3 Reasons why I love Cyclocross.

     1. You get to race your own race:

I have noticed that you can ride a ‘cross race and no matter where you are positioned you still feel part of the race. Unlike a road race where you have to ride around at somebody else’s pace you get to race at your own pace and you still feel like you’re racing and not out for a Sunday club run. You can be racing for 20^th, 10^th, 1^st or 80^th but no matter where you are, you still feel like you’re in the race. So everyone gets their own ride.

2. Great for spectators:

You don’t have to be racing to feel part of the cyclocross experience. Cyclocross is one of the few sports where you feel part of the action, you can see all the action as it unfold, a lot of courses are all visible from one place and all courses are possible to walk around. Unlike a road race, you get to see them come round multiple times instead of waiting for 3 hours to see the riders pass in a couple of minutes. Cyclocross is a muddy sport so dress to the occasion because it’s likely you will be just as muddy as the riders, especially if you are a pit crew.

 

Up close with Sven Nys 

    3. It's rock hard:

Cyclocross is probably one of the hardest things you will ever do, both physically and mentally. You face all conditions and all types of terrain, there is no guarantee in what you will get. In a 'cross race you can experience anything from: snow, rain, hail, freezing temperatures, and that’s only the weather. As far as terrain goes you will probably always be riding on grass, you then might have to face ankle deep mud, sandpits and climbs so steep you have to shoulder your bike. Therefore finishing a cyclocross race is an achievement in itself.