(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
We’re right in the thick of this year’s cyclcross season. And from what I’ve seen and heard it’s been a good one.
First things first though. Have you seen the River City Bicycles recap video of the Cyclocross Crusade race at Alpenrose a few weekends ago? It’s hilarious and it’s not what you’re expecting (scroll down to watch).
I got out to my first event of the season yesterday: the Cyclocross Crusade race at Heron Lakes (adjacent to Portland International Raceway, see more of my photos below). Given the rainstorm we had on Saturday I expected soaking and muddy conditions; but it turned out to be quite a pleasant day for racing. The course was mostly rideable and the number of victims (bike and human) was relatively small.
The same can’t be said for Saturday’s Canby Crossword Cross Challenge event. After seeing a few images on social media of people racing through huge lakes of water I wondered what the heck happened. Organizer Patrick Croasdaile reports that a few hours into raceday — as rain continued to fall — the course rose about one inch per lap at the two main water crossings. Croasdaile says the water was at “hub level”.
Then it got worse:
“[By the start of the] Master 3 and the good ‘ole boy fields, water is rising about a foot a lap while the rain persists. We make the call to run the juniors on a shorter course. Mother Nature intervenes, water is now hip deep on the bikes, and we run everyone on a modified, shorter course.”
Yikes! The conditions didn’t stop the competition though. Check this Twitter update from Team Planet X…
It was a wet one at the Canby Crossword CX Challenge today. Moving water & muddy trails. @planetxbikes @Xiologix @ORBicycleRacing #MarkHand pic.twitter.com/AL2PPGtBMX
— Planet PDX Cycling (@planet_pdx) October 22, 2017
Speaking of competition, Portlanders like to start their little ones early. I got the chance to see the Islabikes Kids Race and it restored my faith in humanity. So many kids — even really tiny ones on scoot bikes! And their faces. Smiles of unadulterated joy that remind us why we never stop loving to ride.
There was one moment when a little guy fell and ended up straddling the barrier with his tummy. He was in the middle of two riders. One stopped to make sure he was OK. The other casually glanced over, then scooted away! Then the guy who fell looked up, as if to say, “I’ll remember that! I’ll be coming for you next weekend!”
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As for the official racing at Heron Lakes, there were 886 total racers on the day. That’s keeping about steady with last year, according to OBRA stats. (If you’re curious, the two races at opening weekend of Alpenrose this year had 1,863 racers which is about 35 fewer than 2016).
I was there early to support the 19-year-old son of a friend who was staying with our family during his visit from the U.K. He wanted to race but he didn’t have a bike. In a true testament to our awesome racing community, I got over a half-dozen offers for a loaner with just one email to the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association email list. So, to everyone that offered to help, here’s Josh Reid (son of author and journalist Carlton Reid) in action sporting a very rare BikePortland.org jersey! (And special thanks to Devin Bailly for the rad bike.)
And here are a few more images from the action at Heron Lakes…
And finally, here’s that funny, Sportscenter-esque River City Bicycles video I mentioned…
River City’s Alex Criss said it’s their attempt to do something different. Other ‘cross videos they’ve done “All just start to look the same” and are, “not that fun or interesting,” he shared via email recently. “This time we just decided to just roll with it and have fun….it’s more our style anyway.” The spoof of ESPN-style coverage, Criss added, is a response to how mainstream cyclocross has become. What used to be a fringe sport (remember that 2006 story in the New York Times?) now gets almost as much attention from the industry as road racing.
So what better time to poke some fun at the sport and focus on the colorful characters that make Portland’s scene especially fun? Criss says to stay tuned for future episodes.
Next on the schedule is the big Halloween weekend double-header and party in Bend. Check out CrossCrusade.com for the full schedule.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Weaver’s OK…I guess.
Cute kids – definitely…though its way too bad they have to wear helmets to compete…I doubt the push bikers would need them during a “fall”…unless the kids used chains or clubs last weekend against each other.
Todd. Come on. It’s a competition and organizers have a permit that requires them to make everyone on a bicycle wear a helmet at all times – racing or not.
The kids probably don’t need the helmets, but they sure are cute. It also makes them part of the race scene.
You obviously don’t race. Those little kids are vicious.
My daughter endo’d going down a hill yesterday and the balance bike flipped over and smacked her in the back of the head. I’m glad she had a helmet on, as it would have been metal frame right into the back of her skull.
Do what you want with your kids, though.
By Oregon law, they have to wear a helmet to be on a bike on premises open to the public. It has nothing to do with OBRA. https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/814.485
isn’t it the law in the city of Vancouver?
As my usual OCD self I must correct the 2006 story from the New York Times.
Alpenrose is NOT outside Portland, because the back fence is precisely our city’s limit.
Strawberry helmet skeleton pants is my daughter Hannah. It was her first cross but as you can see from her smile I’m sure it won’t be her last!
Are there any upcoming events with balance bike races? My daughter would love it.
Great shots of the kiddos and Peter K! His heckling was on point, per usual. 🙂
A super fun day of racing, and great spectators as usual. I loved seeing a clump of Biketown bikes out at the venue too for spectators who pedaled out there. I’d upload the pic if I could.
Rachel, your kiddo is adorable! So awesome that the parents are getting kids excited about bikes.
Jonathan, thanks so much for these photos!! Great race commentary! The little guy who fell across the barrier is my son Jens, to heighten the drama, the other little guy who rode off with barely a backward glance, is his brother Anders. They are quite competitive and these awesome pics will undoubtedly stoke the sibling cx rivalry for years to come. – J