Kansas City 2000/2007 or Providence 2005?
Heck, why don't they just host them at Squaw Valley?
I'm sorry, but racing in frigid snowy conditions is not epic - it's a crapshoot for competitors, and sometimes it's just plain miserable...
One more thing...by the end of 2010, Oregon will have hosted 4 of the last 8 Nationals, and I'm sorry but that also sounds a bit wrong to me.
posted by funkdaddy at 10:06 AM
14 Comments:
The whole idea of two years in a row in the exact same area is dumb, they could easily have 2010 in the Bay Area, Washington, Central Valley California or in Los Angeles and still have good promoters and good race venues. Or even go back to one year per West, South, North or Eastern region. Cheers, Gordo
cross isn't a dirt crit...let the conditions rule the day
You must be fully prepared for the gates of hades to open up at any given national, as I was in '90, '91' and '92 where I collected a silver,bronze, and a fourth in three different time zones in the elite mens race-all three with separate yet ever so wicked conditions..Study the course and conditions THOUROUGHLY! The more microscopic details you have discovered that go beyond the scope of other riders will take some harshness out of the weather conditions...Cross Nat's in Hawaii? Fergtaboutit!
cross is whatever weather you get.
But most importantly, a promoter actually has to place a bid with USAC.
that is, someone in the Southeast has to be willing to trow their hat in, and outbid other promoters.
Oregon and the Northeast are the regions with the biggest cross tradition in the US.
I knew I'd be stirring the pot with this one.
Sure it's whatever weather you get, but if you hold an event at say, a ski resort, you're much more likely to get snow. I don't mind seeing the occasional freak snowstorm but seriously, this is getting a little ridiculous.
And Bend is definitely not Portland - sorry, you're "biggest cross tradition" does not apply to the whole state.
I'm sure the USAC had more to choose from than Bend, but I honestly have NO freaking idea what criteria they use to choose their destinations.
And yes, I agree the two-year thing is absolutely retarded.
PS Hello, "biggest cross tradition"? Don't leave out Nor-cal.
Taj says:
at least Bend and KC have affordable rooms for racers. I don't think the same could be said for the Bay area, maybe Redding or Sacto, though.
'Cross conditions are always a crapshoot between December and
February. where've u been?
Presidio '99, it'll never happen again.
You guys are sooo right. I'm now fully onboard for the push to get 2011-2012 CX Natz to be hosted at Mammoth.
Maybe by then they'll have moved Nationals to January for even greater likelihood of a blizzard.
Thanks for straightening me out.
Cyclocross is a winter sport. BUT, that doesn't mean that it HAS to be in bad weather, be it mud, rain or nut-numbing cold and snow. It's also winter in SoCal and SE USA. Winter weather is what is wherever it is and bad weather does NOT make cyclocross any more "real", more "authentic", or fer cryin' out loud, more "euro".
Cyclocross is a cycling discipline that takes palce in the fall/winter and whatever weather that happens is what happens. Just like in the summer, we race in whatever weather Ma Nature throws at us. Sometimes that means cross is like a dirt crit and that's just fine... Sometimes that means cross is a sloppy mess and that's cool, too... And, sometimes cross IS a nut-numbing cold and snow sport and that's well...cold.
BUT, sometimes too much is just too much and we crossers have too much snow for natz. It's time for a change.
Now shut up you nimrods and get on to another subject.
I'm looking forward to 2009when USA Cycling finally implements the new rules and bans MTB's and flat bars in cross once and for all.
This is Cali dude, I am going to race my flat barred fat tired cross bike in 68 degree warm winter race weather in January today. You Euro cross posers can suck on that today while I suck on a cold one while tanning myself watching the rest of the races in Santa Rosa.
Sheeesh, get a clue "Cali"! People who advocate dropped bars and cyclocross bikes for cyclocross are not "euro cross posers". We are just riders who ride the right bike for the discipline.
Do you ride a BMX bike for downhills? A time trial bike for short track? A downwhill bike for time trials? A fixie for dual slaloms? Yeah, I didn't think so... So why would you ride a flat bar, fat tire bike for cross?
Damn dude, save a few bucks by sucking down less beers, buy a cross bike and get out and ride it. You might just find you'll like and lose the anger in the process.
Who is the angry one here? Sounds like someone needs their dipies changed! Some people cant afford euro tech cross machines and just want to go out and have fun. If you spend more time finding fault with others than just plain having fun racing maybe you should try another hobby. It aint the world championships so lighten up.
In regards, to the "Cali" poster who seems to have a grudge against all things euro and all things cross... I'm guessing he's an angery cat5 clydesdale.
Also, anybody knows that you can cobble a good cx bike with relatively little euros...oops I mean dollars.
Who cares what somebody rides? I'm stoked just to get people out there. Almost every frickin person I know started 'cross on a mountain bike! I promote races, build courses and try real hard to make the course technical but still detrimental to be on a bike. I still want those newcomers on their mtn. bikes to come out and have a good time, AND FEEL WELCOME! One of the biggest assets of 'cross is the low-key attitude. If you require everybody to build/buy a 'cross bike just to get started, YOUR INSANE! The last thing we need is bike snobs f*^king the whole thing up. You can go back to road racing for that. If your panties are in a bunch because you got beat by someone on a mtn. bike. It was probably because they were a stronger rider, it had nothing to do with what they were riding. Worry less about what someone else is riding and more about making yourself faster. The next time you line up next to someone on a mtn. bike try shaking their hand rather than giving him the stink eye.
Shawn
ah shoot.
I left the bay area for Bend so I could get something other than dry and dusty conditions that everyone whined about during surf city cx.
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