Cascade Cross Series

I'm flying to the World Championships in Louisville, KY late tonight with five of my fellow cyclocross racers. I can't think of a more explosive way to send off the most amazing season of cyclocross I've ever been a part of. Myself, I raced sixteen times - a combination of 3 “local” series and one trip to a UCI event + SSCXWC in Los Angeles. Maybe that is not a lot compared to some. I know of at least one other Bellingham local that traveled & raced in several states this year at the Elite level (looking at you Courtenay McFadden), going from Cross Vegas in September all the way to Nationals in Madison, WI the same weekend as Chiller. And now, we all get to turn our eyes to the world's best at a permanent cyclocross course called Eva Barnham Park, battling it out on the mud, grass, twists, & turns of our very own American soil. Look how far cyclocross has come in our country in such a short time! Luckly, I get to witness it first hand.

Participating (as a spectator) at the highest level of the sport will be something to behold and a huge amount of noise, but it won't drown out the success we had right here in our little coastal berg. It will give me some interesting perspective. We hosted seven races this season. We added one new amazing venue. We had several record turnouts and an average attendance of about 15% higher than last year, which was already another record year. We're not the only series to see such numbers, but we certainly may be one of the funnest!

Chiller Cross at Cornwall Park was an absolute blast - as good as a grand finale in a great series should be! There was some concern from the Parks Dept about damage there after the debacle of weather at Civic Fields, and Mother Nature had our back. The entire park was frozen! We had maybe 10 feet of mud where the sun peeked through the trees and melted a bit of the course, but that doesn't mean it wasn't tricky! I laid up an entirely new configuration of the course that many said was the best yet. I have to agree! We had stairs to run, logs to bunny hop, technical singletrack with roots to navigate, fast gravel to scream down, delicate icy grass corners to turn on. Oh, and the flyover was boosting! There was one descent that was surprisingly treacherous, and I'll have my eyes peeled & salt ready for that one next year - my apologies to anyone that went down and lost skin or worse!

Then we went on to celebrate with a ride & party last weekend. The Fun+alley Race was very well-attended, despite the awful weather. That's what 'cross racers do! The feedback from the event was very positive and I heard many requests to do this again (maybe in the spring?). Coins are still being turned in for pitchers at Kulshan Brewery - they're good until Saturday - but not as many as were consumed at the Awards Party that night. DJ Idlehands did another excellent job of spinning the beats. We had very nice custom hoodies made up for us by Liet Unlimited (owned by Becky, one of our reg girls) and awarded to the overall champions. The top Fun+alley teams were awarded prizes as well, with the fastest time to all 8 stations going to Tim Hubner and his BFF crew of Dan Froula and Doug Nathe in 2 hours, 11 minutes. Not quite fast enough to earn 8 races from me next year (too much lolly-gagging & chit-chatting, fellas?) but I think they'll all be gunning for the sub-2 hour mark come next January!

So yes, we'll keep it at seven races for now. I had a handful of new venues to announce - some certain, some likely - to replace those that might need a rest or have seen enough action in the past 7 years we've been doing this. I'm quite excited about the potential at these places, but I'll have to share more later! We also provided a survey for those in attendance to get your ideas for making the series even better, because it really is a shifting, changing concept each year. I will put that survey up for everyone to take part in (and do the whole thing, for those that didn't notice the back side of the page) along with some observations from Worlds next week.

Great job, everyone, for making the scene so positive, so energetic, and keeping me stoked to go after bigger & better opportunities for cyclocross racing in & around Bellingham. You will all be rewarded! Now let's root for the home team and see if we can see some rainbow stripes earned for the good ol' U.S.A. this weekend!

Cheers,
  ~RyanR>

Well, here we are. It's already been a month since that mud bath at Civic Fields and it's time to race bikes again! This time, the turf is looking more frosty than muddy, which is fine. Cornwall Park is a fairly smooth & fast venue anyways, with a few nice trails up on the ridgelines to keep it interesting. Racing around a beautiful park amongst the tall trees and (hopefully) sunshine like today is a fantastic way to spend a Saturday! Get those engines fired up for your spring training calendar!

