She Rides Colorado

I am a Marketing student at UNC and spend my free time exploring the fun Colorado has to offer on two wheels

Baby steps to CX

Cross_crash

photo credit http://bit.ly/w20gUC

I recently stumbled across this strange hypbrid sport called cyclocross. To an outsider, it looks like an insane combination of running, hiking, jumping, and occasionally falling- all while riding or carrying a bike. I watched a video that was actually pretty miserable looking back on it but it got some part of me excited. Maybe some people look at riders falling on each other bleeding, covered in mud, with struggle written all over their face and think “thank god I never have to try that” but all I felt was curiosity. Even after reading a blog post that said “the 18” hurdle feels then feet thall, that measly little 10’ runup looks like Mt. Everest and all you really want to do is find a quiet corner to go lay down and die…or puke, your choice,” (Lonefrontranger) I wanted to know more. Thus, I set my sights on cyclocross and began to ask questions and discover my next step. It is a sport that I knew literally nothing about but thankfully there is a plethora of tech-savvy people who are pumped to share everything they know about cyclocross.

I have found some helpful tidbits of information from eHow.com under Cyclocross bikes, such as how to race in mud and what type of bike is used. I also found some excellent advice from lonefrontranger at http://bit.ly/tGQMAd who referred readers to this site http://bit.ly/uqhMJF for dismount, negotiation, and remount instructions. He says that cyclocross is “the most anaerobic thing you’ll do on a bicycle, bar none” and “If you don’t like pain, don’t bother.” Pain? I love pain. Next: this cyclocross coach/ blogger suggested that come next July/August, I should be out on my bike for at least 5 to 6 hours per week. In August, I will need to add sprints, grouprides and VO2max intervals. I will find a local group with a good mentor to help me practice, and I will also use my current mountain bike with removed bar-ends until I decide to be fully committed to the sport and put in the cash for a cyclocross bike. I found several camps that should be helpful here http://bit.ly/sl0aFk and am excited to try them out in the spring.