To the uninitiated, entering our first cyclocross race can seem a little scary. Why do the racers dismount and run with their bikes? What's with all the hills - and jumping over barriers? Are the fans always this rowdy?
We have you covered with some answers, and the three essential skills you need to know in order to try a race. Practice, get confident, and you'll be forking over your first cyclocross race entry fee in no time.
No need to be intimidated
The spirit of cyclocross is fun, welcoming and a bit of a party, complete with “guests” -rowdy, possibly inebriated but well-intentioned spectators cheering from the sidelines. “There’s something for everyone in ’cross,” says six-time national champion and longtime ambassador of the sport, Tim Johnson. “Where road racing might seem intimidating with its tactics and road rash, ’cross is simple and anything goes.” And because events take place in the fall and winter, you get a workout that carries you through the off-season, too.
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How a cyclocross race works
Riders complete multiple laps on timed, closed, off-road courses that include obstacles such as wooden barriers, steep run-ups, and sand pits that require riders to dismount and carry their bikes. Most amateur events take 40 to 45 minutes to finish. Riders wear mountain bike shoes with grippy treads but ride cyclocross-specific bikes, though some races allow mountain bikes. Check with the organizer before you enter.
Three essentials skills to know
Getting on and off your bike in a smooth and fast motion is one of the most important skills to learn in cyclocross. Carrying your bike while you're running is high on the list, too. In 'cross terms, these skills are referred to as the “dismount,” the “remount,” and “shouldering.”
While these skills are considered cyclocross basics, there's nothing basic about them. Good technique - the kind that comes from putting the time and practice in - makes a huge difference at the finish line.
How to dismount your bike
As you approach an obstacle, slow down and coast. With hands on the hoods, unclip your right foot, then swing your right leg back and around the saddle, bringing it between the bike and your left leg. As the bike slows, step to the ground with your right foot and unclip your left foot. Give yourself time to take a few strides before the obstacle.
How to remount your bike
Keep moving forward and, with your bike on the ground and hands on the bar, point the bike in the direction you need to go. Step forward with your left foot and swing your right leg behind you and over the saddle. Try to land (gently) on the inside of your right thigh, then slide onto the saddle. Start a pedaling motion, find the pedals, and clip in.
How to shoulder your bike
To shoulder your bike, wrap your right arm around and under the down tube, hold it with your right hand, and rest the top tube on your shoulder. Grab the left side of the handlebar in your other hand to keep your wheel steady
Since getting hooked on pro cycling while watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship in Philadelphia, longtime Bicycling contributor Whit Yost has raced on Belgian cobbles, helped build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux as an assistant director sportif. These days, he lives with his wife and son in Pennsylvania, spending his days serving as an assistant middle school principal and his nights playing Dungeons & Dragons.
