What is a Cyclocross Race?

Series Summary

Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that consists of several laps through a variety of terrain and obstacles. Typically taking place in the fall and winter, this extreme sport requires cyclists to ride, quickly dismount, carry their bikes through an obstruction and then remount the bike all in one graceful motion. Cyclocross bikes are similar to street bikes but with some characteristics of a standard mountain bike. For example, the cyclocross bike is light weight with narrow tires and drop handlebars like the street bike, but it also has a knobby tire tread, and cantilever brakes which are usually found on mountain bikes. The unique nature and harsh physical conditions of cyclocross racing makes it more extreme than typical bicycle racing, but it has nonetheless gained popularity in recent years, particularly in countries where road cycling was already a popular sport.

In this free video series, learn how to race on a cyclocross course. Our expert, Mickey Denoncourt, shows you tips and techniques for making the most of your cyclocross race. Learn how to scope out a course and different terrain. Also, learn how to find a steady rhythm for a cyclocross race. Mickey shows you tips for dealing with sharp turns and hills. Learn how to work with mud and sand as well. If you are thinking of joining this face paced sport, take some time and watch this free video series today!

Video Transcript

"MICKEY DENONCOURT: Cyclocross is, you know, compared to road racing or mountain bike racing, it's a pretty short event. Depending on the ability level that you race, you're racing between half an hour, 45 minutes or an hour. So, you know, compared to a 2 1/2-hour road race or mountain bike race, it's, you know, it's fairly short. The reason cross race is so short is because they're so intense and so brutal. You're pegged. You're on the limit the whole time. You're always accelerating; you're always cornering. You know, you're running. You know, there's all sorts of stuff happening. So we want to make sure today that we talk about how to, you know, save as much energy as you can, you know, go as fast as you can with the lease amount of effort so that, you know, you have more energy at the end of that race so that you can really, you know, so you can really make it happen. And, you know, a big way we're going to do that, let's talk about how to corner smoothly, how to survey a track to make, you know, to know where to really burn your matches and, you know, just breaking down some of the fundamental skills that aren't quite so intuitive to seeing a course, cornering and, you know, just having a successful event."