One thing that came out of the unusually difficult conditions at Thriller Cross is a higher level of expectation from the Bellingham Parks & Recreation Department for doing repair work after the race. They want it done THE SAME DAY. So if any of y'all cross fanatics can spare an hour or two after 2pm tomorrow, bring a metal rake or something heavy to tamp soil with. We will have some tools on hand, also. It's a good upper body workout to round out your musculature!

I've also reworked the course from years past to do two things: avoid impacting areas they were most concerned about AND keep it interesting. I had to scale back on some muddy cornering in grass that is slow to recover, so I found more technical trail and sections like stairs, roots, and rocks that will require running. It should be plenty fun & challenging. Here's a Google Map outlining the course.

It's a good thing the Fun-alley Party is not for another two weeks, since we'll be working a little extra after the race this weekend. I'm pleased to announce the location for that will be at Kulshan Brewery which is partnering up with us for a few exciting cycling projects in 2013 (TBA at the party). Urban/rural CX ride, friends, ales, podiums, prizes, StrEat food... what more could you ask for in a day? See the race page for more details in the coming days.

Hopefully you've had some muddy or even snowy fun over the past three weekends since that amazing day out at Camp Lutherwood on Lake Samish, aka the Thanks Given'er, now known as one of the toughest rad cyclocross courses in the Northwest! If you missed that fateful Saturday in November, mark your calendar for it next year, and include plans to camp out with us, sit around by a big fire after the race, then wake up in the morning to ride some of the best trails out there in the Blanchard & Chuckanut mountains with all the guidance you need to have an epic day of riding at your own pace (sort of) without getting totally lost! The area surrounding Bellingham is known for having been shaped by one of the finest communities of trail builders on the planet, and we aim to show it off! You may have seen a cyclocross double-header (we've got a fantastic one already), but have you ever seen a cyclocross/camp-out/guided-trail-riding double header? I doubt it, but that's what we do here at Cascade Cross - we are pushing the genre in the direction that brings you more challenging, more diverse, and more fun riding for your drive & dollar!

You may have followed up that exceptionally muddy affair with the Seattle series final in Monroe, Singlespeed Worlds down at CXLA, the BC Cup final at S. Surrey, the State Championships in Arlington, or perhaps even the USGP final in Bend. Some of those were more standard or traditional fare, whereas others were... um... more uniquely memorable for the seasoned racer around here. Either way, there's been plenty of action & excitement well into December, especially if you kept the CX engine running as well as you should!

Now all 'crossed eyeballs in the PNW are pointed at Thriller Cross right here in the little berg of Bellingham. I know mine are. I'm working on some fun new arrangements to change up what has become a classic venue over the past five years. We've definitely had some muddy days out there. We've certainly had some zany days, too. Somehow, we've always magically had snowy days? This year will be a mix of all those elements, but the competition will be relatively clean this time around. And when I say clean, I mean no “unusual” skills will give you an advantage. Well, other than dressing yourself before the race, of course. Your costume is not mandatory, but it may just earn you a head start!

If you are lacking inspiration or direction on how to dress, other than the overarching theme of It's a Zombie Christmas, please review the following materials as well as our Thriller Gallery and recall that mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery. Originality is highly regarded, as well. Low viz, heavy, bulky, and/or clumsy attire may receive the best treatment of all.

See you out there,
 ~RyanR>

Well, it's hard to describe the degree of excellence in the regional 'cross scene right now. More record turnouts, hotly contested season finales, epic battles in every category on top notch courses... the only way to really get it is to just show up! If you're not taking advantage of the amazing & inviting CX scene you have around you right now, you must have some really great hobbies! Or always work weekends. If that is the case, pick a weekend and request it off! It can be a sporting vacation right at home.

Take last weekend for example - MFG's final at Woodland Park. It's rapidly become an annual WA favorite for the neat wooded yet urban setting & a very high energy amongst spectators & participants. I made the effort to drag a beginner there who did race (after much coercion due primarily to nerves) and she got 3rd! As well as a 5 yr old child who did not want to race but was enthralled by all the action from juniors to pros. My personal favorite was the 12:15 race - I cheered so hard for all those kids & beginners trying to surpass the challenging barrier & log combo run-up, struggling their way into a new fitness-based activity and getting plenty of support! Then I jumped in the last race of the day and pedaled my heart out for the best result I could muster in a highly competitive field. Very gratifying for everyone involved and an amazing sport accommodating to everyone from curious spectator to pro (yes, Tyler Farrar was there). Then we went to the zoo and a hip Seattle restaurant. Call it a great day!

