Mud left its mark on the Crusade finale out at PIR yesterday.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

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Big crowds welcomed the 2012 Cross Crusade to Alpenrose yesterday.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

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Sunday!
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Cross Crusade race series (brought to us by River City Bicycles), the grand-daddy of them all, is set for another wild kickoff event this Sunday at Alpenrose Dairy in Portland's southwest hills. Last year nearly 1,500 people showed up to race at the Crusade opener, which makes it one of the largest cyclocross races (in terms of participation) in the world. With record field sizes at races so far this season, official are expecting another massive turnout.

Keeping with their fun, irreverent, and creative traditions, the theme of this year's Crusade is "Through the Ages." Event promoters mailed out a poster/brochure to past racers this week that included a hilarious mock-up of the famous Washington Crossing the Delaware painting by Emanuel Leutze. The mock-up is called Cyclocrossing the Delaware and the figures in the painting are organizers and volunteers from the Crusade's producers, Vivo Productions. Crusade director Brad Ross plays the role of Washington.

Check it out (and yes, that's a keg in the river)...
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Portlanders will squeeze in a bike race whenever they can.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

If you still need convincing that Portland is the epicenter of America's cyclocross boom, consider this: Over 550 people showed up to race their bikes at the second week of the Blind Date at the Dairy series in Portland last night. On a weeknight. After work. And for some of the racers, after dark. (more...)

It's time!
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The weather might still be dry and warm, but for many folks in the Portland area, it's beginning to feel an awful lot like cyclocross season. With a few races already in the books, training rides and clinics all over town, and a full calendar ahead, now is the time to get yourself into cyclocross mode.

I've rounded up a few event and news bits below to help get you started...

New Portland-based e-commerce site, Cyclocross.com, now open for business (more...)

Watch it below...

When PDXCross burst onto the local cyclocross scene back in 2008, the bar was officially raised when it came to cyclocross photography. Simply put, these guys nailed it. There was something special happening in Portland's cyclocross scene and these guys were telling the story each week with some of the best photos of bicycling I've ever come across. In the years since, they've built a huge following, published the Dirty Pictures coffee table book, and have continued to produce breathtaking and inspiring images of the sport we all love.

Now, two of the PDXCross crew — Rob Finch and Jamie Francis — have released a short film called 'Cross-Dressed', which gives viewers a glimpse of the madness that is the annual Cross Crusade Halloween weekend. Based around the Bend Halloween cyclocross festival back in October, the 14-minute film garnered Audience Choice honors at Filmed by Bike earlier this month. And it's easy to see why: Much like their images do, the film succeeds in capturing the distinct spirit and style of Oregon cross.
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The popularity of cyclocross
continues to grow.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The numbers are in and they show another year of very healthy growth for the Cross Crusade cyclocross race series. According to a tally by Oregon Bicycle Racing Association officials, 9,542 people participated in the series this year — that's over 800 more than last year.

For a wider perspective on how much cyclocross has grown in Portland, in 2005, the Crusade series had just 3,579 participants. (more...)

What a weekend!
(Photos © J. Maus)

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In case you haven't heard, the central Oregon town of Bend has become a premiere bike town. As they proclaim on VisitBend.com, "No other town in America can boast 8 USA Cycling National Championships in 4 years!"

This weekend will only further Bend's reputation as they host the Day of the Dead Cyclocross Festival — three days of 'cross madness that will attract visitors from across the Pacific Northwest.
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Big crowds turned out for the Crusade opener, which is typically the largest race of the year.
- Photo Gallery -
(Photos © J. Maus)

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