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Twisted   Cross   at   Tondro   Pray   Bike   Park

9/28/2021

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photos by Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)
This weekend is the sixth edition of Twisted Cross in Cedar Falls: two days of cyclocross racing, presented by Twisted Spokes Racing Team, at Tondro Pray Bike Park.
Tondro Pray sits just north of the Cedar River, a flat, sprawling flood plain repurposed by the City after the historic flood in 2008. The park offers pump track, a mtb skills area, single track, and a fast, fun cyclocross course.
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An Eastern Iowa favorite, Twisted Cross is well known for two things -- a flat, flowing course and the potential for lots of mud. Fortunately, flooding doesn't seem likely this weekend, but if the forecast holds up the race might not be entirely dry, either. With or without mud, expect a fast course with a sand trap, a series of mole hills, and sets of both tall and short barriers.
Tondro Pray provides Twisted with a perfect course for beginning 'crossers and fast fun for every racer. It's also a great venue for cheering them on.
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In some ways the race will be much like editions before, with a similar course and perks like Other Place pizza and Single Speed beer for the racers, even Fat Cup Coffee flowing all day. But this year it also features some familiar faces in different roles. "Our long-time Race Director needed to step down, so I decided to help keep the race going," said the new Race Director, Twisted Spokes' Steffoni Schmidt. "We have a great local bike community and an awesome cross scene in Iowa, so I wanted to be sure that Twisted Cross would continue to be part of that."
"Steffoni took over when Joel Mason stepped down," said Cedar Valley Cyclists' Kimberly Breuer. "She got a group of us together to help out. I talked to a few sponsors, did the design work, and posted some stuff on social media."
"We’ve still got an amazing team of volunteers who are helping with the race," said Schmidt, "it’s definitely  not just me! I hope the race is fun and people enjoy racing and watching."
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"I’m not racing this year," Schmidt explained. "Life just got in the way of training. I hope to race in the future, but I’m even more excited to watch my kids grow for a love of the sport and cheer them on if they decide to race. The cycling community is wonderful and racing has provided me with confidence and tons of fun. That’s my wish for anyone thinking they might want to jump on a bike!"
Twisted Cross features a full slate of Juniors races and a Kids' Race both days. Sunday this year will also include a Doggy Cross.
"We'll have a Doggy Cross this year as a warmup for Jingle Cross's," said Breuer.  Dogs in three weight categories will compete in three short laps including barriers, sit, roll over, and crawling sections in addition to running.
​No doubt they'll be dragging their humans the whole way.

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Doggy Cross rules can be found at JingleCross.com/Doggy-Cross/.
Follow Twisted Cross on Facebook and register through Thursday on BikeReg.com.
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Cedar   Falls   Cyclocross   is   Twisted

9/29/2019

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"I’m fairly new at cyclocross and Twisted Cross was the first race I got myself into last cross season," said Hannah Neary of the University of Iowa Cycling Club. "It was super fun and got me really excited for more." 
"​It’s a great beginner's course, super flat with a good amount of slight technical sections to keep it interesting and introduce you to what cross is all about."
"This is the 5th year of Twisted Cross," said Race Director Joel Mason. "We are excited to host racers at Tondro Pray Bicycle Park near downtown Cedar Falls.  There are $2,200 in cash payouts in addition to merchandise payouts and junior medals over the two days of racing October 12 and 13.
"New for 2019 is the SingleSpeed Brewing Company Single Speed race category that will be run concurrently with the Men's Cat 3/4 race each morning. SingleSpeed Brewing is providing some awesome merchandise for that race.  ​
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"Volunteers have been mowing and riding the course for a few weeks now. Assuming we do not face flooding like we did last year, the course will be 1.5 miles long, longer than it's every been, and flat with flowing turns on the south side and a long straight away section on the north side.  2019 will mark the first year that the full sections on the north side and south side of old 4th Ave. will be joined together.
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"There is one tricky corner on the south side of the course by the train trestle, but otherwise the course is very much beginner friendly. We've designed a course that flows. There is one sand trap, one mound to be powered up (or jumped on the second day), one set of tall barriers, and one or two smaller more easily hopped barriers.
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"Given the length of the course, we do not intend to install the pinwheel that appears in the video. It was a fixture of the course for the first three years but was not used last year due to flooding. For pinwheel lovers, we hope you still come. For pinwheel haters, you are welcome.
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"As in past years, Doughy Joey's Pizza Joynt will be providing pizza and pasta at lunch time. SingleSpeed beer will be offered at the race venue. For the potentially chilly mornings, we'll have Sidecar coffee and treats available as well." 
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Twisted Cross on Facebook has a video and basic information. Registration is on BikeReg.com.  If you stay overnight, organizers recommend the Hampton Inn by Hilton directly across the Cedar River from the race venue. 
Tondro Pray Bike Park in Cedar Falls, home to Twisted Cross, is only 90 minutes from Iowa City and just over an hour from Cedar Rapids.

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