Category: The Grand

The Grand and Other Big Things to Come

10/20/2021

Jingle Cross is over. There was a time, before the World Cups came to the USA, when Jingle Cross was Thanksgiving weekend or later and felt like the culmination of the season. All the more reason that while we nurse our tired legs, skinned knees, and bruised egos, we also look forward to a lot of great cyclocross racing ahead in this 2021 season.

First and foremost for us Eastern Iowa types is The Grand this weekend in Des Moines. Two days of cyclocross brought to you by the Phoenix Syndicate, The Grand unfolds around The Sands Volley Ball Club right in the heart of the city.

"The course will be similar to years past with a few changes and possibly some new lines in the woods," said Scott Olsen. "Other highlights will include the free Women's clinic on Friday afternoon, Hector’s Hot Pepper Taco Truck, and kids' race both days. We'll give away beer in the woods Saturday afternoon, and prizes will be swag, cookies, and some neat handmade signs."

The forecast for the weekend could include rain late Saturday and all day Sunday, so we might have some mud as well. Not a problem. "2019 and 2017 were both a little muddy," explained Olsen. "We didn't have to alter anything those years. The Sands is very accommodating and excited to have us coming!"

For 2021 Scheels DSM stepped up from team sponsor to be the the title sponsor of The Grand. Bike Rags, Merchants Bonding Company, and DSM Stamp are also sponsoring the race. Online registration closes Thursday night, so get it done at Bikereg.com.

Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com/)

Spooky Cross and Beyond

Of course, this wouldn't be October if we weren't looking forward to Spooky Cross at the end of the month. This year Spooky will be just one day, Saturday October 30, but will offer plenty of cyclocross fun nonetheless. More on Spooky Cross later.

The first weekend in November will feature two races in the Iowa City area. Sadly, Bobber's Cross won't be happening, as the marina campsite/bar & grill will already be closed for the season. Creekside Cross in Coralville is still a go for Sunday, November 7, and will be presented by Corridor Devo. For Saturday, November 6, Goosetown Racing/New Pi has plans for a new race in Iowa City's Lower City Park. We'll have more on that soon.

Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com/)

Valley Cross will roll in Des Moines Saturday, November 20, and there's even a rumor that another one-day edition may happen the Saturday before that, November 13.
Our fingers are crossed.

Saturday, December 4 will be the Iowa State Cyclocross Championship in Altoona. That's just days before the start of the USA 2021 National Cyclocross Championship near Chicago December 6-12.

Next week more details about the local races above, plus some teasers for great racing options throughout the region. Check the CRANDIC Calendar for all the latest. And get ready. There's plenty more great racing to come.

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Plenty New at The Grand

10/10/2019

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photos courtesy of Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)

"The Grand is a great race," said Scott Shelman of Sugar Bottom Bikes. "It was my favorite course last year.

"It’s not your typical open field grass course, with its almost single track feel through the wooded area, and not as much sand as you would think for being at a sand volleyball place.

"It’s a good mix of power and bike handling, with lots of acceleration areas in the twistys and a few long straight power sections on the opposite side."

Challenging but not scary

"I have only done a few cyclo-cross races," said Angy Snoop, "and The Grand was a perfect beginner course: pretty flat and not too technical."

"I'm a big wuss and fear anything but flat riding, but this course had enough to keep it challenging -- a board on the uphill to ride over, short up/down hills to the levy, sand pit, long start/finish straight stretch -- and not scare me away from trying.

"The sand was intimidating, but I was determined to try my best and ride it. I didn't succeed every time, but I was proud of trying and making it.

"The tight corners were tough to manage, but I wasn't going fast to begin with, so it didn't slow me down like it may have faster riders.

"The Grand is also great for spectators as it's in a small area so they can see you all over the place!"

So What's new this year?

This will be the third edition of The Grand, but the first presented by the Phoenix Syndicate. Race Director James Armstead explained: "We are a whole new team this year all from different groups and different experiences. We are really excited about this group coming together to make something really awesome this year. We aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, but we found some new great partners to work with who really want to support the community and grow their brands!

It turns out there is plenty new about the race this year. "There has been some great work going on within the local Juniors scene, and we wanted to do our part. To help grow the next generation of racers as much as we can, we created the Garmen Partners Junior Fund, which will allow anyone racing in our Junior races to race for free.

"Stealing a page from Trek Cup, we are going go try and have a decent party area for people to hang out and experience cyclocross even if they aren't racing. We will have free beer, music, and of course awesome cyclocross.

"The venue is going to be better than ever this year. We've been out at the course the last few months making sure we can create the best course ever this year and we will be changing a few of the staple features to allow us to grow and expand the course in a different way. Expect a little more sand, a bit more of a flowy course, and maybe a new opportunity to get off your bike ;).

Expect a little more sand, a bit more of a flowy course, and maybe a new opportunity to get off your bike.

"The changes to the course will also allow us to open up the middle part where the food trucks were last year. We are going to have a few teams have tents there, some food, music, and will hopefully create a really awesome community compound for everyone to come together and have a great time together.

"We are working through ideas for how the course will change day to day, although we aren't 100% sure we are going to "just flip the course" this year. Nothing is off the table!"

Womens' clinic Friday evening

To start out the weekend of racing the Phoenix Syndicate is offering a free women's clinic Friday afternoon. "This idea came out of conversations with people while I was on the BikeIowa team," explained Armstead. "We just never got around to coordinating it all. One of the Phoenix Syndicate's foundations was to make sure we had 30% of our team be women at all times, and with that more and more of our focus has been around how to grow that group and ensure women have a safe place to come learn and experience the sport of cycling.

"The clinic will be a general walk through the course for anyone who is entirely new and wants to ensure they can ride/run all of the obstacles without getting hurt, or even for those who haven't raced in a few years who just want to have a quick look at the course while getting back into it all. Hopefully we see a good turnout!"

The Grand is Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20 at The Sands Volleyball Club in Des Moines. Registration is on BikeReg.com.

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'cross
words

The Grand and Other Big Things to Come

Spooky Cross and Beyond

Plenty New at The Grand

Challenging but not scary

So What's new this year?

Expect a little more sand, a bit more of a flowy course, and maybe a new opportunity to get off your bike.

Womens' clinic Friday evening

Races &
Topics

Archives

Authors

'crosswords

The Grand and Other Big Things to Come

Spooky Cross and Beyond

Plenty New at The Grand

Challenging but not scary

So What's new this year?

Expect a little more sand, a bit more of a flowy course, and maybe a new opportunity to get off your bike.

Womens' clinic Friday evening

Races &​Topics

Archives

Authors

'cross
words

Races &
Topics