Cyclocross 101

By Robert Annis For Planet Adventure

Most spectators have the same reaction the first time they get roped into coming out to a friend or loved one’s cyclocross race: what is going on?

Trying to explain the sport of cyclocross to the uninitiated can be a bit difficult. For most racers, cyclocross is all the best parts of riding bikes as a kid – chasing your friends on the dirt and grass, trying to pedal up short, steep climbs and laughing your butt off after you fall, or better yet, when one of your friends fall. At certain points of the race, riders will have to dismount their bike, leap over barriers or climb up steps other obstacles and remount their bikes.

The courses typically are very twisty and technical, so there are a lot of crashes and falls. It’s a different animal than most other forms of bike racing, rewarding the cardio fitness of roadies, while demanding the superior bike-handling skills of mountain-bike riders.

Cyclocross racers are the postal carriers of the two-wheeled set – neither rain, sleet nor snow will not prevent them from carrying out their duty, to race as hard and as fast as they can. Most experienced racers can tell you about the time they raced in a foot of snow or seemingly an ocean of sticky mud. Take these stories with a grain of salt though; bike racers are worse than fishermen when it comes to their race memories.

Races typically have pre-set time. The less-experienced riders typically race for 30 or 40 minutes, while the better, faster riders can go for an hour or more. After a lap or two, race organizers will calculate the leader’s average lap speed and determine how many more laps the riders will race. Even though a race’s advertised time is for 40 minutes, most of the riders will be on the course a bit longer.

As a spectator, you have a few responsibilities. First and foremost is safety. It might sound obvious, but when you’re crossing the course, be sure to look if any racers are hurtling your way.

Second, and nearly as important, is to have fun and be loud. Bring a cowbell and shake it at the passing riders. As a rider, I know what it’s like to be dead tired 30 minutes into a race and looking for any sort of motivation to keep you going. Words of encouragement or a well-timed heckle has gotten me through more races than I can count.

When you come out to the races, be sure to walk around the course during the race, checking out the various spectating spots. Most courses are at most a mile-and-a-half long, so you shouldn’t have any problem seeing all the action. I find the best spots for watching the action are the barrier sections, sandpits or other obstacles that make the riders get off their bikes and run or on the steep uphill sections where the competitors are gritting their teeth as they try to muscle their machines upward.

Depending on where you are, you might want to consider doing a hand-up. Hand-ups can be practically anything; at races I’ve seen $1 hand-ups, beer hand-ups … even waffle hand-ups. Just hold out your item over the course tape and wait. Most of your front-runners are going to be too focused on making the podium to take a hand-up, but for the mid- or back-of-the-pack rider, getting a nice beer in the middle of the race can be a real morale booster. Look for more experienced spectators on the course and mimic what they’re doing.

Cheering and words of support are always appreciated during a race, and although it may seem counter-intuitive, a good heckle can help riders as well. Like most things, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. Keep it clean; there are kids around. Don’t yell things like “You suck!”; it’s too obvious and there’s nothing really humorous about it. The standard “Pedal faster!” is a good start, but you can do better. Try something like, “Get off the course! The kids’ race ended an hour ago!” or “Your sponsor is going to take your bike away!”

“The biggest reason I love cyclocross is the people – the riders and the fans,” said Team Nebo Ridge Cat. 4 racer Jimmy Foster. “It’s a very welcoming atmosphere; no one’s elitist or snobby. No one looks down on you because you ride a certain type of bike. They do heckle you, but it’s fun and it helps you take your mind off your pain as you try to hold on. You’re suffering, but you want to finish. There are other racers out there, but (in the end) it’s just you against yourself.”