Wow. All of a sudden it's mid-August. So much has happened in the last while:
- more Kids of Cross clinics (and more impressive riding from the KoM crews)
- new portable barriers built for the Cross Lab training rides coming this fall
- a MUCR-supported cyclocross display at the Belgian Pavilion during folklorama
- a first-ever Belgian Triathlon coming up August 25th (details at www.cycling.mb.ca), including a cross race -- everyone welcome, no MCA license necessary.
- a new mucr.ca domain registered with a web page on the way soon.
- and cross season planning is under way.... first race is less than a month away!
About this last point, I keep getting asked about course design for cyclocross. For the record, here’s a summary of the main course design rules:
-Minimum 2.5km lap (max 3.5km), of which 90% is rideable
-Whole course shall be a minimum of 3 metres wide
-Bridges should be 4m wide, have non-slip surfaces and have protective barriers on both sides
-Starting stretch shall be 300m long and 6m wide, and as straight as possible, with no downhills
-First corner shall be less than 90 degrees
-Finishing stretch shall be 200m long, straight and flat or uphill
-Maximum 4 obstacles, each no longer than 80m
-Only one of these obstacles is to be artificial, which shall be 2 wooden planks 4m apart and 40cm high (recommended that elite women and junior men bypass this obstacle)
Source: http://www.uci.ch/english/about/rules/ch05_cyclox.pdf
In Manitoba, where we typically get 40-60 riders out for a cross race, some of these rules are not quite as relevent. Nonetheless, as an organizer, I always strive to meet the intent of the rules (which I could summarize as (1) that the race is fast, (2) that you can pass anywhere on the lap, and (3) most of all, that the course is safe).
Another guideline for Manitoba cross courses, especially for events in late October and into November is that it's advisable to have some place to keep warm and dry off - for riders pre/post event, for race officials, and for spectators. Frostbite is a drag.
What do you think?
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