-
-
Polls
Loading ...
“Bowl of Death” Taunts Colorado Cyclocross Riders
Last weekend capped Boulder Racing’s cyclocross series with a technically challenging course at the Louisville Rec Center. Affectionately called “The Bowl of Death”, the course lured some of Colorado’s top riders to come out and test their mettle. The course features some tight turns, lots of elevation changes, and bumpy terrain. While Mother Nature has kept the CX courses mostly dry this season, that didn’t prevent all casualties, namely in men’s Cat 3. At least one rider was sent to the hospital after a spectacular crash involving multiple riders, but aside from that it was a great day for cyclocross. There’s a great descriptive write up in this post from the Chipotle-Titus Mountain Bike Team blog. A trend in cyclocross that seems to continue growing is the inclusion of open, “fun” categories, such as a cruiser category. This race featured the rare chance for the rug rats to get a taste of cyclocross.
The season’s winding down, but we still have Mammoth Cross at Fossil Trace, Supercross in Colorado Springs, and the annual “On The Cross” at Chatfield to go. Check out the race calendar for more details on these.
Copper Triangle Cycling Tour Review
Here’s a link to a post by a Connecticut resident who came out for the Copper Triangle in August. His original post can be found here. 
He describes a challenging, yet well-organized and supported tour. “…overall it was a fantastic experience, participating in a very well-organized, challenging ride with breathtaking scenery, difficult climbs and incredible, never-ending descents. Plus the event benefits charity for a good cause. I hope you will all join me next year, to suffer together.”
Six Day Races
Six Day Races - Fort Collins
Reposted from http://cbslocalblogs.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?nav=main&webtag=KCNC_Moody&entry=14
To those who race bikes, Six Day Races are exactly what they sound like: races that last six days on a bike without a break.
And, yet, a group of riders and racing promoters in Fort Collins have taken that title and given it a new twist: Six Days of racing on six Sundays in a row, through May and into June, on the .4 of a mile CSU Oval in the middle of campus.
And what racing it is!
Slideshow: Photos of June 2’s races
There are numerous categories, involving every possible age group, bicycle type, skill level and gender.
There are races for licensed, adult riders on track bikes and road bikes, as you might imagine.
But, then, there are races for kids, ages 7-12 and 13-17 on bikes that range from cut down road bikes to BMX bikes, pink pastel first bikes to tricked out speedsters.
Or, anyone, of any age, on a cruiser bike gets their own category and races as well. One guy, in fact, raced a classic Stingray style bike with a banana seat. He took a magnificent face plant in the last ride of the day. He was okay.
The race styles change as well, from one lap Chariot races, to multi lap points races (with $$ prizes) to 3 lap “Win and Out” races. The packs of racers are big, the sprints are very fast, and the entire program moves very quickly. And that’s because the program is so well planned and laid out. There is never a break in the action. The crowds on hand, and they were considerable, were never at a loss for something to watch. (Including a track stand competition, where riders balanced on their bikes, without pedaling, for two minutes and 45 seconds, first with two hands on the handlebars, then one, then none. Winner carried off a Chipotle burrito. I fear I would have carried off a broken arm.)
It was a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon. And I can’t wait to go back again.
There are two more Sundays of racing left this season, June 8 and June 15 (Rain Date: June 22). Admission to watch is free. There is a $10 entry fee to race.
For more information on watching, racing, check out the website for the Fort Collins Velodrome Association:
