Cyclocross: Scheduling

by J.P. Partland

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The cyclocross season is upon us. It is now almost four months long in the northeast. You can get in two races a weekend from the last weekend in September into mid-December if you are willing to travel from Virginia to Maine.

Some do. For the less ambitious, there are two regional race series and two local race series, and then lots of loose races.

There is the-Mid Atlantic Cup, aka the Mid Atlantic series, which has races from Virginia to New Jersey. There is a New England series, which has races from the Hudson Valley to Maine. Both of these have a wealth of UCI-ranked races, courses that meet up with international standards, large prize lists, and deep fields in all categories.

Local race series are held in Augusta, NJ and Sag Harbor, Long Island. Neither has announced their schedule as of yet, but expect 4-8 races from each starting in early November and running through late December. Both series are run in parks, and use a single park to create a variety of courses. From NYC, Augusta is closer, but both make good courses and can get solid fields.

There is a calendar below. It looks full, but is hardly complete.

When discussing scheduling, it is also worthwhile to discuss training, as one often schedules this. If you have been racing and training hard through the road and track season thusfar, it probably is beneficial to figure out when your road season ends (ours ends on October 9, with the club championships/Pete Senia memorial), taking a short break from racing, training, or even riding, then starting your cyclocross build.

Training for cyclocross can be a tricky balance. There is no easy answer. Those who have been charging hard all season might need a minimum of intensity during the week, while those who took a mid-season break might want quite a bit of intensity. Either way, endurance riding is not necessary. The races aren’t long enough.

First, know that cyclocross races are short and intense, lasting from 30 minutes to an hour depending on your category. It is said that cyclocross races are like hard criteriums with the sprint at the start. They start will a full-on sprint, and then settle into a rhythm, with sections where you can take it easier, and sections where you have to spike your effort. Drafting can make a difference as well; even though it’s nice to go first over a set of barriers, having someone else set the pace can be easier.

You have to dismount your bike at least a few times every 5-9 minute lap, and run with it. To this end, you have to practice dismounting and mounting your bike fast. You probably should include some running in your training (sprinting uphill can be good, endurance runs need not be longer than 20 minutes). You should also practice bike-handling skills, like turning on grass and dirt during the week.

In October, we’ll set up a few sessions where we teach getting on and off your bike fast. If you don’t have a cross bike, you can find a story on building a cross bike cheap on our website.

Provisional NE Cyclocross Calendar

Schedules consulted: racelistings.com, cyclingcalendar.com, bikereg.com, ne-bra.org, necyclocross.com (new england series), monkeyhillcs.com (Mid Atlantic Cup). Check the calendars as more races will certainly be listed soon.

September

25–BCA Cyclocross

26–Competitive Edge Cyclocross

October

02—2nd Annual Ed Sander Memorial Cyclo Cross Race – Buckeystown, MD

02–3rd Annual Canton MHS Cyclo-Cross (MA)

03–Whitmore’s Landscaping Super Cross Cup – UCI Cat 2 (LI)

03—2004 VACX Series – Panorama Farms – Charlottesville, VA

09—5th Annual Lancaster County Cyclocross Race – Lancaster, PA

10–Catamount Cyclocross

11–SMCC Cyclo-Cross

16–Downeast Cyclo-Cross (ME)

17–Wicked Maine Cyclo-Cross

17–Fox Hill Cyclo-Cross (CT)

17—Iron Cross Cyclocross Race – America’s Longest ‘Cross Race – Michaux State Forest (Carlisle), PA

23–Thread City Cyclocross

24–Southington Cyclo-Cross (CT)

24—Wissahickon Cross – Back to Philly – Philadelphia, PA

30–ECV Cyclo-Cross #1 (MA)

31–ECV Cyclo-Cross #2 (MA)

November

06–Frank n’ Horst Cross (NH)

07–Putney/West Hill Cyclocross (VT)

07–Coonamessett Eco Cross

13–Chainbiter 6.0 Cyclo-Cross (CT)

14–Cycle-Smart International ‘Cross (MA)

14—WPA Cross Cup – Slippery Rock, PA

20—UCI/MAC Series Beacon Cyclocross – Bridgeton, NJ

20–Plymouth Cyclocross (MA)

21–Team Douglas Bike Swap & ‘Cross (MA)

21—UCI Highland Park Cyclocross – Highland Park, NJ

27—NJ State Cyclocross Championship – Bridgeton, NJ

27–Gearworks Cyclo-Cross (MA)

28–UNH Cyclo-Cross (NH)

28–Hop Brook Cyclo-Cross

December

04–WE Stedman Grand Prix of ‘Cross

05–BRC Cyclocross

11–MRC Cyclo-Cross

12–Mike Wiley Memorial Cross Race

19–Riverfront Recapture Cyclo-Cross