Let's rewind the tape a bit further (since I haven't had a chance to review the success of Cross Border Clash yet). Riders from Tacoma to Victoria are hearing how radical this course is, some calling it their favorite ever, and there's not much of a limit on how huge we can build out that venue. It's got all the interesting features and enough facilities to keep it comfortable. I camped out Sat. night myself and really enjoyed waking up on the grounds, ready to just grab some coffee from Spartan Espresso and start fixing up the course. No, we don't get the 1000+ turnouts that MFG has attained in a huge metro area, but we certainly did pull off the biggest cyclocross event Bellingham has ever seen! We blew through every attendance record ever made in our 7 year history - 190 racers on Saturday, 120 on Sunday, so 310 for the weekend. To put that in perspective, 120 was our big breakthrough record for the final at Cornwall in Jan 2010. 156 was the record at Woolley. So we're seeing 20% increases in attendance from event to event (and yes, Tyler Farrar was there too). Where will the growth stop? 200 at Chiller? I won't be too surprised, as that course is excellent and people love to race 'cross in January! How about 400 for the weekend at Border Clash next year? YES - bring it!

However, this does introduce all sorts of interesting (and welcome) problems very quickly - how to divide up overgrown fields into new ones, how to create a safe & fair course and minimize potential for big bottlenecks, how to make our registration & category system clear for newcomers, how to get a lot of results done quickly...

We lose sleep at night thinking about these things, but I can only chip away at these one-by-one. Fortunately, I've got a solution up my sleeve already for the last item - a new results system called WebScorer, and we're going to start testing it this very weekend at Lutherwood. It has a bunch of features that could be fantastic for everyone, such as real-time results (as in look them up in your car while you're changing), individual lap times (maybe start a fastest lap competition?), and the opportunity to link yourself to other races using the system, such as the NW Epic Series. You can hop over to the reg page for Thanks Given'er right now and type in your info and (optionally) set up a profile. If it seems workable, we'll look at leaning on this system harder for Thriller Cross and possibly going full tilt with it at the grand finale.

Another little project I've neglected in the past but trying to get together for you: we've got photos & videos coming out at a variety of paces - some early, some late - so I'm going to start posting these under each event's page. You can look for the Pics & Vids link on the Schedule page, or in the list of links at the bottom of each race flyer, or just type "/gallery" after any race flyer. If you know of more photos & vids out there, send them to me!

Next up, of course, is the brand new location out at Lutherwood on Lake Samish. We had a crew of 5 out last weekend transporting the flyover from Grandview and getting a head start on a fast launch track and I did a few practice laps to show off the route. We're very excited to bring this sport into a new privately managed venue and see what develops. With all the lodging, trails, and flexibility we have down there, if the course is well-liked, I expect to do something bigger there next year. After all, November seems to be the peak of the PNW cyclocross season. That's not the way I would tilt it, but that's the way it is. Come on out and get a great workout in, have fun, prep for the Seattle CX final at Monroe, and in my case, the SSCXWC in L.A. in early December!

See you out there,
 ~RyanR>

Okay! I can't say enough good things about what went down at Woolley Cross last weekend! It seems, many times, the weather aligns perfectly for our races, but this day seemed most unique in the annals of weather/cyclocross alignment. We suffered (in an inappropriate way) through several weeks of complete drought in the PNW racing scene, right up until the weekend prior, which was slightly damp at SeattleCX in Silver Lake. Then miraculously, after a Thriller Cross reschedule, we were deluged & inundated with full-on, hardcore fall weather right up to the day before the race.

Then, driving into Sedro Woolley on Saturday morning, what do I see but a wall of black down south. All the homies that drove north to race passed right through it. Did it pass into our zone? No. We did look up & east to see snow-covered hillsides. What did we get to race in? That's right, sunshine! And nice soggy grass, tacky corners, a bit of loose gravel, even really old concrete. No mud bogs per se (amazing the ground could soak up all the moisture - must've been thirsty) but plenty of evidence on the bodies & bikes that we were playing in the sweet soil of Sedro all day! Even the kids had a blast - my favorite race of the day. And thanks to Mary Beth Petersen, they even got new custom ribbons for participation. Never have I seen so many wide smiles!

