You know what that means. Series dates are getting posted left and right, and NYCROSS is no exception.
*September 10:* NYCROSS.com Beginner’s Clinic, Troy New York
Registration http://www.
*September 11: *Kirkland Cyclocross, Kirkland, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 2: *CX at Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 15 & 16: *Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 23: *Saratoga Spa Cyclocross, Saratoga, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 30: *Wicked Creepy, Bennington, VT
info http://nycross.com/
*November 13: *Bethlehem Cup, Bethlehem, NY
info http://nycross.com/
Be sure to view all the New York State races in one handy PDF.
NYcross.com Series promoters are proud to announce the 2011 NYcross.com Cyclocross Race Series schedule for 2011-2012 season:
- Sunday, 9/11, Kirkland Cyclocross, Kirkland, NY
- Sunday, 10/2, CX at Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
- Saturday, 10/15, Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
- Sunday, 10/16, Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
- Sunday, 10/23, Spa City CX, Saratoga, NY
- Sunday, 10/30, Wicked Creepy, Bennington, VT
- Sunday, 11/13, Bethlehem Cup, Bethlehem, NY
An early season Cyclocross clinic is also being planned and more details will follow.
I couldn’t be more excited for cross to start back up!
I got these wheels yesterday after a week of compulsively checking the front door to see if they were delivered, as well as checking the tracking every hour or so. They’re my first set of tubulars ever which is scary as well as exiting. I’m going to use these as my race wheels for cross. I’ve already glued up two 32mm Challenge Fangos to them. That aside, I’m impressed with how incredibly strong the contact cement is holding the tires onto the bike. Just a push on the sidewall, and you really can feel how strong that glue is.
The wheels are laced 24 spokes in the rear, two cross, and 20 in the front, radially. They also came with 4 carbon rim brake pads which is a plus. All for $375 is really an incredible value, even before you see how much they weigh:
I’ve only ridden them for 10 seconds since I just got a new crank onto my bike after breaking it off at the race on Sunday. So far, there’s nothing that was wrong. They came perfectly true, all spoke tension was similar, wheels spin forever, etc. I’m excited to see how they hold up being 1230 or so grams, and being raced for cross.
I’ll report back as soon as I get a real cross ride on them, which will likely be tomorrow.
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.
Last weekend was one of my favorite cyclocross races of the season, the Gran Prix of Gloucester. I wasn’t racing on Saturday which was awesome as I used the time to take photos and hang out in the team NYCross tent. The course it great, the park is amazing, and in general the town is fun to be in. As far as the race goes, all the big names were there…
..like, Trebon…
…and TJ…
…and even BikeSnobNYC.
I think this is TJ’s daughter. How adorable.
Tim Leonard, on both days, was having a race in a race, with none other than Richard Sachs. Battling back and forth, taking turns attacking and getting on eachother’s wheels, they came around the last turn of the course together but Richard Sachs had just enough in him to sprint the last 100 meters. So close!
Curtis White rode two good races. With a mechanical at the start on Saturday, he wan’t on the bike when the whistle was blown becuase his brake was preventing his weel from moving. Regardless, he was always with the lead group battling it out. He finished 5th and 4th, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Emma White had two fantastic races. Saturday she managed to get 3rd in the Cat3/4 Women’s field. Sunday she was able to gap the rest of the riders in the first lap and came across the line first. Great job!
Dan Chabanov also rode two good races. Finishing 20-something both days in the stacked elite field is really nuts.
Our other UCI Elite racer, Sarah Krysiak also did well and finished 20-something both days. Awesome!
As always, there were plenty of shenanigans to be had, beer hand offs on the run up, people throwing money to distract racers and all sorts of hooliganism. What a perfect idea they had when they put the beer tent next to the run up.
My race was less than acceptable, I had far too much to eat and cramped horribly in the second lap, after settling in with a few guys who were setting the pace for me. Time for more time on the bike before the next race.
Emma White leading the women's race.
Photo: Nick from bicykel.com
Last weekend was what most people in my area are calling the first real race of the season. Which means, of course, the NYCross crew was out there.
- Emma placed second on Saturday and first Sunday, and is now the Verge series leader.
- Liz placed 3rd Sunday.
- Dan placed 15th Saturday in the UCI Elite race.
For full NYCross team results head to our crossresults.com page.
Read about the rest of the happenings from this race over at CX Magazine and Podium Insight.
And if you’d like a video of the course from the handlebars of a UCI Elite Racer, hit the read more link.
Also, check out Dan right in front of the dude take off, to never be seen again. Good job Dan.
Yesterday was the first ‘cross race of the season. As a not fast racer, I have to do the first race, which means getting up at 6am on race day, which always reminds me of highschool, and makes me think, everytime, “how did I do this ever, let alone every day for four years”. Regarless, I was lucky enough to get a ride over with former elite racers Danny Goodwin and Eric Schillinger.
Getting everything loaded up. Those roof racks are a blessing.
After this I fell back asleep until we got to Clinton, NY. We got there pretty close to my race time, so I got registered, dressed, ate my free gel (thanks Hammer Nutrition!) and upon getting on my bike, immediately found out my chain didn’t want to catch on the cassette (turns out it was a single stuck link–so frustrating). I raced anyway for a lap and felt great, but would lose my speed (and mind) because of the slipping and I became so infuraited I pulled myself from the race.
Loose dirt, coming into a turn a bit hot, and about to lose traction.
The course was great. I was really exited about it. There were off camber climbs, mud, a bunch of zigzags up and down a hill which are horribly annoying but a great feature of a race, a little single track style through the woods; tons of fun all around.
NYCross Team Rider Christopher Delisle riding super hard and well to eventually win the Men’s 35+ race.
NYCross’ Danny exiting the steep run up, before remounting.
CBRC’s Emma White riding hard to eventually win the 1/2/3/4 women’s race.
And since this is my own blog I can publicaly state that upon 39-year-old DisasterRecovery.com rider Vicki Thomas’ finish, she made sure to tell 14-year-old Emma White, who she was just beaten by, that her brake wasn’t functioning properly during the race.
NYCross Elite Rider Dan Chabanov sporting his newly height-reduced front tooth, after a handlebar to the face during Nittany CX the day before, ready to race.
The elite race was really a fantastic race to spectate. Dan took the holeshot and was up front for the whole race. He ended up finishing a very respectable 5th. Also a notable performance by Al Donahue from Northampton Cycling Club as he was about 10th for the first few laps and started to lay the hammer down late in the race while everyone was starting to crack, and finished 2nd.
Slideshow of all my photos from the race:or you can view the set on my flickr instead.
It was a great day of racing. Overall very enjoyable time and even though it rained for a bit, was totally worth it and was a great way to start the upstate cyclocross season!
U.S. gran prix of cyclocross from Jim Fryer/BrakeThrough Media on Vimeo.
The 2010 NYCross series is as follows:
9/11: NYCROSS.com Cyclocross Clinic in Kirkland NY on BikeReg
9/12: Kirkland CX in Kirkland NY on BikeReg
10/3: CX at Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown NY on BikeReg
10/16 & 10/17: Uncle Sam GP in Troy NY on BikeReg
10/24: Saratoga Spa CX in Saratoga NY on BikeReg
10/31: Wicked Creepy CX in Bennington VT on BikeReg
11/14: Bethlehem Cup in Delmar NY on BikeReg
For any and all updates check NYCross.com
