CRANDIC RACING
  • Calendar
  • TT Series
    • Results & photos
    • Series Standings
    • Historical Results
  • Night at the Oval
    • Results & Photos
  • Fartlek
  • 'Cross Words
  • Who we are
  • Contacts
    • Good Folks to Know
    • Keep in touch
  • Calendar
  • TT Series
    • Results & photos
    • Series Standings
    • Historical Results
  • Night at the Oval
    • Results & Photos
  • Fartlek
  • 'Cross Words
  • Who we are
  • Contacts
    • Good Folks to Know
    • Keep in touch
Search



'cross
words

CX2019:   Afterthoughts

11/20/2019

0 Comments

 
With the Iowa State Cyclocross Championship just around the corner you might assume that the 2019 cyclocross season is all but over. But before 'Cross Words signs off for the season we want to point out some fun yet to come this year and maybe even get you thinking about CX2020.

Picture
Late Saturday afternoon, right after State, the Iowa Cyclocross Series will do podiums for the series just down the street at Brightside Aleworks in Altoona. If the series included Women Masters we'd be there for sure. If you're in contention or want to cheer on those who are make your way to Brightside Aleworks.

Picture
If you're jonesing to race the weekend after Thanksgiving you won't have too many choices. That Sunday, Region Riot CX in Crown Point, Indiana is the only race within 300 miles of Eastern Iowa. For a full weekend of racing – UCI C2 no less – check out the 10th edition of Ruts-n-Guts in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. That's over 500 miles away, probably 8 or so hours of driving. On the bright side, it's likely to be warmer there.

Picture
Sunday December 8 is Montrose Beach CX, the Midwest Regional Championship and the final race in the Chicago Cross Cup.
Right on Lake Michigan about two miles from Wrigley Field, Montrose Beach has long been a highlight of the CCC and formerly served as the Illinois State Championship. That honor went to Woodstock, Illinois this year, and sandy Montrose Beach is now the Midwest Championship.
The fields will be big, the competition fierce, and the whole race will be a lot of fun. And as part of the CCC, Women Masters will be racing. Don't miss the "Koksijde of Chicago Cyclocross." 
Picture
Picture
photos courtesy of SnowyMountain Photography

Picture
Of course, if money is no object (nor time, nor travel) why not head out to Tacoma, Washington December 10-15 for the 2019 National Championship? There is no better competition, and every serious 'cross racer should make it to Nationals one year or another. If not now, when? (More on that below, actually...)

Picture
If you can't make it to Nationals but you still haven't had enough, consider joining the Chicago Cuttin Crew Sunday, December 15 for Afterglow – A Cyclocross Race at Douglas Park in Chicago. This one last taste of cyclocross is not part of the ChiCrossCup (so warning: no Women Masters field!) but since 2010 has offered a fast, friendly, fun finale to the season.

CX2020   is   only   8   months   away

Despite our best efforts, the 2019 cyclocross season will eventually come to a close. Before it does, let's be clear: it's not too soon to be thinking about CX2020. Why?
For starters, ​the end of the season is the perfect time to reflect on your ride and make plans for next year. Could your bike handling be better? Grab the mountain bike and hit the trails. CX skills lacking? Drill your starts, dismounts, and carries. Fitness an issue? The "off-season" is the perfect time to shed some pounds, if you're properly motivated.
In large part that motivation comes from planning, so think it through and set some goals. Same thing with bike maintenance and travel plans: once 'cross season hits you won't have much time to spare, so get on it now.

Bad   News

There's a lot of uncertainty brewing about our CX2020, stirred by controversy way over in Northern Europe. A radical redefinition of the UCI's World Cup would involve 16 races running every Sunday from October 11 to January 24. What does that mean for us?
Most likely the new World Cup schedule would preclude World Cup races in the US. Without WC status Jingle Cross and Trek CXC will continue, but may move around the calendar, meaning every schedule in the Midwest is now up in the air.
To make matters worse, that schedule for the World Cup interferes with US Nationals in December. It may even mean that all national championships will eventually be pushed way back to February. Brrr!
Keep an eye out, or better yet check back here or on the CRANDIC Calendar. When we know more you'll know more.
Picture

