I made it out to Portland International Raceway yesterday to check out the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross.
The racing action, large crowds, and good times could not be stopped despite a barrage of wild weather that included snow flurries, strong winds, and cold rain.
Check out the photo gallery below for a look at the scenes [...]

Steven Hunter dove deep in the Willamette to uncover his piece of The Grail.(Photos courtesy Brian Ellin)

So much of what makes the Cross Crusade a success has little to do with racing bikes. Take for example the Quest for The Grail.
The Quest is a contest dreamed up by Crusade director Brad Ross, and event [...]

It's coming...

This weekend, cyclocross racing will put Portland in the national cycling spotlight when the finale of U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross comes to town.
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Event flyer.(Click to enlarge)

A photo essay that documents the American cyclocross scene is coming to Portland.
Washed in the Mud: US Cyclcross Portraits is the work of Santa Cruz, California-based filmmaker and photographer Brian Vernor. Vernor, who's best known for his work on "Pure, Sweet Hell", traveled with the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross last [...]

Racers slogged through the course at Hillsboro Stadium yesterday.View slideshow below(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

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Post-race at last year's event.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Tomorrow is the final stop in the 2007 River City Bicycles Cross Crusade.
The event will be held at Hillsboro Stadium and with the rain we've had the past few days, the race is sure to be muddy and challenging.
The event will also be the official Oregon [...]

This is why I love Portland's 'cross scene.(Photos: Kenji Sugahara)

Regrettably, I wasn't able to attend last weekend's cyclocross debauchery out at Estacada Timber Park (30 miles southeast of downtown Portland).
Not only was it the sixth stop in the Cross Crusade series, but the event also crowned the King and Queen of single speed cyclocross.
Yes, it [...]

This weekend (qualifying events on Saturday, main event on Sunday), Portland (actually Estacada) will host the first ever Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships.
Organizer Dani Dance has some advice for would-be competitors and spectators. Below, she shares a few easy steps to convert your bike to a single speed, issues a call to all the [...]

View full slideshow below - (Photo © Jonathan Maus)

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Videographer Dan Kaufman and his "Disco Trike", a rolling audio-video command center.Watch his video below.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Dan Kaufman of CrankMyChain! Cycle TV has posted his video from last weekend's Cross Crusade Halloween fest.
It's an awesome video that captures the fun-loving spirit of Portland's signature cyclocross series, the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade.
Not [...]

We wore race number 800 in honor of Brett Jarolimek.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Wearing white t-shirts emblazoned with the words "No Blind Spots", Cross Crusade founder Rick Potestio and race director Brad Ross said losing Brett Jarolimek was like losing "a member of the Cross Crusade family."
Also speaking before a memorial lap was Bike Gallery's Kris [...]

Doug Ollerenshaw as Pac-Manat last year's Halloween race.View slideshow below(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Traditionally, the Halloween edition of the Cross Crusade is two days of fun and partying. Last year's race, full of costumes and silliness, was one of my favorite events of the year.
But this year, in light of recent events, things might [...]

They both competed on this old cruiser, and they're still smiling!Slideshow below(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

Yesterday, nearly 800 racers converged on the small town of Rainier, Oregon for the third stop in the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade.
With heavy rains soaking the Portland area all week, I had visions of a slog through the mud. [...]

Only true 200+ pounders are eligible.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

No, not those clydesdales. I'm talking about bike racers. Big bike racers (well, big in bike racer terms at least.)
In an effort to balance out field sizes, Cross Crusade chief Brad Ross announced on Sunday that this weekend's race will feature a "Clydesdale" category, open [...]

A scene from the 2004 National Championships held at PIRView gallery(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

In December, the nation's best cyclocross racers, along with a huge contingent from the bike industry, will descend on Portland International Raceway (PIR) for the final stop in the six-race US Gran Prix of Cyclocross.
The "Portland Cup", which is (surprisingly) being partially [...]

Towering trees provided a gorgeous backdrop to the action.(Photos © Jonathan Maus)Slideshow below

The River City Bicycles Cross Crusade marched on yesterday with a stop at Horning's Hideout, a private ranch nestled in the hills above North Plains. Following up record-breaking participation last week, race officials reported another impressive turnout of 906 racers.
These valiant Crusaders [...]

A scene from last year's race at Horning's Hideout.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Fresh off a record-breaking opening weekend, the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade continues the fun this weekend out at Horning's Hideout.
If you missed last weekend's action, you have a chance to redeem yourself by making the "short and scenic trip" out to North Plains [...]

I heard from Dani Dance this morning. She's organizing the upcoming Official UnOfficial Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships.
When I first mentioned this event back in July, I didn't have many details and now I've got the latest scoop.
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View photo gallery or watch slideshow below(All photos © Jonathan Maus)

The 2007 Cross Crusade kicked off in fine style yesterday at Alpenrose Dairy. Race organizers reported that a record 1,078 racers took part in the action (that's up from 760 at the same event last year!).
The course was a challenging mix of bumpy downhills, [...]

Mud and friends: just two of many reasons to love cyclocross.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Prepare yourselves. The Cross Crusade -- the world's largest cyclocross series in terms of participation -- kicks off this weekend at Alpenrose Dairy.
The event is going to be insane. Last year they had over 800 racers at Alpenrose and I [...]