This is how bike racers travel. It’s not always as glorious as the Tour.

Today was the first day of the Uncle Sam Grand Prix presented by NYCross.com over in lovely Troy, NY where over 150 racers of all ages came out for a beautiful fall day filled with bike racing. Racers of all ability levels and ages challenged themselves on a tough and slick course in Prospect Park that included run ups, barriers, root filled corners, fast downhills and crashes galore. Spectators were treated to action all day long and were sure to heckle racers through out the challenging course. The course was seriously improved by replacing dated features with a lot of fast technical sections. The inclusion of features which requires the even the elite riders to slow down almost completely to negotiate are often though of as technical where as they’re just annoying and boring. Real technical sections can be negotiated at full speed by a rider who is good enough, and those who aren’t as confident will choke and grab fists full of brakes. Good job NYCross on the improved design of this. I just hope I can ride faster tomorrow.

My friend Austin Horse came up from NYC to race 3 races today; he did the C, B and Single Speed. He made it to the podium in all 3.

This is his Brooklyn Machine Works Gangsta Track, it has delivered more packages than you will probably send your entire life. It’s got some really nice understated details such as the soldered spokes, shown below.

When you need a bit longer wheel base as well as tire width clearance, you come real close to running out of precious dropout length.

Austin putting his Gangsta Track to use as he hits the lower part of the course during the singlespeed race.

And he put it to good use too, getting second on the podium of the single speed race. Chuck Q from team NYCross represented in the SS podium as well. Cross is nuts enough, I can’t imagine doing it with just one gear, let alone a fixed gear like Austin.

The shock of the day came when Monkey Man made his unannounced triumphant return. If you don’t know Monkey Man, just search NYCross on YouTube.

Danny Goodwin combining his two lives, cyclist and artist. Even the camera matches.

Dan Chabanov of the NYCross.com CX team looking way to comfortable, tearing it up during the elite race.

Liz Lukowski rides a very tricky off camber section during the Women’s elite race.

Mr. Q rides the piss out of his Stars and Bars Vicious Cycles Single Speed CX bike. Mr. Q is almost as awesome as Monkey Man.

If any of these pictures pique your interest, come out to a race. They are short, you can drink beer after and you get to yell at the other racers. Check out NYCross.com for information on the local racing series then come to a race and do it. You’re allowed to race the C race on pretty much any bike (preferably with knobby tires) and you will be done 30 minutes later.  Really, come race cross.