Plans don't always work the way we expect them to, but somehow they do work out in the end. After its debut as a two-day race in 2017, Creekside ReUnion was reduced to one day of racing and Goosetown Racing Club planned to share the weekend with local favorite Bobbers Cross. But months later, after Bobbers was cancelled due to flooding, newcomer Corridor Devo Junior Cycling Team stepped up to help bring a second day of racing to Coralville Creekside Cross this coming weekend, November 3 & 4. Goosetown Racing Club's Nick Sobicinski is acting as Race Director for both days. "Through my role at Geoff's Bike & Ski I had also been essentially serving as the Race Director for Bobbers Cross as well so it was relatively easy to facilitate once I knew I had adequate assistance to do it."
Saturday's race will still be sponsored by ReUnion Brewery and presented by Goosetown Cycling Club. "The second day at Creekside was a last minute decision after we learned that Bobbers would be cancelled due to flooding at Scales Pointe campground. As soon as that cancellation was announced people reached out asking for a second day of racing at Creekside Park. When I got a commitment from the Cooridor Devo we decided to go ahead with it." Corridor Devo helps save the day "With Bobbers cancelled, we said we'd like to have two days of racing -- why not make Creekside two days?" said Cooridor Devo's Ryan Jacobsen. "The juniors will help set up the course and work on race day. We asked the kids what they would like to see with some of the course features so they can really feel some ownership." Proceeds from Sunday's race will go to the Cooridor Devo team, helping them expand their efforts. Proceeds from Saturday will go to the Iowa City Cyclocross Club, the volunteer group that helps the City of Coralville manage Coralville Creekside Cross, a permanent cyclocross course. Corridor Devo are hardly strangers to Creekside. Many of the juniors raced there last year or in September at the Midweek Mayhem, and the team uses the course for practices. "We hold practices out there every other week," said Jacobsen. "We practice odd weeks in Cedar Rapids, even weeks in Coralville." While presenting a race wasn't originally part of Corridor Devo's plan, "We want to support the local race community."
"About a year ago we set a goal of starting a team of ten kids. Now we have close to twenty. The kids are having fun. The families are part of the team. It's been a real sense of community, getting the team started. And this is just the beginning." Ryan's daughter Jocelyn has already done 12 cyclocross races this year. "It's going great. It's a lot of fun. We do practices and we got our kits." The best part? "We have a lot of people who support us." A weekend of racing Coralville Creekside Cross is spread across 30 acres alongside a softball field of the same name. Last year the race weekend there featured nearly 200 feet of climbing each lap in either direction. This year the races will be clockwise both days, but otherwise will be very different Saturday and Sunday.  photo by CRANDIC Racing According to Sobicinski, "Creekside offers so many opportunities and options but also has some limitations due to the length and grade of the course. Expect something similar to the course used for the Midweek Mayhem race -- clockwise around the course, dropping down the hill, over the bridge, and up to the barnyards. The course will navigate the hillside and barnyards differently each day. The serpentine ditch will be in on Saturday. For Sunday's race we'll try to minimize really long climbs by traversing the hillside more."
"We have a great schedule for the weekend that will keep the races moving and exciting for both riders and spectators throughout the day." Saturday races start at 11am and include a kids race at 12:45, with the final race of the day concluding at 3:30pm. Sunday races start at 10am but will not include a kids race, with the last race of the day finishing at 3pm. Looking ahead "It is possible that Bobbers and Creekside will be paired up again," explained Sobicinski. "Pairing up two very different courses within Johnson County was a big reason Creekside went to one day; I was excited by the opportunity to offer a unique race weekend showcasing things happening in the area beyond Jingle Cross." Bobbers Cross can be a challenge to schedule around Iowa football, meaning that the event bounces to a different weekend each year. "Geoff's has always put on Bobbers and the venue really makes that event special. Bobbers will return next year. We will work with the folks at the campground to determine the best date for the race. As always the big moving piece will be Jingle Cross and how and when it happens in 2019."
Coralville Creekside Cross, nestled between I-80 and I-380 in the western part of the Iowa City area, is 30 minutes from Cedar Rapids, 90 from Cedar Falls, and just 100 minutes from Des Moines. Pack your waders, folks, 'cause it looks like rain.
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