"Cyclocross is just a bunch of roadies trying to stay fit..."

That's what a certain dirt rag I picked up from a friend basically said. (1) Cyclocross, first off, is gaining popularity which implies it sucks. (2) Roadies started cross to train through the wet months...(3) "...this involves running- something you do only out of necessity over terrain that otherwise couldn't be ridden or avoided..."

Now I think we all know what the term "roadie" entails: eccentric control freak with no people skills (I will stop there) and NO bike handling skills...no, don't bring up Lance or "that guy" on B-Box that "road out B-Box corner" in the Team Time trial at this years Tour"...they already race CX.

But to go so far and to bash CX. To me, the best feel of any race has been any CX race or the SSWC in Napa. These races feel like MTB races did back in the day of the Knobular Series in Northern California. The most fans screaming with cowbells in hand, drinking beer in the spots most likely to witness carnage....you can't beat that!

For me, living in Cameron Park and working here in Sac my predominant riding is the CX bike, now I know where we ride our CX bikes most people ride their MT Bikes, but I consider myself a mountain biker, and a pretty experienced and successful one at that.

My next question is, has this guy ever raced a CX race? I will admit, I didn't see the draw until I raced one. My first was on my Bianchi WUSS (MTB), and I had a blast trying to keep up with all the skinny tire people. The next race, my start time was after my buddy Scott and he convinced me to race his Giant TCX built up as a SS. I think it was the beginning of my second lap when I yelled to Scott, Steve and Marja to order me a TCX frame of my own....I had to have one. I raced to a 3rd place overall in the B race, 2nd SS.

It took me back to my Schwinn bmx bike with yellow Mag wheels I rode all over Pleasanton, the dirt jumps in the drainage canals, the dirt roads out to Shadow CLiffs, etc... Thats what CX is to me first and foremost, just feeling free with no worries. You get to do something completely childish and silly, to most, for 60 minutes and have people screaming at you, offering beer, etc... nevermind the heckling you get to give out to your friends racing other races that day!

Its 60 minutes of absolute joy! Well, okay, maybe its more like 60 minutes of absolute HELL, then you can joyfully share your tales glory, shame, crashes afterward!

And heaven forbid it actually rain in Nor Cal before a race, then its really CX (not the usual CACX)... there is nothing better than a CX race in an absolute downpour (although I have it on good authority that snow rocks too!)

So where was I going with this? Oh yeah....I wish some of these anti-CX folks would try and ride a CX bike on their trails....maybe then they'd get some bike handling skills....

...then again, maybe it would be better if these guys stayed away from CX after all. There is nothing like riding all the trails between downtown and Granite Bay in the rain and mud w/o a single person around. N. Californians really don't like the rain thank goodness.

There's my opinion, which matters so little it's hard to justify the time to type this...but alas, other than my Hope, its the one thing "they" can't take from me...

The funny thing, after writing this I actually finished looking through the mag and they are trying to give CX a "better image"..

I like the way it looks now!

Maybe the real reason I am so grumpy....my little Baby just started Kindergarten today... I agree with Marja, its exciting and I should be happy, but for some reason I am sad...next step college!????

The shoe laces are her touch!!!