And   Good

We may not know dates for months to come, but we do know of some truly exciting races for CX2020. Jingle Cross and Trek CXC will be back at some point. FayetteCross will be better than ever as its organizers prepare to host Cyclocross Worlds in 2022. And Ruts-n-Guts down in Oklahoma will return, just in case you need to work on your late season form...

and   Best   of   all

Next year the 2020 Cyclocross Nationals will take place December 8-13 in ​DuPage County outside of Chicago. That's just three hours from Eastern Iowa, the closest Nats have come since a two-year stint near Madison in 2012 and 2013. 
Start shaving your points, cyclocross fans – we're going to Nationals!
0 Comments

The   State   of   Iowa   Cyclocross

11/17/2019

1 Comment

 
"The Iowa State Cyclocross Championships is a great event," said Linda Cooper of Sakari Race Team. "It’s one of my favorite courses, since Lions Park offers plenty of real estate, with a lot of the course on a hillside.  And the finish is a fairly steep paved climb." 
"Zealous Racing does a great job of putting on 'cross races.  The venue has a heated building for registration, also one of my favorite things.  Since it is the state championship there is always a good showing, including some out-of-staters.  There will be plenty of opportunities for hand-ups and a good party atmosphere.  The pay-outs are pretty good too!"
Picture
CRANIC Racing
Picture
Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
Picture
Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
PictureScott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
"State is a really balanced course," said Steve Tygrett of CRANDIC Racing. "There are some long grindy uphills that reward you with nice flowy descents.  The technical sections are always challenging: off camber 180s that get sketchy when muddy, a rough cut single track section which often has stray logs and a slippery hill at the end, sharp turns at the bottom of descents, and fast sweeping off camber turns.  The wildcard is the paved start/finish hill.  It really sucks the energy out of you, and can be decisive in races.  I've seen some slow, painful climbs up that hill on the last lap. 

Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
"The hill also provides a great place to watch the races, as much of the course can be viewed from the top.  Overall I'd say the course for State really hits all the skill sets required of a cyclocross racer.  While a lighter rider who can climb well will have a slight advantage, you still need to have good bike handling skills to be successful here.
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
"Two years ago the course was changed slightly.  Instead of climbing the entire paved hill, riders had to climb or run the steep grass hill below the shelter house.  After riding across the top of the hill, riders encountered a tight off camber 180, which saw a lot of crashes.  After a slight decent riders would come out onto the steepest part of the paved hill to the finish.  It rained all day last year, so that feature was taken out.  Hopefully it will be back since it adds some great technical elements, which makes riders have to decide to ride or run."
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
"Last year we had to take out some features due to the rain," explained Race Director Justin Guiter (Zealous Racing), "but hopefully the weather will cooperate this year and we'll be able to reinstate those sections.  Generally the course layout at Lion's Park has remained similar throughout its time as a State Championship, with some different additions year to year.  The everlasting theme is great flow throughout and a few challenging sections but nothing outlandish." 
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
"We are so thankful for the City of Altoona and their continued support of cyclocross in Central Iowa.  We've had events in Altoona for over 10 years now and we hope to continue this great relationship.  Weather this time of year is always a crap shoot.  I recall one of my first races at Lion's for State CX.  There was about an inch of snow on the ground, just enough to have a nice white coating and plenty cold.  Another year, I started my race and it was -11 only to jump right back in my car following my race to see it had climbed to a balmy -8. 
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
"Up until last year it has primarily been dry and we were a little nervous what the city would say when they saw the park after the 25 degree downpour we raced in.  I suppose it's a good sign when the City workers are joking with you that's it's going to be a wet one.
Picture
Scott Wall (douglasaveimages.smugmug.com)
"Immediately following the race last year, Paul Jensen and I reached out to the City and let them know of the condition of the park after the race.  We offered up any service our team could provide to help keep the park looking great.  They simply told us they'd re-evaluate in the spring.  We discussed it during our Parks Board Meeting and they even mentioned they couldn't tell we'd even been there last year.  Again, so happy we have a great community to work with.
Picture
"Returning this year will be our State CX Championship jerseys for podium and purchase thanks to Rory at Ridebiker Alliance.  Huge thank you to both Rory and Brooke Bailey for spearheading this initiative last year.  It's a great addition to our State Championship and puts Iowa on par with our neighboring states.
"We won't have a food truck at the venue but we will have a potluck and anyone is welcome to bring items to share.  We'll have a small spread of meatball subs, soups, chili, and other items."
Pre-register at BikeReg.com and receive a free Iowa State Cyclocross Championship neck gaiter.  "Our stocking caps last year seemed to be a hit so thought we'd stay on a cool weather apparel theme again this year."
Picture
1 Comment