So what came about from all this? Well, for one, a Cascade Cross Series record turnout. At a venue that typically had lower turnouts in the past (for some unknown reason) - for example, less than 80 racers in 2010 - we set an all time high of 157 racers!! After seven years of doing this, and five years out at the N. State Rec Area, we “finally hit the big time” as Marshall put it.

Oh, what else? We've got some nice professional photographs posted up at SpotShot Events. We've got results as well as Series Overall calculations. As is typical, we also had some Lost & Found. Somehow people leave beautiful jackets & other prized belongings, then never contact me in search of them. Such as... who stuffed a pair of leg warmers in my pocket at the start of the Mens A race? I did not see your face, silly person!

Next up, without hesitation one of the best courses combined with the funnest CX scenes on tap for the season, is the Cross Border Clash. We took it to another level last year, but as the regulars in this series well know, we never stop there! What can we add to this event to raise the level of rad? Well... our new flyover, for starters. More specialized pump track action. Buffed out singletrack. Better aligned sand access. Double-sided pits. More strategically placed beer garden hand-ups. Superior food vendors. RV camping & a bonfire? DO NOT put anything past us!

I was also very pleased to announce at the Woolley Cross start line... the location for our brand new, most-exciting venue to date for the new Thanks Given'er event at... Lutherwood Bible Camp on Lake Samish! This place has EVERYTHING! I'm talking singletrack, grass fields, gravel beach, dirt road climbs. Cabins! Showers! They will cook for us! I can definitely see a double-header happening here in the near future. So check out the event page, block out your Saturday, and plan on seeing a local 'cross race like you've never seen one before. And it's only November!

Yes, folks, if you didn't know, we're the only series in the Northwest with a schedule beyond November. Sure, there are other events to look forward to, such as SSCXWC in L.A. and the USGP final in Bend. Even the USA Cycling Nationals in Madison, WI and the World Championships in Louisville! But if you're looking to race local, keep your motivation and fitness rolling past Nov. 30th, look no further than your favorite small town production, the Cascade Cross Series!

Of course, the two Seattle series have loaded up the pre-Halloween weekend with races, so you can get your costumed racing practice going on well in advance of Thriller Cross - so that'll be the Marymoor Velodrome (again) for MFG on 10/27 and the Sprinker Rec Center for SeattleCX on 10/28. Good luck down there in those massive fields and fast, flat courses!

On Halloween evening proper (Wed 10/31), your local cyclocross practice is moving to the always creepy (but still somewhat lit) Civic Fields! Actually, Geri Fields (lower softball area). So get your sweat on before you dress up to go Trick or Treat! I'll be out haunting the neighborhood with my kiddo, so I'll see you there in advance of Border Clash. It's a much better practice venue in my opinion - more diverse terrain and IN TOWN - but a headlamp may still be helpful for racing through the dark sections.

Wherever you seek out your ghouls & goblins, I hope you all have a safe & zany Halloween. This CCX pumpkin goes out to you from Bryan Smith, who carved it up masterfully, even after crashing out with a bum shoulder at Woolley. Nothing can keep a good 'crosser down!

Spook you later,
  ~RyanR>

Okay! We've got quite a few good things rolling in our direction this week. First, most importantly, is the weather! The PNW cross community just exhaled a collective hallelujah and inhaled a big lungful of cool moist air! No more east coast mud envy! The racing last weekend in Everett was not muddy, per se, but it wasn't dusty either! Even a bit slippery in parts. Such a relief. Now, with the rain persisting and the nature of the soil at Northern State Recreation Area, I know we're going to have some soggy fun this Saturday! You can also look forward to a new run-up devised by course-builder and master of fun, Marshall Will, so get the toe spikes out!

Pre-registration is also open now, so you can take that step if you want to save a few dollars & minutes.

