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cyclocrosser diaries

  • Close Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades – A Column by Ben Popper

    Columnist Ben Popper took his quest for one UCI point north of the border. This is his report from the Toronto International Cyclocross race, Day 2. I woke up in the suburbs of Toronto Sunday morning, tiptoed through the minefield of Molson Canadian bottles left by my traveling companions, peered out the hotel room curtain, [...]

  • From Broken Wrist to Shock Therapy – A Column by CX Pro Jesse Anthony

    Jesse Anthony, the current USGP leader, has been racing ‘cross for ten years and has won an impressive seven cyclocross national championships. With such a record, it’s easy to forget the Jamis-sponsored racer is only 23 years old. Jesse is returning from a broken wrist suffered this summer and is enjoying his best form yet. [...]

  • A Newbie Playing in the Mud – A Column by Andrew Bernstein

    Join Andrew Bernstein as he embarks on the adventure of his first season of ‘cross and reminds us of our own newbie days. You can read his previous (third) installment here. Mud. Ever since I began my ‘cross career (Can you call four races a career? Whatever.) I’ve been dreading my first experience with mud. [...]

  • UCI Point Hunting Up North, Day 1 – A Column by Ben Popper

    Columnist Ben Popper took his quest for one UCI point north of the border. This is his report from the Toronto International Cyclocross race, Day 1. What happens when for weeks you tell yourself “this is the weekend it’s going to happen,” then you drive through the night, sleep 3 hours, show up to the [...]

  • SSCXWC: One Racer’s Right-ful Odyssey

    by an anonymous Seattle racer, photos by Janet Hil Early Saturday morning, I met up with the other members of the McCain Palin Right Speed Cyclocross Team in the pre-dawn rain in Seattle. We loaded our bikes into the back of our monster sized fossil fuel sucking SUV and headed down for the single speed [...]

  • Never Trust Pre-reg Lists – A Column by Ryan Kelly

    by Ryan Kelly Remember when you were a kid, and your parents said how they heard Santa had to get an extra big sleigh this year? And then you remembered how you asked Santa for a Power Wheel? In your naïve little eight-year-old mind, you probably thought Santa was getting a bigger sleigh to carry [...]

  • Small Time Crash, Big Time Chasing: Louisville Day 2 – A Column by Ben Popper

    When you ride like I do, you’re going to crash eventually. All season I’ve dreaded the day I go down. I’m recklessly fast through the barriers, and I’ve seen that video of Nys going down, and I knew my time would come. I’m fortunate that it didn’t turn out as bad as it could have [...]

  • Apple Trees, Parking with the Stars, and Mexican Pizza – A World Cup Perspective by Christine Vardaros

    Cyclocross Magazine columnist Christine Vardaros, a regular print mag contributor, sent us this online report of her recent World Cup in Tabor. Enjoy her unique perspective of the day as a racer, journalist, and fan. You can read her first online installment of the Kalmthout World Cup here. Tales from Tabor by Christine “Peanut” Vardaros [...]

  • Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire – a Column by Andrew Bernstein

    Join Andrew Bernstein as he embarks on the adventure of his first season of ‘cross and reminds us of our own newbie days. In this third installment, he makes the jump to big-time cyclocross racing in Gloucester, and at the same time, upgrades from a mountain bike to a real ‘cross bike. The first installment [...]

  • Big Time Racing: Louisville Day 1 – A Column by Ben Popper

    USGP. This is big time. No more blowing up 40 minutes in, no more mechanicals or flats, no more hot weather dragging me down. It’s all about fast and fun, nothing else. I belong with these guys… well, most of them… and it’s time to put more of them behind me. I love cyclocross! Race [...]

  • A Broken Bike, White Butt Panels, And Sneaking Into the Pit – A World Cup Perspective by Christine Vardaros

    Cyclocross Magazine columnist Christine Vardaros, a regular print mag contributor, sent us this online report of her recent World Cup in Kalmthout. Enjoy her unique perspective of the day as a racer, journalist, pit crew member, and fan. Kalmthout World Cup Report – perspective from the saddle   by Christine “Peanut”  Vardaros The first big [...]

  • Reflections on Gloucester, Beer, and Fistfuls of Cash – a Column by Ryan Kelly

    Ryan Kelly is a roadie who owns a ‘cross bike and loves racing it. After a successful season in the Bs last year, he’ll likely be spending this season at the back of the New England Elite races, exploring his pain cave and enjoying every hour-long sufferfest. As long as others are finding entertainment in [...]

  • Ohio Day 3…Finally a C1 – A Column by Ben Popper

    by Ben Popper So this is it. A UCI C1 Race. We newbies tend to think that giving points 15 deep makes it easier to get them. Little did we know, what the C1 really does is attract sneaky riders who haven’t been battling it out in the heat for two days already and guys [...]

  • Crashing and Popping in Ohio – A Column by Ben Popper

    by Ben Popper So, in my last update after Day 1 of the Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival, I talked about how important the lineup is in my chase for one UCI point. Now I’ve realized I was too worried about my lineup and not worried enough about my start. Thus, for Saturday’s Java Johnny’s – [...]

  • Being the Really Dark Horse at Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede – A Column Ben Popper

    CXM Columnist Ben Popper is on a mission to achieve one goal – earning just one UCI point.. Follow Ben on this journey this season through his regular journal. His journey took him to Michigan, and then Vegas and Wisconsin, and now he tackles the Cincinnati Cyclocross Festival, starting with Friday night’s Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede UCI [...]



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