Moose Cross, Victor Idaho

Well normally I start to cringe at the though of the seasons changing. But this year I was stoked as I packed away my shorts and sandals and unpacked my jackets and winter gear I couldn’t help but think about cyclocross season. Ever since I went to Cross Vegas in 2007 I have wanted to get into to riding and racing cyclocross. Towards the end of last year I was hanging out in my Dads office when Bob stopped by to pay him a visit. I jumped at the opportunity and asked Bob to see if he still had any hookups with Torelli bicycles. His response changed my overall out look of cycling forever. Bob was able to get me a Torelli Zona cross frame. I spend the next 4 months saving my money to build it up. In Idaho cyclocross has grown into a pretty big sport, and according to the locals nothing screams CX season like Moose cross. Moose Cross is a two-day event that is held in Victor Idaho. A town so small that most people don’t know they driven through it. A few years ago the major (owner of a bike shop, and CX racer) petitioned the city for a plot of land to build a cyclocross race course. The city approved his petition and Moose Cross was born.

I had been preparing for this race for a few weeks, but its hard to prepare for something that you know nothing about. My friends told me that their was no way of describing a CX race and that there is nothing you can do to be prepared for the pain that is coming your way. Cyclocross isn’t like normal bike races these bike are the children of a road bike and mountain bike parents. Cyclocross bikes have beefier forks, knobby tires, and easier gear ratios. Unlike a road race CX races are on dirt roads and in the grass. The intensity of these races is much high immediately unlike most road races. There are many points in the race when you have to dismount from your bike and jump over barrier or run up mountains with your bike on your back. Cyclocross is pure sweet pain.

I had no clue what to expect instead of signing up for the beginner race I signed up for the Cat 4 race thinking that I would have no problem keeping up with the big boys. When the cannon went off the race started just as everyone said: in a full out sprint of chaos. We proceeded to race on one on the most painful terrain I have ever experienced in my life. After about 3 laps my whole body started to hurt and each time I was forced to jump of my bike and carry it over the barriers I had to remind myself that this was fun! Every time I passed the start/finish line I could hear my friends and family screaming at me to go faster but I simply couldn’t. At the end of the race I got off my bike and turned to a buddy of mine and said wow that really hurt! I was glad my Mum, grandparent, Ty, friends, and Miriam were there but I should apologize because I was looking anything but composed after that race I had snot running down my nose and could barely breath. But I finished and I loved it, but that joy was short lived because I was going to have to do it all over again the next day.

The next morning I showed up at the race feeling good and ready. The racecourse had changed and was going to involve 3 sections of barriers instead of 2 and we were going to spend more time on the grass and less time on the dirt course.  After pre-riding the course I felt like that type of course was much more my style. After the race started I stayed on pace and rode much better than I did the day before. Nonetheless the race was still crazy hard and intense but it was a ton of fun. I place in the top 10 the second day, which really made me happy considering that it was my first CX race ever. Now I’m hooked and can’t wait to get registered for another race. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Cheers and for those of you who have ever thought about trying cyclocross I would highly recommend it. It’s a great alternative to road biking and a great work out.