The second bit of great news is our brand spanking new venue for the Thanks Given'er on Nov. 17th! I've walked it, I found tons of great lines & interesting features, and I got the magic words from the land manager, which is "We're glad to have you!" I'm going to hold off a few days on the official announcement though because I haven't signed any papers (been burned on the verbal agreement already this year) and working on a few extras, but I've leaked some Google map links in a few places you can probably dig up and some teaser photos on my FB page. I will try to seal the deal in the next few days so I can release all the details and you can be excited as I am!

Not to drop a shadow on the Cross Border Clash though, which is my personal series favorite addition of the past few years. This is a wicked awesome double-header weekend coming up fast. And I do mean fast. We'll be out there working the grounds over the next few weeks to, once again, RAISE THE BAR and bring you the best venues possible in our little fourth corner. People are quickly finding out about it - sometimes slowly, too. That's alright. Not everybody can be in the know all the time. Take advantage of this sweet spot we've hit with a super-charged small town series. It's all kind of fun!

See you soon,
  ~RyanR>

Well, before I get to all the goods from Killer Cross last week - photos, final results (which for all intents & purposes are pretty close to final), etc. - I need to fill you in on the “bad” news. I put that in quotes, because really, it's all a matter of perspective. We've got to move Thriller Cross back to where it was in 2011, that is, December 15th (see sched at right). The Parks Dept. told me they booked up the park with other sports. In part, this was a misunderstanding on the booking procedure, part a matter (perhaps) of low priority of our sport amongst the traditional ones. Well, given the growing popularity I'm seeing, that won't last long! But no sweat off our brow because...

Frankly, the weather ain't right for 'cross. It hasn't rained in what, forever? Unfortunately (for 'cross), this trend is supposed to continue into early October. We've got to wait for some more rain to do things right. Furthermore, we've got Woolley Cross right there the week after to keep us happy. Then there was this huge six-week gap in my series between Border Clash in early Nov. and the return of Thriller in mid-December. I sort of left this open for the unannounced dates of other events, mainly SSCXWC in California which I like to attend, but that has now been nailed down for early December in L.A.

So I am adding in a mid-to-late November race to make everything balanced and proper, tentatively calling it the “Thanks Given'er” and working on a sweet new venue for it. Also, I have to say I loved the Zombie Christmas theme we took on last year, with dead santas & rotten elves. I think we should stick with that theme, along with the snow & skinny riding!

Thank you for your patience and support, check back soon for more details. Remember, I will never let you down or die trying!

Yours in slop,
  ~RyanR>

Great day of racing yesterday at Squalicum Creek Park! Thanks to all the riders, spectators, hecklers, oyster feeders, volunteers, and even supportive parents! We had big record numbers in many fields, including Youth, Women B, and Singlespeed (my fave). I even almost won the Bs, but even the promoter gets flats and has to run. It's burly out there!

I'll write up some more tomorrow, but now I just want to give you your Preliminary Results. I need to add Youth still and incorporate any feedback (like if my data shows you down a lap but it was in fact a recording error). Contact me if you see anything fishy.

Other than that, see you in two weeks at Civic for a Thriller race!

Alright, time to put the pencils down. Time to lift the heads up, pinpoint the training, do some serious racing, do even more ridiculous spectating (those are your parts), rally volunteers, collect gear, and build a huge course for the season opener next week (these are my parts). I'm going to make my last few big announcements for the season right now and just expect to see you at Squalicum Creek Park in a little over a week. I hope you're ready to scream around on your bike, because all the pieces will be there for you to do so!

The “new” SINGLESPEED A category: We're doing one again (by popular demand), but this time with more racers. If your name is Greg Heath, Scott Alexander, John Pitton, Lars Sternberg, Darrin Seeds, Josh Stowell, Mark Oldenburg, Joey Mullan, Doug Graver, Patrick Monteith, John Whitenack, Kari Studley, Craig Etheridge, or anyone of similar caliber or desiring to be of similar caliber, you are racing at 1:00 pm now! See Categories. This does two things: rounds out our A Race with some more fast dudes & dudettes (Kari) and preserves the B race for B-caliber riders. Getting double-lapped is not only confusing for both the back-of-pack B racer AND the scoring folks, it can be frustrating as well. Race up!

PRE-REGISTRATION: I set this up for Series Passes and it adds some convenience for everyone, so I'll carry it forward to individual events, starting of course with pre-reg for Killer Cross. You save $5 using BikeReg, but you pay their fee, so you still end up saving a couple bucks and a couple minutes under the reg. tent.

