2022 'Cross is Coming . . . Finally!

Iowa City Community Cross 2022

Shorter days and cooler weather have made it feel like cyclocross season lately. With Labor Day Weekend here and gone, the season is getting a late but solid start with two beginner's clinics and a mid-week training race. And we still have Cannonball Cross to look forward to in November. (More on that here.)

The Des Moines area has had the jump on Eastern Iowa this year, with a Renegade Cross beginners' clinic and Valley hot laps every Wednesday in August. But we're catching up fast with the Twisted Cross Beginners' Clinic Thursday, Cross Curious with Corridor Devo in Coralville Sunday, and the IC Community Cross training race next Tuesday evening.

Everyone   Begins   Somewhere

Have a friend who always says "this year I'll race cyclocross?" These clinics are for them. Are you a roadie or triathlete with loads of power but no cx skills? Either event would be a great place to start. Dusting off the 'cross bike and trying to remember how to ride that bike? These clinics serve as great reminders.

"Cross Curious is being hosted by Corridor Devo," said the develoment team's Brian Brandsmeier. "The coaches and more experienced riders will lead the event. It’s a cyclocross clinic open to anyone ages 9-99. The purpose is to provide an intro to 'cross skills for new riders and to let more experienced riders practice their skills. Like the Gravel Curious event in Iowa City, this event will be casual to cater to novice riders."
Both Twisted Cross Beginners Clinic and Cross Curious are free events at dedicated cyclocross parks Tondro Pray Bike Park in Cedar Falls and Coralville Creekside Cross. 

Community   'Cross   Tuesday   night

"No frills, just fun." Says the Facebook event. "A fast yet challenging course with plenty of room to spectate and heckle." Tuesday night at 5:30? This has to be Iowa City Community Cross 2022.

The weekday training race started as part of the Chamois Time race series organized by the women of Iowa City Cycling Club. But when Chamois Time folded in 2019, Goosetown  Racing's Nick Sobocinski chose to continue the race. "I wanted to keep it going because the whole event is so beginner/newbie friendly: a central in-town location, shorter race times, fewer categories, lower entry fees, all things that make 'cross racing accessible to the largest number of people. Plus what a cool opportunity to ride through the massive  oak trees of upper city park!" That's not allowed any other time.

photo by Angy Snoop

The course Tuesday will be what everyone has come to expect in Upper City Park. "I think the course ends up a little under a mile total distance."

photo by Angy Snoop

So is that the same as the October race in City Park? Not quite. "The October race stages out of Lower City Park, near the skating pond," explained Sobocinski. "Quite a different terrain, with lots more flat down there. Although this year for the October event we are hope to use more of the upper park as well.

"I hope the Cross Curious event by the Corridor Devo crew really inspires some new folks to come out and see what cyclocross racing is all about, to see how much fun the local cycling community is, and to learn that you don’t have to be a 'professional' to have fun racing bikes."

We hope so too! Register for Community Cross today at BikeReg.com.