MidState   Sets   Course   along   the   High   Trestle   Trail

11/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
"It was never really a question of if we would promote a cyclocross race," said Rob Versteegh of  MIDSTATE Racing. "It was just a question of where and when.
​"MIDSTATE is new this season,  but our team is compiled of folks with years and years of experience designing courses and hosting events. We will continue to bring compelling races into the Iowa cycling scene."
Picture
photo courtesy of MIDSTATE Racing
Picture
photo courtesy of Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
For its first new event the new team will stage MIDSTATE CX November 16 & 17 within coasting distance of the High Trestle Trail. "The city of Slater and Nite Hawk Bar & Grill, our race headquarters, are incredible supporters of cycling.  ​
"With Nite Hawk being our host for Gents Race, a spring gravel event we do annually, it was a no-brainer to collaborate with them on a cross race. The course will utilize Grimm Park to the south of the bar and the green space to the north."
Teammate Janan Hicks explained, "Basically, MIDSTATE likes to play bikes and have a good time. "Anyone that enjoys these two things needs to race MIDSTATE CX as there will most likely be shenanigans of some sort. It's going to be just what you would expect from this crew."
Picture
photo courtesy of Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
Since it's just a week before, MIDSTATE CX will obviously be an important race for anyone honing their fitness for the Iowa State Championship. But what can we expect of the race course? 
Asking Hicks about MIDSTATE's plans reveals more about her team than the race itself: "Ok. It’s worse than herding 5th graders. We probably won’t know the exact course 'til we set up on Friday. But it’s a very friendly race with a party atmosphere since it’s located at a bar. Anyone thinking about trying out the cyclocross scene should do MIDSTATE CX.
"Also," continued Hicks, "the Felts' Flyover may not be on course this year, but now it's a must for next... right next to the Betters' berm."
According to Versteegh: "We can tell you what the course does not have: elevation. 
Aside from that, plan on a course with pavement, gravel, grass, sand pits, and off-cambers. Racers will pass by the bar twice a lap.
"We look forward to seeing you all at MIDSTATE CX. Shawn at Nite Hawk will have drink and food specials for us all weekend, and a DJ playing Saturday, starting at 6pm."
Picture
photo courtesy of Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
Slater, Iowa is north of Des Moines, so right around two hours drive from either Iowa City or Cedar Rapids. Registration for MIDSTATE CX is on BikeReg.com.

Picture
From Ankeny to Woodward on the  High Trestle Trail
Usually I love my trainer, but for MIDSTATE CX I might just leave it at home. The perfect warm-up for MIDSTATE CX is out and back along the High Trestle Trail.

SPecial   Thanks   to   all   of   MIDSTATE'S   Sponsors

Janan Hicks: "We’d like to thank all of our sponsors that stepped up to support this race and our new team. It means a lot to us to have that much support with new adventures."
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
photo courtesy of Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
0 Comments

FROSTY   CROSS   OR   THE   CHICAGO   CROSS   CUP

11/1/2019

2 Comments

 
After Creekside and Bobbers this weekend we have just three more weeks until the Iowa State Championship in Des Moines and five more until the Midwest Championship in Chicago. Days are getting shorter and colder, but there's still some great cyclocross racing ahead, starting November 9 & 10 with either Frosty Cross in Le Mars or a weekend of racing at the Chicago Cross Cup.
Picture
photo courtesy of Patrick Lalley

Frosty   Cross   Lives   Up   to   Its   Name

"It was so cold last year that I wore all the clothes I brought," said Jacqueline Palfy (Parallel 44 Racing) when asked about Frosty Cross 2018. "And I may or may not have cried a little on my second lap because I couldn't feel my hands. But racing will warm you up quickly.
"As for the course, the stairs never seem to get easier, but they're one of the best features. That along with the little off-camber ridge after the hill make for fun challenges to do better each year and each lap.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
photos courtesy of Frosty Cross
"Best of all is the camaraderie inside the lodge, with the fire going, and running into old and new friends. Frosty Cross has a really welcoming atmosphere, and, of course, then you can go into town and have ice cream. Bikes and ice cream in November -- what more do you need?"
Picture
Iowa City Cycling Club's Jim Bethea raced Frosty Cross last year too, to take the lead in the 45+ field of the Iowa CX Series. "They call it Frosty Cross for a reason. It was in the 20s and windy last year. I wore every article of clothing I brought and was still cold. Turnout wasn't great, but it was a fun course: some good off-camber, a flyover, and some sand. Masters all raced together and they split it apart for series points after. They need to move that race to September."