BOUS, or Barriers Of Unusual Size: Those who raced later in the season last year will recognize that I am acquiring a new signature of incorporating, how shall we say, unorthodox obstacles into your already challenging cyclocross courses. I'll admit it - I was inspired after attending a race in Golden Gate Park last November (see Year of the Bullfrog post below for more). The key with all of these is some skill, but mostly a suspension of disbelief, that is simply a good dose of confident speed! Well, to continue the theme, I've got a little surprise for you at Squalicum Creek Park this year. Yes, we all remember the bark mountain which ended up being rideable (see the YouTube playlist). Do not fret - you will still get to play in that pile of slivers - but I want to force you off your bike. Yes, I've not another stack of wood in mind for you. Otherwise, this is the usual hard, fast, and hilly Squalicum Creek Park! Get some!

Also, remember there is always Facebook and Twitter where I am quite active, especially during the season. I may post photos from the course in the morning, prizes I dig up, but also other cool & worthy events I find, gear suggestions, pro race commentary - all sorts of mentionable and even unmentionable tidbits. So pay attention, class!

Now get out there and do some homework. Like a nice, long sand run at MFG this Sunday. See you there!

Well, here we are in the second week of September, arguably the first taste of fall weather upon us, and whaddya know? 'Cross season has also begun in earnest in Washington! Some folks “blew the carbon out” at the Labor Day CX Championships two weekends back, while others waited for the MFG Series opener at Big Finn Hill Park (ironically, a place lacking in real hills) last Sunday.

I fall into the latter camp, and had a dusty battle in the ever-humongous singlespeed field. “Adequately chaotic” is how I would describe it - with enough mechanicals, bottleneck-causing crashes, rivals flying by, lapped traffic, and friends cheering on the sideline to keep it all gas, all the time. Thankfully, no crashes myself and the fitness appears to be there (under a couple layers of late summer sludge) just waiting to come out of the barrel banging. Now let's tune it up and keep it rolling all the way to December! Seattle Cyclocross starts next week if a drive to Ft. Steilacoom Park in Tacoma suits you. Just promise me you'll use it as a training race for your real target, our own series opener Killer Cross on Sept. 29th!

I'm just grateful it sprinkled slightly on Sunday and cooled off a smidge from the day before, when a small crew of knobby elitists gathered at Lake Padden to demonstrate cyclocross for the 40th Anniversary of Lake Padden Park.

(L->R) Greg Heath, Derek Shiers, Joey Mullan, Ian Baldwin, Aaron Mickels, Jeff Cummings, & Nicola Mann

Small doesn't mean slow, however. Look at this group then look at their results from MFG (or Mt Baker Hill Climb) from the next day. You can see why riding & training in Bellingham with folks like this is nothing to sneeze at. They may be nice & friendly, but their legs are mean!

So onto the news that really matters: what else can we expect to be different with the series this year? Well, as I stated previously, there's been steam building in the pipes to really blow it out in 2012. You want to know how to release all that energy slowly & generate some long-lasting power for your season? Get yourself a SERIES PASS! Do it by Thursday, Sept. 27th, too. You'll get a super-bargain price on all the races (you can even afford to miss one or two) plus a screen-printed T from locally famous Red Boots Design with our new logo plus a little something extra just for pass holders that pre-order them!

But that's not all. We've got something special in store for the little riders as well. And this will still cost you parents nothing but the loving sweat you already pour into getting these tikes into bikes! A thoughtful citizen named Mary Beth Petersen (with a little lady racer herself) stepped forward and offered to run the 11:00 am Youth Race at a whole new level this year, so I've revised the race day schedule to accommodate TWO kids races - one short & one medium distance. She will be keeping better track of the proceedings (including awards for everyone) while I'm busy running around modifying the adult course for them. It should be a good match! We all know where the future of the sport is, so no one can deny the kids plenty of time to play on our playground. Before you know it, they'll be lapping their folks riding in the Junior A field.

The other result of this change will be the B race moving 15 mins. later, so the finish will be closer to the A start. This way, there's less idle time for our mud-hungry spectators. After all, it does get cold out there. Yay! Another rider request knocked off the list.

