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molly

• Collegiate Chronicles: ACCC’s Leadership Gives Us A Season Preview

  23 August 11 • Comments Off

  

  We’ve heard a lot about the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference in the past few weeks from coordinators Joe Kopena, Tim Manzella and Steven Hopengarten, but what about the other conferences out there? We’ve been reaching out all around the country to find out how collegiate teams are making cyclocross season count. Wilson Hale, cyclocross coordinator for the Atlantic Collegiate Cycling Conference, was kind enough to give us a sneak peek into the makings of a stellar season when schools are situated south of the ECCC. Unlike the ECCC, the ACCC has a shorter season and chooses to host their own races, rather than racing collegiate within standard cyclocross races.

• Mechanical Mondays: When To Repair Your Cleats

  22 August 11 • 2 comments

  

  OK people, it’s August, races are coming up quick, and ’cross prep is happening around the country. Now that you’ve dialed in the bike parts, shaved some weight off of your frame (bike or otherwise), gotten the tubies set to roll, what’s left? Well, its time to work on the shoes, two of the key contact points with your bike, and remove the opportunity for dirt, sticks, mud, rocks or other debris to get caught up between the shoe sole and your cleat. Face it, you just can’t go as fast or crush your competitors without being clipped in fully.

• Cyclocross And Guacamole: From Texas, With Love

  22 August 11 • 7 comments

  

  My pitch to Cyclocross Magazine’s Online Editor Molly for this column went something like this: “Cyclocross racer from New Hampshire moves to Texas. Wacky hijinks ensue.”

  Hi, I’m Mark. I just moved from New Jersey to Texas one month ago. I race cyclocross.

• It’s Always A Good Day To Ride: Progress; And Why ’Cross Is So Much More Fun Than Crits

  20 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  It’s summer in Wisconsin, and that means a lot of criterium racing. We’re fortunate to have two race series here, and as a teacher I have a bit of time in the summer to race.

  The result of all the racing is that I’m definitely making progress in my recovery. I’ve felt progressively stronger as the summer has gone on. I don’t think I’ll ever be the rider I was before the crash, but I have become a different rider.

• Friday Feature: The Great Coffee Debate

  19 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  Almost as much as beer, coffee is a part of cyclocross, and cycling in general. Coffee snobbery is fairly common at races, though the Dunkin’ Donuts run remains a time-honored tradition for some teams. This week on the Cowbell Forum, we had a member ask for coffee suggestions, and the forum went crazy. The great coffee debate, labeled “Coffee Anyone” had answers ranging from tiny fair trade roasters to more traditional blends.

• 2011 River City Bicycles Cross Crusade Cyclocross Series

  19 August 11 • 0 comment

  Portland, OR — Even though it seems like summer only started a few weeks ago, the cyclo cross season is now rapidly approaching. The Knights of the Crusade have been feverishly working to line up race locations and dates that we think will make for the most kick butt season ever. Our website, www.crosscrusade.com is finally updated and the 2011 race schedule is posted. We will be visiting many of our long standing venues this year and at the same time have made some cool changes. The biggest of these changes is that we will be going to Bend for the Halloween Crusade weekend on Oct. 29/30. The City of Bend is throwing out a huge fuzzy welcome mat for us and is allowing us to race on the same course that was used for the 2009/2010 U.S. National Cyclocross Championships. Cross Crusade presenting sponsor, Deschutes Brewing Co. is throwing a huge party on Saturday the 29th in their warehouse. Which happens to sit just next to the race venue.

• Low Pressure Promotions Announces 2011 MFG Cyclocross Dates

  17 August 11 • 0 comment

  Seattle, WA — Low Pressure Promotions, LLC announced the details of the 2011 MFG Cyclocross schedule at its world headquarters in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, WA today. MFG Cyclocross is presented by Raleigh Bicycles for 2011 and will consist of six races beginning in September and will conclude on November 13th at the 3rd Annual Woodland Park Gran Prix.

• Cyclocross Is Getting Big – Real Big – In Wisconsin

  17 August 11 • 1 comment

  Not only does the USGP come to Sun Prairie in September and nationals to Madison in January, but with 15 events on the schedule, the Wisconsin Cycling Association will be one of the largest series’ in the US.

• Women’s Wednesdays: The Women Of Cyclocross Speak Up

  17 August 11 • 8 comments

  

  We’ve heard, in past Women’s Wednesday interviews, from women who’ve said that finding sponsor money is harder, the payouts aren’t nearly as lucrative and being taken seriously in the sport is more of a challenge. Today, we asked all types of women cyclists the questions, “what is the hardest part of being a woman cyclist? And what’s the best part?” Answered ranged from serious to humorous, and I was amazed at how many women had a lot to say about the cycling scene.

• In The Saddle With Rob Curtis, PSIMET Wheel-Builder

  17 August 11 • 4 comments

  

  You may have seen the beginning of Lee’s interview with Rob Curtis in his column this past Saturday, but that was only the beginning. Today, Lee continues his interview with Rob Curtis, the wheel-builder behind PSIMET Wheels.

