Cyclo-X
has been around since the 1940's and was originally a way for
road racers to maintain their fitness level through autumn and
early winter. It started in Europe where it has remained consistently
popular. In belgium it is almost a religion and Belgium is infact
often referred to as the home of Cyclo-X.
Cyclo-X has very close connections with Mountain Biking, though
obviously cross came first. If you look at world class mountain
bike races from the early-mid '90s onwards, Europeans won almost
all the races. It's not because they picked up on mountain bike
racing more quickly than the Americans who 'invented' mountain
biking, it is because of their background in cyclo-x. Several
mountain bike world champions in recent years have also been
past cyclo-X champions.
Fitness
and Skills
Cross
racing requires a combination of mountain biking and road racing
skills and of course a reasonable level of fitness. The races
are short, so endurance is not that critical, however the constant
switching between aerobic and anaerobic modes means you need
a different type of endurance; the capacity to hurt for a full
60 minutes. The ability to run, or at least to sprint for a
few dozen yards, is useful, and if you don't have the riding
skills to control a skinny-tyred bike on slippery surfaces,
you will after only a few races.
Having
a go
Almost all cross races allow mountain bikes as long as they
don't have forward facing bar-ends. These are banned because
of safety concerns during a crash. Most beginners will first
try cross on a mountain bike due improved stability. However,
many accomplished cross racers will always ride a mountain bike,
while others sometimes ride a mountain bike depending on the
course and conditions.
The
best way to understand cyclo-x is to go and watch a race. Make
sure to take your bike so you can ride the course before the
first race starts. Looking at a cross course is always confusing
at first because they are typically set up with ribbons and
flags, which serpentines over a relatively small area. Once
you ride the course and then watch a race you will understand
all.
