Cyclocross

Winter Fun

Cyclo-Cross (often abbreviated to 'Cross) is  generally an autumn and winter sport. Massed starts make for exciting races, usually no more  than an hour in length – and shorter for youths, juniors,  women and veterans.  There are usually free-to-enter races for younger riders. Organisers are  are hoping to start a summer series in 2010.

Lapping it Up!

Cyclo-Cross races are usually multi lap events,  held on short (typically less than a mile and often  less than half a mile), grassy courses, generally  in public parks or on school playing fields. Less  technically demanding than Mountain Biking,  Cyclo-Cross often requires riders to dismount to clear artificial obstacles – often wooden boards. The ability to swap smoothly and quickly from riding to running and back to riding in one fluid motion is a key skill for advanced riders.

Private Battles

The short lap lengths mean that better riders often lap some of the slower competitors, but that’s not the end of the race – you can still submerge yourself in the action, enjoy your own private battles and forget whether you are first or a hundred and first – that’s the beauty of the sport: it’s what you make of it that counts.

Bike Facts

Cyclo-Cross machines look very similar to road bikes, with dropped handlebars and thin tyres - however the latter have a knobbled-tread for grip, powerful brakes, low gears and better frame clearances to prevent clogging with mud, all of which adds up to make them easy to handle on the rough.

The North East

has a well supported and friendly cyclo cross league that takes place every winter from September through to March.

For further information about events, results and what is going on in cyclo-cross in the NE please visit www.cxne.org.uk