The annual tradition we call the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships took place this past October in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Cyclocross Magazine was at the very first edition in Portland, OR, and we continue to shine the light on this unique excuse for a party with one-speed bikes. This year, we have an entertaining recap thanks to racer Julia Hoffman. Relive the weekend through her report below.
by Julia Hoffmann
The 2025 iteration of Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships (SSCXWC) was hosted in the city of lakes – Minneapolis, Minnesota. While it was held in October, typically chilly in the Midwest, this event had a beach theme, swimsuits optional.
The weekend began with a series of group rides and parties, featuring parking lot tattoos, foot-down competitions, and slightly sketchy hangs on a dilapidated train bridge over the Mississippi. On Saturday, the participants were divided into groups of ~15 and led around the city to compete in a series of cutthroat competitions, known as the Feats of Strength.
Each ride leader was armed with a stack of Poochie Buxxxx, highly valuable currency that would earn racers a call-up on Sunday. I was the leader of team Flip Flop and was given the freedom to distribute Buxxx as I saw fit, so I told my group to entertain me. Bribes were also accepted in the form of glitter, snacks, spoke cards, and so on.
Making it rain Poochie Buxxx. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Our first stop was along the river at White Sands Beach, where groups competed to build the best sandcastle. They were given a map of the woods with locations of tokens, which could be used to purchase building materials, such as shovels and buckets. They scrambled on their bikes to find tokens and get building before time ran out. The resulting castles were scored on structural integrity, style, and moat quality. Buxxx were doled out accordingly and off we went.
Racing for Tokens. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Building sandcastles for the judges. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
The next challenge was a 1V1 circuit race on “freak bikes.” Anyone can build a regular bike, but only the twisted mind (unhinged you might say) of a freak bike enthusiast would choose to install a mid-frame hinge. Handling was unintuitive and simply pedaling in a straight line required impeccable core strength. Frames and bodies twisted and tumbled as racers navigated a tight 25-meter loop. My first aid kit was locked and loaded but the Flip Flop crew emerged surprisingly unscathed.
Hinged “Freak Bike”. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Twisting and tumbling. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
We then journeyed to Cedar Lake to participate in a relay race. We were over 20 miles deep in our journey and the Poochie Buxxxx were flowing freely – largely in exchange for snacks. Only one stop remained, and no one knew how many Buxxx were required to get a call-up. A piranha-like frenzy ensued when someone suggested I “make it rain” for the photographer. I realize now this was a not-so-subtle ploy to acquire more Poochie Buxxxx, and I respect it.
Poochie Buxxxx. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Our final stop was at Bare Ass Beach, a historic nude beach tucked away near the Theodore Wirth MTB trails. The only thing left to do was chill. We lounged on air mattresses and visited the floating “bar”; shots were dispensed from squeezable condiment bottles and beers were launched via slingshot. Nudity was not required, but it was rewarded. I relinquished my few remaining Poochie Buxxxx, tallied everyone’s totals, and released the flip flops into the wild. We only had a few hours to rest before it was time to party again.
The starting climb up a ski hill. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
The boat. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
I broke a spoke on the ride home and panicked. I had about 16 hours until the race, the shops were closed, and it’s not easy to find a spare wheel for my vintage 26er. I considered a sloppy single-speed conversion of my gravel bike and sent out an SOS text. A friend with a stash of spokes and a truing stand saved the day. Not all heroes (bike mechanics) wear capes – thanks, Max. The rest of my 25-year-old spokes would have to hang in there just a bit longer.
As is SSCXWC tradition, this would be no ordinary cyclocross race. The course was staked out on a ski hill that doubles as a mountain bike race venue. Due to field size limitations, the men were split into two groups: Taters and Tots, with the overall winner decided via timing. The Taters started with a grueling straight shot up the hill and some off-camber twists leading into the woods. There were optional skinnies and jumps, some of which offered a speed advantage. Others were purely for entertaining the spectators. The course chicaned back down the hill in typical cyclocross fashion. A wide, downhill turn gave racers plenty of speed to hit a jump onto a crash pad – and crash, they did. They could ride, tumble, or scoot off the crash pad straight into the final obstacle – a boat full of spectators. They shouldered their bikes up and over the boat through a sea of handups and onto the next lap.
Hand-up! Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Complimentary beverage service. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Crash Pad. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Style points. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Crash pad casualty. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Entertaining the fans. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Motivation. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
The second race included the nonbinary/gender expansive and women’s categories. I was racing not only for fun, but for glory. The winners of SSCXWC receive a tattoo commemorating their victory – and I was going for it. As a ride leader, I received no Poochie Buxxxx and thus did not get a call-up, so I started mid-pack. I sprinted up the hill and cursed my slightly-too-hard gear. Lap one was clean and I was inching up from fourth place.
Anything can be a barrier. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Slip ‘n slide. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Proper form, with rim brakes. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
One section had a ramp up to a skinny, which I figured was faster than riding through the sand next to it. On lap two, the ramp dislodged and my wheel came to a sudden halt. I rotated around the wheel and landed chin-first on the boards. My cleats released from my pedals and my bike effortlessly arced over the feature. I tried to find a Band-Aid and get back in, but unfortunately, my race was over – I needed stitches and my fork was hopelessly bent.
The offending feature was taped off and the shenanigans continued while I headed to urgent care. Rain began to lubricate an already slick course and the inflatable loons came out to play.
Boat crossing. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Fueling for the next climb. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
She found a rare way to make money in cycling. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Me and my bent Bianchi B.u.S.S. Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota. © SnowyMountain Photography
Chloe Spritz won the women’s race, and Charley Erickson won the nonbinary & gender expansive race. The second men’s race, the Tots, raced last and 2024 winner Brian West (Tater) was declared the overall men’s winner. Festivities transitioned to the final venue – a skatepark within Familia Skateboard shop with one more party to close it out. We applauded and inked the champions.
Then finally, after days of anticipation, promoters announced the next host city – Bellingham, Washington.
Planning starts now, Bellingham, do your worst!
Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships (SSCXWC) Coverage over the years:
- SSCXWC 2023 Santa Cruz: What You Need to Know (2023)
- SSCXWC 2023: Registration Opens Monday May 15, Lands in Santa Cruz 11 Years Late (2023)
- Surf City CX and SSCXWC Cyclocross Weekends Descend on Santa Cruz (2023)
- SSCXWC 2023 Santa Cruz Announces Dates, Releases Promo Video (2023)
- 2024 SSCXWC Wisconsin Photo Gallery by Mitchell Vincent (2024)
- SSCXWC: Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships in Photos: 2007–2014 (2014)
- SSCXWC Over the Years: A Retrospective (2013)
- SSCXWC 2017 Photo Gallery: Verona, Italy Brings a New Era in the Old World (2017)
- Interview: American Ex-Pat Megan Chinburg Lives La Dolce Vita at 2017 SSCXWCITA (2017)
- SSCXWC Adds Three Significant Letters – UCI to Sanction Singlespeed Worlds (April Fools) (2017)
- One Gear in the Motherland: 2018 SSCXWC Headed to Tournai, Belgium This November (2018)
- SSCXWC 2011: Qualifiers and Final Start List (San Francisco) (2011)
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