• The Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series Roars into T’town for opener

  17 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  Philadelphia, PA — Nittany Cross, the first two of 14 races in Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series, serves as the closest thing to opening day regional ’crossers have to mark the start of a season that for many goes into the new year. On September 10 and 11, local and international competitors from beginner to elite (professional) categories will descend upon the Valley Preferred Cycling Center’s Trexlertown grounds to participate in the frenzied, furiously fun sport of cyclocross.

• USA Cycling Board Elections Candidate Statement: Adam Rakunas

  16 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  As you may have read in our previous article on the USA Cycling Board Elections, there are open positions on the cyclocross committee. At Cyclocross Magazine, we recognize the importance of these positions, and because of that, we want to encourage everyone to vote in the elections. Today, we’re presenting our first candidate statement from Brook Watts, who most of you may know as the man who brings you CrossVegas. If you’re running for a position on the committee, email [email protected] with your position and we’d be happy to post it.

• Training Tuesdays: Matt Fitzgerald, Sports Nutrition Extraordinaire

  16 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  Because no one has written much on nutrition for cyclocross racers, we at Cyclocross Magazine decided to ask Fitzgerald for some cyclocross-specific advice. As ’crossers, we have interesting nutritional needs: we race in all types of temperatures and climates, we go hard for 45 minutes two days a week and then recover to do it all again and of course, we do love the beer tent. We’re a nutritional enigma, trying to eat healthy surrounded by waffle carts and chocolate-covered bacon and trying to stay svelte for a long season that often isn’t a racer’s main season is a challenge in and of itself. It gets even harder when racers’ schedules demand a lot of recovery and travel time, and little by way of long hours on the bike. Luckily, Fitzgerald had some tips for us.

• Cyclocross Superstar Todd Wells Wins Leadville 100

  15 August 11 • 1 comment

  

  On Saturday, a triumphant Todd Wells tweeted, “Just won the Leadville 100 with the 2nd fastest time to Levi, 6:23ish I think!! I’m gonna eat whatever I want …”
  Read more to find out what Wells told us about the race.

• This Week on Cyclocross Magazine: August 15

  15 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  Want to know what to look for on Cyclocross Magazine this week? Worried you might have missed something last week? Fear not, because we’ve got it all mapped out for you. Every Monday, we have a preview of what’s in store for the week, and we’ll let you know about some of the great articles that you might have missed last week. If there’s any story you’d like us to cover, any burning question you want answered, or any cool racer you’d like to hear from, let us know! Leave messages in the comments, find me on the Cowbell Forums or email molly [at] cxmagazine.com.

• Mechanical Mondays: Gluing Tubulars

  15 August 11 • 2 comments

  

  Gluing tubulars is tricky business. And writing about it is just as difficult, if not more so. After all, everyone has his or her own gluing style, and everyone will tell you that his or her style is the best one. One of our brave mechanics, Jason Gardner of Jinji Cycles, decided to share his expertise with us.

• Craig Richey And Gabby Day Join The Renner Custom Cyclocross Team

  14 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  Oudenaarde, Belgium — The 2011/12 cyclocross season will see Canada’s Craig Richey and Great Britain’s Gabby Day race for the Renner Custom Cyclocross Team.  Building from the success of sponsoring Gabby Day last season, team manager Gregg Germer has expanded his support to include Canada’s Craig Richey. “I’m really excited to build up from last [...]

• Meet the Promoter: Ryan Rickerts Of Cascade Cross

  14 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  “It’s not a billboard. It’s just a bike race.”
  Cyclocross Magazine’s Joey Mullan has taken it upon himself to interview race promoters all around the country this season to provide you with some insider details on the huge amounts of work that go into planning races and series’, and the people who are just crazy enough to love what they do.
  The first promoter we’re taking a look at is Ryan Rickerts of the Cascade Cross Series, which will happen this year from October all the way into February in and around Bellingham, WA.

• Zipp Speed Weaponry Extends Sponsorship With OVCX

  14 August 11 • 0 comment

  Zipp Speed Weaponry, the Indianapolis-based manufacturer of world-class wheels and other racing bike components, will once again be the title sponsor of the Midwest-based Zipp OVCX Cyclocross Tour in 2011. According to Mitch Graham, Director of the regional series that encompasses Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, “Zipp is an exciting international company – we’re excited to have them as both a regional neighbor and the OVCX title sponsor. We’re extremely happy that Zipp is expanding their support like this, and that their support will celebrate and benefit the working-class OVCX-racers this season.”

• The People We Meet – A Column By Lee Waldman

  13 August 11 • 0 comment

  

  The sheer diversity of our cross community is one of the many things that I love about it. Across the country it’s populated by people who have found their way into cyclocross from so many different backgrounds and for such a variety of reasons. Talking with them, learning their stories, is one of my favorite things to do. I come away from every new encounter with a deeper understanding of the fact that we are truly a unique community.