Intro to Cyclo-Cross

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cyclocross            Many people have herd the term Cyclo-Cross and have seen pictures of competitors struggling up a muddy slope with their bike thrown over their shoulder and jumping hurdles. Yes that is part of the sport, but struggling up hills is only a small fraction of the course. Cyclo-cross also called cyclo-X is a bike race whose season is in the fall and early winter. The course is made up of many short laps like a criterium. The course features pavement, dirt and mud trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles that require the rider to get of their bike and jump over like a hurdle.
            Cyclo-cross was started in Europe in the early 1900’s. Race courses would start in one town and end in another. The racers were allowed to take any shortcut possible. They’d ride through farmers fields and jump over their stone fences. By 1950 the UCI held it’s first Cyclo-cross world championship in Paris France. Since the 1970’s Cyclo-cross has been gaining popularity in North America.

 

The Cyclo-Cross Bike

            At first glance the Cyclo-cross bike looks like a road bike, narrow tires and drop handle bars. A closer look will show the influences of a mountain bike. The tires are wider and have a knobby tread for traction and cantilever brakes for clearance when the course has muddy conditions. The cyclo-cross bike is made as light as possible so the racer can carry it over their shoulder while jumping hurdles up a slope, yet durable to handle the rough and changing terrain. The bottom bracket as been raised to give greater ground clearance.
 
Technique

            Besides the other necessary racing skills discussed on this web site there are other skills specific to Cyclo-cross because of the need to clear obstacles.
            The first technique is the dismount and remount. As the rider approaches the obstacle they dismount their bike, most will take their right leg off and swing it around to the other side. To keep their balance they will shift their upper body weight slightly to the right. They step down on the ground with their right foot on the left side of the bike. As the do they release their left foot from the pedal. They bring the bike up over their right shoulder, take a running step and then they jump over the hurdle. As soon as they have landed they get right back on without slowing down. This sounds simple, but in the middle of a crowded race it can be tricky. The ability to get off the bike, jump a hurdle and get back on requires practice, more practice and skill. The best Cyclo-cross racers will make it look easy.
            The second technique is the bunny hop. Cross over riders from BMX and mountain bike have brought the bunny hop to Cyclo-cross. The bunny hop is performed by pulling up on the handle bar, raising the front wheel as high as possible. Then shifting your weight forward and lifting your feet bringing your rear wheel as high as possible. Hopping the bike over the obstacle. Race officials try to limit the use of the bunny hop maneuver by placing two or three hurdles in a row. That is only more of a challenge for the skilled racer.

 
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