Cyclocross Practice
CX practice continues at Leslie Park this Thursday the 22nd at 5:30 until the waning light.

We'll have barriers set up and a course that we can suffer on enjoy. There might even be a bit more JP to hand out to the worthy.

Keeping legs and lungs tuned for fall.

CXpreX #3 @ BUHR PARK, tonight, Thursday, September 15. The Grand Finale!
Starts promptly at 6pm. 

Still plenty of swag to toss your way. Morgan & York + Jolly Pumpkin are happily part of the scene. 

Come on out! (Behind Cobblestone Farm off of Packard.)

CXpreX #2 Slideshow

CXpreX #2 in Pictures. It was a hot and steamy evening, with the racing to match!

CXpreX2

Wendy shows the winning form.

Number 2 is in the bag. Great job everyone. Sticky night and you stuck with it!

Unofficial Results for the Unofficial Race
B Race: 1. Paul McKeighan 2.Ryan McKinnie 3.Alan Barnosky 4.David Zeman 5.Donnie Tietsema

A Race: 1.Rich Stark 2.Richard Rainville 3.Ken O'Day 4.Will Cawthorn 5.Rick Morris

Women: 1.Wendy Caldwell 2.Adrienne O'Day (to rectify previous errors, Wendy won the Women's division of last week's unofficial race as well.)

Rich and Richard vied for first in the A Race from start to finish. The B Race had some major skirmishes in the top positions throughout the race, with places changing lap by lap. Exciting stuff! Posting of the series leaders soon.

I'll cull through the photos and try to get a plethora of shots from #2 posted well before CXpreX3. Stay tuned.

CXpreX #3 in two weeks, Thursday, Sept 15 @ 6pm - Buhr Park (behind Cobblestone Farm). Rich the Sadisti...I mean...the Magnificent will lay out another punishi...err...fun course for your riding and racing pleasure. Plenty of swag still to hand out, joy from Jolly Pumpkin and delectables from Morgan & York. See you at Buhr.

Kisscross begins September 11

Kisscross, on the western side of the state, begins soon! You'll have quite a weekend of it if you attend the Tailwind training session on Saturday, September 10th and then head over to the Kisscross race at Plaster Creek Park in Grand Rapids on the next day.

Click on the Logo above to link to the Kisscross schedule for this season.

Note that these Kisscross races are day-of registration only and there is no license required. If that license thing intimidates you, there's no excuse now.

This is put on by the same people that put together Barry-Roubaix and Lumberjack 100, so it will be well organized and well run. That's the way things are done over there! (And there will be beer...check out the logo.)

Tailwind Clinic September 10th

Sure to be a great clinic, Tailwind, Kinetic Systems, and the Rhinos will add to the pre-season preparation with a Saturday session on September 10th. These are the people who put  CX on the map in Michigan. It will be well worth the drive over.

CXpreX #2

Photos From Clinic #1 (It's a click away)

Anyone who missed the first session is welcome to the next two. We'll help everyone at all levels at all three clinics. All you have to do is show up and join in the thrills.

Clinic #2
Thursday, September 1 @ 6pm, Leslie Park.  Scroll down the blog for directions. Much more swag to hand out, by the way, plus another great set of trays from Morgan & York and fun stuff from Jolly Pumpkin.

Clinic 1 Video via Lucas Wall

Places...Clinic 1

Placings in the PrepRaces

Just thought I'd let you know who placed in the top 5 in the A and B races last night and top 3 women (I forgot to mention this during the swag session). 

B top 5

1.Rick Morris 2.David Zeman 3.Ryan McKinnie 4.Randy Arellano 5.Jay Ellis

A top 5 

1.Rich Stark 2.Andy Weir 3.Richard Rainville 4.Ken O'Day 5.Will Cawthorn

Women top 3 

 1.Wendy Caldwell 2.Anna Edmonds. 3.Adrienne O'Day

Way to go gang! Way to go to everyone who turned out for a great CX session. It was a good, hard, fun-spirited workout.

Warning! Good Food...

Morgan & York is providing a great tray of their excellent food at each clinic. We'll peel the wrapper off after the races so the food stays with you, if you know what I mean.

Directions to Leslie Park, Ann Arbor

Enter the park through the Leslie Park Circle subdivision.

'Cross...The Next Generation!

Loki and Rodger taking the barriers in stride at Leslie Park.

Who's This For?

You!
That's who. These clinics are designed to introduce cyclocross to those who've never tried it and for those who have raced before and want to get their legs and lungs into shape for the upcoming season.


Age?
Yes! Any age will do. (You don't even have to be mature. In fact, it probably helps if you're not.)

Season
In this area, cyclocross season runs from mid-September to early December. Nationally and internationally it will go all the way into February. It's run in all kinds of weather, from sunny, dry and warm, to rainy and sloppy, to bitter cold and snowy.

Course
For the uninitiated it looks a bit wacky, with riders pedaling over uneven terrain (often park lawn areas) on twisty courses, running up hills either pushing their bikes or with the bikes slung over their shoulders, and hopping over barriers. It's a great way to stay in shape in the fall, do something a little crazy, and share the challenge of a unique form of cycling.

Bikes
You can ride just about anything durable, though there are bikes specifically designed and sold for just this kind of event...cyclocross bikes (what else?). Many people ride their mountain bikes as well. It doesn't make any difference what you ride for these clinics. Bring what you have and just get into the fun spirit of it all.

Intensity Levels?
It's serious for those who make it so, and not so serious for those who don't.  All are welcome and supported.

CXpreX

Yes, it's happened once again, the season is rolling into cyclocross. Time to go into oxygen debt and leg burning nirvana in search of an ideal CX race.

Here's How It Works
3 Clinics and Follow-up Races.

3 Thursdays @ 6pm:
August 25 - Leslie Park
September 1 - Leslie Park
September 15 - Buhr Park

$5 per Clinic or $10 for all three.

Stab your courage to the sticking post and come on along. You have nothing to lose but your breath.