Cyclocross racers from around the Northwest are buzzing this week about the upcoming Halloween edition of the Cross Crusade this weekend in Astoria. Besides the usual racing, the event promises two full days of fun, including Sunday’s official costume day.
Crusade racers are known for some amazingly funny and creative costumes, and organizers warn that if you don’t show up in one you should “be prepared to suffer the wrath”. On that note, I thought I’d provide some visual inspiration via photos of costumes from years past.
Check out what ex-pro road racer Doug Ollerenshaw wore in 2007:
Continuing on the vintage pop culture them, I think this guy is supposed to be from KISS:
And then there’s this…
Which the same woman followed up nicely with the next year:
Animals are always popular:
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And some folks — despite usually cold temps — can’t resist a chance to show some skin:
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But in the end, it doesn’t matter what you wear, as long as you have a good time:
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See more images from past Cross Crusade Halloween Weekends here and here… and have fun in Astoria!
A Warning to Parents.
On Nov 1 my son was competing in a cross crusade race in Astoria Or. He is 16 rides the junior class.
A spectator threw a full beer striking him in the face.
P,S, For sale one used cross bike.
I’ve been racing for a long time and really enjoy the growth we’ve seen in OBRA, but I look at things and see OBRA put a premium on numbers of racers and good customer service versus keeping riders safe and enforcing rules. I will say that I have raced Astoria twice, only once in costume, and was heckled pretty good last year. The actions of those that did this is unacceptable in our community of racers, but what do you expect when you mix drunks and bike racing? When else during the race season do you have the ability to race intoxicated? OBRA is really looking for trouble allowing this to continue. The image that pops into my mind is when someone gets really hurt while racing, either that person is intoxicated or hurts someone else because they are, and then its all over. Some venues are prohibit alcohol and i still see people drinking. Alcohol and cross go hand in hand in Oregon and that is a shame.
OBRA really needs to re-think allowing alcohol at race venues.