You think I'm going to stop now? No, I'm not. We still need to welcome more beginners to the sport and help them feel ready to ride on race day. Over the past three years, I have run a women's specific clinic in mid- to late-September to help invite these novice ladies into the sport. That has had some great effect, but this year (on the suggestion of a veteran lady instructor) we're going gender neutral. We are also going to conduct it at Lake Padden alongside the standard practice (previously held at Civic) for convenience and access to some more good role models.

SO Newbies! Mark your calendars for both Wed, Sept. 19th and 26th, 6:00 pm at Lake Padden ballfields. Veterans: invite your reluctant friend, family member or significant other! I'll make an event tied to our new Facebook page as well. We'll have a good student-teacher ratio, cover the basics in depth, and set everyone off right for the big opener at Squalicum Creek Park in just 2 1/2 weeks, and all for my favorite price - FREE!

If that's not enough to get some drool on your top tube, I don't know what else to say. Check your pulse! This season is going to rattle the train right off the rails!

See you out there,
  ~RyanR>

It got cold out in Bellingham. And it rained a bit. You know what that means! First, I have to retract my statement below, something about “the summer that never happened.” Well, it finally happened! Personally, I lived it up because I knew it would be short lived. Now we can move on and prepare our hearts & minds for another fantastic & exciting season of doing this sport, which thrives on the cold and wet and epic, in full. We know the mud will come. We can count on Mother Nature to come through for us here in the Great Northwet. We know the suffering will come, too. So I, the facilitator of all that is proper suffering, will now throw in a few tidbits to get you prepped:

First, a cool new book, hot off the presses: Head on over to MudSnowAndCX.com to collect some printed background on this great new American trend in cycling. The author, Molly Hurford, is East-coast based, but I have to imagine it includes some of our favorite PNW riders and venues! We're a part of something special here, now available in paperback and eBook versions.

She's also got a great back story on that website about getting roped into cyclocross racing via the collegiate cycling scene. So I'll give a shout out to our local WWU Cycling team who have graciously helped me at races and will very likely be recruiting new members for fall training rides in just a few weeks! They were the Division II conference champions on the road and very often send delegates to race at Cyclocross Nationals as well as MTB. Plenty of good stuff happening up the hill. Contact Club Pres Ryan Wigg if you want to join their ranks. Now is the perfect time!

Second, CX PRACTICE! It starts next Wednesday, Aug 29th at the Padden ballfields, 6pm. This is the usual format you've gotten to know over the years, but just in case you're new to this (we always welcome newcomers to the scene!) - here is a simple flyer with more details. I am NOT the organizer of these intense evening grass gatherings, but the contact information is there if you need it.

What else do I got? OH - one of the fastest (& shortest) young men in the PNW on a CX or road bike is returning from a little racing stint in Europe. He's graced my races before, and his blog promises he will embark on a miniature cyclocross season. Does that mean he will attend the smallest CX series around? We can only hope he'll come raise our bar - with his power if not his stature - if so, I'll be sure to pay him off in Belgian chocolate (if he doesn't smuggle back more than he can eat).

There is, in fact, more I want to tell you, but sometimes the steam just needs to build up in the pipes. So there's your power-boosting snack for the week: Training opportunities. Reading materials. Clubs to join. Inspiring locals. Now, getting fit and getting your equipment ready are totally up to you!

See you on the road & trail,
  ~RyanR>

TWO BIG developments this past week or so in Cascade Crossland - mainly in preparation for moving massive amounts of gear about town while simultaneously LOOKING AWESOME!

The first item:

Now imagine this new logo large and charge of the side of it (as well as on your new t-shirt, hoodie, hat, and beer koozie):

I'm also considering whether there's room enough for a wet bar in there. You know, for the bullfrogs out there...

Welcome to almost-summer. Or the blink-and-you-missed-it-summer. Or the summer-that-never-was. Irregardless, we can always count on a great autumn in Bellingham! And by "great" I mean, of course, lots of cyclocross. So your favorite local cycling series is back with a vengeance to try and convert your hearts & minds from summer-longing and swim-happy to fall-craving and mud-wanting.

