Cyclo-What?!

Alright so if you ventured on into this site you probably know something about cyclocross.  If not read on and hopefully you will be enlightened.

Cyclocross (also cyclo-cross, CX, CCX, cyclo-X or 'cross') is a form of  bicycle racing sometimes referred to as the 'steeple chase' of cycling.  How a CX race works is organizers will set up a 1-2 mile course that will cover varying terrain including grass, dirt, sand pits, mud pits, short run ups, monster runs up, off-camber sections, and you cannot forget the barrier sections, yes now you have a visual. Many times races are held on soccer fields, college and high school campuses, motor raceways, and  more commonly city parks. Races range in length from 30-60 minutes depending on category with the fast guys (aka pros) hammering for the full 60 minutes around the 1-2 mile circuit. The season begins at the end of September in the United States and finishing up with the National Championships in early December. The World Championships are held (usually) during the first week in February.

THE HISTORY :: So now you are probably wondering who came up with this crazy event called Cyclocross? There are many stories but basically back in the early 1900s in France (where else?) the cyclists tired of frozen feet on long winter training developed it as a form of off season training.  So road racers would race each other from town to town and would be allowed to cut across farm fields, over fences or take any shortcuts they could to reach the next town first.  Over time this became a common form of off season training and eventually evolved into a full on sport with the first French national championship being held in 1902 and went international with neighboring countries (Belgum, Switzerland, Spain, Luxembourg and Italy) by 1924.  Another 26 years later the first world championships was held in Paris.

Cyclocross would not become popular in the United States until the mid 1970's with the first National Championships held in Berkley, California.

Cyclo-cross Related Links:

Cyclocross Magazine: United States first ever print magazine dedicated to the sport of cyclocross.

Velonews:  Cyclocross section of Velonews.com.

CyclingNews:  Cyclocross section of Cyclingnews.com.

Wisconsin Cycling Association: Wisconsin orgainzation promoting USCF based road and CX racing.

MadCross.org: Madison area CX news and info.

CyclocrossWorld.com: Online CX retailer also posts national and world CX race info.

Wikipedia:  Cyclocross information.