Intro to Cyclocross
What is Cyclocross? Developed in Europe in the 1900’s, cyclocross was a way for road cyclist to stay fit in the fall and winter. The transition from smooth pavement to off-road surfaces provided more difficult training conditions, improving fitness and bike handling skills . The sport became very popular in Belgium, France and the Netherlands and has recently seen a major growth in the United States. The cyclocross season typically runs from September to January and feature s many laps of a short, circuit course ranging anywhere from one to three kilometers. The racing surface varies from pavement to dirt, mud and sa n d and often includes obstacles like barriers to jump and steps to climb , resulting in frequent mounting and dismounting of the bike . Races are a set duration of time, ranging anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Cyclocross bikes are a lot like road bikes because both are lightweight, have narrow tires and drop handlebars. Although,