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Cyclocross is a form of racing that combines road and mountain biking. The cyclocross season in the US is from September to December. The courses are mostly grassy, muddy, or sandy off road sections, with stretches of pavement mixed in. Races last from thirty minutes to one hour, depending on category. The race is over a short circuits that take racers from five to nine minutes to complete. On the course, there are usually man made barriers that the racers must get off their bike and run over. These barriers are made of wooded boards, and up to 18 inches high. Also on the course there are run ups, places where the course is either too slick and steep to ride up, or has barriers. Riders are forced to dismount their bikes, shoulder them, and run up the hill, only to hop back on again.
Much like the race courses, the bikes are also combinations of road and mountain bikes. Usually made of Aluminum, the frames are much like road frames, but made to withstand the abuse that off road racing can put on a frame. The frames have increased tire clearance for knobby tires (up to 35 mm wide).
Rad Racing is sponsored by Kona bikes (www.konaworld.com) and Tufo tires (www.tufonorthamerica.com).
In the Northwest, there are a couple different cyclocross series. In western Washington, there is the Emerald City Cyclocross Series (www.seattlecyclocross.com), while in Portland, Oregon, there is the Cyclocross Crusade (www.crosscrusade.com). Both have weekly races, with occasional competitions including racers from both series.
For more information about the RRNW cross program, please contact Dale Knapp @ dalek@radracingnw.org.
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