Bonus   Race   at   the   Chicago   Cross   Cup

As cold as Frosty Cross can be, that's not the race's only drawback: Le Mars is in the northwestern part of Iowa. That's not too far for Palfy coming from Sioux Falls, but for us Eastern Iowans it's 4½ to 6 hours away. Unless you're especially motivated – like Bethea proving more stubborn than his IACX competition – you might want to look closer to home. Lucky for us November 9 & 10 is also a big weekend for the Chicago Cross Cup.
Picture
Picture
photos courtesy of Cyklopedia
Picture
Picture
(https://cyklopedia.cc/)
The Chicago Cross Cup is easily the biggest series in the Midwest. Races are usually just one day, on Sundays. But this year CCC#7, the Groundhog PSI-clocross Sunday November 10, is paired with the Illinois State Championship the day before. To make the weekend all the more attractive, Emricson Park in Woodstock, Illinois, the site of both races, is north and west of Chicago proper, so around 30 minutes closer. From Iowa City that's just over three hours.
"I love Chicago Cross Cup races," said Alijah Beatty of Marian University Cycling. "The courses aren’t as hard as some UCI race courses, but they are great to get some experience under your belt. The CCC series helped me a lot when I was younger. Since the course weren’t too technical I was able to focus on speed and power.
"Last year the Groundhog PSI race was so much fun. It was super muddy, so a great experience in those conditions. One feature was an off-camber downhill into a turn and then a run-up to the top of the hill. I don’t know if this was my favorite feature, but it definitely could make or break your race. The downhill was slippery and if you fell you might have gone off course. Also, the run-up was long enough that you had to have had some running in your training to be prepared for that.
Picture
Picture
photos courtesy of Cyklopedia
Picture
Picture
(https://cyklopedia.cc/)
"Last year I rode most of the race off the front, though on the last lap 2nd place was gaining on me. I hadn’t crashed too bad so far and I knew one mistake and she would be right on me. At the end of the course there were some big sweeping turns. Due to them being muddy I slipped and went down. Luckily I had just enough of a gap that she was unable to catch me, but I hustled to the line as fast as I could. ​
Picture
photo courtesy of Cyklopedia (https://cyklopedia.cc/)
"All in all the Chicago Cross Cup races are great starter races and great for advanced riders to push their bodies and skills to their absolute limit. I would recommend the races to any racer who has a cx bike and loves the mud!"
CCC races are friendly and fun and draw good sized fields. Last year's race in Woodstock, even cold and rainy, saw nearly 500 racers compete. Ten time slots allow for fifteen fields a day, meaning five women's races not counting juniors, finally this year including a Masters Women's category.
Registration for both the IL State Championship and Groundhog PSI-clocross are on BikeReg.com. Consider signing up early, though, as some of the bigger or combined fields can fill up. 
2 Comments
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Races   &
    ​Topics

    All
    Bobbers Cross
    Cannonball Cross
    Capital City Cross
    Cornerstone Cross
    Creekside Cross
    Dirty Wooden Shoe
    FayetteCross
    Frosty Cross
    Groundhog/PSI CCC
    Illinois State Championship
    Jingle Cross
    MIDSTATE Ctoss
    Midwest Champs
    Montrose Harbor
    Nationals 2020
    Spooky Cross
    State Champs
    The Grand
    Trek CXC
    Twisted Cross
    Valley Cross

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Authors

    Tara Coady
    John Stonebarger

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Calendar
  • TT Series
    • Results & photos
    • Series Standings
    • Historical Results
  • Night at the Oval
    • Results & Photos
  • Fartlek
  • 'Cross Words
  • Who we are
  • Contacts
    • Good Folks to Know
    • Keep in touch