One goal I set for myself this whatever-summer is to have the series calendar dialed by the start of the Tour de France. It just seemed like a reliable benchmark, plus the other big series in the region are announcing their dates earlier, too. I think we are finding our rhythm here in the heartland of U.S. 'cross. Plus this time of year, lots of people are excited about cycling, out riding to take advantage of the long, warm (?) days. Still, with our typical grass-is-greener mentality (or maybe it's called training plans?), plenty of riders are also looking forward to the next cycling season already.

Well, I had to look past the fact that I personally am not riding right now (Achilles problem), but instead surfing, climbing, rowing and partaking in other alternate hobbies. Weird, huh? But this isn't about me! I've resolved myself to the fact that my primary purpose for existence on this mudforsaken rock is just to feed your crazed minds with something to look forward to, especially when it's dark & dismal out! Like all the time. Well, I did it - just for you hammerheads - and let's say announcing the calendar while the Tour is still going will be my new tradition (I'm into all kinds of morons, but I like oxymorons best).

You'll notice a 2012-13 series calendar on the home page right sidebar or Races page. You might notice that the number of event dates has ratcheted up from 6 to 8. That's a leapfrog over my stated goal last year of 7 races in the series, so pressure is on me to get that elusive new venue (stay tuned), as well as a fun-alley to loosen us up for a great finale party (instead of hosting it after Chiller like last year) as well as build excitement for the World Championships to be held right here on U.S. soil the following weekend (maybe organize a last-minute carpool?).

What else is different? Well, I'm working on a bunch of behind-the-scenes stuff right now, beyond just the event schedule. I will be unveiling these items as the season gets closer to amp you up for a great year. Some of them will just help me be better organized & run a better series, which seems to get more awesome every year. I don't anticipate the momentum to stop now! If anything, it's at full tilt.

I will throw out one more thing - I'm designating the 2012-13 series the “Year of the Bullfrog.” It is the perfect power animal for many reasons:

1. Last year was NOT muddy enough. We didn't get proper racing conditions until late November. We need to band together and invoke some better weather this year. Well, what frog doesn't love mud? They certainly love rain, and devoting yourself to the bullfrog now will ensure a healthy, wet fall for everyone.

   Bullfrogs burrow into mud or soft soil to hibernate and remain buried until the arrival of spring.

   I encourage all cyclocrossers to burrow into the mud during and until your favorite season arrives. You will also be well practiced in the medium.
2. The bullfrog is aggressive and “will eat anything smaller than themselves.” I encourage all racers to try & defeat anyone in front or behind them, which from a distance, will in fact appear smaller! You can also, like the bullfrog, use your thumbs, or elbows, or even mouth (see below):

   Interestingly, during battle, many Bullfrogs will try to gouge one another with their “thumbs.”

3. This goes without saying, but I'm saying it anyways: they're damn good at hopping. If I hear anyone complain about the height or number or variety of barriers in one of my races, I will simply say "Bullfrog Up!" I will also refer you to the giant trees in Golden Gate Park we hurdled many times at SSCXWC last November. Shut it!
4. Bullfrogs are invasive in a lot of ecosystems. Meaning to say, they adapt well. Drop us on any piece of property with a variety of surfaces, weather conditions, obstacles, competitors, and we will thrive! Like a Boss Frog. Invasive also means to "prey on natives." See, we've got this little B.C. problem...
5. They appear fat & lazy, but they're still rad and can bust out the moves when prompted. This is obviously many cyclocrossers' power animal already, and it should remain that way. Plus, as I stated before, they'll eat anything. So more beer, waffle & taco truck for everyone! Who cares if you're racing in 15 minutes? They're running out of the Belgian mix!
6. Lastly, I'm so over cows. Those blokes are slower than snot. I declare croaking to be the new cowbell! If you can't bust out your own maddening bellow to drive your fellow racers into their pain cave (and back out again), I'll try to source some noise-makers that fit the bill.

   This bellowing sound is one of the most famous sounds in all of the Animal Kingdom.

See? Who doesn't want to race (and by that I mean kill), get muddy, appear lazy, leap, and feel famous? We all do, and we will. Many times over.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the turf and dirt.

Elbows out!
  ~RyanR>

Sources: Wikipedia and Bullfrogs.com