Scenes From Cyclocross Practice

Cyclocross returned to Royal Oaks Park in West Bend this evening as eight riders began to sharpen their skills and their fitness for the upcoming WCA season. The course was nearly identical to the one that was developed last year: just short of 1 mile in length with a mix of surfaces, two barrier sections, a couple of tight corners, two fast descents and one tough climb. Cyclocross can be described as a race of transitions, and if you look at how fast I was going from moment to moment, you’ll be convinced that is true:

Being able to dismount, negotiate an obstacle, and then quickly remount is a critical skill and an important part of our practice sessions:

Team Extreme's Brian Petted

And, of course, cyclocross is known for its fun and friendly atmosphere. No gathering of ’cross racers would be complete without some time for conversation about racing plans and equipment choices:

John Beiswenger (unattached), Steve Cummins (Team Pedal Moraine) and Jeff Wren (Team Extreme)

We’ll be back at Royal Oaks again next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. for Round Two. Feel free to join us. If you don’t want to ride, consider showing up just to heckle. Good-natured teasing of the racers is a cherished part of the atmosphere at any cyclocross event and not something we can easily simulate by ourselves!