clinics start next week.
(Photo: Jonathan Maus)
With the Portland-area road racing season all but over, the buzz about ‘cross season is coming on strong.
Local ‘cross lovers can be found any night of the week honing their skills in parks around the city. Last night, I saw a guy practicing dismounts and run-ups on the stairs at Peninsula Park.
Thanks in part to the Cross Crusade — which got noticed by the NY Times last year — Portland has one of the wildest and most fun cyclocross scenes anywhere in the country. Don’t believe me? Check out my past coverage and photos of all the action.
Even if you’re a complete newbie, there’s really no good reason to not get into the spirit. That’s especially true given that local cross racing legend Erik Tonkin has just announced his Cyclocross Skills Clinics.
last year’s clinics.
(Photo: Jonathan Maus)
Tonkin’s clinics take place at Alpenrose Dairy (6149 SW Shattuck Rd.) and begin next week on September 5. They happen every Wednesday in September (that’s the 12th, 19th, and 26th). I attended one last year and found it not only improved my technique but also gave me a chance to connect with other ‘cross lovers.
The clinics start at 6:30 pm and last about an hour. You can register for the whole series for $25 and Juniors and kids (ages 0-18) are free! Individual clinics are $10 a piece.
Anyone who pre-registers will be entered into a drawing for a free Kona cyclocross bike. Read more about the clinics and find out how to register here.
last year (with Tonkin in the
background).
(Photo: Jonathan Maus)
New this year is another ‘cross clinic featuring another one of Portland’s cyclocross superstars, Molly Cameron. She’ll be sharing her secrets at a beginners ‘cross clinic on September 7th at Brentwood/Darlington Park (SE 62nd and Ogden) at 6:30pm. There’s a $2 suggested donation that goes toward helping with Molly’s racing career. For more info email begofosite [at] gmail [dot] com.
Start training, attend a clinic, get your bike all dialed-in, and stay tuned for more coverage of all the cyclocross action!